Aside from those few people,
Mallow, Sophocles, and the others were all extremely excited as well.
Being able to enroll in the Pokémon School together with Ash meant they were all around the same age.
Just thinking about all the fun things that would happen in the future made them unable to contain their anticipation.
Mallow:We really do become great friends in the future. I'll definitely treat you to a meal at my family's restaurant!
Ash:I'm looking forward to it too! Alola is beautiful—I really want to take in all the scenery!
Ash was speaking from the heart.
During the whole car ride with Professor Kukui, Ash had already witnessed countless natural sights.
Melemele Island had gorgeous island scenery to begin with, and since tourism was highly developed there, views like this were practically everyday sights.
But for someone like Ash, who had never been to Alola before—
every blade of grass, every tree felt dazzlingly new.
Once this broadcast ended, Alola's tourism industry would almost certainly explode.
And all of this…
was thanks to Ash.
For the future Alola League Champion, this was the moment he earned the heartfelt recognition of the Alolan people.
This champion truly contributed to Alola.
Who wouldn't like a champion like that?
In the video—
After Ash finished introducing all the students,
it was finally Professor Kukui's turn—the one driving the car.
Ash's voice was full of emotion.
"Professor Kukui helped me a lot when I first came to Alola. He always looked after me."
Ash scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
When he first came to Alola, he had caused Professor Kukui quite a bit of trouble.
"I know all about Professor Kukui!" Chloe's eyes sparkled.
"I saw your championship match in Aunt Hanako's phone! Especially your final battle against Professor Kukui—that was seriously intense!"
Her excitement visibly rose.
"And the fact that Professor Kukui is actually the Masked Royal… A seasoned researcher who could still achieve that level in Pokémon battling—my dad was really impressed!"
"My dad said his own teacher used to be a champion-level trainer, but retired to research Pokémon because he couldn't find worthy opponents anymore."
As she said this, Chloe clasped her hands together, her eyes shining like stars.
This immediately caught Professor Kukui's interest.
He asked who Chloe's father and his mentor were.
Naturally, Chloe told him—her father was Professor Sakuragi, and his mentor was Professor Oak.
Upon hearing Oak's name, Kukui burst into an even bigger grin.
"Well I'll be! You're Sakuragi's kid? What a coincidence!"
Chloe blinked, confused.
Ash stepped in to explain:
"The principal of the Alola Pokémon School—Principal Nanu—is Professor Oak's younger brother."
"H-huh? Seriously?" Chloe was stunned.
She didn't expect to run into someone connected to her family all the way out here.
Professor Oak:I didn't expect little Nanu to become the Pokémon School principal after five years. Looks like he's grown up.
Nanu:Big bro, has it occurred to you that I AM the principal right now? And another thing—what do you mean I've "grown up"?! I'm only a year younger than you!
Professor Sakuragi:You two sure get along well~
Oak & Nanu:We do NOT!!
Aaron:Why do they give me Ash and Gary vibes?
Ash & Gary:Absolutely not!!
Steven:No, they totally do~
In the video—
"By the way, Ash, did you tell everyone you were coming?" Professor Kukui asked.
He had originally come to the airport just to deliver some documents—
he hadn't expected to run into Ash here.
Ash scratched his head again.
"No… I just thought of coming to Alola all of a sudden."
He had been busy with the World Championship rankings lately, leaving him no time to visit his Alolan friends.
"I see. Well, they'll definitely be thrilled to see you again."
Hearing this, Ash couldn't hide his eagerness.
Just thinking about his Alolan companions made his eyes shine with longing.
At the Alola Pokémon School
Since Ash had left, a new batch of students had already enrolled.
Lana, Sophocles, and the others had long since graduated and normally wouldn't be there—
But it just so happened
that today they'd all stopped by the school, almost as if they'd sensed something.
As they arrived at the school gates, they saw Kukui's car pulling in.
"What's going on…?" Lana and the others murmured.
Then—
A loud, familiar voice came from inside the car.
They instinctively turned toward it.
Ash leaned halfway out the car window and waved vigorously.
"Everyone! I'm back!!"
Even Pikachu hopped up onto the roof of the car.
"Pikaaa!"
Chloe instantly facepalmed.
She was used to this kind of behavior from Ash—
but it still felt embarrassing to witness.
"Don't mind him," Professor Kukui chuckled.
"Ash has always been like this. He wears his emotions on his sleeve."
"He can be reckless, but when his friends are in danger, Ash will always be the first to stand in front of them."
"…I know."
Chloe's voice was soft.
Kalos Champion Diantha:Chloe is getting cuter by the minute… ahh, I can't resist adorable girls like her.
Chloe:A trainer who can face danger head-on is so cool!
Nessa:Professor Kukui is right. Ash really does always shield others.
Marnie:Someone with that kind of heart, combined with talent and hard work… no wonder he's strong.
Wallace:Ash's strength comes not only from talent, nor just effort. He has passion—absolute passion for battling. And more importantly, he has a sincere heart that lets him choose the right path no matter the moment.
Yes.
That was why Ash could face danger without fear.
Some people were strong because they were naturally powerful.
Some were strong because they worked hard.
Ash was both—
and in addition, he possessed a pure heart that guided him toward what was right.
In the video—
Hearing Kukui's words, Chloe subconsciously recalled the sandstorm incident a few days earlier.
When the Draco Meteor fell from the sky,
Ash had shielded her with his own body.
Her face instantly flushed crimson.
Through the rear-view mirror, Kukui noticed her reaction and smiled knowingly.
In Alola, Ash already had three admirers.
Kukui still remembered Misty from Kanto as well.
And now… yet another shy, adorable girl had appeared.
He couldn't help but smile like a proud father.
Ash really was popular with girls.
Wherever he went, cute girls gravitated toward him.
Perhaps… this was destiny.
Lana and the others finally snapped out of their momentary shock.
Seeing Ash and Pikachu, their faces lit up.
"Ash, you're back!"
"It's been forever! Why didn't you visit sooner?"
"You didn't even call us after going back to Kanto!"
"Pikachu, you're still so cute!"
They rushed to the front of the car.
Ash hopped out and joined them, Pikachu back on his shoulder.
Seeing the familiar faces, they all smiled sincerely.
"Ash, welcome back to Alola."
"Long time no see, everyone!"
Ash also smiled warmly.
Just then, Chloe stepped out of the car.
Seeing another cute girl appear,
Lana and Mallow instinctively grew alert.
But remembering Ash hadn't visited for so long, they reluctantly hid their tension.
"Ash, she is…?"
Holding Chloe's hand, Ash introduced her:
"This is Chloe—she's my travel companion this time."
"Hello, I'm Chloe. I'm traveling with Ash."
Then Ash turned to introduce his Alolan friends to her.
"This is Lana, Mallow, Sophocles, Kiawe…"
He introduced them one by one.
"I didn't expect you to know yet another cute girl~"
"I sense the aura of a trainer from you. Want to battle with me?"
"Do you like science?"
"…"
Chloe: ???
What on earth…?
Faced with their bizarre questions, Chloe was utterly stunned.
Thankfully, Ash quickly stepped in to help her.
Bruno:Weird… Ash's Alolan friends act kind of strange.
Lance:Are you dumb? They're teenagers. Teenagers say weird things.
Professor Kukui:Lance is right. They're just kids.
Their strange questions are their way of showing friendliness—because if Chloe is Ash's friend, she's naturally their friend too.
In the video—
But today there were only four of them.
One girl was missing—the one who used to always be by Ash's side.
And after finishing introductions, Ash finally realized something.
Lillie wasn't here.
"L-Lillie and President Lusamine went out together…"
Mallow explained gently, seeing Ash's confusion.
"I see… that's a shame."
Everyone knew about Lillie's missing father.
Most people believed he might never return.
But as Lillie's friend, Ash still hoped he would.
Not seeing her today left him a little disappointed—
—but only for a moment.
Kukui led the group back to the Pokémon School.
They returned to their old classroom.
On the way, Ash excitedly told them all about his World Championship experiences.
Thanks to him, Chloe quickly blended into the group.
His Alolan friends treated her warmly.
Chloe herself had a unique charm.
If Lana and the others were like outgoing northern girls,
then Chloe—raised in Kanto, the strongest region—was gentle like a southern maiden.
Her quiet nature came from her childhood experiences and some unpleasant memories from school.
But that very gentleness made the Alolan group adore her even more.
Who could resist a soft and sweet girl?
During their conversations, Lana and the others learned Chloe's reason for coming to Alola—
she wanted to see Pokémon that were completely different from those in Kanto.
Of course they agreed immediately.
So the group quickly decided to head into the forest behind Melemele Island—
home to many Alolan Exeggutor.
Kukui could only smile helplessly as they ran off,
though he reminded them to come back early.
In the forest
Chloe finally saw the Pokémon she had been longing to meet—the Alolan Exeggutor.
When she learned that these Pokémon were Dragon-type,
she was completely stunned.
That thing is a dragon?!
Then what are Gyarados and Charizard supposed to be?
Fake dragons?
She immediately snapped a picture.
Not long after, they encountered a Bewear as well—
but it glanced at Ash from afar and vanished back into the forest.
By the time the group returned to the Pokémon School, it was already afternoon.
Mallow invited everyone to her family's restaurant.
After dinner, they changed into swimsuits and headed to the nearby beach.
The setting sun dyed the ocean gold.
Standing side-by-side on the shore, Ash and his friends made a beautiful silhouette.
Diantha:Hold on—I've discovered something. Why is the Alola region like this?
Caitlin:Did you see something we didn't?
Diantha:No! I mean, in this sunny region, it makes perfect sense for Kiawe to be so tan. But why is Lana—also a native—so pale?!
Caitlin:Now that you mention it, Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana's skin tones go from darkest to lightest…
Kiawe:Sorry for being so dark, I guess!
Nessa:Probably due to individual traits. I barely get sun in Galar, yet I'm still dark-skinned.
For now, that was the only explanation.
Kiawe's skin tone remained one of the world's greatest mysteries.
In the video—
After a long day of fun, Ash eventually collapsed onto the beach.
By the time night fell, Chloe looked troubled.
She couldn't seriously be expected to carry Ash back, right?
At that moment, a red-and-black figure emerged from the shadows, lifted Ash from the sand, and hoisted him onto its back.
It was… Incineroar!
Ash gently leaned against it.
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