The forest near Pallet Town was like a backyard to Ash. Holding Serena, he walked along familiar paths and soon encountered Oak with a group of children.
"Serena? Thank goodness, you found Ash."
The Professor, who had rushed over, gradually lost his anxious expression. He had been looking for Serena's whereabouts and was truly worried sick.
The other children, who also looked nervous, visibly relaxed.
However, one girl with lilac-colored hair showed a puzzled expression.
"Ash big brother... why is he still holding that Serena?"
"Who knows? Maybe he can't bear to let go~" Blue, standing beside her, smiled, looking quite interested.
He skipped summer camp, yet still managed to pick up a lost camper girl. It's hard to say if he has good connections or good luck... "The one who caused trouble has finally shown up."
Suddenly, a harsh voice came from among the children, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
It was a dark-skinned boy, about Ash's age. He stood with his hands on his hips, a smug look on his face, scrutinizing Ash and Serena with an 'I knew it' expression, as if showing off how amazing and unique he was.
In short, from his expression to his features, he was the type that made people uncomfortable no matter how you looked at him.
"This..." Being accused like this, Serena's expression involuntarily darkened, and the grievances she had just managed to calm returned.
"Goh, rein it in!" The long-braided girl beside the dark-skinned boy kept tugging at his sleeve, but couldn't stop him.
"Chloe, don't pull me, I didn't say anything wrong~"
"Your name is Goh, right? I haven't heard that name. You shouldn't be a camper from this batch." Carefully setting down Serena, Ash turned to the dark-skinned boy and said expressionlessly.
"Of course he isn't!" The lilac-haired girl spoke first. "Chloe brought him here. When the Professor was explaining Pokémon knowledge, he kept interrupting and didn't care about others; when Serena got lost, he was the one constantly complaining about the trouble!"
"Oh, is that how Lila says it happened?"
His scrutinizing gaze gradually grew colder. Those who knew him well knew this was a prelude to Ash getting angry!
Indeed, he couldn't be treated normally... Ash had previously thought that when facing a child of only six or seven, he should try to restrain himself and not impose the negative feelings from the original story onto the other party.
But after less than a minute of interaction, Ash confirmed... Some people are genuinely born with a punchable face, and their purpose in appearing is simply to disgust others~
"Did I say anything wrong? She *is* causing trouble." The dark-skinned boy still looked indifferent. "Besides, if Chloe hadn't insisted on calling me, I wouldn't want to come to any summer camp. I've seen all these Pokémon at her family's research lab, and I know all the knowledge this Professor is teaching; I can even point out his mistakes... Woah! What are you doing?!"
The dark-skinned boy was still annoyingly chattering when Ash suddenly reached out and firmly grabbed his collar!
"Nothing, just giving you a lesson!" Ash said coldly. "Goh, is it? If your adults haven't taught you basic respect and manners, then I will!"
"You... let go of me! Someone, do something, quickly make him let go!"
Goh initially struggled angrily, but he couldn't break free from Ash's grip. As the pressure on his neck gradually increased, he could no longer maintain his previous arrogant demeanor, and his legs trembled with fear, afraid that Ash's fist would smash into his face the next second.
When Ash got angry, even the most troublesome Pokémon in the vicinity would give him a wide berth. How could a young, mischievous child like him possibly withstand it?
"Ash, that's enough... he's just a child." Oak spoke up to dissuade him. He knew Ash was defending him, but he couldn't just watch another child get beaten.
As for the fact that Ash was also a child, he had long since overlooked it... "Please... let go of Goh, okay? Otherwise, I'll apologize for him, alright?" Chloe, with the long braid, also rushed over, pleading with Ash through tears.
"I can let go of him, but he must apologize to the Professor and Serena himself!" Ash glanced at the girl who was on the verge of tears, and after some thought, released Goh.
Oak and the other children are here, and the Summer Camp must continue. It really wasn't appropriate to make such a big scene.
"Damn it! You bastard..."
"Goh, stop talking! Hurry up and apologize to Oak and Serena~" Seeing that Goh still wanted to argue, Xiaochun quickly pulled his sleeve, trying to dissuade him.
She felt like she was constantly worrying sick over this Childhood Friend... "Fine, I'll apologize then... So annoying~" Goh reluctantly shook off Xiaochun's hand and sullenly turned to Oak and Serena, "You two, I'm sorry... Is that good enough?!"
His final resentful question was clearly directed at Ash.
"We can let this slide today, but you better remember this... No matter how much Pokémon knowledge you possess, it is not an excuse for you to disrespect Oak!" Ash glared coldly at Goh, causing the latter to shiver again.
"Furthermore... I don't need you to understand Serena's feelings just because you didn't get lost in the forest. But since you insist on calling others a nuisance, you better not cause any trouble yourself. Stay obediently by Oak's side until the Summer Camp ends! Don't say I didn't warn you... This forest doesn't welcome you!!"
After the reprimand, Ash ignored the annoying dark-skinned boy, picked Serena up in a Princess Carry again, and left.
(Wait... why is he carrying me again?)
Serena couldn't help but blush. She had wanted to say that she could try walking now, but Ash didn't give her the chance.
However, she didn't struggle; instead, she enjoyed continuing to nestle in Ash's arms, stealing glances at his face so close to hers.
Not only did he save her, but he also stood up for her like this... Serena felt an overwhelming sense of security right now~
"Wait... why is he carrying her again?" Returning to the campers, Lila watched the backs of Ash and Serena as they left, feeling bewildered... and slightly disappointed.
That feeling was as if her beloved older brother Ash was about to be snatched away by someone else... "Hmph, that guy is really hateful. I clearly wasn't wrong~" As for the dark-skinned boy who was practically scared senseless, he quickly reverted to his obnoxious self. "Getting lost and causing trouble—I wouldn't be that useless."
"Goh, just stop talking for a bit... Hey, Goh!"
Xiaochun next to him tried to advise him again, but Goh waved her away like a bothersome fly, and once more began swaggering in front of various Pokémon, showing off his common knowledge.
He didn't know that a certain girl was secretly watching him with an inscrutable gaze...