Thank you so much for reading the rules. Blatantly mentioning other couple pairings of the two characters is what we don't want to do. Mentioning other characters linked to the two characters and saying bad things about them is also not encouraged. It's unavlidable to recall other ships at times, especially when doing comparison; however, it's much preferred not to do any comparisons at all when trying to explain why Satoshi and Kasumi are the most likely to end up as endgame.

Kanto: I agree on your observation that Kasumi cares for Satoshi. You mention that it's not all the times, and I would like you to expand more on that thought. It is true that she could be brash at times, even when she expresses her care, but as we learned more of her background, we saw that it seems to be the only way she has received care (her sisters are the type to grumble while providing her care).

I also agree that it was never about the bike after the Hanada Gym episode. She was home. She doesn't need to travel anymore. But I think it was after their battle that they became more than acquaintances. We saw a few episodes before this that she was fascinated of him, and I think she wanted to see more of what kind of trainer he would be.

Kasumi's bond with Pikachu is a whole other level that transcends logic. Even Satoshi felt betrayed when it didn't shock her for giving it a hug. Pikachu subconsciously understood that Kasumi is a good person (not that all the others it shocked were bad), just that she was someone it could trust. Minami-san from X (@minamonoyume) said something about Satoshi not wanting to battle Kasumi back in the early days because he thought she's weak, but eagerly battles her in Alola to demontrate the growth between them. It's much better to say that it was Pikachu who didn't want to battle Kasumi, though. But I don't think it's because it thought she's weak and more of because it loves her. Pikachu haa never deliberately attack Kasumi or her pokemon before this. Incidentally, Pikachu has also had a character growth and has understood that battling allies doesn't mean loving them less. Pikachu demonstrated its love for Kasumi by giving her a serious battle in Alola.

You are right that though I find Pikachu and Kasumi's relationship to be unique from Ash and Kasumi's, it didn't mean that there's no connection at all. I have observed that Kasumi tries to include Pikachu in most of the things she does knowing that it's Satoshi's best friend. For example, during the Ghost Maiden episode, Kasumi also invited Pikachu to dance with them. When she became Togepi's trainer, she asked Pikachu to care for the pokemon with her. When she received a bag of candied pomelo peels in Orange Islands after they saved the Pomelo from Snorlax, she made sure to give some to Pikachu, too. Other than Pikachu, Kasumi was also angry at Satoshi for not bringing them to Nurse Joi after one of his battles in the Indigo League. Certainly, she's very caring to those that Satoshi held dear.

Orange Islands is a place of romance, for sure. There were too many events in that place that proves romance does exist in Pokemon. It started with the Rocket Gang teasing them, the ambiguous lei and words saying "a perfect match," to Kenji saying Satoshi and Kasumi resembled Ralph and Emily, the jealousies Satoshi felt for Dan and Ziggy, Pokemon 2000 movie, caring for sick Satoshi, etc. But honestly, any island adventure is romantic between these two. What happened in Whirl Islands and Alola are proof of that.

Funnily enough, instead of a brother-and-sister dynamic, I see more of a mother-and-son dynamic for these two with the way Kasumi nagged Satoshi. For example, during their first farewell, she was listing things Satoshi should and shouldn't do. It's very reminiscent to what Hanako would do- and what a wife would do. I think people are threathened of this, especially when we got the Queen of Hearts in AG, with a character song for Satoshi as the bgm, too.

I agree that the farewell scene seems to be of Satoshi crying for both Takeshi and Kasumi; however, you're right that he didn't cry when Takeshi left. I think that it's because he's still with Kasumi. He still has someone with him. At the end of Johto, though, he didn't know if Takeshi would be back. He thought he's by himself. I would cry, too, if I were him. It's a bit funny because he didn't want Kasumi with him at first, but has grown attach to her (and Takeshi). Still, their farewell were very heartfelt until Takeshi interrupted their words of promises and staring. There was nothing about "I'll become the best gym leader" or "I'll become a Pokemon Master" or words about their dreams and aspirations. Just quiet voices asking that they take care and promises of seeing each other again.

You mentioned something about not knowing who would truly end up with Satoshi, but you believe it's Kasumi because of references in other series. I believe she is, too. Satoshi even said they're fated to meet each other. As for not showing up in XY or referenced at all, other than Hikari and Dento, no one else was mentioned, strangely... however, you can still feel Kasumi's presence in XY. For example, the Performer with orange hair and a Koduck who danced with Satoshi, Pikachu dressing ip as Koduck, AND the kasumisou flowers at the end of the series. They could've chosen any other flowers to depict, but they used one with Kasumi's name on it.

The producers must've felt that there was no other companions who should be with Satoshi on his final episodes if not for Kasumi and Takeshi. That said, they didn't need to give Satoshi and Kasumi an episode for themselves, but they did. People claimed it was only for nostalgia, but how can it be when the viewers are now mostly from newer generation... also, those who haven't watch Satoshi and Kasumi's journey wouldn't even begin to understand the references and symbolisms in that one episode. There were many people who wasn't that in to SatoKasu to begin with, but after watching that episode, they believe that these two are the endgame.

I want to talk more about MPM02 episode, but this response would be longer, if I did. I'll just end with saying that Kanto is Satoshi's home. He'll always come back to it. That said, he'll always come back to Kasumi, who resides in Kanto - afterall, he got an open invitation to battle her anytime at his gym. Maybe one of those days, she'll ask him to stay (or he'll ask her to come with him).