"The Pokémon Summer Camp hosted by Professor Oak this weekend?!"
Ash's eyes lit up instantly at his mother's words.
Professor Oak's annual Pokémon Summer Camp was a big deal for the kids of Pallet Town. And if Ash's memory served him right, this particular camp… was where something very interesting would happen.
"There should be a cute girl from the Kalos region in this one…" he murmured under his breath, a sly grin creeping across his face.
"Well?" Delia smiled knowingly, crossing her arms. "Didn't you always beg to join Professor Oak's summer camp? If you stay in the hospital for just two days like the doctor said, I'll sign you up."
Ash didn't hesitate for even a second. "Deal! I'll stay! I'll be the most obedient patient in the whole world!"
He pumped his fist with excitement. Not only was this camp a turning point in the storyline he remembered, but it was also the perfect chance to see real Pokémon up close—and maybe meet someone special.
"Good boy." Delia laughed softly. "I'll call Professor Oak right away to get you registered."
Seeing her son so eager and full of life again, the worry lines on her face finally softened into a gentle smile.
…
…
Two days later, after his condition stabilized, Nurse Joy gave the all-clear. Ash was practically bouncing in place as Delia filled out the discharge forms.
The taxi rolled to a stop on the dirt road leading into Pallet Town. Surrounded by green fields and gentle hills, a cozy little white-fenced house came into view.
"Slow down, Ash!" Delia called, paying the driver as her son practically leapt from the car.
"Got it, Mom!" Ash waved dismissively, grinning ear to ear as he stared at the house.
The crisp white fences, the blooming flowers in the yard, the faint smell of the countryside breeze—everything was exactly as he'd seen in his dreams.
He had imagined this place so many times before. To finally stand here, as if he truly belonged—it almost didn't feel real.
"Come help me with the luggage, mister future Pokémon Master," Delia said teasingly as she fumbled for the keys in her bag.
"Oh—right!" Ash blinked and rushed over, taking the suitcase from her hands.
...
Pallet Town was peaceful as ever. But as he carried the luggage inside, a strange thought crept into Ash's mind.
The father of the "original" Ash Ketchum… who was he?
In the anime, it had always been a mystery. Fans in his previous life joked that Professor Oak might secretly be his father—using that now-infamous meme: "Your mom's home alone? Here, take this Pikachu and become a Pokémon Master."
But jokes aside, it was true that Oak had always treated Ash with a level of care that went beyond simple neighborly concern. Maybe it was because he knew Ash's father. Maybe it was because Oak saw potential in him.
And there was more.
In the movie Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, there were hints—subtle but unmistakable—that Ash carried the bloodline of the Aura Guardians.
Now, standing here as Ash himself, those old theories didn't seem so far-fetched.
Still, despite digging through all the memories of this body, he hadn't found a single solid clue about his father's whereabouts.
In those memories, the young Ash had asked his mother countless times, "Mom, where's Dad? Who is he?"
And every time, Delia would smile softly and say, "Your father's a great Pokémon Trainer, sweetheart. He's traveling far away right now—training hard so that one day, you'll be proud of him."
Ash smiled faintly at the thought.
It was a nice story. Comforting for a child.
But as a grown man who'd already lived and died once, he knew the truth was simpler—and sadder. His "father" was likely long gone.
Still, he didn't feel angry. If anything, he felt a quiet respect. If his father had been a Trainer, then that drive—the will to explore and push forward—was something he had inherited.
And honestly? That was enough.
After all, what mattered more to him now was the woman who had raised him.
From the memories he'd inherited, and from the past two days of seeing her genuine care and warmth, Delia Ketchum had already become his real mother in every sense of the word.
He had promised to treat her that way—and he meant it.
"Thanks, Mom," he said softly, passing her the suitcase once they entered the house.
Delia smiled, brushing his hair fondly. "You've grown so much, Ash. You really scared me back there, but you seem… different lately. More thoughtful."
Ash laughed awkwardly. "Guess nearly drowning'll do that to you."
She didn't think much of it, though. Her son had always been energetic, maybe even a little reckless—but lately, he seemed just a bit more mature. That alone made her proud.
"Alright, go rest upstairs," Delia said as she set down the luggage. "I'll make us lunch."
"Okay!" Ash bounded up the stairs two at a time, brimming with his usual energy.
His room was exactly as he remembered it from the show—simple but full of warmth. A wooden bed frame, a small desk, and a blue carpet that looked soft enough to sleep on. Posters of Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur decorated the wall, while a quirky Poliwag pencil sharpener sat on the desk, still clutching a half-chewed pencil in its mouth.
And there, on the nightstand, was the red-and-white Poké Ball–shaped alarm clock that he remembered breaking countless times in the anime.
He sat down on the bed, running his fingers across the soft blanket.
"Don't worry, Ash," he whispered to the memory of the boy who came before him. "I'll make your dream come true. I'll become a Pokémon Master—for both of us."
Just then, the doorbell rang downstairs.
Ding-dong... Ding-dong...
"Delia! Is Ash home?" called a familiar young voice from outside.
Ash froze for a second, his heart skipping a beat. He knew that voice all too well.
...
...