…
One by one, the campers went up to the stage to introduce themselves.
As each student spoke their name, Ash would glance toward the large electronic leaderboard mounted on the back wall of the hall: [Camp Performance Score Rankings].
If the student on stage ranked in the top ten, Ash would listen carefully to their introduction. If they ranked below tenth, however, he would avert his gaze — uninterested in the ramblings of a background character.
Though the students had all sorts of quirky and diverse hobbies, when it came to dreams, their answers were surprisingly uniform.
Champion.
Everyone aspired to one position — League Champion.
Campers from the Kanto region dreamed of becoming the Kanto League Champion. Those from Kalos looked to one day claim the Kalos Championship title. Some had different ambitions — becoming Pokémon Breeders, Coordinators, or even Performers like the current Kalos Champion and celebrity, Diantha. A few were still unsure, admitting they didn't know what their dream was yet.
For example, both Serena and Chloe expressed during their turns that they weren't sure about their future paths or what they truly liked just yet.
Meanwhile, Oak's assistant, Thorne, stood beside him on stage, attentively recording each camper's name, along with their stated hobbies and dreams. If a camper mentioned a dream during their intro, their name was circled. Thorne also added a special mark next to a select few names, based on their performance in the earlier battles.
"Next!"
The intros continued — some students nervous, others brimming with excitement — until finally, it was Ash's turn.
He stepped onto the stage, all eyes following him, including those of Professor Oak.
Ash spoke with a calm face and a steady tone:
"I'm Ash, from Pallet Town. I don't have any particular favorite or disliked foods, and I don't have a favorite type of Pokémon either — because I love all Pokémon, regardless of their type or species!"
"My favorite things to do are training the Pokémon I've caught and venturing into the wild to interact with all kinds of Pokémon in their natural environment."
"My dream is to reach the summit of what it means to be a Trainer… and become the strongest in the world."
His words were spoken plainly, without flair, but they hit like a thunderclap in the silent hall.
The summit of a Trainer? The strongest in the world?
Most students who wanted to become Trainers had said their dream was to be a League Champion — after all, that was the highest honor they could imagine. A Champion was the pinnacle in their eyes.
Ash had just crushed that ceiling.
Everyone had expected him to say "I want to become a Champion," especially after his dominating five-win streak that afternoon. Even Oak had predicted it.
But instead, Ash had said… the strongest in the Pokémon world.
The room froze for a second — and then erupted inside their hearts.
Some students, particularly those already awed by his strength in the earlier battles, felt chills. A rush of admiration surged through them. His words set their blood on fire.
Among them were many girls and a few pure-hearted boys who now looked at Ash with sparkling eyes, their admiration turning into near worship.
But not everyone was inspired.
Some students scoffed in silence.
"Hah. He only won because he was lucky enough to get Froakie," someone muttered. "If I got Froakie, I could've pulled five wins too."
"Just talking big. Acting like he's all that."
"What a bragger. Strongest in the world? Please. He's not even using his own Pokémon."
Ash stepped down from the stage, calmly extending his Aura Perception. The mixed sea of awe, doubt, and jealousy didn't shake him.
He wasn't arrogant, nor cold. But some things didn't need to be explained. Time would prove everything.
Still, there were two people in the room who believed in him unconditionally.
One was Serena, sitting beside Green. She had already become Ash's number-one fan, believing in him with all her heart — no reason needed.
The other… was Professor Oak.
But unlike Serena's blind trust, Oak's belief came from careful observation and analysis.
"Loves all Pokémon equally. Loves to train the ones he's caught. Enjoys immersing himself in nature to meet wild Pokémon… huh."
"Even if he doesn't end up as the world's strongest Trainer," Oak thought, "with that level of insight and passion, he's got all the makings of a top-tier Pokémon Professor."
"But his natural talent as a Trainer is undeniable. He's driven, gifted, and aiming higher than anyone else in this camp."
"Ash… I'm really looking forward to your future."
As Ash returned to his seat, Oak smiled to himself.
—
After everyone had introduced themselves, Oak clapped again and addressed the campers:
"Now that you've all shared your names, interests, and dreams, I hope you've gotten to know each other better."
"But allow me to remind you — this summer camp includes ten performance evaluations."
"The five practice matches you all participated in today served as the first evaluation. Based on your performance, we've calculated the scores and compiled the current leaderboard, which you can now see on the screen behind me."
"Each evaluation adds to your total score. At the end of the camp, the top three campers with the highest cumulative points will receive the title of Outstanding Summer Camp Trainer… and will earn generous rewards."
"So whether you're currently ranked high or low — don't slack off. The competition's only just begun!"
As he stepped aside, Oak gestured to the massive leaderboard behind him.
With that, the hall buzzed with excitement again, everyone's fighting spirit reignited.
The meet-and-greet had officially concluded — but for Ash, his journey to the top had only just begun.
...
...
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