075: Ser Lena's Little Secret!!
"Thank you, Ash. In order to give me the courage to go into battle, not only did you teach me so many practical tips from real Pokémon combat experience, but you also shared your deepest secret with me."
"I really don't even know how to thank you" In just over ten minutes of interaction, Ash had already made a deep, unforgettable impression on Ser Lena.
"Since Ser Lena says she doesn't know how to thank me," Ash said, smiling as he looked at the bashful and moved Stephanie, "why don't you also tell me a little secret of your own?"
"Huh…" Hearing Ash's suggestion and gentle tone, little Stephanie, now more relaxed around him, nodded without hesitation and agreed.
"Although my secret isn't as amazing as Ash's, I've never told anyone not even Shauna. After you hear it, Ash, you have to promise you won't tell anyone else, okay?"
"Of course," Ash said with genuine sincerity. Seeing the serious look in Stephanie's bright blue eyes, he suddenly grew curious. He hadn't expected anything from his casual suggestion, but now he was truly intrigued by Ser Lena's little secret.
"Well… my secret is this: Last time, when my mom left home, I sneaked out and tried to ride her Armored Rhydon."
As soon as Ash heard "Armored Rhydon" a rare breed that trainers typically use only after special certification he stiffened slightly.
"But… just as I was climbing up, I lost my balance and slipped off. I fell really hard and chipped one of my front teeth. When my mom and Shauna asked about it, I told them it was just a baby tooth falling out on its own."
"They didn't know that back in Camp 083, I was secretly trying to ride Rhydon and fell like a doofus."
"Pfft~" Ash didn't reply immediately, but Ser Lena, clearly embarrassed yet giggling, covered her mouth with her hands and let out a mischievous laugh.
Looking at her holding back laughter, Ash blinked momentarily speechless. The way she told it so seriously, he thought it might've been some huge confession.
But after thinking for a moment, he realized it made sense.
After all, what kind of earth-shattering secret could a six-year-old girl like little Stephanie possibly be hiding? It's not like she was a time traveler like him, someone with a system or the Viridian Power.
Still, Ash had to admit it was pretty adorable.
He imagined shy, proper Ser Lena this gentle girl who got flustered just by holding his hand actually trying to sneak-ride a fully armored Rhydon, only to fall flat and chip a tooth. She'd probably been crying, then had to lie and cover it up.
Just picturing that moment in his head, like a Calm Mind projection flowing through his thoughts, Ash could almost see her giving him a sheepish, toothless grin after falling.
"Pfft... Hahaha!!" Unable to hold it in anymore, Ash burst out laughing, clutching his belly as he doubled over. He had completely missed the comedic charm of the story at first.
—
Meanwhile, back at the forest camp, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Students who had just received their Pokémon couldn't wait to try their hand at actual battles.
Originally, Camp Bazi had only one official battle field, but because of the sheer number of eager students, the staff had split it into two separate arenas to handle the crowd.
Now, both fields were in use, filled with young trainers shouting commands and Pokémon exchanging moves.
A group of curious spectators crowded around the outer edges of the arena.
Up on the wall, the embedded electronic battle leaderboard initially only displaying Ash and a handful of students had begun updating rapidly.
With more and more kids joining battles, the "Student Achievement Scoreboard" was buzzing with data.
Ash, however, was still the name at the very top.
He had won five battles consecutively with flawless tactical plays, often winning with a single Pokémon while preserving type advantages and item efficiency, just like in the manga when Ash used strategies to defeat more experienced trainers.
With a perfect ten-point score, he now sat firmly at #1, untouched, while over 94% of the students still had zero points.
"Professor, it seems like Ash is coaching that girl named Stephanie Ser Lena," one of the camp aides noted from the side, gesturing at the training area where the two were talking.
"Looks like she might enter the next match soon."
Indeed, Ash wasn't just dominating on the battlefield he was guiding others with his experience, wisdom, and a secret power only a few knew about.
And for Ser Lena, this brief encounter was already turning into a precious memory she wouldn't forget.
At the moment, most of the campers' attention is focused on the battle taking place in the central field, and very few are paying close attention to what's happening near Ash.
Of course, while few notice Ash directly, it's not as if he's invisible. After all, Professor Oak himself once commented that Ash's talent as a Trainer is comparable to, or possibly even surpasses, that of Shigeru Ō, also known as Gary Oak. Oak's experimental assistant, Gunpei, has been silently observing Ash's movements with keen interest ever since his remarkable string of victories in the student battle trials.
When he saw Ash lead Ser Lena to the quiet area at the edge of the camp and begin patiently teaching her how to command her Clefairy in battle, Gunpei immediately reported the situation to Professor Oak.
"Ser Lena? I remember Gary mentioning a Stephanie like her. A really shy girl, right? Looks like she's too nervous to battle in front of others. Ash seems to be helping her out," Gunpei relayed.
"Not bad at all," Oak replied, glancing toward the camp's corner where Ash and Ser Lena stood. His expression softened with admiration.
"Ash is a natural-born Trainer. He has a strong sense of empathy and a genuine willingness to help others. With talent like that and a heart in the right place, Pallet Town has produced a fine seedling this year," Professor Oak said with a thoughtful nod.
Unaware that Oak and his staff had taken notice of him, Ash continued coaching Ser Lena through her first hands-on Pokémon battle training.
After their mock battle session, the two shared a secret with each other. Ser Lena, despite her usual nervous demeanor, began to feel closer to Ash. Although Ser Lena was still too young to comprehend feelings beyond simple friendship, Ash—sensitive to others' emotions through his Aura (Waveguide) felt the warmth of her growing trust and attachment.
"The seed has been planted," Ash thought with a smile. "Give it time… it will take root, grow, and someday bloom into something strong and beautiful."
"Ash, do I… do I have to battle someone right now?" Ser Lena tugged gently on the hem of Ash's shirt as they walked back from the quiet field into the bustling heart of the camp. Her voice was quiet and timid, matching her bashful expression.
"There's no rush, Ser Lena," Ash said, flashing her a reassuring smile. "First, let's take Clefairy to the Pokémon Center and have Nurse Joy give her a quick recovery. After that, we'll find someone for you to challenge when you're ready."
Ser Lena nodded, her wide eyes still filled with apprehension, but no longer frozen by it. Around Ash, she seemed to gain a small measure of confidence. As if following a plan arranged entirely by Ash, she didn't protest and simply followed his lead toward the Center.
Ash, having already grown familiar with her personality, didn't think her reliance strange. He accompanied her directly to the nearby Pokémon Center where Clefairy received a quick Contest Condition recovery.
After a few minutes, they returned to the small clearing where the other students had gathered earlier. Gary and the others Xiaolan, Tieruno, Trevor, and Shauna—were already waiting, having completed their own challenge matches during Ash's absence.
"Gary, Xiaolan, Tieruno…you guys finished your challenge matches already? How did it go?" Ash asked as he saw the familiar group reunited again.
"We all finished our five matches," Tieruno answered first.
"Trevor lost one," Gary admitted with a shrug. "I also lost one against you, Ash but the rest of us won all five."
Xiaolan stepped forward, her smile bright. "Ash, that means me, Shauna, and Tieruno now have 10 points just like you! The three of us are tied with you for the top spot!"
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