After chatting for a while in their cabin, Team 11 decided to head to the cafeteria for dinner. The place was bustling with children from all over the regions, all filled with energy and excitement.
As Alex walked in with Chloe, Serena, and Korrina, his eyes caught a familiar pair — Ash and Gary sitting together at one of the tables. With them were two other boys, one of whom Akg recognized immediately.
Smiling, Alex approached and greeted,
"Hey Ash, Gary—how are you guys doing?"
Ash waved enthusiastically.
"Oh hey, Alex! We're doing great. Meet our teammates — Goh and Trevor."
Goh gave a polite nod, but his eyes quickly drifted past Alex—to Chloe walking behind him. The moment he saw her, his expression changed slightly. His brows furrowed as if something didn't sit right with him.
Gary, meanwhile, glanced at Chloe, Serena, and Korrina, then at Alex, and leaned over to nudge him with a smirk.
"Tch. Lucky you. Grouped with three beauties, huh?"
Alex gave a small smile, pretending not to notice the jealousy in Gary's tone. He knew his friend's personality too well.
But Goh's mood was darker. He had come to this summer camp hoping to get closer to Chloe—but now, seeing her already chatting and laughing with another boy made him restless. His forced smile couldn't hide the irritation in his eyes. Though he and Chloe were in the same class, they had never been close. And now, seeing her so comfortable around Alex only deepened the frustration.
Alex noticed Goh's expression, but remained calm.
He knew all too well what kind of person Goh was—ambitious and opportunistic. Alex had seen his past life clearly: how Goh used Ash's journey, catching Pokémon by hurling Pokéballs without strategy, and how he leaned on Chloe's kindness and her father's reputation as a Pokémon professor for his own benefit.
"Not this time," Alex thought to himself. "In this life, I won't let him use Chloe."
With a neutral smile, Alex nodded to all of them.
"Well, nice meeting you, Goh, Trevor. I'll see you guys around."
Then, turning to his teammates, he said,
"Let's grab a table."
As Team 11 sat down for dinner, the mood at their table was cheerful and relaxed. The girls chatted about their first impressions of the camp, while Alex listened and added light comments, enjoying their company.
After finishing their meal, they returned to their cabin. The sun had long set by then, and the energy of the day had worn off.
Each of them climbed into their beds.
"Good night, everyone," Serena said softly.
"Night!" Korrina replied cheerfully.
"Good night," Chloe added quietly.
Alex gave one last glance at his teammates before closing his eyes.