c145: Ash and Serena, a Perfect Understanding!!
"Ash, you bastard, I'm going to end your four-match winning streak today!" Although he had shown reluctance in every possible way before, Okazaki now goaded by cheers from classmates and a firm nudge from his teammate had finally accepted his fate.
No longer hesitant or dragging his feet as he had done earlier, Okazaki now stood tall with defiant eyes, staring at Ash with a fire lit inside him. His once-forced participation had turned into full-on fighting spirit.
"Okazaki, that's the spirit!" shouted Keisuke, his teammate. "Today, we'll bring down Ash and Serena's winning streak!"
Keisuke stretched out a strong, calloused hand one earned from physical drills and fieldwork over the last two weeks and gave Okazaki a heavy slap on the back. The force made Okazaki grimace in pain, but he didn't complain. The camaraderie was genuine.
Seeing this lively scene, Ash and Serena exchanged a knowing smile. Their synergy had grown deeply rooted over the summer camp from tactical discussions in the field to developing a silent rhythm during battle.
On the sidelines, Professor Oak, who had been quietly watching, allowed a gentle smile to bloom across his face. The warm interaction among Ash, Okazaki, Keisuke, and the rest of the campers was exactly the kind of bond he hoped this summer camp would nurture.
Two weeks ago, they had arrived as strangers from different regions Pallet Town, Viridian, Cerulean, and beyond. But now, they had become friends who could banter, spar, and trust each other with shared goals and laughter.
As the lead organizer of the Pokémon Summer Camp, this development fulfilled Oak's expectations completely.
After all, being a Pokémon Trainer is not just about forming a deep bond with one's Pokémon. Fostering strong connections and respect among peers is equally important these friendships often shape a Trainer's journey and support them in future challenges, including Pokémon Leagues or intense Gym battles.
But Oak didn't forget the match at hand. Seeing that Okazaki and Keisuke had entered the field with determined expressions, Oak, serving as the official referee, raised a hand and declared firmly, "Challengers, please send out your Pokémon!"
"Let's go, Squirtle! Use Headbutt and knock Ash's smug face off!" Okazaki shouted, his voice filled with conviction.
"Charmander, time to light things up let them see your flame!" Keisuke added confidently.
Boom~
As soon as Professor Oak's command ended, both challengers threw their Poké Balls high into the air without a second's hesitation. Twin flashes of light lit up the training field, and the battlefield welcomed two iconic starters: a blue turtle and an orange lizard.
Yes—as it turned out—like Rinto, Okazaki and Keisuke were among the few lucky summer camp students chosen to receive starter Pokémon from the traditional Kanto trio Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur.
And while Okazaki had originally pretended reluctance, Ash knew better. After two weeks of friendly sparring and shared chores, Ash could tell when Okazaki was just putting on a show. The competitive glint in his eye said it all.
In fact, Ash himself had received Froakie a regional starter from Kalos—and had long suspected that Okazaki and Keisuke had marked him as their top Rival to defeat during the summer camp finale.
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Pokémon Data – From the Trainer System Records:
[Squirtle]
Level: LV.8
Type: Water
Nature: Bold
Ability: Torrent
Potential: B (Elite-tier)
Moves (Known Mastery):
Proficient: Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw
Unfamiliar: Tail Whip, Rapid Spin
[Charmander]
Level: LV.9
Type: Fire
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Blaze
Potential: B (Elite-tier)
Moves (Known Mastery):
Proficient: Scratch, Ember
Unfamiliar: Growl, Smokescreen
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The growth of both Pokémon was apparent. Compared to their arrival on Day 1 of camp—when they barely knew Tackle or Ember their skill pools had expanded significantly. Not only had they gained additional moves, but their stamina and synergy with their Trainers had also improved due to fieldwork, mock battles, and Professor Oak's daily strategy lessons.
Though Ash and Serena had been undefeated in the last four matches, they knew better than to underestimate B-tier starters with Trainers who'd trained hard over the last 14 days.
This was going to be no ordinary battle.
"Come on, Ash! I'm going to defeat you this time!" Okazaki shouted with intense fighting spirit after releasing his Squirtle onto the field.
"That's right this is our final match in the Summer Camp's Closing Challenge," added Keisuke, pumping his fists with enthusiasm. "Okazaki and I will put an end to your undefeated streak, Ash!"
"Haha, I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got," Ash replied with a relaxed grin, arms folded.
"You two better not ignore me!" Serena snapped, standing confidently beside Ash. "I'm ranked second on the Student Performance Score Ranking Board. If you overlook me, you'll lose faster than you think!"
Okazaki blinked. "Hey!! She's got a point..."
Keisuke scratched his head. "I've been so focused on Ash, I totally forgot Serena's no pushover. Okazaki, you said we wouldn't lose this match, right?"
Before Okazaki could answer, Professor Oak, acting as referee, raised his hand and called out in a firm tone, "Since both sides have sent out their Pokémon, the match begins now!"
"Froakie, use Aqua Ring!" Ash commanded right at the start.
The blue Water-type crouched and summoned a glowing ring of water, which began orbiting around its body, slowly replenishing its stamina. Froakie had already battled through four matches today, most of them solo efforts while Serena's Clefairy conserved energy. Though Froakie had performed well, its energy reserves were clearly depleted.
It was worth noting: this was a double battle, unlike the open camp's one-on-one matches. And even though Froakie was stronger than many opponents thanks to Ash's focused training, four consecutive matches had undeniably taken their toll.
"Keisuke! Let's go Charmander, back me up!" Okazaki called.
"You got it! Charmander, use Smokescreen on Froakie!" Keisuke responded quickly.
"Squirtle, Water Gun target Clefairy!" Okazaki followed up decisively.
While Ash opened with a recovery move, Okazaki and Keisuke wasted no time launching an aggressive offensive. They aimed their attacks sharply Squirtle going for Clefairy with a high-pressure Water Gun, and Charmander covering Froakie with a choking cloud of smoke to prevent a counterattack.
"Jen-ni~ Jen-ni… fwsssh!!"
"Chaaaarrr!!" hissed the flame-tailed Pokémon.
The two starter Pokémon acted instantly. Their coordination was smooth clearly rehearsed. Although the boys had acted carefree before the match, it was now clear they had discussed this tactic in advance: focus fire on Serena's seemingly less aggressive Clefairy to eliminate the support first.
Serena, watching calmly, read through their plan instantly.
"So you're planning to take me out first? I told you both already not to underestimate the girl ranked second." She muttered this to herself with a smirk, unfazed.
With practiced poise, she raised her voice. "Clefairy, Splash! Dodge it!"
"Pii~!" Clefairy cried as she jumped gracefully, the energy of repeated training with Serena evident in her timing. The Water Gun missed its mark as Clefairy's leap redirected her just out of range.
Serena didn't even flinch. She immediately issued her next command.
"Clefairy, Copycat! Use Water Gun back on Charmander!"
With perfect timing, Clefairy spun midair and mimicked Squirtle's technique. A stream of water shot from her hands, cutting through the smoke and aiming at the orange lizard Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Ash's turn came. The Aqua Ring had finished one full cycle, and Froakie had regained a portion of stamina. Even in the midst of Smokescreen, Ash knew exactly what to do.
"Froakie, Quick Attack on Squirtle!"
"Froaaak!" The frog Pokémon blurred forward with a sudden burst of speed, ignoring the cover of smoke and slamming into Squirtle from the side. The move, honed through repetition during earlier rounds, struck true.
Ash and Serena's teamwork shone through their coordination seamless. While Ash's Froakie made use of tempo and endurance, Serena's Clefairy disrupted the enemy's momentum with clever counters and positional dodges.
It was a contrast of approaches: Keisuke and Okazaki's pre-planned aggression against Ash and Serena's intuitive synergy forged through experience.
The field had been set.
Boys and girls Ash and Serena had built a bond over the past two weeks that extended beyond Pokémon moves. They read each other's rhythm like a practiced duet, adjusting pace, focus, and timing with nothing more than a glance.
The final match of the summer camp was only beginning, but it was already clear: this was going to be more than just a battle.
It was going to be a showcase of friendship, growth, and the kind of trust that only Trainers human and Pokémon alike could truly understand.
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