026: Student Contest Category and Temporary Residence!
"Hmph, Tierno, you can brag all you want, but obviously Trevor knows way more about Pokémon than you do," Shauna snapped, hands on her hips, as her twin pigtails bounced with every word. Her sharp tongue spared no mercy for the chubby boy's exaggerated claims.
"This Pokémon is called Butterfree, a species native to the Kanto region," Trevor explained quietly, adjusting his orange glasses while focusing his camera on the window. "Compared to other butterfly Pokémon like Vivillon in Kalos, Butterfree can learn Confusion, a Psychic-type move, and it's even capable of flying in rainy weather due to its waterproof wing scales."
As he spoke, he continued snapping photos of the Butterfree fluttering among the wildflowers near the road. His companions leaned in to listen, their curiosity piqued by the foreign ecosystem.
"See?" Shauna huffed again, shooting Tierno a sideways glance. "Told you Trevor's the expert."
"I'm not bragging!" Tierno protested, waving his arms. "I know stuff too! Now I know that's a Butterfree!" He puffed up his chest, though his attempt to save face earned little more than blank stares.
"…" "…"
Their airplane had transferred to a Kanto tour bus back in Saffron City, and the journey to Pallet Town had taken longer than expected. Now, fatigue clung to the group, but it was quickly giving way to rising excitement as the final destination approached.
For many of these Kalos students, this was their first time outside their home region. New towns, new Pokémon, and the promise of a special summer camp organized by none other than Professor Samuel Oak himself it was hard not to be thrilled.
Eager to glimpse the unfamiliar countryside, the children pressed their faces against the windows, watching as Pallet Town's simple yet charming landscape came into view. Wild Pokémon wandered through open fields, from grazing Miltank to a Farfetch'd flapping lazily overhead.
The bus pulled to a smooth stop at the edge of town. The animated chatter dimmed as students stood and gathered their small travel bags. Some fidgeted nervously, others peeked out shyly as the bus doors opened.
Outside, a welcoming committee of local children and parents had gathered. Residents waved colorful paper flags with the Kalos and Kanto emblems interlocked a symbol of unity and shared adventure. Professor Oak stood at the front, smiling kindly as always.
"Hello, Professor Oak. I'm Sophie, assistant to Professor Sycamore and team leader for the Kalos delegation." The lead chaperone stepped off the bus first. Her crisp white hat cast a soft shadow over her eyes as she extended a hand. "All students have arrived safely."
Professor Oak returned the greeting warmly. Though he was slightly younger than his usual image, his reputation as the Kanto region's leading researcher was firmly established.
"Miss Sophie, thank you for your efforts," he said with a genial nod.
A moment later, Oak turned to the Kalos students behind her. Many looked around with wide eyes, taking in the rustic charm of the small town.
"Welcome, future Trainers!" Oak addressed them, his voice both commanding and kind. "I'm Professor Oak, organizer of this year's Pokémon Summer Camp. It's a pleasure to have you in Kanto."
"This program is about more than training. It's about bonding with Pokémon, understanding new regions, and forming friendships that cross borders. I hope this journey helps you discover something new not just in the world around you, but in yourselves."
Though still four years from the start of Ash Ketchum's famed journey, Oak already played a vital role in shaping the next generation of Trainers. As the official distributor of starter Pokémon in Kanto, he took that duty seriously, even for short-term guests like these.
His speech broke the ice. The students, six years old like their Kanto counterparts, began to relax. Shy smiles appeared, hands started to wave back to the local children.
"Papapapa…"
"Papapapapa…" A wave of applause spread among the kids, some clapping eagerly in rhythm with the cheers from Pallet's crowd.
Oak continued, "The camp doesn't officially begin for three more days. Until then, we've arranged for you to stay in the homes of local students who also registered for the program."
He raised a clipboard with a list of matched host families.
"So! Are you ready to temporarily part ways with your usual travel buddies and make some new friends?" he asked with a sly smile.
"Ready, Professor Oak!" several boys responded at once, fists raised in excitement.
But not everyone shared their confidence. Stephanie a shy, soft-spoken girl from Kalos clutched the strap of her pink satchel tightly. The idea of staying in a stranger's house made her nervous.
Noticing her hesitation, Oak offered reassurance. "Don't worry," he said. "The children here are your age and love Pokémon just as much as you do. You'll find plenty in common. I'm sure you'll make wonderful friends."
With that, he began reading the list aloud.
"Let's see... Two students: Gaston and Luc, please step forward."
Two boys one round, the other wiry shuffled out of line.
"Yes! Luc, we're in the same group!" the chubby one grinned.
"Hmph. Not like I had a choice," Luc muttered.
Oak smiled through the banter. "Gaston and Luc, you'll be staying with Koo Hino, a student from Pallet Town."
"Student Hino and family, please come forward."
From the welcome line, a quiet boy with oversized glasses and a yellow T-shirt stepped out. Nudged forward by his family, he adjusted his glasses nervously.
"H-Hello. I'm Koo Hino. Nice to meet you both," he said softly, bowing slightly.
"Yo! I'm Gaston, but everyone calls me Fatty," the round boy said cheerfully. "This is Luc. We're counting on you, Koo!"
"Luc brought tons of snacks and toys. We'll totally share them with you. And if anyone picks on you, just say the word—Fatty's got your back!"
"T-Thanks… Fatty," Koo said, a faint smile forming.
"Alright then," Oak said, pleased with the start of the pairings. "Koo, please take your guests to meet the rest of your family."
Koo nodded and gestured politely for them to follow, and the three boys walked off together toward the town, already chatting awkwardly.
More pairings followed. Stephanie and Serena exchanged hopeful glances. Would they end up in the same house? Or would they be separated?
The warmth of the Pallet sun shone brightly on the scene, and with every pairing, the gap between Kalos and Kanto grew a little smaller.
And so, with suitcases in hand and new bonds beginning, the students took their first step into a summer they would never forget.
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