Mallow nodded. "Imagine getting confused about this. That's not like Ash at all! If you lose, you just train hard and win the rematch! Isn't that how you've always done it? Since when did being a Champion change who you are?"
Sophocles interjected. "That's right! Even I won a small match against you once. If that logic held, would you stop being a Champion because of that? It's not about being 'undefeated.' It's about being Ash."
Kiawe offered a nod of respect. "As your fierce rival, let me say this: don't look so pathetic. You haven't lost anything yet! If you do lose, come back to Alola and cry to us. At that point, I'll give you a hard boost to help you recover!"
Chloe, watching from the outside, just looked at Ash with a gentle, knowing smile. There was no need for her to say anything; the expression on Ash's face was answer enough.
The overwhelming pressure was gone, replaced by a deep sense of clarity.
"Everyone… Thank you! I know what to do! I will always be brave and move forward! I will become the Master Eight, defeat Leon, and become the strongest trainer in the world! I will show the whole world that my home—Alola—is the place where true champions are born!!"
Ash's "Champion Confusion"—Broken! Professor Kukui gave him a broad thumbs-up. "Well said! That's the General's Mindset I was looking for!"
[Lance: Five minutes... that's all it took? Am I too much of a failure of a Champion? Why didn't anyone dissuade my confusion like that?]
[Steven Stone: Honestly, compared to Ash, my journey through Champion Confusion isn't even worth mentioning. Did I not have enough friends?]
[Wallace: You spend your days digging for rocks! You don't make friends!]
[Steven Stone: ??? Aren't you my best friend?]
[Wallace: Hehe! But you didn't come to me when you were confused, did you? You claimed you were a 'genius' and processed it yourself!]
In the Footage—
The atmosphere in the classroom was light again. Suddenly, Lana remembered something and ran to a side table. Her sandals clacked against the floor as she picked up her small backpack.
"Oh! By the way, I have a letter from Lillie for everyone! She sent it back last week! I'll read it!"
The group leaned over, listening carefully. '...I want to find my father and come back to Alola with him. I want to see everyone soon! To Lana, Sophocles, Mallow, Kiawe... and Ash! I'll write to you again, Lillie.'
Ash, who was listening with interest, was stunned. Lillie... she sent that letter before knowing he was here, but she still added his name to the end?
"Does Lillie... add my name to every letter she sends back?"
"Yes! She misses you a lot! Every letter she sends back always has Ash's name on it!" Lana chirped. "You know, in the days after you left, the school felt a lot less joyful..."
In the real Alola School, everyone was smirking at Lillie. Her face was bright red.
"Why are you all looking at me like this! Didn't I include all your names, too?!" She tried to defend herself, but her Alolan friends weren't having it.
"That's true... but Ash isn't even in Alola, and you still add his name every time? That's how much you miss him!"
"Lillie, your poker face is still so easy to read." It was clear that her attempt at reserve was failing. Why did she have to be so bad at this?
In the Footage—
Ash scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "I promise to come back to Alola often! Don't get tired of me!" He shared an Alolan feast with his friends before they made their next move.
Professor Kukui was ready to take Ash and Chloe to his house to see his wife, Professor Burnet, and their son, Lei! Lei was already a few months old, and Ash hadn't seen him since his birth.
When they arrived at the Kukui household, Ash was greeted not just by Burnet and the baby, but by his old Pokémon "family" who lived there! His Lycanroc, His Melmetal! His Rowlet! And his champion-winning ace, Incineroar!
These four Pokémon were the core of his Alolan victory. His other Legendaries, Naganadel and Solgaleo, were still at the Ultra Space. But as Ash hugged his current family, he could still sense the faint waveguides of his cosmic friends.
After introducing Chloe to his Pokémon family, the group decided to head to Alola's famous beach. Lana, who knew the effects of the blazing sun all too well, offered Chloe her own "Lana Unique Sunscreen" to protect her skin.
Chloe, not having planned for a beach day, had to buy a swimsuit from a roadside stand.
Ash let out all his Pokémon to play on the beach—Gengar, Dragonite, Galar Farfetch'd, and Riolu. His Magikarp was temporarily staying at the Cerise Lab, as the beach was not a good place for a fish with zero combat power to "battle." (wait, did he say battle?)
As the group was happily playing in the surf, Riolu's eyes suddenly widened. He turned his head, staring at a specific spot on the beach. Ash, feeling the surge in Riolu's waveguide, followed his gaze.
Not far away, a Lucario was engaging in intense physical training with a human partner. The trainer was shouting motivational slogans—special training this, guts that.
"A Lucario? I didn't think there was another master Lucario outside of Dr. Gurkinn's," Ash whispered. "Let's go say hello, Riolu!"
The waveguide of that Lucario gave Ash a strange sense of déjà vu. As they approached, the face of the trainer became clear. Ash's eyes widened. This was…
"Cameron? Is that really you?"
The trainer looked up, and an excited expression instantly filled his face. "It's Ash! Why did you come to Alola, too?"
This trainer was none other than Cameron of the Unova. He was the trainer who had handed Ash his agonizing quarterfinals defeat at the Vertress Conference!
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