087: Student Gathering, Dreams Awaken!
"Hey!! Ash, where have you been? You said you were just going to wander around the camp, but you disappeared for hours! We've been looking for you for so long—"
"We were really worried!" Gary, Blue (Xiaolan), and the others rushed over with worried expressions as Ash finally emerged from the forest alongside Froakie.
Ash had done his research beforehand, checking the information provided about the Valley Camp — he knew that the entire valley was part of the official summer camp grounds and that there were patrol staff stationed throughout, meaning there was minimal danger overall. That's why he had acted so freely.
But Blue and the others didn't know that. They thought the safety zone was only the area within the wooden perimeter fence, and believed the forest beyond was wild, dangerous, and filled with unpredictable Pokémon — similar to the wilderness described in Pokémon Adventures manga when Red first ventured outside Pallet Town.
Before heading out, Ash had casually mentioned to Gary, Tierno, and Trevor — who were staying in the same wooden cabin — that he would "take a stroll around the camp."
However, he had immediately left the fenced area, diving deep into the lush forest, and stayed there for several hours. It was already near dusk by the time he returned to camp.
When Ash failed to show up, Blue and the others had spent more than half an hour frantically searching for him around the designated camp areas. They had even discussed alerting Professor Oak if he remained missing for any longer.
"I'm sorry, everyone," Ash said sincerely. "I took Froakie into the forest for a walk. You know, back before 2007, I never had the chance to venture into the wild so freely like I can now."
"Besides, the entire valley — the forest beyond the camp's living quarters — is part of the Pokémon Summer Camp's protected area. There's little danger, and professional patrol teams constantly monitor it."
"But even so, I should have explained my plans more clearly to you before leaving. I'm really sorry for making you all so worried."
Seeing the genuine concern on their faces, Ash felt a warm surge of emotion. In his previous life, friends like this had been rare. Their worry reminded him of the deep bonds Trainers shared in the manga, like Red, Blue, and Green's trust and care for one another.
"Alright, alright~ Ash, you don't need to apologize so seriously," Blue said with a pout. "But next time, don't just sneak off on your own!"
"Don't worry," Ash said, smiling and nodding. "Next time I want to go out, I'll be sure to tell you all in advance."
However, deep inside, Ash didn't actually promise not to act alone again.
On the contrary, he knew that, in order to cultivate his Viridian Power and maximize the skills he could copy with the system, he would often need to enter the forest alone — just like he did today.
"Alright then, let's hurry to the auditorium!" Gary said, glancing at the setting sun. "Professor Oak just called all the students to gather there."
As everyone talked, they noticed that no other students remained at the dam near the forest camp entrance — it seemed the others had already gathered in the auditorium.
Ash and the others didn't hesitate and hurried toward the assembly hall.
It's worth noting that the only people who searched for Ash around the camp earlier were his roommates — Gary, Tierno, and Trevor — who shared the wooden cabin with him, along with the four girls from Blue's (Xiaolan's) dormitory, including Shauna (Xiaochun).
Goh (Xiaohao), however, only pretended to help at first. He claimed to be searching the camp, but after slipping away to the restroom, he overheard Professor Oak announcing the auditorium gathering and immediately went straight there without informing the others.
Not only did Goh fail to help in finding Ash, but he also didn't relay Professor Oak's message. In fact, the others only learned about the gathering from different students they encountered while searching.
Ash, unaware of Goh's actions, didn't think too deeply about it, and neither did Blue or the others — everyone was too focused on reaching the auditorium on time.
When they finally arrived, all the students had already taken their seats, arranged by their assigned wooden cabins. Professor Oak stood on a slightly elevated podium at the front, his presence calm and dignified as ever — just like his portrayal in the Pokémon Adventures manga during the Viridian School events.
Thankfully, Professor Oak didn't reprimand Ash's group for arriving late. After all, he and his research assistant Kenji (Gangping) had seen Ash leave the camp and head into the forest earlier in the afternoon. They simply hadn't expected him to remain out for so long.
The students seated below didn't comment either. Since it was only the first day of camp, everyone was still relatively unfamiliar with one another.
Moreover, Ash had left a strong impression after this afternoon's "Hello Battle," a special welcoming event where new Trainers challenged each other. Ash had achieved five consecutive victories — defeating several promising students including local Kanto talents and even one Carlos Region exchange student — thus earning recognition as the camp's unofficial number one.
His companions — Gary, Blue, and Serena — had also performed impressively, which further cemented their small group's reputation. As a result, most students regarded them with a mix of admiration and slight intimidation.
Therefore, although Ash and his group arrived a bit late, neither Professor Oak nor the other students made any fuss. However, sitting in the front row with his roommates, Goh pursed his lips and frowned slightly, clearly displeased — a subtle detail that hinted at his budding competitive spirit seen later in Pokémon Journeys manga adaptations.
It's also important to mention that Goh's cabin bore the Squirtle flag — one of the Kanto Royal Starter flags that Professor Oak had specially designated for close observation and bonus points during assessments.
Goh's three roommates included Nobuo (Nobi Xiaoxiong) from Pallet Town, and two visiting students — Fat Qu and Xiaohu — from Geosenge Town in the Kalos Region.
After apologizing briefly to Professor Oak and the assembled trainees, Ash and his companions quickly sat down at their assigned cabin seats.
Professor Oak, standing atop the podium, clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. His commanding aura was reminiscent of the Professor Oak seen rallying Trainers during the early stages of the Pokémon Adventures manga.
"Alright, students of the Pokémon Summer Camp," he began warmly. "After arriving at the Forest Camp this noon, the real adventure of your summer officially begins."
"Today, you have already received the Pokémon I carefully prepared for your training. Through the trainer-style greeting battles this afternoon, I believe you've begun forming initial impressions of your peers."
"However, mere battling isn't enough. Real trust and partnership among Trainers come from understanding one another."
"Thus, before dinner, we are holding a brief student meeting. I hope each of you will come to the stage, introduce yourself, and share your dream — so that we may better understand each other."
After finishing, Oak glanced at the first student seated at the right end of the first row, signaling him to begin.
The chosen student, undaunted, stepped lively onto the stage, exuding a cheerful, sunny energy.
"My name is Kaji! I'm from Celadon City, Kanto. I love catching bugs in Celadon Park! My favorite food is udon noodles, and my dream is to become a truly great Pokémon Trainer!!"
Following him, another boy approached confidently.
"I'm Sugaki, from Viridian City, Kanto. I enjoy reading and training strategies. My dream is to someday become the Champion Trainer of the Kanto League."
Next came a composed young girl, her demeanor calm but determined.
"My name is Xunzi. I hail from Four Sisters Town, Kanto. My hobby is wearing traditional kimonos. My dream is to become the first female Champion of the Kanto League. And right now, during this camp — my personal goal is to defeat Ash!"
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