Pokemon: Release? Nonexistent

Before coming to this world, Ash had often wondered about the father mentioned briefly at the start of the anime.

According to Delia, his father was an excellent Trainer, but in over a decade of the anime series, he never appeared, eventually becoming a minor detail.

From observation, in the early Pokémon games, nearly all NPCs were children, women, or the elderly, with very few young men. This design reflected a historical backdrop: when Pokémon was first created, it coincided with a time of war in Japan, where many men were drafted into the military, leaving behind children, women, and the elderly. Over time, this detail became less significant.

In his memories, Ash recalled asking about his father as a child, but Delia never gave a clear response. Eventually, he stopped asking altogether.

"Honestly! Haven't you been looking forward to this summer camp? If you don't hurry, you'll be late!"

On the table, a breakfast spread reminiscent of a gourmet show from the anime was laid out. Delia busily watched over the pan, her light scolding warming Ash, who had been alone in his previous life.

"Understood~~" Ash replied lazily, setting his backpack down before taking a seat.

Delia turned to place a freshly fried omelet onto Ash's plate.

"Dig in!" Ash stared at the food, particularly the omelet, a thought crossing his mind: Could this be from a Pokémon? The first thing he thought of was Chansey.

Pokémon in this world were like animals, and much of the food shown in the anime came from them. For example, Farfetch'd was said to taste great with its leek, and Chansey was often associated with its eggs. Later, to avoid upsetting children, the series started mentioning items like Miltank milk instead of meat from Pokémon.

The anime rarely referenced meat directly, and when food appeared, it was usually ambiguous.

"Are you sure you've packed everything? Ash, you're always so careless. Double-check everything and don't trouble Professor Oak!"

"Got it, don't worry!"

"Huh? Do you have a fever?" Delia's tone shifted to concern. She reached out to feel Ash's forehead, surprising him.

"What are you doing, Mom?" Ash asked, unaccustomed to the parent-child dynamic. Although his body was the same, his soul was different.

Delia, being a mother, was sharp in observing her son's behavior.

"It's nothing! I'm just a little surprised. Usually, when I remind you, you'd shout, 'I know, I know! You're so naggy!'" she teased, mimicking Ash's usual tone.

Ash was left speechless. It was true that this matched the original Ash's personality perfectly. Mothers really did have a sixth sense. But his personality was undeniably different now.

"I... I'm just really looking forward to Professor Oak's summer camp," Ash explained, quickly coming up with a reasonable excuse to avoid suspicion.

"That's right! You've been excited for ages. Have fun this time!" Delia replied gently, easing Ash's nerves.

"Good!"

Not wanting to say too much and risk revealing himself, Ash finished his breakfast quickly, wiped his mouth, and grabbed his backpack.

"I'm heading out now, Mom! Take care of yourself at home."

Ash didn't linger, leaving quickly. What he didn't notice was Delia's hands pausing as she cleaned the dishes. A couple of tears fell onto the plate, but her face held a loving smile.

"This child has grown up so much without me realizing it. I guess I don't need to worry about him causing trouble for the Professor anymore," Delia murmured to herself.

Of course, Delia couldn't guess Ash's true situation. Even in a world of magic like this, the idea of a soul transfer was unthinkable.

In the past, Ash was still a child, eager to explore and play. For him to suddenly act mature and say "Take care of yourself" was a stark contrast.

Ash, meanwhile, had no idea about Delia's emotions. His thoughts were focused on the summer camp, even if it was full of kids. The idea of being in the wild with Pokémon thrilled him.

This was the real Pokémon world. Though Pallet Town was a small place, Pokémon were visible everywhere.

Along the way, Ash saw small Pokémon like Growlithe and Rattata, kept as pets by locals, as well as wild Flying-types like Pidgey and Butterfree.

"Here I am! Professor Oak, I'm early!" Ash called out as he reached the Laboratory.

Many children his age had already gathered outside. The summer camp was extremely popular, drawing kids from other regions as well. Several Lab staff members were present, taking roll and keeping order.

Ash remembered the Lab always being run by Professor Oak alone. Later, his companion Tracey stayed on to help. But thinking about it now, it seemed unrealistic for one person to manage such a large Laboratory and care for so many Pokémon.

"Oh! Ash, you're early today. We're waiting on a few more people, and then we'll head out!"

Professor Oak greeted him warmly. Just as Ash remembered, he was a kind, elderly man with a soft spot for children.

"Okay!" Ash replied. In the past, he would've been impatient to see wild Pokémon, but his current, more mature mindset kept him calm.

"Wow, Ash, you're not late for once!"