"Be more careful next time. This time, you only scratched your face, but what if you poke yourself in the eye next time? How would you keep being a Trainer?" Heath said earnestly. He was on very good terms with Ash and knew Ash's mother too, so at times, he counted as one of Ash's elders. This sort of guidance and reminder was still very necessary. Although Heath himself had hated his elders' nagging in the past, only now could he appreciate how necessary it was. After all, adults had suffered plenty of setbacks, so naturally, they did not want younger people they were close to to suffer in the same ways. People were all like that, though perhaps the tone and manner of that concern could instead provoke resentment and resistance in the younger generation.
"Okay, Heath." But Ash clearly was not that sort of person. Hearing Heath's tone grow considerably more serious, he straightened up as well. Ash really liked Heath, partly because Heath cooked delicious food and cared about him, and partly because Ash thought Heath was an amazing Trainer. After all, Heath's girlfriend was so amazing that she had become the Champion of the Sinnoh Region, so Heath must be very amazing too.
Heath had no idea what Ash was thinking. If he had known, he probably would have laughed out loud. Heath had never thought about becoming a Trainer. What was so interesting about being a Trainer? You were busy to death every day and had to keep training your Pokémon. Wasn't it much more interesting to simply cook and serve customers while getting to see all sorts of strange things?
"What would you like to eat? I have all kinds of dishes today. My treat." Heath asked with a smile. Seeing Ash come in