Misty was a fearsome girl who had dared to slap Ash when they first met just because she saw that Pikachu was hurt! With Drew speaking so rudely, she certainly wasn't about to let him get away with it.
Drew was clearly stunned by the blow. He took a step back, his eyes suddenly widening, and stared at the girl before him for a long time. Only when his cheek began to swell and burn did he realize that he had just been hit!
"You... you actually dared to hit me?!"
He covered his cheek in disbelief. Perhaps because of his upbringing, or perhaps intimidated by Misty's forcefulness, he didn't hit back, but simply glared furiously at her!
"That's a lesson for you!" Misty raised her chin, planted one hand on her hip, and said, "If you dare make fun of my friend again, I'll make the right side of your face swell up too!"
She had actually held back. If she had aimed her punch at Drew's eye, she could definitely have disfigured the fairly handsome kid!
To everyone else, Misty's blow had come far too suddenly. Not only had Drew not expected it, but Ash, May, Brock, and Max were also utterly astonished. None of them had imagined that Misty would resort to violence over a disagreement!
Only Xia You gave a helpless smile, hurried forward a few steps, and shielded Misty behind him.
Although he hadn't immediately recognized Drew by his appearance alone, once Drew introduced himself, Xia You had remembered him and some things about him.
Drew was none other than May's greatest future rival in Pokémon Contests!
In the anime, after this encounter, Drew and May had many more dealings with each other, and he even began quietly following May's progress toward the end!
Despite