"I was being nice—offered to show them around town—and those two had their noses stuck so high in the air they could see Pidgeys flying by!" Gary grumbled, crossing his arms and pouting.
"They said something like, 'This countryside town doesn't interest us. We're only here to meet Professor Oak anyway!'" His voice rose, filled with indignation.
Ash couldn't resist laughing, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Hahaha! But Gary, don't you usually talk like that too—'nose up to the sky,' acting all superior?"
Gary glared. "Oh, shut it, Ash!"
"So where are they now? You didn't just leave them alone, did you?"
Gary huffed. "What do you take me for? I'm not that bad. I called one of Grandpa's lab assistants and had them take those two on a private tour of the research lab. Once they were gone, I came here."
Typical Gary—tsundere to the core.
Ash chuckled, then motioned toward the two boys beside him. "Well, since you're here, let me introduce you. This is Tierno, and this is Trevor. They're staying with us for the next few days before the Summer Camp starts."
"Tierno, Trevor—this is Gary Oak, my best friend. He's also Professor Oak's grandson."
"Nice to meet you!" both boys said in unison, voices polite but filled with curiosity.
When they realized Gary was the Professor Oak's grandson, their eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Gary smirked, brushing his hair back dramatically. "Nice to meet you too. Since you're Ash's friends, you're my friends as well. No need to be so formal."
It was clear he was trying to act cool, but for once, his tone wasn't condescending. Ever since that day when Ash nearly drowned and then sincerely called him his best friend, Gary's attitude had softened—if only a little.
Truthfully, Gary's arrogance had always been more of a mask than a flaw. Because of his lineage, most kids in town treated him like someone untouchable—Professor Oak's grandson, not Gary himself. So, in his own awkward way, he'd puff up his pride just to draw attention, just to be seen.
"Anyway," Gary said, trying to shift topics, "you guys are planning to walk around town, right? I wouldn't recommend it."
"Why's that?" Ash asked, eyebrow raised, sensing that Gary had something else in mind.
"Because the whole town's crowded with visitors today," Gary said. "With all the Summer Camp kids exploring, it's going to be noisy as heck. And honestly, Pallet Town isn't exactly a sightseeing hotspot. There's not much to see—aside from Grandpa's lab, of course. But that's not a place just anyone can get into."
Ash grinned knowingly. "Ohhh, I see how it is. You're trying to brag about your access, huh? You could've just said, 'Let's visit the lab!' instead of pretending to be humble."
Gary's cheeks flushed red. "W-what?! That's not what I meant! Don't put words in my mouth!"
"Haha, sure, sure. So, are we going or not?" Ash teased.
He turned toward his new friends. "Tierno, Trevor—what do you guys think?"
"Of course we're in!" Tierno said with excitement, but to everyone's surprise, Trevor spoke up first, his eyes shining.
"That's the Professor Oak's Laboratory we're talking about! It's the reason I wanted to come to Kanto in the first place!"
Ash blinked. The normally reserved Trevor was practically glowing with enthusiasm.
"By the way," Tierno added, smiling proudly, "Trevor's not just a Trainer. He's also into photography and Pokémon research. He wants to be a great Trainer and a great researcher someday."
"Wow, really?" Ash said, impressed. "That's awesome, Trevor! Then you'll definitely enjoy seeing the lab. You'll get to experience what it's like to work as a Pokémon researcher."
Trevor nodded, his expression serious and focused.
Ash smiled to himself. Yeah… that's the spark right there—the same passion that drives every Trainer when they first start dreaming big.
The four boys walked together through the quiet streets, their conversation gradually shifting from introductions to something deeper.
Dreams.
Among them, Trevor had the most—to become a Pokémon Trainer, a researcher, and a photographer. He wanted to capture the beauty of Pokémon and understand their nature, not just fight alongside them.
Tierno's dream was just as unique: he wanted to combine Pokémon battles with dance. His team—Squirtle, Raichu, Ludicolo, Hitmontop, and Politoed—would one day become his dance troupe, moving with rhythm and style even in combat.
It was a dream that blended art and battling, and Ash found it refreshing.
Gary, meanwhile, was quieter. He never liked talking about his ambitions. Everyone expected him to follow in his grandfather's footsteps—and truthfully, he did admire Professor Oak deeply.
He wanted to be a great Pokémon Trainer, but also to one day make his own mark as a researcher—someone who could stand beside, not behind, the Oak legacy.
Ash could respect that. In fact, he found it inspiring.
Dreams were different for everyone. But in the end, they all led toward the same goal: understanding, growing with, and standing beside Pokémon.
As the four boys chatted under the soft afternoon sun, laughter echoed through the streets of Pallet Town—four futures quietly intertwining.
One would chase science.
One would chase rhythm.
One would chase rivalry.
And one would chase his destiny as the greatest Trainer in the world.
Their journey had only just begun.
…
…