All things considered, that 3v3 debut battle at the Viridian City Arena yesterday evening truly cemented Ash's reputation as a genius, spreading his name throughout Kanto and etching it deep into public consciousness.
Ash himself remained in the quiet, peaceful Pallet Town, living life as calmly and ordinarily as ever.
But outside?
The discussions surrounding him had already boiled over.
That was precisely why, after Ash registered and activated his social media account, the topic #AshOpensSocialMedia shot straight onto the trending list—and why his follower count skyrocketed at an astonishing rate.
Yet despite this wave of frenzy centered around him, neither Ash nor his family were affected in the slightest.
Aside from the League explicitly forbidding outsiders from coming to Pallet Town to disturb him, the most important reason was simple—
Ash's mindset was rock-solid.
Pallet Town wasn't cut off from the internet. Ash knew very well what the outside world was saying about him.
He just… didn't care.
What outsiders saw was only that he had trained Pokémon to Advanced Tier in a single month.
They had no idea how much effort he had poured in—or how many times he had outwitted and clashed with hostile forces just to protect himself and his family.
Having lived two lives and weathered countless storms, did he really think a bit of public chatter could shake his resolve?
What a joke.
Ash understood perfectly well that praise, discussion, fame, and popularity were all illusory—like a handful of dry sand.
The tighter you tried to clutch it, the faster it slipped through your fingers.
Ignore it, keep a calm heart—and it would remain by your side.
Meanwhile, Rotom continued to update Ash's daily life at irregular intervals, steadily expanding his influence and drawing in more and more followers.
But as Rotom kept posting, the tone of public discussion gradually shifted.
At first, ordinary Kanto citizens, netizens, and Trainers alike believed Ash had everything simply because he was a born genius, that all his achievements were purely talent-driven.
Then they saw Rotom's updates—
Ash waking up at 6:30 a.m. to take his Pokémon out for morning trainingA six-year-old boy training alongside his Pokémon, already possessing clean, defined muscle linesAfter lunch, Ash staying indoors to read and study instead of playing around like most kids his ageAsh traveling outside town to Stone Bridge and the wild fields of Dashiwan Valley to heal wild Pokémon—
from the orderly scenes on-site, it was clear this wasn't a one-time act of kindnessTo boost his shiny Feebas's confidence, Ash earnestly learning how to groom and beautify Pokémon—
his clumsy motions made people laugh, yet his seriousness inspired both admiration and respect
After all, not every Trainer could put such wholehearted dedication into raising their Pokémon.
In the evenings, Ash watched TV and chatted with his mother, Delia KetchumBefore sleep, he never missed his nightly psychic meditation training
People finally realized—
You thought he relied on talent alone.
In reality, talent was only the beginning—the effort he put in was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.
You thought all he did was train to grow stronger.
In truth, he also cared deeply for others, setting aside time to help wild Pokémon.
You thought geniuses were arrogant.
In reality, Ash was gentle by nature—sincere and friendly to his companions, considerate toward his Pokémon, and unfailingly upright in character.
The label of "genius" was quietly peeled away.
In its place, people affixed something greater, loftier, and far more worthy of respect.
When the people of Kanto, countless netizens, and Trainers across the region celebrated Ash as the Light of Kanto and the future Indigo League Champion—
Ash himself remained utterly calm, neither elated nor sorrowful.
At first, many didn't understand.
But once the reason was voiced, realization dawned.
Of course.
An Alliance Champion was merely a milestone.
Ash's true dream—his real goal—was to stand at the very summit of the Trainer profession,
to become the strongest Trainer in the world,
to become a Pokémon Master.
The bold words Ash had spoken before were never childish bravado.
He meant them.
And at this moment, the people of Kanto finally understood—
he had always been serious.
Now that they truly grasped this, Kanto's citizens, netizens, and Trainers felt a profound sense of respect toward the six-year-old boy.
In him, they saw greatness—
something that made them instinctively forget his age and feel genuine reverence from the heart.
Many fans left messages under Ash's posts, saying that what they most wanted to see now was no longer—
His handsome, adorable face.
His beautifully sculpted physique.
Or any fleeting image.
But instead—
"The future we long for most—the future of Ash Ketchum."
-----
Carrying Rotom in phone form, Ash arrived at Professor Oak's Laboratory on the hillside.
"Um… Uncle Thorne, is the Professor in?" Ash asked, finding Oak's assistant.
"So it's you, Ash," Thorne laughed, rubbing Ash's head. "You've been on fire lately—people all across Kanto are talking about you."
"Uncle Thorne, you're surprisingly free," Ash teased.
"I didn't think researchers even had time to go online. Or did the Professor give you too little work? Want me to help you apply for more?"
"Uh—!" Thorne froze, his expression stiffening.
"You little brat—don't you dare badmouth me in front of the Professor. I already have more work than I can handle!"
"I don't even go online. Everything I know about you, Doctor Silas told me."
"I never said I was going to speak ill of you," Ash replied innocently.
"What are you imagining? Am I that kind of person?"
"By the way, is the Professor in? I wanted to ask him something."
"He is. He's in the archive room. Go straight ahead."
"Got it."
After greeting Thorne, Ash headed toward the archive room.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't Ash carrying Rotom—
It was Rotom following him.
Much like the Rotom Dex he once had while studying in the Alola region, Rotom—now inhabiting a phone—was still able to hover and fly using magnetism.
Its smooth, stable movement made Ash think that if he ever did outdoor livestreaming, it would be incredibly convenient.
"Knock, knock~"
"Come in~"
…
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T/N:
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