[Dralas]: Hmph. I'm old… sand got in my eyes. I can't watch this kind of thing.
[Gardevoir]: There seems to be a special bond between Ash and his Pokémon. I believe that's why he can trigger the Bond Phenomenon with Greninja.
[Cynthia]: A truly powerful Trainer and their Pokémon always move toward each other reciprocally.
[Misty]: Even though Ash is pretty dense, he really pours his heart into his Pokémon. Back then, when Charmander was abandoned by its Trainer, Ash ran through the pouring rain to carry it to the Pokémon Center.
After saying that, Misty pouted unhappily.
It seemed she had remembered something again.
If that idiot Ash had even half the emotional awareness he showed toward Pokémon when dealing with people, she wouldn't have ended up stuck managing the Cerulean Gym.
Back when they parted ways, she had already given him plenty of obvious hints…
---
[Dawn]: Exactly! When Infernape couldn't control its Blaze and went berserk, Ash put himself in danger and blocked Flame Wheel with his own body to help it calm down.
[Leon]: A bond like that is something Trainers who casually catch Pokémon just to collect achievements will never understand.
[Lance]: Hmph! Can people like that even be called Trainers?
As an investigator for the Kanto region, Lance had always been at odds with Team Rocket, the criminal organization that captured Pokémon to dominate the world. Naturally, he looked down on Trainers who treated Pokémon that way.
Seeing the comments from the two Champions, Goh suddenly felt extremely embarrassed.
Why did it feel like everyone was targeting him… and they even had evidence?
---
[Giovanni]: Heh. Only the weak care about something as vague as bonds. If you possess powerful Pokémon, you are naturally strong.
---
Watching the scene on the screen, Ash from the white world froze.
So Infernape and the others had always been working hard to help him achieve his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.
Yet he hadn't continued traveling with them afterward…
---
— In the Red Light Screen —
Seeing that Ash seemed to have found his answer, Gary Oak couldn't help but laugh.
Although the two had clashed since childhood, after so many years they had long acknowledged each other as true rivals.
"What are your plans next?"
Ash called out, stopping Gary as he was about to leave.
"I'm going to grow stronger with my Pokémon and become Champion—just like you."
"You're not going to become a researcher anymore? Isn't your goal Professor Oak?"
"That's exactly why I need to become Champion first."
Without waiting for Ash to ask further, Gary continued.
"While traveling through the Kanto region, I learned something."
"My grandfather—Yukinari Oak—was actually the very first Champion of the Kanto Pokémon League."
"So we'll save our battle for an official match in the future."
"When that day comes, I'll see just how close you are to becoming a Pokémon Master."
"Eh?!"
---
Just like Ash from the red world, everyone in the chatroom was stunned.
The most authoritative scholar in the Pokémon world—
Professor Oak—
had once been the first Champion of the Pokémon League?!
---
[Ash]: Even though it's a parallel timeline, some things are different from our world. For example, Gary in our world wouldn't say something so encouraging. So maybe Professor Oak really was a powerful Trainer in that world.
Mainly because Oak's usual image of being bullied by his Pokémon was so deeply ingrained that it was hard to imagine him as a Champion.
[Gary]: Idiot. With your intelligence, you'd never understand the meaning. Red Ash understood immediately. The gap between people is just too big ╮(╯_╰)╭
[Ash]: You're the idiot! I don't know who only made it to the Top 32 in the Indigo League~
[Gary]: ???
[Gary]: Are you digging up my scars now? That's still better than someone who lost in the Top 16 because his Pokémon refused to obey him and slacked off!
The two rivals quickly began exposing each other's embarrassing history in the chatroom.
---
[Tracey]: Professor Oak, is that true?
Because Tracey had spent so much time working with Oak, he had some understanding of his strength.
So he asked directly.
[Professor Oak]: Ah, that was all a long time ago. Back then, I had no opponents left, so I switched careers to Pokémon research.
[Steven Stone]: I'd like to report someone humble-bragging! What do you mean you changed careers because there were no opponents?!
[Professor Birch]: Holy cow! To be a top authority in Pokémon research and a League Champion in battle… Professor Oak, when you work this hard, have you considered the feelings of your peers?!
[Agatha]: Hmph. I really envy you young people nowadays. Back then we had to face the strongest Trainer of his era—Yukinari Oak.
[Dralas]: That kid gave me quite a few surprises back then. It's just a shame he later became fascinated with research and stepped down as Champion.
---
Back in the Red Light Screen
That evening, after returning home, Ash told Delia Ketchum that he planned to set out on another journey.
Hearing the news, Delia said nothing.
The next morning, she simply handed him a backpack and some clothes.
"I thought you'd stay home for a while after becoming the Alola League Champion, but I didn't expect you to leave again so soon."
"A mother understands her child's heart best."
"Just go and travel properly—don't leave any regrets."
"Mom…"
Ash's voice caught in his throat.
He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Time was short, so I couldn't design any new outfits. These are the clothes you wore on your first journey."
"I adjusted the size to match how you look now."
"Hurry up and try them on."
Delia held the clothes up to him with a gentle smile.
But behind that smile was a deep reluctance to see him go.
---
Just then, Professor Oak arrived.
"Gary already told me about your plans."
"When Infernape and the others were training in my backyard, they caused quite a stir."
"It's good you're taking them with you this time."
"This is a Pokémon Transfer Device I recently developed."
"Once a Rotom enters it, you can carry it with you—and it also functions as a Pokédex."
As he spoke, a Rotom Pokédex with small wings flew out from behind him.
"Hello, Ash! My name is Rotom. Please take care of me from now on!"
"Haha! That's awesome!"
"This way I can keep Bulbasaur and the others with me all the time. Thank you, Professor Oak!"
"Don't mention it."
"Travel safely."
"I'll take good care of your mother."
Oak waved his hand.
In his heart, he cared about Ash just as much as Gary.
He had long regarded Ash as his own grandson.
---
"Let's go, Pikachu!"
"Our goal—to become a Pokémon Master!"
In that moment, Ash returned to the confident, cheerful boy everyone knew.
"Pika!"
Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder with practiced ease.
Under the rising morning sun, the two set off toward a brand-new journey.
---
At the same time, as Red Ash began his adventure, a familiar background song played in the livestream.
🎵 Pokémon Theme Song (Pokémon Theme)
"I got a Pokémon!"
"Whether in fire or water, in the grass or the forest…"
"In the soil, in the clouds…"
"…or even inside that girl's skirt…"
(The lyrics were written phonetically after the original singer listened to the song all night. He even dreamed about it!)
But if it helps everyone remember this classic song, it's worth it.
If you've never heard it before—
You absolutely have to listen to it at least once.
It's truly a classic.
---
To be continued…