050: The Summer Camp Is Officially Open!!
"Xiaohao, I'm sorry," Koharu (Xiaochun) said softly, her voice laced with a hint of guilt. "The summer camp rules state that boys and girls have to stay in separate cabins, so… I can't room with you."
Although it was Xiaohao who had directed the question at Gary, it was Koharu who responded first, stepping in to ease the awkward silence when Gary didn't immediately answer.
Xiaohao blinked, but quickly shook his head, forcing a smile to cover any trace of disappointment.
"It's okay, Xiaochun. This summer camp is all about connecting with other trainers, right? Making new friends and sharing experiences!" His tone was upbeat, bordering on exaggerated cheerfulness.
He looked around at the cluster of students beginning to pair off and asked, "Did you find a roommate already?"
Koharu nodded slowly, her shoulder-length hair shifting as she gestured toward a group of girls nearby.
"Yeah Xiaolan, Shauna, and Serena invited me to share a cabin with them. They were really nice about it, so I said yes."
Hearing that made Xiaohao beam even more brightly, despite the quiet sinking feeling in his chest.
"That's great! Really, I'm glad you found such good roommates. They all seem like amazing people. You should definitely get along with them and make the most of it!"
His words were sincere, but slightly hurried, as if trying to reassure himself as much as Koharu. After all, Xiaolan, Shauna, and Serena were all close to Gary, part of the core group that naturally gravitated around him. If Koharu was now accepted among them, then at least he had a connection through her.
"Thanks, I will," Koharu replied. Having warmed up to Xiaolan and the others during the bus ride, she no longer appeared as shy or hesitant as she had been earlier in the day.
Then, Xiaohao's gaze returned to Gary, his eyes practically sparkling with hope.
"Master Gary," he said, using the honorific again with even more enthusiasm, "can I live with you?"
Before Gary could respond, Xiaohao continued quickly, his tone turning conspiratorial:
"I overheard something interesting. Supposedly, if you pick a cabin with a Yusanjia flag you know, the ones with Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle you'll get more attention from the instructors during activities, and maybe even extra points on the final assessment!"
He said it with pride, as though revealing a valuable secret.
But while Xiaohao's voice was filled with excitement, he missed the unimpressed glance Xiaolan cast in his direction. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Shauna beside her looked away, clearly disinterested.
To girls like Xiaolan, who valued strength, honesty, and moral clarity, Xiaohao's eagerness to exploit what sounded like a minor technicality came off as calculating rather than clever.
They were the kind who admired those like Ash earnest, straightforward, and motivated by passion rather than tactics.
Still, Gary remained composed, his face revealing none of the disdain his peers might have felt. Ever the well-bred grandson of Professor Oak, he kept his voice polite and welcoming.
"Xiaohao, right? Of course you're welcome to hang out with us," Gary said with a smile. "But about the cabin... unfortunately, ours is already full."
He gestured subtly toward the group standing beside him: Ash, Trevor, and Tierno, who all looked comfortably settled.
For a brief second, jealousy flickered across Xiaohao's face. He glanced at Ash—who had remained silent the entire time and then at Tierno and Trevor. All of them were standing casually beside Gary, clearly chosen as his cabinmates.
Xiaohao swallowed hard, quickly masking the bitterness with a smile.
"Ah, no problem," he said with forced nonchalance. "Of course it's already full. No worries at all."
He turned back to Koharu, offering a cheerful wave.
"Xiaochun, make sure you get along well with Xiaolan and the others, okay? It'll be a great chance to build some strong friendships."
Then, without waiting for any reply, Xiaohao spun around and briskly walked away.
Though he hadn't secured a spot as Gary's roommate, he'd at least spoken with him directly. And Koharu was now part of Gary's circle those were wins in Xiaohao's eyes. The important thing was building connections that could be deepened over the next two weeks of camp.
Besides, there were other strategies.
He glanced up and scanned the cabins until his eyes locked on one with a bright flag depicting the Kanto starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
"If that rumor I heard is true," he muttered under his breath, "then staying in that cabin will definitely earn me more attention from Professor Oak and the camp organizers…"
With that, he picked up his bag and dashed forward toward the Yusanjia cabin, a determined gleam in his eyes.
"Alright," Gary called over his shoulder, stretching casually, "no point just standing here let's go find our cabin and get settled."
After watching Xiaohao hurry away toward the cabins, Ash unofficial but clear leader of the small group clapped his hands together and called out with his usual cheerful energy.
"Alright, team! Let's get moving and grab our spots!"
The others responded with enthusiasm, and each picked up their luggage, joining Ash as he led the way toward the cabin rows that bordered the forest edge of the campgrounds.
Thanks to Assist, Ash's Riolu who had keen perception and wave-based tracking abilities it didn't take long to scout the available cabins. The Pokémon's aura sense had already helped Ash avoid conflicts and pick quiet, unclaimed territory.
Eventually, they found two adjacent, unoccupied cabins: one had a small wooden plaque over the door marked with a happy Pichu carving, and the other bore a detailed Butterfree symbol with glimmering wings painted in soft pastels.
Ash chose the Pichu cabin for himself and his roommates Gary, Trevor, Tieruno, and himself appreciating the symbolism of an electric-type mascot full of energy and potential. Pichu also echoed Pikachu, his partner who wasn't currently traveling with him but was still in Ash's heart.
As for the Butterfree cabin, Ash knew it was perfect for the girls. The moment Xiaolan, Shauna, and Serena saw the intricate design, their faces lit up.
"This one is so cute!" Shauna squealed, and Xiaolan nodded in agreement, already imagining how they could decorate it. Even the usually calm Serena smiled warmly.
"Let's settle in here, then," Serena said, and with that, the girls entered the cozy log cabin, Butterfree fluttering in relief as its namesake cabin filled with joy.
~
~
While students across the campsite were busy selecting cabins and pairing with roommates, some distance away near the elevated dam overlooking the forest clearing three adults stood reviewing the list of student names.
Professor Oak, wearing his usual white lab coat and sandals, adjusted his glasses while talking to his assistant, Gang Ping (Tracey), and the visiting Kalos researcher, Sophie, who had been dispatched by Professor Sycamore's assistant Bratano.
"The class size this year is slightly bigger than last time," Oak remarked, scanning the clipboard. "Let's ensure all preparations are in place before we kick off orientation."
Meanwhile, nearby, three people disguised as camp staff were unloading a stack of heavy, reinforced cardboard crates from a delivery van. The boxes were marked for "Oak Research Distribution," tightly sealed and clearly packed with valuable items.
"Huff... finally finished moving them all," one of the women groaned, pushing up the purple bangs clinging to her forehead. "These boxes are ridiculous... What on earth are they stuffed with? Steelix?! My arms feel like they're going to fall off!"
"Quit whining, Jessie," the shortest of the group said in a rasping voice, tail flicking under his uniform. "We busted our tails to sneak into this camp don't go blowing our cover now. We're here to swipe every Pokémon Oak's been storing for the student trainers. One hundred students means one hundred Pokémon think of the loot!"
"Exactly!" came the reply from the tall man with the middle-parted blue hair, brushing imaginary dust off his forged ID badge. "And we're not talking about Caterpie and Weedle here. There are starters from both Kanto and Kalos regions in this batch. The rare ones. Some of them are even prepped for Mega Evolution research."
Jessie's eyes glinted as she grinned. "Just imagine it if we pull this off, Giovanni won't just give us a promotion. We'll finally earn our own research division... or at least a bonus big enough to buy a private Meowth-shaped yacht."
Meowth twitched his whiskers. "Don't jinx it! Let's get ready for the next phase. We still gotta intercept the delivery code for the Pokémon distribution."
~
~
Back at the dam's edge, Professor Oak handed off the clipboard and gave a nod to his two assistants.
"Gang Ping, Sophie please go gather the students. It's time to officially open the summer camp."
"Yes, Professor!" they replied in unison.
Gang Ping headed toward the campgrounds with a clipboard in hand, while Sophie made her way to the small broadcasting station set up in a tent near the edge of the dam, beside a tall wooden pole with mounted speakers.
She flipped a switch and spoke clearly into the microphone.
"Attention all students who have chosen and moved into your cabins: please gather at the dam for the summer camp's opening ceremony. Professor Oak will begin his welcome address shortly"
A few moments later, Gang Ping's voice echoed over a second loudspeaker near the opposite end of the camp.
"Everyone who's already picked a cabin and settled in, please gather at the dam right away!"
The moment the second announcement concluded, cabin doors began flying open across the forest clearing. Students poured out, some still adjusting their hats or tying their shoelaces, others running with bags half-zipped.
Excited chatter filled the air as everyone made their way to the dam, where the first major event of the Pokémon summer camp was about to begin.
———
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