"Got it..." Ash nodded in understanding, realizing that he should not rely solely on his knowledge from the anime to navigate real-life situations.

Misty led Ash to the treatment area where, true to form, Nurse Joy was in charge. There was a considerable line of trainers waiting their turn.

"We should line up too. After Nurse Joy checks on Pikachu, we can head to the dormitory, freshen up, and then go eat," Misty suggested, pulling Ash to the back of the line.

"Okay..." Ash readily let Misty take the lead, acknowledging his unfamiliarity with the procedures here. He felt fortunate to have met Misty; without her guidance, he would have been utterly lost upon arrival, potentially leading to more confusion and trouble.

The queue moved quickly, and Ash craned his neck to watch Nurse Joy at work.

Nurse Joy, like Officer Jenny, belonged to a prominent family within the Pokémon world. Unlike the Jennys, who were associated with law enforcement, the Joys specialized in Pokémon healthcare. Every Pokémon Center, no matter its size, was staffed by a Nurse Joy.

Nurse Joy was strikingly attractive with her pink hair styled in two looped ponytails at the back of her head. She wore a crisp white nurse's uniform, exuding a gentle and comforting aura that put both trainers and their Pokémon at ease.

Nurse Joy worked efficiently and with a warm smile. She took Poké Balls from trainers, quickly inquired about their Pokémon's issues, and placed the balls into a machine that instantly displayed the Pokémon's condition on a monitor.

After assessing the situation, she would hand the Poké Ball to a waiting Chansey and instruct it on the necessary treatments. Chansey would then take the Poké Ball to the treatment room for further care, while Nurse Joy advised the trainers on what to expect and when to return to collect their Pokémon.

This systematic and compassionate approach helped maintain a smooth and orderly flow in the Pokémon Center, ensuring that all Pokémon received the care they needed in a timely manner. Ash watched the process with great interest, gaining a deeper appreciation for the vital role these centers played in a trainer's journey.

"This is so different from what I've seen in the anime and the games," Ash mused as he watched Nurse Joy work. In the anime, Nurse Joy often personally treated Pokémon, which seemed improbable given the number of Pokémon and only one Joy per center.

The reality that other helpers like Chansey were involved made more sense. Ash noticed not just one, but several Chansey aiding in the treatment process, which differed from the singular image often portrayed in the anime.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

In the games, the process was streamlined to a simple placement of the Poké Ball on a healing machine, followed by a quick series of beeps, and then the Pokémon were instantly healed.

Games simplified the process for ease of play, but reality, unlike both the anime and the games, involved more complex procedures.

Soon, it was Misty and Ash's turn. Misty handed over her two Poké Balls to Nurse Joy and briefly explained her Pokémon's condition. After checking, Nurse Joy informed her that there was no serious harm; they were merely exhausted and needed rest to recover. She returned the Poké Balls to Misty.

Misty already knew the status of her Pokémon but opted for a check-up out of caution.

When it was Ash's turn, Nurse Joy wasn't surprised to see Pikachu on Ash's head; many Pokémon preferred not to stay inside their balls, making Pikachu's preference not unusual.

Nurse Joy picked up Pikachu and examined it carefully. Smiling, she reassured Ash, "Your Pikachu is very healthy, just a bit tired. After some food and a night's rest, he should be fully recovered by tomorrow. No need to worry."

"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Ash said, taking Pikachu back into his arms.

"Pika pika—!" Pikachu also raised its tiny paws, smiling and thanking Nurse Joy in its own way.

"You're welcome!" Nurse Joy responded, her smile widening at Pikachu's endearing gesture.

"Good to know everything's okay..."After leaving the treatment area, the two headed towards the dormitory zone. The Pokémon were all okay, which was the best scenario, so Misty was visibly happy.

"Thank you so much for today, Misty!" Ash said earnestly to Misty, who had given him tremendous help.

"Didn't we become friends already? No need for thanks among friends," Misty said with a wave of her hand, though she felt very happy inside. Helping others was always a good thing.

"By the way, are our dorms next to each other?" Ash took out his Pokédex, accessed the Pokémon Center interface, and looked at the numbers while asking Misty.

"Next to each other? We're in the same dorm," Misty responded with surprise.

"The same dorm?!" Ash was startled. He had not expected to be sharing a dorm with Misty, which meant... he and Misty were... roommates?

"The dorm resources at the Pokémon Center are limited. Since we're together, we were assigned the same dorm. If the conditions are very limited, we might even have to share a dorm with other trainers," Misty explained, not yet fully grasping what this meant.

Ash opened his mouth to say something but ended up saying nothing. Soon, they found their dorm.

The dorm was not large, just a simple room with bunk beds, a desk, and a bathroom. It was modest but gave off a cozy feeling.

As they entered the dorm and Misty prepared to freshen up, she suddenly realized what it meant to share a room with Ash.

"This... this... well... I..." In her fluster, Misty became incoherent. It was her first time living under the same roof with a boy...

"Maybe... I should go outside?" Ash suggested kindly, pointing outside, understanding that Misty, as a girl, might feel uncomfortable going to wash up in front of a boy she had met less than a day ago.

"No, it's fine..." Misty pursed her lips, sighed inwardly, and shook her head, "Just don't look this way."

"Don't worry, I absolutely won't peek!" Ash nodded earnestly, set down his backpack, and went out to the balcony with Pikachu.

Watching Ash's retreating back, Misty quickly grabbed her clothes from her backpack, fearing Ash might see her personal items, and dashed into the bathroom.