"I'm gonna dig in!"
After washing up, Ash and Pikachu came to the dining table on the first floor. Ash shouted and quickly began to devour the breakfast prepared by Delia.
Pikachu, imitating Ash, also happily started gobbling down the food Delia had prepared for it.
This scene perfectly fit the saying: "Like trainer, like Pokémon!"
"Slow down, you two!"
The red-haired young woman, Delia, sat across from Ash, smiling.
Her face was full of doting affection for her son, who had only just returned home.
It was a shame he'd only been back a short time, as he was likely leaving again today.
"Oh, right, Mom. I have something to take care of today, so I'll be staying one more day!" Ash suddenly said as he ate.
According to the original Ash's plan, today was the day he was supposed to leave for the Sinnoh region.
But he had something else to do, so he needed to stay another day.
Upon hearing this, Delia first looked at her son with a stunned expression, then paused for a moment.
"That's good. That way, I'll have time to make your clothes look even cooler!"
Delia's smile widened. It was always a good thing for her son to stay an extra day.
After breakfast, Delia hummed a tune as she went back to her room, ready to tailor her son's clothes more meticulously.
"Pikachu, we're going to Professor Oak's lab again!"
A short while later, having finished breakfast, Ash and Pikachu got ready to leave.
"Mom, Pikachu and I are heading to Professor Oak's!" Ash shouted into the house before leaving.
"Be careful on your way!"
Delia's voice came from inside the house. He answered her and then set off with Pikachu.
"Pika! Pika!"
Pikachu waved its small hands as Ash stepped out the door, walking down the roads of Pallet Town, bathed in the warm sunlight.
Along the way, he was greeted warmly by many familiar residents.
Ash nodded in response to each of them and quickly ran in the direction of Professor Oak's laboratory from his memory.
In a flash, he arrived at a red house with a huge windmill. This was the familiar Professor Oak's laboratory he remembered.
He pushed the door open and led Pikachu into the lab.
"Well, if it isn't Ash! Didn't you say you were leaving for the Sinnoh region today? It's not like you to be here still!"
Just then, an old man in a white lab coat walked over and greeted Ash warmly.
He was the leading figure in the research world of the Pokémon universe, one of the most knowledgeable professors, Professor Oak.
"Something came up, so I need to use the Pokémon transfer system in your lab. And I want to see my Pokémon while I'm at it!"
"Oh, the Pokémon transfer system?"
Professor Oak looked puzzled. He hadn't expected that was the reason.
But he didn't say anything more and simply led Ash toward the research area.
At Ash's request, however, Professor Oak led him to the grassy field in the back.
This was the place where other trainers' Pokémon were kept, so naturally, Ash's Pokémon were here as well.
The reason he had come here was to see his Pokémon from the previous regions.
"Alright, Ash, your Pokémon are right up ahead!" Professor Oak said, pointing to the Pokémon not far away.
"Thanks, Professor!"
Ash quickly moved forward, heading toward the Pokémon.
"We meet again, Bulbasaur!"
A green, four-legged creature with a strange bulb on its back was the first to appear before him.
Its appearance was unusual, but it was incredibly cute.
It was none other than the Pokémon with Pokédex number 001, Bulbasaur.
"Bulba~"
Seeing its trainer once again, its large red eyes filled with joy, and it immediately ran and jumped into Ash's arms.
"Bulba~ Bulba~"
Its big eyes seemed to be asking the Pikachu on his shoulder why they were still here today.
Pikachu shrugged its little hands, indicating that it didn't know either.
"Bulbasaur, could you do me a favor and get everyone to come over?"
Seeing the two Pokémon interacting, he couldn't help but interject.
The reason he had come to the backyard was not only to see his many Pokémon but also to select a few members to join him on his journey to Sinnoh.
Since he had taken Ash's place, he certainly wasn't going to do what the original Ash did and leave all these Pokémon to "retire" at Professor Oak's laboratory.
Instead, he would constantly adjust his team's lineup, giving every Pokémon the chance to be fully trained.
"Bulba~"
Bulbasaur in his arms nodded, placed all four feet on the ground, gathered solar energy in the green bulb on its back, and fired a white orb of light into the sky, where it exploded like fireworks.
The next moment, this "Solar Beam" firework acted as a signal, and a large number of Pokémon began to gather.
"Charr~"
"Hoot~"
"Sbar~"
...
"Bay~"
A yellow figure took the lead, rushing ahead of the many Pokémon to get to Ash and knock him to the ground.
"Bay~"
It rubbed its head vigorously against Ash's chest, its eyes squinted into happy crescents.
"Okay, okay, Bayleef, you're awesome!"
The all-yellow Pokémon with a scythe-like leaf on its head was, of course, the most affectionate member of the team, Bayleef.
In the competition to reach Ash first, Bayleef always managed to secure the top spot.
"Bay~"
Apparently praised by Ash, Bayleef rubbed against him even more happily.
"Charr~"
Right behind was Sceptile, a proud warrior that always had a twig in its mouth, looking cool on the surface.
Then came the Flying-type Pokémon Swellow and the shiny Noctowl. Flying always gave them a speed advantage.
After that came Kingler and Muk from Kanto, as well as Snorlax from the Orange Islands.
From Johto were Cyndaquil, Totodile, Heracross, Donphan, and Noctowl.
From Hoenn were Corphish, Torkoal, and Glalie.
And there was the Aipom he had recently caught in Kanto. This little guy was quite mischievous, immediately trying to snatch his hat.
These were all of Ash's Pokémon in the backyard.
Rumbling Rumbling Rumbling!!!
"Oh, right, and this herd of Tauros!"
With a loud sound, he noticed the herd of Tauros passing by him, stampeding freely across the grassland of Professor Oak's backyard.
But this didn't stop Ash from catching up with his many Pokémon.
This was his first time interacting with so many Pokémon in the real world, and he was a little emotional.
He wanted to spend a long time getting to know each and every one of them.
After exchanging pleasantries with each Pokémon, he began to use his cheat to check each Pokémon's stats.
This was the appraisal function that came with his bag system.
From the moment he discovered it, he decided he had to come here to pick out the best Pokémon to take with him to Sinnoh.
"This boy, he's finally decided to come and see his old friends more often!"
Professor Oak hadn't left yet. He was quietly standing there, stroking his chin and watching Ash from a distance, filled with many emotions.
Ash, who was supposed to go straight to Sinnoh, had returned to the lab again.
Judging by his current appearance, he was likely choosing suitable old companions.
That was the right thing to do. If he didn't take his old friends out to get stronger, how could he become an excellent trainer?
While it was fine to train new Pokémon, every single Pokémon should receive care. That way, the strength of every Pokémon could be improved.