"Hey Ash, when you finally start your Pokémon journey, which of the Kanto starters are you planning to choose?"
Gary's gaze wandered around the room, landing on the bright poster of the three Kanto starters pinned neatly to the wall—Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur.
Ash turned to look at the same poster, a nostalgic smile creeping across his face. "Hmm… I like all three, but if I really had to choose, I think I'd go with Charmander."
Fire-types were fierce, determined, and passionate—just like him. And when fully evolved into Charizard, it wasn't just strong, it was cool. That was reason enough for a six-year-old boy with the heart of an adult Trainer.
"Charmander, huh? Then I'll pick Squirtle," Gary declared with a smirk, folding his arms.
"Because Water beats Fire, right?" Ash chuckled. "But a real Pokémon Trainer doesn't lose just because of type disadvantage."
He leaned forward slightly, a mysterious glint in his eye. "And besides… who knows? Maybe the battle won't go the way you expect."
Gary blinked, confused by Ash's knowing tone. Of course, Ash wasn't going to explain that he already knew his "starter" wouldn't be Charmander at all—but rather a certain stubborn, electric yellow mouse that refused to stay in its Poké Ball.
"Let's just say," Ash said with a mischievous smile, "you might end up on the losing side, Gary."
Gary frowned. "We'll see about that!"
The two boys burst into laughter, the friendly rivalry between them already beginning to take shape.
Then Gary's expression brightened again. "Oh right! My grandpa's hosting the annual Pokémon Summer Camp this weekend. You're joining too, right?"
"Of course!" Ash said instantly, eyes sparkling. "There's no way I'd miss the chance to get close to real Pokémon!"
He could barely contain his excitement. In the original story, this exact camp was where she appeared for the very first time—Serena, the girl whose path would one day intertwine with his.
Thinking of it made his heart beat faster.
In his past life, he had watched countless seasons of the Pokémon anime, and though Ash had traveled with many girls—Misty, May, Dawn, Iris, Serena, Lana, Mallow, Chloe, Lillie—Serena was different.
Unlike the others, she wasn't just a travel companion or a friend.
Serena had loved Ash—openly, genuinely, and wholeheartedly.
Sure, Misty might have been the first girl to share a spark with him. They'd grown together, argued constantly, and shared moments that hinted at something more. But their bond had always felt… unfinished. When Misty took over the Cerulean Gym, their paths diverged, and that unspoken connection slowly faded into simple friendship.
Serena, on the other hand, had met him as a child—during this very camp. That innocent encounter would later blossom into something far deeper, something neither of them could ignore.
Even the emotionally dense original Ash had held a special place in his heart for her. And unlike any other girl before, Serena had confessed her feelings and even kissed him goodbye.
That kiss… Ash still remembered it vividly from his previous life's memories of the anime.
The last girl to kiss Ash before Serena had been the Latias in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias. And before that, the shrine maiden Melody in The Power of One.
But Serena's kiss—hers was different. It wasn't mythical or symbolic. It was real.
Ash smiled faintly, his fingers curling slightly in thought. "The original Ash may have been dense about love, but me? Now that I'm in his shoes… there's no way I'll let a girl like Serena slip away."
...
...
The boys talked for a while longer, laughing about Pokémon battles and the camp's upcoming games until the afternoon sun began to fade. Eventually, Gary had to head home.
Ash walked him to the gate, reminding him, "Hey, don't forget to ask Professor Oak about what we talked about—the League rule thing. I really need to know if there's a way to get my own Pokémon early."
"Got it!" Gary said, giving a confident thumbs-up. "I'll ask Grandpa tonight!"
Ash nodded, watching his friend disappear down the path. The moment the gate clicked shut, he raced back upstairs, closing the door behind him.
The anticipation that had been simmering in his chest since morning finally spilled over.
"System," he said quietly, his voice low but clear, "open my personal status panel."
At once, a soft, translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes—visible only to him.
——————————
Ascension Trainer System(Severely Damaged)
Host: Ash Ketchum (Tajiri)
Gender: Male
Age: 6 years
Stats:
Strength: 3 (Adult average: 10)
Stamina: 4 (Adult average: 10)
Intelligence: 16 (Adult average: 10)
Charisma: 25 (Adult average: 10)
Talents:
Viridian Power (Unawakened)
Aura Power (Unawakened)
Pokémon: None
Items: Premier Ball
——————————
Ash's eyes scanned the panel carefully. He'd already seen this once before, back in the hospital, but it still fascinated him.
Compared to other systems he'd seen in novels or games, this one was painfully simple—but also strangely practical.
Since Trainers didn't rely on their own physical strength, there were only four stats that mattered: Strength, Stamina, Intelligence, and Charisma.
His physical stats were low, naturally—he was only six years old, after all. But the other two made him grin.
Intelligence: 16. That was probably thanks to the mind of an adult inside a child's body—his mental capacity and focus far exceeded a normal kid's.
And Charisma: 25.
That one made him laugh out loud.
"Yeah, that's definitely the original Ash's doing," he said to himself.
In his past life, he had been smart but introverted—an orphan who never quite fit in. But this Ash? He was pure sunshine—kind, honest, and relentlessly optimistic. The kind of person who could befriend anyone, human or Pokémon alike.
"Charm of 25, huh?" he chuckled. "Well, of course. What kind of protagonist would I be without it?"
He closed the system screen, feeling the spark of determination burning brighter inside him.
Serena… the system… the dream of becoming a Pokémon Master—everything was aligning.
His real journey hadn't even begun yet. But already, the road ahead shimmered with promise.
…
…