Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

[System Notice: The punishment will begin in ten minutes. Contestant Diantha, please select a location.]

[Diantha]: My place is fine. Just teleport Asher here.

[System Notice: Location confirmed. Beginning teleportation.]

A pillar of white light descended from the sky and landed right in the middle of Diantha’s apartment living room.

Asher stepped out of the light wearing a dark-gray T-shirt, the same lazy expression as always on his face.

”You’re here?”

Diantha stood up from the sofa.

She was wearing loose, light-gray loungewear, her hair casually draped over her shoulders, with the faintest hint of a blush on her face.

”Sorry. I’m troubling you again.”

”It’s fine.”

Asher rolled his wrists.

”Where do you want the massage? On the sofa or the bed?”

The tips of Diantha’s ears visibly turned red.

”...The sofa is fine. The way you phrased that is way too easy to misunderstand.”

”A massage is a perfectly legitimate thing. If you’re misunderstanding it, that’s because your own mind is somewhere it shouldn’t be.”

Without changing expression, Asher walked over to the sofa and patted the cushions.

”Lie down on your stomach.”

Diantha obediently lay down on the sofa and buried her face in her folded arms.

Gardevoir floated off to the side and tilted her head as she watched the scene.

Then, without saying a word—

She quietly closed the curtains.

Asher didn’t start immediately.

Instead, he raised a hand toward the screen.

”Livestream, can you provide two bottles of massage oil? The results won’t be nearly as good without it.”

[Reasonable request. Items have been delivered to the coffee table.]

Diantha lifted half her face from the cushion and stared at the two bottles of massage oil and two neatly folded hot towels that had appeared out of nowhere on the coffee table.

She fell silent for a moment.

”...You’re surprisingly practiced at this.”

”Of course.”

Asher unscrewed the bottle of rose-scented massage oil, poured a few drops into his palm, and rubbed his hands together to warm them.

”I’m starting. Don’t move around.”

The moment his fingers pressed against the back of Diantha’s neck—

She couldn’t stop a very quiet hiss from escaping her lips.

”The muscles around your shoulders are really stiff. How long has it been since you properly rested?”

Asher didn’t ease up on the pressure, his voice maintaining its usual lazy tone.

”I just wrapped a movie recently, and we had three overnight shoots in a row...”

Diantha’s voice was muffled against her arms.

”Then I had another four appearances afterward. As for sleep... I got some, probably. Not much, anyway.”

”Sounds like you really do need to rest.”

Asher changed the angle of his hands and slowly applied more pressure.

Diantha let out a muffled sound somewhere between relief and pain.

Her entire face disappeared into the cushion, her fingers unconsciously gripping the soft fabric of the sofa.

[VIP Chat Group]

[Brock]: That technique! Even the temperature of the massage oil and the area he’s applying it to are perfect! I specifically studied massage during training courses at Pokémon Centers, and even I couldn’t do it that flawlessly!

[Nurse Joy]: Mr. Asher’s massage technique really does look very professional.

[Elesa]: My husband knows how to give massages?! Why don’t I remember anything about this after getting those memories?

[Misty]: Don’t even start. None of the three of us remember this.

[Cynthia]: So in other words, he knew how to do this the entire time, but never once did it for us?

[Diantha]: Um... This might not be the best time to say this... but it seriously feels amazing... All the soreness in my shoulders from the past few days is completely gone... (*ﾉ▽ﾉ)♡

[Elesa]:@Diantha, are you showing off right now?! No way! When hubby gets back, I’m getting one too! (#`皿´)

[Misty]:@Asher, bring a few extra bottles of massage oil when you come back. I’ve been training in the water every day lately, and my shoulders are killing me.

[Cynthia]: Me too. I’ve been going through ancient texts nonstop recently, and my neck is really sore.

[Elesa]: Get in line. I reserved the first spot.

[Misty]: When did you reserve anything?

[Elesa]: Just now.

[Asher]: ...Fine. I’ll bring back plenty of massage oil. There’ll be enough for everyone.

[Diantha]: Ah... right there... I seriously can’t take any more...

[Skyla]: Master, that sound is WAY too suggestive! The entire world can hear you!!

[Steven]: It’s fine, Sister-in-law. We all understand. With Brother Asher’s skills, who could possibly handle that?

[Steven]: Brother Asher! I want one too! Last time I spent three days and three nights digging for stones in a mine, and my lower back still hurts!

[Asher]: Get lost.

[Steven]: Why?! The sisters-in-law ask and you immediately agree, but when I ask, suddenly it’s not allowed?! Is this the difference between how you treat your bros and your wives?!

[Asher]: Yes.

[Wallace]: Steven, you will never understand the concept of boundaries in your entire life.

[Leon]: The fact that Steven even made that request is already the best possible proof that he has no sense of boundaries.

[System Notice: Punishment complete. Teleportation begins in ten seconds.]

Diantha sat up from the sofa and rolled her shoulders.

”How do you feel?”

Asher screwed the cap back onto the massage oil, folded the used towels, and placed them neatly on the coffee table.

Diantha felt as though her entire body had been taken apart and put back together again.

Every bone seemed to have returned exactly where it belonged, and both her body and mind felt unbelievably relaxed.

She narrowed her eyes, enjoying a level of comfort she’d never experienced before.

”It feels like someone gave me an entirely new pair of shoulders. Where did you learn to do that?”

”You pick it up after doing it a few times. Nothing special.”

Asher picked up the glass of water on the table and took a sip.

”After doing it a few times?”

Diantha raised an eyebrow.

”For who?”

Asher’s movement paused—

So slightly that it was almost imperceptible.

”I used to work part-time in Alola when I had nothing else to do. Just wanted to make some extra spending money.”

Diantha leaned against the armrest of the sofa, twirling a strand of hair around one finger.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

”Is that so?”

”Of course.”

Asher put down the glass.

”Time’s almost up. I should head back.”

”Wait.”

Diantha reached out and poked Asher’s arm with one finger.

”Next time I come home after filming, can I ask you for another massage?”

”Sure.”

Asher shrugged.

”Once this episode is over, you can get one every day if you want.”

”Sounds good.”

Diantha withdrew her finger and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

”Then I suppose I’ll look forward to my future life~”

Asher smiled.

”Don’t worry. You won’t be disappointed.”

The teleportation light appeared once again.

Diantha suddenly took a step forward.

”Asher.”

Asher turned around.

Diantha walked up to him, rose onto her toes—

And lightly kissed him on the cheek.

”Consider that your tip.”

White light engulfed Asher’s figure.

Diantha remained standing where she was.

Then she reached up and touched the tip of her burning-red ear.