"Thanks, Professor." Ash gave a sincere bow of gratitude.
With Professor Oak's status in the League, his promise to handle the Poké Ball Transfer Machine meant the issue was practically settled.
Relieved that the biggest hurdle had been cleared, Ash finally went to the cafeteria for lunch.
But Oak wasn't so lucky—he had work to do.
After placing a request with the League for a portable Poké Ball transfer machine, the Professor immediately mounted his Dragonite and flew off to Viridian City Hospital.
That morning, during the fishing event, a wild Gyarados had severely injured a camper.
The news spread quickly as soon as Goh was rushed to the hospital.
When parents send their children to a Pokémon Summer Camp, the minimum expectation is their safety.
What made things worse was that this year's Summer Camp wasn't just a local affair—it was a cultural exchange program between Kanto and Kalos.
Naturally, it had garnered significant public attention.
Now that such a dangerous accident had occurred, both Professor Oak and the Kanto League were under intense media scrutiny.
But inside the self-contained camp, Ash and the others had no idea what kind of headlines were flying around outside.
Even if they did, they likely wouldn't care.
Ash's focus right now was much simpler:
Do well in the daily Summer Camp activities.
Win the title of [Top Camp Student] at the end.
Earn the sweet rewards that came with it.
Still, he wasn't overly anxious about it either.
In truth, Ash was enjoying every second of camp life.
He was surrounded by friends—and Serena was here, too.
And once camp ended, she'd return to Kalos.
That thought made him feel a little reluctant to say goodbye.
If possible…
He wanted to spend more time with her.
After lunch, Ash turned to the group.
"Since today's fishing contest ended early, we've got the afternoon to ourselves. What are you guys planning to do?"
Gary shrugged.
"Not much to do in camp, honestly. I'm thinking of using the afternoon to train Fletchling."
"Whether it's for the upcoming activities or to prepare for our starter Pokémon after camp ends, it's never a bad idea to get some hands-on training in."
Green chimed in too.
"I'm also planning to train Dedenne. If I place well in the final rankings, I want to apply to make Dedenne my official starter—just like you're doing, Ash."
[Pokémon: Dedenne]
LV.5
Type: Electric/Fairy
Nature: Timid
Abilities: Cheek Pouch (Hidden Ability: Plus)
Potential: [Red] (Elite)
Skills (Copyable): Nuzzle, Tail Whip, Tackle
Dedenne was so adorable that Green had originally wanted to catch a Pikachu for her starter—but now she had completely fallen for this little mouse.
And honestly, Ash agreed with her choice.
After all, starter Pokémon distributed by the League usually had [Red] (Elite) potential, and Green's Dedenne clearly met that standard.
It was just like Jeanette's Bellsprout from yesterday's challenge—it also had Red potential.
So if Gary, Tierno, or the others ended up with Pokémon of the same level, Ash would absolutely recommend they keep them as their starters too.
Another big factor in Ash supporting Green's choice?
Dedenne had a Hidden Ability, and it was a Fairy-type.
In Ash's eyes, no type was better than another.
Dragon-types weren't inherently superior to Bug-types.
But that was his personal belief.
In the broader Trainer community, however, type absolutely mattered.
Dragon-types were viewed as regal and powerful.
Fairy-types were considered rare and mysterious.
Compared to the standard starter types—Water, Fire, and Grass—having a Fairy-type as your first Pokémon was a major win.
...
Tierno and Trevor shared their own plans for the afternoon.
But then, Serena's cheeks turned slightly pink as she glanced nervously at Ash.
"Um… Ash, do you have any plans this afternoon?
Could I ask you to… maybe guide me a little in training my Pokémon?"
Ash blinked in surprise.
Shy Serena was the one inviting him?
That caught him off guard—in a good way.
"Sure, no problem." he replied, smiling warmly.
Looks like yesterday's trial really gave her a confidence boost, Ash thought. She's definitely becoming more open.
Serena had no idea what Ash was thinking, but when she heard his response, her eyes lit up with joy.
"That's wonderful! Thank you, Ash!!"
"No worries." He waved his hand.
"Well, since everyone has their afternoon planned, let's all do our own thing."
"Got it."
"Okay~"
...
With the Top Camper Award and Top 3 rewards as motivation, and the rankings still up for grabs, everyone was brimming with energy.
Gary, Green, and the others dispersed quickly to start training.
In the clearing, only Ash and Serena remained.
Ash turned toward her.
"Alright then, Serena. Let's get going."
"O-okay!" she replied with a nod, her big eyes sparkling nervously.
Ash didn't mind her flustered look.
Sure, yesterday's victory had boosted her confidence, but changing a shy personality takes time.
They left camp and headed into the forest, taking a different path than the one Ash used yesterday.
The forest was pleasantly cool, the air rich with moisture and oxygen, leaving them both feeling refreshed.
Even the sluggishness that usually hit after lunch vanished without them noticing.
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