"If you want to become a Pokémon scholar and intern at Professor Oak's laboratory someday, building connections and showing your face around won't be enough. Instead of trying to curry favor, you'd be better off reading a few more of the professor's academic papers."
"And one more thing: while I acknowledge the value of 'talent', I don't care much for the label 'genius'. As for the so-called genius researcher you mentioned —Professor Cerise— I've never read any of his published work, so I won't pass judgment."
"But from what I know, the more renowned researcher from your Kanto's Vermilion City is a man named Dr. Bill, who specializes in the study of fossil Pokémon and ancient ecosystems."
"As for this Professor Cerise you speak so highly of… pardon my ignorance, but I've never even heard of him."
The boy named Kobayashi didn't pull any punches. His words cut sharply, and Goh's face flushed bright red in embarrassment.
"By the way, my future research partner, Gabriel — anything you'd like to add to my analysis?"
Henri arrogantly crossed his arms and glanced over at his companion.
"Future Professor Henri," Gabriel replied with a smirk, "I fully agree with your earlier remarks. But regarding this guy… there's one more thing I'd like to add."
"Please, Professor Gabriel, go ahead."
Henri kept his eyes fixed on Goh, his gaze filled with disdain.
"That is: someone who relies on flattery, cheap tricks, and personal connections isn't worthy of being our friend."
"And one more thing: the Cerise you mentioned is your friend's father, not yours. So what exactly are you so smug about?"
"Look at Gary back there — brown-haired guy sitting in the second-to-last row. He's Professor Oak's grandson. But in the past two days we've spent together, he's been nothing but courteous and humble. Never once did he brag about who he is."
"And your friend, Cerise's daughter — Chloe, right? We haven't had much interaction, but she clearly comes across as a refined, polite young lady."
"You, on the other hand… I won't waste more words putting you down. I'll just say this: you're not sincere, and we have no interest in befriending someone like you."
After delivering that cold dismissal, Gabriel turned his head away, clearly not taking Goh seriously at all.
"Y-You two…!!"
Goh had approached them full of enthusiasm, thinking he could make a couple of new friends before the summer camp officially began.
He never expected these two boys to be so proud and sharp-tongued. Their biting sarcasm and superior attitudes completely blindsided him.
Their words rang in his ears, and though Goh's face burned with anger and embarrassment, he couldn't come up with a single decent rebuttal.
"Hmph! Who needs friends like you anyway?"
He crossed his arms, pouted, and turned his head to the side in frustration.
The boy with the hair clip grumbled angrily, one leg crossed over the other, trying his best to look indifferent — though his body language betrayed how upset he was.
"Henri, forget him. Let's get back to what we were discussing."
...
...
Meanwhile, Chloe had no idea that her childhood friend Goh had just been mercilessly humiliated by the two boys sitting next to him.
She was still standing in the aisle, her small face filled with nervous tension, quietly making her way toward the back of the bus as she searched for an open seat.
Luckily, the seating was one-to-one with the number of students, so she wouldn't be left standing. After scanning the rows with a timid gaze for a while, she finally spotted an empty seat in the third row from the back.
"Um… excuse me, is this seat taken? Can I sit here?"
Chloe stood beside the seat and shyly asked the girl next to it.
"Oh! No one's here — you can sit."
The girl — Green — was leaning over the seat chatting with Ash and Gary behind her. She heard the nervous voice and quickly turned around to reply with a bright smile.
"Thank you—"
Chloe clutched the strap of her pink satchel tightly and gave a polite bow before sitting down.
Sensing Chloe's discomfort and nervous energy, Green greeted her warmly.
"Hi! I'm Green. You're Chloe, right?"
"Mhm…"
Chloe nodded shyly.
Green's cheerful personality was like a ray of sunshine. She reached over and gently placed her hand over Chloe's tightly clasped fingers.
"You don't have to be nervous, Chloe. We're all here to enjoy the Pokémon Summer Camp. Get to know everyone a little — who knows, maybe we'll become great friends!"
She flashed a bright and encouraging smile.
"Oh, by the way, is your stomach still feeling unwell? I brought some warm water from home. I'll pour you a little to help settle it."
Green recalled what Goh had said earlier — that the reason they were late was because Chloe wasn't feeling well.
Showing her thoughtfulness, she quickly pulled out a thermos from her bag to offer Chloe some warm water.
But Chloe looked a bit confused by this kind gesture.
"Oh no, no, thank you. My stomach's actually fine," she quickly waved her hands in explanation.
Truth was, Chloe wasn't feeling physically unwell at all. She was just incredibly anxious.
Aside from Goh, her childhood friend, she had never had any close friends — and she rarely talked to strangers, let alone sat this close and had a direct conversation with one.
"Really? But earlier Goh said—"
Before Green could finish her sentence, Ash — sitting one row behind Green, Shauna, and Serena — suddenly asked:
"Chloe, why were you and your friend late just now?"
Until then, everyone had been minding their own conversations, not paying Chloe much attention.
But now that Ash had spoken, his little group immediately focused on Chloe as well, their curiosity piqued.
"I'm really sorry that Goh and I arrived late and kept everyone waiting."
Before answering Ash's question, Chloe bowed apologetically once again, her tone soft and sincere.
"It's alright. But I'm just curious — what made you guys late? Did something happen on the way?"
Ash gave a friendly smile, his voice filled with genuine interest.
Since it wasn't a private or sensitive question, Chloe didn't think much and answered honestly.
"I'm sorry. Goh said his shoes got really dirty walking down the dirt road, so when we passed by the public restroom near the town gate, he stopped to wash them off."
That was her simple reply.
…
…
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T/N:
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