Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Because Ash and Fang Yuan's battle had delayed them for quite a while, it was now very close to the start of the Celebration Banquet.
When Ash's Group of Three arrived with Fang Yuan, several tables laden with food and fruit had already been set up in the laboratory courtyard.
More than thirty residents gathered around them, already growing impatient.
"Ash."
In the crowd, Ash's Mom, Hanako, dressed in a white apron, saw that Ash had only just arrived and walked over to scold him. "I reminded you to leave early, yet you still made everyone wait so long."
"Ah... but it isn't time yet, is it?" Ash pouted.
Team Rocket had come out to cause trouble. It wasn't like he could do anything about that.
Still, perhaps it was a good thing.
It was better for Team Rocket to show up early than to appear during the banquet and wreck everything.
"It's fine, Hanako. Hurry and call Ash over. He's the star of the day, haha."
"That's right. Pallet Town has finally produced another amazing Trainer."
"Ash, you'd better eat your fill today."
The residents of Pallet Town chimed in from the crowd, all wearing smiles.
Pallet Town was not a large town, and nearly all its residents knew one another. When Ash had first set out on his journey, they had even come to see him off.
Who would have thought that, after a year, Ash would truly become such an outstanding Trainer? His neighbors could not help but feel genuinely happy for Hanako.
She had raised Ash all by herself, and now that he had made something of himself, Hanako had finally made it through the hard times.
"Don't worry, everyone! I, Ash, will definitely become the greatest Trainer and make Pallet Town's name