Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

Ash's explanation was filled with obvious self-blame, which made Serena panic and hurriedly wave her hands in denial.

"No, I really didn't! Ash has done so well, he couldn't have done any better. I'm so happy to be with Ash like this..."

In Serena's eyes, Ash is perfect in every way.

Even his flaws, which had always been criticized, didn't bother Serena after she got together with him.

When she met Ash, he was already with Blue and Lyra. Strictly speaking, Serena was a newcomer.

Furthermore, from Carlos's perspective, Xiao Zhizu could be considered to have a clean and upright character.

After all… on average, a man in Miare City has 25.6 sex partners, and that's not just some random statistic.

"If you're happy, don't think too much. You are you, and they are them. Everyone is different, and everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses," Ash comforted her. "I hope Serena can find her goal, which is to find something she likes and that makes her happy."

“Apart from that, it’s already very good that Serena is by my side like this.”

"Mmm..." Serena nodded silently, feeling herself being surrounded by happiness.

But... more than finding my goal, what made me happy was actually the trip itself.

Or rather, there's only one thing I want to do from beginning to end!

Listening to the even breathing on the other bed, Serena gradually came to her senses.

My mother said she didn't want to become Xiaozhi's appendage... but I never felt there was anything wrong with it.

Because what I like to do most is to stay by Ash's side, and I'll do anything with him!

Or even further…

After taking a few deep breaths, Serena suddenly tiptoed to her feet and carefully moved to Ash's bedside.

Looking at that sleeping face, she silently urged herself to make up her mind.

They've already come this far and are certain they'll walk this path together in the future, so why should I continue with that pointless shyness, retreat, and hesitation?

After the collision... just shatter it!

The phrase that came from her mother, at this moment, became the only thing that Serena truly accepted about riding the armored rhinoceros!

Like an armored rhinoceros, charge forward!

"Hoo... Serena, do your best!" Feeling her heart racing, Serena kept cheering herself on and forced herself to bring her face close to Ash's.

The boy's breath made her feel incredibly uneasy. Serena gripped the edge of the bed tightly with both hands, making sure her body wouldn't collapse due to loss of strength...

"Ugh..." With a gentle touch, Serena felt her knees buckle and her knuckles turn white from the force.

Waves of oxygen deprivation assaulted her brain, and her body swayed precariously, yet the girl persevered.

She was afraid of waking him, and also hoped to savor the tenderness of the moment a little longer…

But just then, she noticed a pair of bright eyes looking at her with a smile!

"Ash, you... ugh!"

She instinctively tried to pull back and scream, but her neck was already wrapped around someone's arm, and with a little force, she was pressed back onto the still-warm lips.

The person who should have been 'sound asleep' began to lean forward and get up, gradually turning from passive to active. After a dizzying moment, Serena realized that she had been completely restrained and could only passively use her body to support the other person's weight.

“Salina…” After an unknown amount of time, the person finally released the 'helpless' girl.

He buried his head in the girl's neck, as if to imprint his gentle whispers directly into her heart.

“I know you sometimes feel insecure and think you’re not good enough, but I want to say… thank you for always liking me as I am.”

"Ash..." Serena opened her eyes shyly and found the boy looking down at her.

Their eyes met, and Serena no longer hesitated. She reached out and hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her...

From their childhood encounter and promise to their confession and fulfillment of that promise, all their emotions were poured into it.

Sure enough, this was exactly what she wanted to do most and what she liked to do most!

Chapter 636 The Bratano Research Institute, the One That Makes its Appearance

The Bratano Institute in Miare, home to novice PhD students in the Carlos region.

As a regional PhD, Blatano naturally has his own research topics, and his main focus is on hyper-evolution.

"Welcome, Ash and Serena!" Professor Blatano greeted them warmly as soon as they arrived at the research institute.

As a Pokémon professor, Blatano is quite young and very handsome. His upright figure, which makes him look like he's wearing a white trench coat, and his charming eyes that sometimes gleam with a soft light, make him exceptionally attractive to the opposite sex.

For example, Ash saw two female researchers at the research institute secretly blushing in front of Dr. Blatano…

"Professor, excuse me." Ash greeted him politely.

"You've finally arrived! I've been looking forward to your coming ever since I heard about this," Blatano said half-jokingly. "Ash, I've been thinking about you day and night."

"Ah..." Serena was stunned, and Ash couldn't help but feel a chill.

"I was thinking about your Kangaskhan and Charizard." Blatano patted Ash on the shoulder and revealed, "One can Mega Evolve on its own, and the other can Mega Evolve autonomously, and its body can still retain the characteristics of the Mega Evolution... Ash, do you know how much of an impact this has had on my research on Mega Evolution?"

"If that's the case, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Professor." Sensing the unspoken meaning, Ash shook his head apologetically. "My Pokémon isn't with me right now, and as for Charizard... I don't think it would be of much value for you to study it at this stage."

“That… is true.” Blatano paused for a moment, then quickly realized that Ash was reminding him.

We haven't even figured out the proper super evolution yet, so let's not get hung up on special cases like Charizard.

"Let's go. Aren't you going to take your girlfriend to choose her first Pokémon?" Blatano looked at Serena with a smile. "But I must say, your girlfriend's lipstick shade is quite unique~"

"Ugh..." Serena immediately covered her mouth guiltily, while giving a resentful glance to the 'culprit'.

Please, that's not some unique shade at all; it's clearly just that she got a little engorged from being sucked on by someone last night!

The three of them headed to the inner room of the research institute, chatting casually along the way, and their relationship became quite familiar.

Inside a large room at the research institute, they saw another male researcher, only a few years older than Ash, holding food and preparing to feed the three impatient little ones.

A little fox with big ears, a little frog with foam around its neck, and a greedy little hedgehog standing upright.

Besides that, there was a little fire dragon affectionately tugging at his trouser leg.

"Little Charmander, wait a minute, I'm feeding it right now," the young man said, stroking the little Charmander's head to comfort it.

“Alain, I’ve brought distinguished guests. They’re here to choose their first Pokémon,” Blatano reminded them.

"Distinguished guest...it's you?" The young man subconsciously turned around, his gaze immediately locking onto Ash. "You're the legendary Red Star of Kanto, the one who's said to be incredibly powerful?"

"Hello." Xiao Zhi simply nodded politely, without introducing himself or engaging in conversation with the other person.

Everyone thought this response was normal, including Ai Lan himself.

Their statuses are worlds apart. Ash has a huge reputation all over the world, while Alain is just an assistant to Blatano... and may not even be a formal researcher, just an intern.

In this situation, Ash doesn't necessarily have to answer Alain's question, which implies a challenge.

As for Alain himself, Ash doesn't plan to get to know him well... The reason is simple: Ash is petty and doesn't want to add that name to his friends list.

"Salina, come and take a look. Which one do you want to choose?" Blatano led Salina to the three little ones, waiting for her to make her choice.

The fox has shiny, smooth, pale yellow fur and looks very cute.

The mischievous and always-stealing Nima Mouse... uh, Hali Chestnut;

And finally, the last frog...

"Croak!" Serena looked at them one by one, and just as she got to the little frog, the latter suddenly turned its head and jumped away.

boring!

This is what the croaking frog said before it left.

"Why is the Froggy Frog acting like this again?" Blatano's expression froze.

He seemed used to this situation, immediately gesturing for Ailan to give chase, while awkwardly apologizing to Serena, "I'm sorry, Serena, something's wrong with Froakie..."

"It's alright, I've already made my choice." Serena shook her head indifferently and took the initiative to stand in front of the fire fox.

"Hello, I'm Serena. Would you like to be my partner?"

"Woku~" the fire fox immediately squinted and called out.

"That's great!" Serena was overjoyed and hugged the fire fox tightly.

With that, the selection of the starter Pokémon is complete.

"By the way, Professor, what was that Froakie all about?" Ash asked, finally voicing his biggest concern.

Could it be that eccentric frog?

“It’s a bit embarrassing to talk about.” Blatano scratched his head awkwardly. “It wasn’t originally one of the starter Pokémon in this batch. I sent it away a few times before, but it was too independent and often acted according to its own opinions, even ignoring the trainers’ orders… As a result, it was either sent back or it abandoned those trainers on its own initiative.”

"Is that so?" Ash's eyes lit up more and more as he listened. This made perfect sense!

(That Froakie is indeed very special.) The management Pokémon then chimed in, (Its talent is exceptional, and like your Rockruff, it belongs to a special type of Pokémon.)

(Is a special type... a characteristic?)

Ash understood what managing Pokémon meant. His Rockruff had the unique "Go Your Own Way" ability, so naturally, this Froakie should also have that...

(It is a normally bred starter Pokémon, and its current ability is Torrent, but if it can evolve, its ability will become Bond Pact.)

After the Pokémon Management system is upgraded, the Pokémon status scan will be error-free, which confirms that the Pokémon just now was Ash's Greninja from the anime!