049: Arrive at the Forest Camp!!
Gary's identity was indirectly revealed through a conversation between two boastful campers seated beside him. They eagerly discussed how Gary Oak was the grandson of Professor Samuel Oak the most respected Pokémon Professor in Kanto and already a rising star among new trainers. Xiaohao, who had been trying to discreetly eavesdrop from a few rows ahead, stiffened in surprise when he heard Gary's full name.
To his dismay, Xiaohao also noticed that his childhood friend, Koharu (Xiaochun), happened to be sitting beside Gary and the others Serena, Shauna, Trevor, Tierno, and Ash.
Though he tried to suppress it, a pang of regret struck him. He hadn't realized Koharu had joined that group. At the same time, he began trying to think of ways to draw closer and become friends with Gary and his circle, whom he saw as valuable connections.
His "search for food" was nothing more than an excuse. Xiaohao already knew from earlier that Koharu had only packed a single chocolate bar in her satchel, and he had selfishly eaten it before they got on the bus.
He wasn't here for snacks. What he really wanted was a pretext to approach Gary and the others to insert himself into the conversation and seem casual doing it.
He had expected resistance or awkwardness, but surprisingly, things went smoother than he thought. Not only did no one turn him away, the person he most wanted to approach Gary Oak himself was the one who initiated the exchange and even offered help.
Xiaohao was stunned, overwhelmed by a mix of excitement and disbelief.
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As soon as Xiaohao respectfully called Gary "Master Gary," Ash who had been sitting nearby reviewing photos on Trevor's digital camera looked up with a sharp, amused glance toward his longtime rival.
"You're welcome," Gary said coolly, flashing the calm, charismatic smile that made him popular with both boys and girls. "We're all here for the same summer camp. Helping each other is part of the spirit."
Gary nudged Ash with his elbow. "Hey Ash, pass me the bag."
Ash gave him a look, catching on immediately. "Of course, Master Gary," he said, dragging out the word "Master" with theatrical sarcasm. He obediently handed over his backpack like a loyal sidekick.
Gary ignored Ash's playful jab. From the bag, he pulled out several items l emergency canned food and vacuum-packed biscuits. They'd been packed by Ash's mother, Delia Ketchum, who had worried that Ash might not eat properly on the road.
Gary passed the rations to Koharu with a nod.
"Gary, thank you," Koharu said sincerely, touched by the kindness. Then, without thinking twice, she turned and offered all of it to Xiaohao. "Xiaohao, here you go."
"Okay, thanks Master Gary," Xiaohao responded quickly, skipping past Koharu's effort entirely and choosing instead to direct all his gratitude to Gary.
That small but telling detail didn't go unnoticed.
Other than Serena who was still a bit too idealistic and gentle-hearted to catch the nuance Xiaolan and Shauna exchanged a sharp glance. In their eyes, Xiaohao's lack of consideration for his friend was simply another nail in the coffin.
"You're welcome," Gary said casually, waving it off. "Dinner's still hours away. If you're already hungry, don't hesitate to eat a little now."
"Okay, okay. Thanks again, Master Gary." Xiaohao grinned nervously, trying to hide how elated he was by the attention.
After achieving what he'd come for, Xiaohao worried he'd overplayed his eagerness and might come off as clingy. He gave a half-wave and said, "Xiaochun, I'll head back now," before walking quickly back to his seat.
As the boy turned away, Serena, Shauna, and Xiaolan all subtly turned to glance at Gary. Their expressions were oddly unified curious and slightly amused.
Their eyes seemed to ask, Didn't that food come from Ash's bag? Isn't most of that stuff expired survival rations from a past trip to Mt. Moon or something?
Gary met their eyes, lifted his hands with a smug shrug, and gave them a cheeky grin.
Understanding dawned. Xiaolan and Shauna could barely suppress their laughter. They shrugged back, as if to say: If he gets a stomachache, that's on him.
In the back row, Ash leaned his cheek against his hand. The faint waveguide glow in his eyes an ability he had awakened during a battle with Galarian Zapdos gradually faded as he read the emotions in the group.
He didn't need aura powers to tell how everyone was feeling.
Earlier, Xiaohao's dishonesty about the delay shifting blame onto Koharu had already changed how the girls saw him. Now, the way he dismissed Koharu's help entirely, focusing only on getting praise from Gary, solidified their impression.
And Ash could feel it clearly: Xiaolan, Shauna, and even Serena who usually gave people the benefit of the doubt felt not anger, but relief.
Relief that they now clearly saw through Xiaohao's character.
And despite the minor trick Gary played handing out food that was months past its best-before date none of the girls felt any sympathy for Xiaohao.
On the contrary, they seemed quietly amused.
Ash let the corner of his mouth lift in a satisfied smirk.
The pieces were in motion.
Xiaohao didn't know what was happening behind him with Ash and the others after he returned to his seat.
Clutching the food in his hands, even though it was clearly disaster relief rations canned bread and compressed biscuits that he normally wouldn't even glance at, let alone eat, it felt like a prized treasure at that moment. Simply because it had been given to him by Gary Oak.
He had gone to ask Koharu (Xiaochun) for food, partly as a social maneuver to get closer to Gary, but also because he was truly hungry.
Just as Koharu had thoughtfully explained earlier, their group had been taken to the town's community cafeteria earlier that afternoon, a plan organized by Professor Oak himself to ensure the children ate before heading into the deeper parts of the forest for the camp.
Unfortunately, Xiaohao had barely touched his food. The dishes served at lunch contained coriander a pungent herb that Xiaohao absolutely detested and, in his usual picky manner, he'd eaten only a few mouthfuls before pushing the tray away.
So, by the time the bus had pulled out of the mountain gap and begun the short trip toward the forest camp, his stomach was practically hoothooting from hunger.
Now, staring at the food in his hands even though he could clearly see from the packaging that it was the kind of expired surplus Delia Ketchum would stuff into Ash's bag "just in case" Xiaohao suddenly felt an overwhelming craving.
He peeled open a can of pumpkin-flavored bread and took a bite.
"Whoa!! Pumpkin flavor it's actually my favorite," he murmured in surprise, his eyes lighting up. "And it's so soft… I thought it would be hard and dry."
"Mmm! Delicious~"
Whether it was the effect of genuine hunger, or the subtle psychological satisfaction of eating something gifted by Gary Oak, Xiaohao found himself enjoying the meal more than expected.
He didn't even realize that the expiration date had long since passed.
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The forest camp, specially set up for this summer session, wasn't far from Pallet Town. Once the bus passed through the familiar natural arch formed by the mountain gap just beyond the town's border, it veered onto a side road leading deep into the forest.
The road was narrow and winding, but well-maintained. After another 15 minutes of smooth driving through dense trees and chirping Pokémon calls, the bus finally pulled into a wide clearing at the heart of the woods.
This was the forest camp.
A large open woodland had been cleared out and ringed with a neat fence to keep wild Pokémon from wandering into the area. Inside, rows of well-crafted log cabins lined gravel paths, each one constructed from polished pine logs and topped with moss-green roofing tiles.
Every cabin had a small colored flag planted beside its door, each one adorned with stylized Pokémon emblems.
Some flags showed the Kanto regional starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle alongside common Pokémon like Pidgey, Spearow, and Rattata. Others bore the Kalos trio Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie as well as regional species like Flabébé, Diggersby, and Vivillon.
As students began to step off the bus and take in the sight, excited voices bubbled up all around.
"Wow!! These cabins are beautiful."
"I thought we'd be stuck in tents! This is way better."
"Yeah, me too. My dad once took me and my mom camping in the wild. It was in a regular tent, and I couldn't sleep at all."
"The trees outside cast such creepy shadows, and the wind sounded like ghosts moaning through the forest…"
"…Ugh, I was scared too! I didn't sleep at all that night."
"…But this place is different!"
Eyes wide with wonder, the students gazed at their accommodations for the next two weeks with undisguised joy and relief.
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As the students began organizing their bags and searching for their assigned cabins, Xiaohao was still stewing over the rude comments made by the two boys who had sat beside him on the bus.
Like him, they had dreams of becoming Pokémon researchers. But unlike Xiaohao, they lacked humility and weren't shy about mocking him for not yet catching many Pokémon or publishing any papers.
Their arrogance and sharp words had stung, bruising Xiaohao's pride. Though he had originally tried to befriend them, the emotional wound made him quietly vow to never talk to them again.
Thankfully, he now felt like he had a new shot at belonging.
As soon as he stepped off the bus, he looked around, spotted Gary and Ash among a group of students near the front, and jogged toward them eagerly.
"Master Gary!" he called out, panting slightly from his rush. "Have you chosen the log cabin you're going to stay in? Can I… can I be your roommate?"
His tone was hopeful, and a little nervous. Despite having just eaten expired survival food that most students would turn their nose up at, Xiaohao hadn't suffered any consequences yet and his excitement was overriding any concern.
Gary glanced up, his expression unreadable for a moment. Beside him, Ash and Trevor exchanged a look, both remembering exactly where that food had come from.
Koharu, who had been trailing slightly behind, hesitated as she heard Xiaohao's words. She looked at Ash, then at Gary, then quietly lowered her gaze.
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