"Dear students, with this, all activities for the Pokémon Summer Camp have officially come to an end," Professor Oak stood tall on the stage of the main hall—the same place where the short Pokémon documentary had once aired—clad in his signature white lab coat, delivering a heartfelt speech.
"You've all been amazing throughout this summer. Your enthusiasm and passion moved me deeply."
"I hope in the future, you'll continue learning alongside Pokémon, forming bonds and making friendships that will last a lifetime."
"YES!!"
"YES!!"
"YES!!"
Voices of excitement echoed from the seated campers below, their expressions radiant with joy.
"Now, we move on to one of the most anticipated parts of every Pokémon Summer Camp… I think many of you already know what it is. Yes—it's time for the [Outstanding Camper Awards Ceremony]!"
"As per tradition, the top three scorers in the camp assessments will be officially awarded the honor of Outstanding Campers."
"This time, though, we had a rare and wonderful situation—more than three students made it into the top three scores!"
"So, let us welcome the following seven students to the stage: Ash, Serena, Green, Shauna, Gary, Tierno, and Trevor!"
Clap clap clap clap clap—!
Clapclapclapclap—!!
As Ash and his companions rose from their seats and walked to the stage, the rest of the campers below turned their eyes toward them, filled with admiration and envy.
Of course, the admiration—true admiration—was mostly directed at Ash.
The envy? That was for his friends.
After all, if not for their connection with Ash, it would've been incredibly difficult for Green, Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor to squeeze into the top three.
But friends… friends are an undeniable advantage.
Tierno and Trevor had been assigned to temporarily live with Ash's family since the beginning of camp. That early bond meant that Ash naturally looked after them during the entire summer.
That kind of support? Unchangeable.
And those who missed out on being friends with Ash early on?
Well, all they could do now was sigh in envy.
Ash, of course, had no idea what the campers below were thinking.
Even though he had the ability to read minds with Aura, he wasn't the kind of person to abuse his powers out of curiosity.
Standing on the stage with his closest friends, Ash's face was filled with pride and joy.
"Now, aside from the students who placed in the top three," Professor Oak continued, "we also have a few individuals who performed exceptionally well in other areas. They too will be awarded the Outstanding Camper honor!"
At those words, the campers who had been whispering and chatting instantly sat up straight, their eyes wide with hope.
Ash looked down from the stage at the sea of eager faces and felt a mix of emotion in his heart.
There were 98 students who had completed the camp—not counting Chloe, who withdrew, and Goh, who was expelled.
Of those, only a handful would receive this honor.
Because in this world, even now, not everyone is a prodigy.
Not everyone is destined to shine.
Most people? They're just ordinary.
The competition within the world of Pokémon starts early.
Sure, everyone here is just a kid from a farming or working-class family.
They were lucky to be chosen for this camp.
But once they turn ten and officially set out on their journeys…
Their fates will diverge drastically.
Some will rise.
Many will fade.
Ash… he would be one of the few who rises.
No—he would be the very best.
Just like he dominated this Pokémon Summer Camp, he would continue to stand at the top.
Professor Oak's voice echoed again.
"In addition to the seven on stage, the following students will also receive the Outstanding Camper title: Jeanette, Shohei, Puff, Henri and Gabriel."
While it may have seemed like a random selection from the remaining campers, these five had all ranked in the top ten of the official leaderboard.
Though some of the unchosen students looked a bit disappointed, there was no bitterness.
After all, it had been fair.
Professor Oak presented each of the twelve selected campers with an Outstanding Camper Medal.
Each medal was unique.
Ash, as the top scorer, received a gold medal.
Second place earned silver, and third place received bronze.
The five students who received special recognition were awarded black iron medals.
Then came the prizes.
…
Top Prizes for Outstanding Campers:
First Place (Ash):
The League grants special permission to own Pokémon before age ten.
Number permitted: Unlimited.
Bonus: One free starter Pokémon of Ash's choosing.
Second Place (Serena, Green, Shauna):
Permission to own Pokémon before age ten.
Number permitted: Two.
Bonus: One free starter Pokémon.
Third Place (Gary, Tierno, Trevor):
Permission to own Pokémon before age ten.
Number permitted: One.
Bonus: One free starter Pokémon.
Fourth Place (Jeanette):
Permission to own Pokémon before age ten.
Number permitted: One.
Bonus: One starter Pokémon, but with cost.
Fifth Tier Honorees (Shohei, Puff, Henri, Gabriel):
Permission to own one Pokémon early.
Bonus: One starter Pokémon, but must pay to receive it.
…
Even with the payment requirement, it was still an incredible reward.
Normally, even if a kid had saved enough for the registration tax, they might not be able to reserve a starter Pokémon due to limited supply.
Now?
They'd get a guaranteed starter ahead of time.
For many, this was a massive advantage.
Still… it all paled in comparison to what Ash received.
And rightfully so. He was the champion of this summer camp.
The one who stood at the top.
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