" Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seen to recall someone just BEGGING us to let him in on this, no?"

Rose giggled a little, and Lilly hid a smile.

Me?

I was on the verge of fainting.

" W.... wait..... we..." I said, pointing to me, Lillie and Rosa." Have to beat you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue gave a sheepish smile. " Uh... Suprise?"

I looked at Red.

Then Blue.

Then Leaf.

Then Pikachu.

Then I screamed.

" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Everyone winced and closed their ears.

" YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!" Rose yelled.

" NO I CAN'T!" I yelled back.

Red groaned.

So did his Charizard.

After five minutes of screaming, I kinda lost my voice.

So I walked away, wondering when they'd notice.

And they didn't notice until thirty minutes later, when my screaming finally got out of their ears.

" Your sister is loud." Lillie said with a nervous laugh.

Red sighed but nodded.

"Where's Mia?" Leaf asked, looking around after the ringing in her ears finally subsided.

Red immediately froze, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. Blue, who had been rubbing his temples, looked up and blinked. "Wait… where is she?"

Lillie tilted her head. "She was just here a second ago. Right after the, uh..." She trailed off awkwardly, not wanting to mention the scream.

"Great," Rosa muttered, folding her arms. "You guys didn’t notice she walked off? That’s her thing! She freaks out, then vanishes!"

Red frowned, his jaw tightening. He reached for Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder, and gave a slight nod. Pikachu immediately understood and leapt to the ground, sniffing for Mia’s scent.

"Well, this is just perfect," Blue groaned, shoving his hands into his pockets. "First, we have to convince her not to freak out about battling us, and now we have to go on a scavenger hunt for her? Classic Mia."

"Blue, don’t act like this is her fault," Leaf scolded, glaring at him. "You could’ve just let her stay calm instead of springing that surprise on her."

"How is this my fault?!" Blue exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "You all agreed to this!"

"Enough," Red finally said, his voice calm but firm. He turned to Pikachu, who let out a soft "Pika!" and pointed toward the woods nearby.

Without another word, Red started walking in the direction Pikachu indicated, his steps quick and determined. The others exchanged glances before scrambling to follow him.

---

Meanwhile, I was sitting on a large rock by a small stream, kicking at the water with my shoe and sulking. My throat was still sore from all the screaming, but at least I’d gotten my frustration out.

"Four years older," I muttered to myself, tossing a pebble into the water. "How am I supposed to beat them? They’ve been trainers forever. They’ve got strategies, experience... everything I don’t have."

I sighed and hugged my knees to my chest, watching as the stream rippled under the afternoon sun. Part of me felt bad for walking off, but I just couldn’t handle the pressure. How could anyone expect me to battle Red, Blue, and Leaf?

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard the faint crunch of footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw Red standing there, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable. Pikachu was at his side, its ears twitching.

"Red?" I croaked, my voice still hoarse.

He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he walked over to me, crouched down so we were at eye level, and studied my face. His silence was almost unbearable.

"I-I’m sorry," I finally stammered, looking away. "I didn’t mean to—"

Before I could finish, he placed a hand gently on my head. I blinked, looking up at him in surprise. His expression had softened, and he gave me a small, reassuring nod.

"You’re scared," he said quietly, his voice steady but kind. "I get it."

My mouth fell open slightly. Red rarely spoke, and when he did, it was always straight to the point. Hearing him acknowledge my feelings made my chest tighten.

"I just... I can’t beat you guys," I admitted, my voice trembling. "You’re all so much better than me. I don’t even know why I agreed to this."

Red shook his head, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It’s not about winning," he said simply. "It’s about trying."

I frowned, confused. "But if I can’t win, what’s the point?"

He stood up and extended a hand to me, his gaze unwavering. "The point is to grow," he said. "Every battle teaches you something. Even if you lose."

I stared at his hand for a moment before hesitantly taking it. As he pulled me to my feet, I couldn’t help but feel a little stronger, just from his words. Red wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things, and if he believed I could learn something from this, maybe he was right.

The sound of footsteps and voices reached us, and soon the rest of the group appeared. Blue let out an exaggerated sigh of relief when he saw me. "There you are! You can’t just disappear like that, Mia! We’ve been—"

"Blue," Red interrupted, his tone firm. Blue immediately stopped talking and crossed his arms, muttering something under his breath.

"Are you okay?" Leaf asked, her voice soft.

I nodded, glancing at Red before looking back at her. "Yeah... I’m okay."

"Good," Rosa said, stepping forward with a grin. "Because we’re still battling, whether you’re ready or not!"

Lillie giggled nervously. "Don’t worry, Mia. We’ll do our best, too. It’s not about who wins, remember?"

I smiled faintly, Red’s earlier words echoing in my mind. "Yeah... I guess you’re right."

As we walked back toward the clearing, I felt Red’s hand briefly rest on my shoulder. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes. No matter what happened in that battle, I knew he had my back.

As I walked down the trail, still fuming and voiceless, I kicked a rock in frustration. Three teenagers, four years older than me, expecting me to battle them? I thought bitterly. This is beyond unfair.

Pikachu trailed behind me, looking just as exasperated as I felt. She gave a little squeak, trying to cheer me up, but I was too annoyed to respond. Instead, I plopped myself down on a tree stump and crossed my arms.

"I mean, what kind of surprise is that?" I mumbled to Pikachu, my voice hoarse from all the screaming. "Red, Blue, and Leaf? Together? Against me? And they thought I’d be okay with it?"

Pikachu tilted her head and chirped as if to say, You’re being a little dramatic.

I sighed and slumped forward. "Okay, maybe I overreacted a little... but still! They could’ve warned me."

I sat there for a while, stewing in my thoughts, until I heard hurried footsteps coming from behind me. I turned to see Rosa and Lillie running toward me, their faces a mix of worry and guilt.

"Mia!" Rosa called, skidding to a stop in front of me. "Why did you run off like that?"

"Yeah," Lillie chimed in, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "We were all worried when we realized you were gone!"

I gave them both a flat look and pointed to my throat. My voice was shot; there was no way I could explain myself. Instead, I just sighed dramatically and pointed back toward where the others were.

"Oh," Rosa said, realizing. "You’re still mad about the surprise battle thing, huh?"

I nodded, crossing my arms again.

"Okay, okay, we get it," Lillie said, raising her hands in surrender. "But you’ve gotta admit, it’s kind of exciting, right? Battling against three of the best trainers in the region? It’s a chance to prove yourself!"

"Exciting?" I croaked, my voice barely audible. "It’s insane."

Rosa giggled and patted my shoulder. "Come on, Mia. You’ve got us. We’re a team. And besides, Red wouldn’t let you lose."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Red is the opponent," I rasped.

"Exactly," Lillie said with a grin. "Which means he’ll go easy on you."

I wasn’t so sure about that, but before I could respond, another voice cut through the air.

"Mia!"

I turned to see Red jogging toward us, with Blue and Leaf not far behind. His Charizard was flying low in the distance, its massive wings stirring the air. Red looked relieved when he saw me, but his expression quickly turned to one of concern when he noticed how deflated I looked.

He crouched down in front of me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "You okay?" he asked softly, his voice steady but gentle.

I shrugged, still feeling annoyed but not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

"She lost her voice," Rosa explained, and Red frowned slightly. He reached into his bag and pulled out a water bottle, handing it to me.

"Drink," he said simply.

I hesitated for a moment before taking it. The cool water felt good against my sore throat, and I gave him a small nod of thanks.

Blue walked up, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Hey, uh... sorry about the surprise thing," he said. "We didn’t mean to freak you out."

Leaf crossed her arms and smirked. "Speak for yourself, Blue. I thought her reaction was hilarious."

I shot her a glare, but there wasn’t much fire behind it. I was too tired to argue.

Red, however, turned to Leaf with a look that could have frozen a Gyarados. She quickly cleared her throat and looked away. "I mean, uh... yeah. Totally our bad."

Satisfied, Red turned back to me and held out his hand. "Come on," he said. "Let’s go back."

I stared at his hand for a moment before sighing and taking it. He helped me to my feet, and for a moment, I felt like I was two years old again, trusting him completely. Even when he annoyed me, Red always had a way of making me feel safe.

As we walked back to the group, Blue nudged me playfully. "So, are you ready to lose to the dream team?"

I gave him a withering look but didn’t respond. My voice might have been gone, but my glare spoke volumes.

Leaf snickered. "She’s definitely ready."

Red didn’t say anything, but as he walked beside me, I noticed the faintest hint of a smile on his face. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

After another five minutes of awkward silence, Blue finally looked around, his brow furrowing. "Uh... Where's Mia?"

Rosa blinked, then gasped. "Wait, she’s gone?!"

"She was just here!" Lillie added, her voice tinged with panic.

Red stiffened, his eyes darting toward the forest we were standing near. He let out a sharp sigh, clearly irritated, and without a word, started walking toward the trees. His Charizard followed close behind, its tail flame glowing faintly in the dimming light.

"Great," Blue muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Now we’ve got to go find her before she falls into some kind of trap or—"

"Blue, you’re not helping," Leaf interjected, shooting him a glare.

"Why does she always do this?" Rosa grumbled. "One little challenge, and she freaks out and disappears."

Lillie crossed her arms, looking worried. "You know Mia... She probably thinks she’ll mess everything up. She gets overwhelmed, and then... well, this happens."

Blue sighed, muttering something about "overly dramatic little sisters," but he followed after Red and Charizard anyway.
---
Meanwhile, I was sitting on a rock deep in the forest, hugging my knees to my chest and staring at Pikachu, who sat next to me with a concerned look. My throat was sore from screaming, but that didn’t stop the storm of thoughts in my head.

"How am I supposed to fight them, Pikachu?" I whispered hoarsely. "Red’s basically unbeatable. Blue’s annoyingly good. And Leaf’s... well, Leaf."

Pikachu tilted her head and let out a soft "Pika," as if to comfort me.

I sighed and buried my face in my knees. "I’m just gonna embarrass myself. They’re probably laughing at me right now. I bet Red thinks I’m pathetic..."

My words trailed off as I heard a crunch of leaves behind me. I froze, my heart racing.

"Found you," came Red’s calm voice.

I slowly turned, and there he was, standing a few feet away, his Charizard looming over him like an ever-present shadow. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were focused entirely on me.

I gulped. "Red, I—"

Before I could finish, he walked over and sat down beside me on the rock. He didn’t say anything for a while, and the silence was almost unbearable. Pikachu climbed into my lap, sensing my unease.

Finally, Red spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "Why’d you run off?"

I hesitated, my hands tightening around Pikachu. "I... I couldn’t do it," I admitted, my voice barely audible. "You, Blue, and Leaf... You’re all so much better than me. I don’t stand a chance. I’d just embarrass myself."

Red tilted his head slightly, his gaze softening. "That’s what you think?"

I nodded, unable to meet his eyes.

"You’re wrong," he said simply.

I blinked and looked up at him in surprise. "What?"

"You’re wrong," he repeated, his tone steady. "You’re stronger than you think, Mia. And it’s not about winning or losing—it’s about trying."

I stared at him, my throat tightening. "But... what if I mess up? What if you all laugh at me?"

Red shook his head. "No one’s going to laugh at you. And even if you mess up, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re out there, doing your best."

"But you’re Red," I whispered. "You never mess up. You’re perfect."

For the first time, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I mess up more than you think," he admitted. "But I don’t let it stop me. And neither should you."

I felt a lump form in my throat, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "Do you really think I can do it?"

Red reached out and ruffled my hair, the gesture warm and reassuring. "I know you can."

For the first time all day, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe... just maybe, Red was right. Maybe I could do this.

Blue blinked, looking around. “Wait… where’s Mia?”

Leaf sighed, crossing her arms. “She’s probably off sulking. You did spring a surprise three-on-three battle on her against you three. What did you expect?”

“Yeah, and you made her scream until she couldn’t even talk anymore,” Rosa added, shaking her head.

Red’s eyes darted around, a flicker of concern crossing his normally stoic face. He tugged on Blue’s sleeve and gestured in the direction Mia had gone.

“Oh, come on, Red,” Blue said, waving him off. “She’s fine. She probably just needed to cool off. I mean, she’s loud, but she’s tough too!”

Red’s eyes narrowed at Blue, and without a word, he turned and started walking in the direction Mia had disappeared.

Lillie tilted her head. “He’s worried.”

“Of course he’s worried,” Leaf said. “That’s his sister. You know how he gets when it comes to her.”

Blue scratched the back of his neck, muttering, “I didn’t think she’d take it this hard…”

I wandered aimlessly through the forest near the clearing, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. My voice was gone, my throat ached, and my head throbbed from the screaming fit. But none of that was as bad as the feeling in my chest—the frustration, the embarrassment, the overwhelming sense of being underestimated.

“Three against three,” I muttered hoarsely to myself. “Against them. What were they thinking? They’re older, stronger, and have way more experience. How is that even fair?”

I kicked a pebble on the ground, watching it bounce off into the bushes. My Pikachu trotted beside me, its ears drooping as if it could sense my mood.

“Pika?”

I sighed, crouching down to pat her head. “I’m fine, girl. Just… mad.”

The sound of footsteps behind me made me freeze. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Red.

Of course, he’d come looking for me. He always did.

I didn’t say anything as he approached, and he didn’t say anything either—not at first. He just stood there, hands in his pockets, looking at me with that quiet intensity of his.

Finally, I broke the silence. Or tried to, anyway. “Wh—” My voice cracked, barely audible.

Red frowned, stepping closer. “Your voice,” he said softly, his tone carrying a rare edge of concern. “Are you okay?”

I shrugged, not trusting my voice anymore.

He sighed, crouching down to my level. “Mia,” he said, his voice unusually firm, “you can’t just walk off like that.”

I glared at him, my frustration bubbling to the surface. “You… you didn’t stop Blue,” I croaked, the words barely coming out.

Red’s expression softened, and he looked away for a moment, as if searching for the right words. “I didn’t know he’d spring that on you,” he admitted. “I would’ve stopped him if I had.”

I blinked, surprised. Red almost never explained himself like this—he hated talking. But here he was, speaking for me.

“I get it,” he continued, his eyes meeting mine. “You’re upset. And you’re right—it wasn’t fair. But you don’t need to prove anything to us. We already know how strong you are.”

My heart clenched at his words, and I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I looked down, unable to meet his gaze. “I feel… weak,” I whispered hoarsely.

Red reached out, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not weak,” he said firmly. “You’re stronger than you think. And you’re still learning. That’s okay.”

I sniffled, wiping at my eyes with the sleeve of my jacket.

Red stood, offering me his hand. “Come on. Let’s head back. Blue owes you an apology.”

I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand. He pulled me up with ease, and for a brief second, I felt like that little girl again—the one who used to believe Red could protect me from anything.

“Red,” I said softly, my voice barely audible.

“Hmm?”

“…Thanks.”

He gave me a small, rare smile, the kind only I ever got to see. “Anytime, Mia.”

And with that, we headed back, Pikachu trotting faithfully by my side.

The tension in the air was palpable, but my mind was stuck on one thing—How in the world were we supposed to battle against Red, Blue, and Leaf?!

I paced back and forth, muttering under my breath while Lillie and Rosa exchanged nervous glances.

"You okay there, Mia?" Rosa asked cautiously.

"No! I'm not okay!" I shrieked, throwing my hands in the air. "They're older, stronger, and have way better Pokémon! And did I mention one of them is literally Red?!"

Blue grinned smugly, clearly enjoying my meltdown. "Hey, don’t sell yourself short, Mia. You’ve got spunk."

"Spunk?! SPUNK?!" I whirled on him, my voice reaching new levels of hysteria. "Spunk doesn’t win battles, Blue!"

Leaf stepped forward, trying to calm the situation. "It’s just a friendly battle, Mia. It’s not the end of the world."

I shot her a glare that could melt steel. "Easy for you to say! You’re not the one going up against—you know—him!" I pointed a shaky finger at Red, who was standing off to the side, completely unfazed by my outburst.

Lillie patted my shoulder awkwardly. "It’ll be okay, Mia. We’ve got this... I think."

I stared at her.

Then I screamed.

Loudly.

" AIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

Then I ran.

A new minutes later, after the ringing came out of their ears, they opened their eyes.

"Uh, guys?" Rosa piped up. "Where’s Mia?"

It wasn’t until a good thirty minutes later that they realized I was gone.

Honestly, I thought they woulda noticed sooner.

"Where’d Mia go?" Blue asked, scratching the back of his head.

Red’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. Without a word, he started walking off in the direction I had gone.

"Your sister is loud," Lillie said with a nervous laugh.

Red sighed but nodded. He didn’t say anything, but his quickened pace gave away his concern.
_____
I sat on a rock by the edge of a small stream, my head in my hands. My heart was still racing, and I couldn’t stop replaying the impending battle in my mind.

"Why did I even agree to this?" I muttered. "I’m going to embarrass myself in front of everyone—especially him."

The sound of footsteps behind me made me jump. I turned to see Red approaching, his usual calm expression softened by something that looked suspiciously like worry.

"…Mia," he said quietly, his voice low but clear.

I blinked. "Y-You’re talking?"

Red gave me a small nod as he stopped in front of me. He crouched down to my level, his piercing eyes meeting mine. "Why’d you run?"

I hesitated, chewing on my bottom lip. "I—I don’t know. I guess I just… freaked out."

Red tilted his head slightly, silently urging me to go on.

"I mean, come on, Red! You’re, well, you! And Blue and Leaf aren’t exactly pushovers, either! How am I supposed to keep up with any of you? It’s impossible!"

Red frowned slightly, then did something I wasn’t expecting. He turned around and knelt down, patting his back. "Hop on."

I stared at him, completely thrown off. "What?"

"Piggyback," he said simply, glancing over his shoulder at me.

My face turned redder than his hat. "R-Red, I’m not a little kid anymore!"

"You’re still my sister," he replied, his tone as calm as ever. "And you’re stressed. So hop on."

I hesitated, but the way he waited patiently, never rushing me, made me feel safe. Finally, I climbed onto his back, and he stood up with ease.

"You’re light," he said matter-of-factly as he started walking back toward the others.

I frowned. "I’m not that light."

"You should gain weight," Red said bluntly, completely ignoring my protests. "You’ve always been too light. Not healthy."

I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it. He wasn’t wrong. I’d always been underweight, but hearing him say it so casually made me feel weirdly cared for.

As he carried me back, I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling his steady breathing and strong heartbeat. It reminded me of when I was little—when he used to carry me like this after I fell or got scared.

"Red?" I mumbled.

"Hm?"

"Thanks," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "For… you know. Always being there."

He didn’t reply, but I felt his arms tighten around me slightly, a silent way of saying, Always.

When we returned to the group, everyone stared.

"Uh, what happened?" Blue asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She needed a break," Red said simply, setting me down gently.

Lillie and Rosa grinned knowingly, and even Leaf looked impressed. Blue, however, smirked.

"You’re such a softie, Red."

Red glared at him, but I swore I saw the corners of his mouth twitch upward ever so slightly.

In that moment, I realized something: no matter how impossible things seemed, as long as Red was by my side, I’d be okay. Even if I lost every battle, I’d already won the most important one.

Blue scratched the back of his neck. "So... uh... anyone seen Mia?"

Rosa froze, her eyes wide. "Wait—she's gone?!"

Lillie groaned, her hands going to her hips. "You mean none of you noticed her leave after all that screaming?"

"I thought she was cooling off," Blue mumbled, avoiding Red's glare.

Red crossed his arms and gave Blue a pointed look before sighing. She left thirty minutes ago. I’ll find her.

Blue blinked. "Wait, how do you know it was thirty minutes?"

Red didn’t answer. Instead, he turned, his Charizard following closely behind, and walked off into the forest in the direction Mia had likely gone.

"He's like a Mia radar," Rosa whispered, watching Red disappear.

Blue groaned. "Man, that kid's gonna give me gray hair."
-------
Meanwhile, I had found a quiet spot by a little stream, my hands resting on my knees as I muttered under my breath. "Beat them? Sure. Totally doable. They’ve only been trainers forever, and I just... I can’t even believe this." I flicked a pebble into the water and sighed. "Stupid battle."

I heard footsteps approaching but didn’t look up. I already knew who it was.

Red crouched down next to me, his quiet presence both comforting and infuriating at the same time. He waited, as he always did, letting me speak first.

"...You didn’t have to come find me, you know," I muttered, poking at the dirt with a stick. "I just needed... time."

Red shrugged, his usual silent response. Then, to my surprise, he actually spoke. "You okay?"

I blinked and looked up at him, caught off guard. His voice was quiet but steady, and it always made me feel safe. "I don’t know," I admitted, my voice small. "I just... I can’t beat you guys. It’s impossible. Why’d you even let me come?"

He tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Because you wanted to," he said simply.

That was the thing about Red—he didn’t say much, but when he did, it always felt important. I frowned, looking away. "But I’m just gonna lose."

"Maybe," he admitted. "But it’s not about winning."

I gave him a skeptical look. "Then what’s it about?"

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stood up and turned his back to me. "Hop on," he said.

I blinked. "What?"

He glanced over his shoulder, a rare hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Piggyback ride. You’re not walking back."

My face flushed. "I can walk!"

Red didn’t budge. "Piggyback."

With a groan, I stood up and climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He adjusted me like it was second nature, just like when I was little. The moment his strong hands steadied me, I couldn’t help but relax.

"You’re not heavy," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. " You should eat more."

I scowled into his shoulder. "Why do you always say that?"

"Because it’s true," he said simply, starting to walk. His Charizard trailed behind us, its tail flame lighting the path as the sun began to set.

We walked in silence for a while, the forest alive with the sounds of Pokémon and rustling leaves. As much as I hated to admit it, being carried like this felt nice. Safe. Like I could let go of everything for a little while.

"You don’t have to beat us," Red said quietly, his voice breaking the stillness. "Just try. That’s all."

I rested my chin on his shoulder, my eyes half-closed. "You really think I can?"

He nodded. "You’re strong."

I didn’t say anything, but a small smile crept onto my face. Maybe, just maybe, I could try.

"Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?" Leaf teased, crossing his arms as he glanced at me, Lillie, and Rosa.

Rosa giggled, and Lillie tried to stifle a smile behind her hand.

Me? I was seconds away from collapsing.

"Wait... w-wait," I stammered, pointing at myself, Lillie, and Rosa. "You mean we have to beat you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue gave a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh... surprise?"

I stared at him, then turned to Red, then Leaf, then back to Blue. My eyes darted to Pikachu for some kind of reassurance, but even she just tilted her head like she was in on this.

And then I did the only logical thing I could think of. I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone winced, immediately covering their ears.

"YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!" Rosa yelled over the noise.

"NO, I CAN'T!" I yelled back, refusing to stop.

Red groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, while his Charizard let out a low, rumbling growl of shared annoyance.

Five minutes later, my voice finally gave out. My throat hurt, but it was worth it. Without a word, I turned and started walking away from the group.

I walked. And walked. And walked some more. I honestly wondered how long it would take them to realize I was gone.

Turns out, it took them thirty minutes.

"Your sister is loud," Lillie said nervously, glancing at Red as they all stood around, clearly just now noticing my absence.

Red sighed and nodded, his expression equal parts exasperated and amused.

"She’s also dramatic," Blue added, crossing his arms. "You know, for a kid who screamed like she was being attacked, she sure didn’t stick around to fight us."

Red gave him a look, his eyes narrowing slightly, and then did something that caught everyone off guard. He spoke.

"She’s not scared," Red said quietly, his voice calm but firm. "She just thinks she can’t win."

Lillie and Rosa exchanged surprised glances, while Blue blinked, clearly caught off guard by Red’s rare use of words.

"Well... she is ten," Rosa said cautiously. "And you three are older and way more experienced."

Red shook his head, already turning to follow me. He didn’t say another word, but everyone could tell from his determined steps that he wasn’t about to let me sulk for long.
______
I sat on a rock a few miles away, hugging my knees to my chest as I stared out at the trees. My throat still hurt from all the screaming, but at least I’d gotten my frustration out.

"You can come out now," I muttered, not bothering to turn around.

A familiar shadow fell over me, and before I could protest, Red crouched down and lifted me onto his back in one smooth motion.

"Red! Put me down!" I yelped, though my voice came out hoarse and raspy.

"No," he said simply, his tone as flat as ever.

"But I’m heavy!" I argued, gripping his shoulders despite myself.

Red scoffed, adjusting me so I was more comfortable. "You’re not heavy," he replied, his voice soft but steady. "If anything, you’re too light."

I froze, blinking. "W-What?"

"You need to gain weight," Red said bluntly, glancing back at me. "You’ve always been underweight. It’s not healthy."

I didn’t know how to respond to that. My face burned with embarrassment, but I couldn’t tell if it was because he was carrying me like a kid or because he was right.

"You used to love piggyback rides," Red added, a faint hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"That was when I was two, and you were six," I mumbled, hiding my face against his shoulder. "I’m too old for this now."

"You’re not too old," Red said simply, his tone final. "And I’m still your brother. So just stay quiet and let me carry you."

I sighed, giving up the argument as I rested my chin on his shoulder. His steady footsteps and the warmth of his presence were oddly comforting, just like they’d been all those years ago.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I wasn’t too old to let my big brother carry me once in a while.

As I wandered off, trying to calm my frazzled nerves and soothe my aching throat, I realized something: no one had followed me. Not Red, not Blue, not Leaf, not even Pikachu. They were probably still recovering from my epic scream session. Serves them right, I thought bitterly. I crossed my arms, kicking at the dirt as I walked farther away.

The woods surrounding us were peaceful, with the soft rustle of leaves and distant chirps of Pokémon. It was calming, but I couldn’t shake the irritation bubbling inside me. How do they expect us to beat them?! They’re older, stronger, and more experienced!

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the sound of approaching footsteps until a familiar voice called out, “Mia.”

I froze mid-step, my heart skipping a beat. I knew that voice anywhere. Red.

He hated talking, yet here he was, speaking my name like it was the easiest thing in the world. I turned around slowly, my hands gripping the hem of my shirt.

“You walked off,” he said simply, his tone calm but firm. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and I suddenly felt small under his gaze. “Why?”

I looked away, kicking at a stray pebble. “Because you’re all insane,” I mumbled. “You really expect us to fight you? Red, you’re fourteen. I’m ten. How is this fair?”

Red sighed, stepping closer. His Charizard trailed behind him, letting out a low rumble as it observed me. “It’s not about being fair,” he said after a moment. “It’s about learning. Getting stronger.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “I don’t need to learn by getting destroyed in a battle. You’re way too strong, and you know it.”

Red tilted his head slightly, studying me. Then, to my surprise, he crouched down. “Come here.”

“What?” I blinked at him, confused.

“Come here,” he repeated, motioning for me to approach. Hesitantly, I took a step forward, and before I knew it, he turned around, crouching lower. “Get on.”

I stared at him, my face flushing. “A piggyback ride? Now? I’m not a little kid, Red.”

He didn’t respond. He simply glanced over his shoulder, his expression soft but expectant. “You walked off. You’re tired. Get on.”

I hesitated, feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. Slowly, I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as he stood up. Instantly, I was reminded of when I was little—when Red would give me piggyback rides after a long day of playing outside or when I was upset about something trivial. It felt the same now, even though we’d both grown older.

“You’re not heavy,” Red said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I stiffened. “What?”

“You’re not heavy,” he repeated. “I can carry you just fine. You need to stop worrying about things like that.”

My cheeks burned, and I buried my face in his shoulder, too embarrassed to reply. Red didn’t say anything else, but his calm, steady presence spoke volumes. He didn’t mind carrying me. He didn’t mind speaking when it was for me. And deep down, I knew he’d always have my back, no matter how ridiculous I acted.

After a while, I mumbled, “Thanks, Red.”

He simply nodded, his silent way of saying, Always.

"Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?" Leaf teased, crossing her arms and smirking at Blue.

Rosa giggled, and Lillie covered her mouth, trying to hide her smile.

Me? I was on the verge of a full-on meltdown.

"W...wait..." I stammered, pointing at myself, Lillie, and Rosa. "You’re saying we have to battle you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue gave a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh... surprise?"

I turned to Red, searching his face for some kind of explanation. Of course, his face stayed as unreadable as ever. Then I looked at Blue, who only shrugged. Next was Leaf, who waved at me with a bright smile like this wasn’t a disaster waiting to happen. Then my eyes landed on Pikachu, who gave me a little squeak of encouragement.

Finally, it all hit me at once.

And I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Everyone winced, slapping their hands over their ears.

"YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!" Rosa yelled, trying to shout over my banshee-level volume.

"NO, I CAN’T!" I yelled back, my voice breaking slightly from the strain.

Red groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Even his Charizard let out a low, disgruntled growl, as if to say, Please make it stop.

Five minutes into my dramatic meltdown, my throat gave out, and I found myself hoarse. With my voice gone, I stormed off without saying another word, figuring they’d notice my absence right away.

They didn’t.

It wasn’t until thirty minutes later—when the ringing in their ears had finally subsided—that someone spoke up.

"Your sister is loud," Lillie said, laughing nervously as she glanced at Red.

Red sighed, his expression unreadable, but he gave a small nod in agreement.

"Wait," Blue said suddenly, looking around. "Where’s Mia?"

Leaf’s cheerful demeanor dropped, and Rosa gasped. "She’s gone!"

Lillie crossed her arms, frowning at Blue. "You mean to tell me you didn’t notice she left?! You’re the reason she started screaming in the first place!"

"How is this my fault?!" Blue shot back defensively.

As they bickered, Red simply walked past them, scanning the area. His Charizard let out a low rumble, as if it already knew where I’d gone. Red patted its neck and gestured for it to follow.

Meanwhile, I had plopped myself on a patch of grass under a large tree, pouting like a child—which, let’s be honest, wasn’t too far off. My throat hurt too much to scream anymore, but my frustration still bubbled inside me. How was I supposed to take on those three? It wasn’t fair!

I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, and before I could turn, two strong arms lifted me off the ground.

"Red!" I squeaked, instantly recognizing his grip.

Without a word, he adjusted me onto his back, his arms hooking under my knees as he gave me a piggyback ride like he used to when I was little.

"I-I can walk on my own, you know," I muttered, embarrassed but secretly thrilled.

Red’s voice was soft but firm. "You’re not heavy. And you need to rest."

"But—"

"You need to gain weight," he interrupted, his tone as matter-of-fact as ever. "You’ve always been underweight."

I froze, my cheeks flushing. "I... I’m fine," I mumbled, but even I didn’t believe my own words.

Red didn’t reply. Instead, he shifted me higher on his back and kept walking, his steady steps and warm presence melting away my frustration bit by bit.

For the first time that day, I smiled. Red might not say much, but his actions always spoke louder than words. And no matter how frustrating or overwhelming things got, I knew I could always count on him to carry me—literally and figuratively.

Red sighed deeply, running a hand through his dark hair as everyone finally noticed the absence of my never-ending noise.

"Wait," Blue said, looking around with wide eyes. "Where’s Mia?"

Everyone froze. Lillie looked alarmed. Rosa gasped. Even Pikachu tilted its head in confusion, letting out a curious “Pika?”

Red frowned and immediately turned to his Charizard. "Find her," he said softly but firmly, his voice quiet but full of urgency.

"Wait, she left?" Rosa exclaimed. "Why didn’t anyone stop her?"

"You try stopping a screaming ten-year-old," Blue muttered, rubbing his temples.

"She didn’t even scream on her way out," Lillie pointed out, her voice laced with guilt. "She was silent."

Red sighed again, shaking his head as if to say Of course she was silent when it mattered. He motioned for Charizard to take flight while he gestured to the rest of them to follow him. His determination was obvious; he wasn’t about to let me wander off alone.

Meanwhile, I was sitting under a big tree, sulking. I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling utterly betrayed. I mean, three teenagers against three kids? How was that fair? Sure, Red was my brother, but that didn’t mean I wanted to lose to him! And Blue? He always found a way to make things worse. And Leaf? She was just too good.

I sighed dramatically. "Why can’t things ever be fair?"

I heard the faint sound of wings flapping above me, and before I could even look up, a shadow passed over me. A few seconds later, there was a loud thud, and I knew exactly who it was.

"Great," I muttered, refusing to look up. "What do you want, Red?"

He didn’t say anything at first. That was the thing about him—he always let the silence do the talking for him. It was annoying and comforting all at once.

Finally, he crouched down in front of me, his intense gaze meeting mine. "Mia," he said softly.

I blinked. Red was talking? Like, actually talking?

"What?" I muttered, avoiding his eyes. "I’m not going back."

Red sighed and sat down next to me. "You were loud," he said, his voice quiet but teasing. "My ears still hurt."

I glared at him. "Not my fault! You guys set us up!"

Red didn’t deny it. Instead, he patted the ground next to him, motioning for me to sit closer. I hesitated before scooting over, still sulking.

"You’re upset," he said after a moment.

"Wow, genius observation," I grumbled. "What gave it away? The screaming or the storming off?"

To my surprise, Red chuckled softly. "Both."

I glanced at him, caught off guard by the rare sound of his laugh. He reached out and ruffled my hair, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You know, Mia," he said, "you’re tougher than you think."

I blinked at him, my irritation slowly melting away. "What?"

"You don’t need to be scared of us," he said, his voice steady. "You can handle it. I’ve seen you battle. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for."

For a moment, I just stared at him, my heart swelling at his words. Red wasn’t the type to say things like that often. When he did, it meant something.

"Do you really think so?" I asked softly.

He nodded, standing up and turning his back to me. "Come on," he said, crouching slightly. "Piggyback?"

My face lit up, and all my annoyance vanished in an instant. "Really?!"

"Really," he said, glancing back at me with a small smile.

Without hesitation, I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He stood up easily, adjusting his grip to make sure I wouldn’t fall. "You’re light," he said, his tone turning serious again. "Too light."

I frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"You need to eat more," he said bluntly. "You’re underweight."

I huffed. "I’m fine!"

Red didn’t respond, but I could feel his concern in the way he held me. He started walking back toward the others, his steps steady and calm.

"Red?" I said quietly after a while.

"Hm?"

"Thanks," I whispered. "For always being there."

He didn’t say anything, but I felt his grip tighten just slightly, and that was all the answer I needed.

I walked a little further down the path, still fuming. My voice was almost entirely gone, and I was muttering under my breath, though it sounded more like hoarse whispers. "Three teenagers. Four years older. Blue being the one who begged. I can't believe this." My fists were clenched at my sides as I kicked at a small rock on the ground.

"Mia," a familiar quiet voice called from behind me.

I froze mid-step. Of course, it was Red.

I turned to look at him, my arms crossed. He had his usual stoic expression, but there was a hint of something softer in his eyes. He tilted his head, silently asking if I was okay.

"I'm fine," I whispered, though my tone betrayed how annoyed I was. "Just... frustrated. I mean, what kind of ambush was that? And you didn't even warn me!"

Red sighed, stepping closer. He crouched down slightly, motioning with a single gesture that I knew all too well: a piggyback ride. My frustration melted almost instantly, and despite myself, I smiled.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice still scratchy. "You don’t have to, you know."

Red turned his head slightly, raising a single brow as if to say, Do I look like I’m kidding?

Without another word, I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He stood up effortlessly, his hands hooking securely under my legs. I let out a small, content sigh, resting my head against his shoulder.

"You know I can walk, right?" I muttered.

"Doesn’t matter," Red said quietly, his voice low and even. "You like this."

That made my heart swell a little. He wasn’t wrong—I loved piggyback rides. Especially from Red. They made me feel safe and close to him, like I was still that little girl who thought her big brother could do anything.

After a few minutes of silence, I whispered, "Hey, Red?"

"Hm?"

"Sorry for screaming so much earlier. I think I scared Charizard," I said with a small laugh.

Red huffed a soft chuckle, something that was rare but always heartwarming. "Charizard's fine. You’re loud, though."

"Gee, thanks," I replied, rolling my eyes.

As we approached the group again, Blue was the first to notice us. "Oh, great, now you’re all buddy-buddy again. So, uh, Mia, you done with the dramatics?"

I glared at him over Red’s shoulder. "No promises, Blue."

Leaf smirked, nudging Blue. "I told you she’d cool off if Red went after her. She’s got him wrapped around her little finger."

Red didn’t even react to the comment, but I could feel the slight shift in his posture as he adjusted my weight on his back. "Let’s get moving," he said simply, ignoring Leaf’s teasing.

As the group started walking again, I held on a little tighter to Red, whispering, "Thanks, Red."

He didn’t respond, but I felt the tiniest nod from him, and that was enough for me.

As the realization sank in, I couldn't help but feel a mix of sheer terror and overwhelming disbelief. Battling against them? Red, Blue, and Leaf? The trio of Pokémon legends? What kind of cruel joke was this?

I paced back and forth, my mind racing. "This isn't fair! This cannot be fair!" I whined, gesturing wildly at them.

Rosa tried to calm me down, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Mia, we can do this. Right, Lillie?"

Lillie, however, didn’t look so sure. She gave a weak smile. "Y-Yeah, totally! I mean, how hard could it be...?" Her voice trailed off as she eyed Red’s Charizard and Blue’s Arcanine towering over us, not to mention Leaf’s intimidating Venusaur.

I shot her a look. "HOW HARD?!" I shrieked. "DO YOU SEE THOSE THINGS?!"

Red stood silently, his calm gaze making me feel even more out of my depth. Blue chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Hey, don’t take it so seriously, kid. It’s just a fun practice battle."

"Fun?!" I wheeled on him. "This is a death sentence!"

Leaf crossed her arms and smirked. "Mia, don’t tell me you’re scared already. You’re Red’s sister, aren’t you? Where’s that fighting spirit?"

"She’s got spirit, all right," Blue added with a teasing grin. "Just... maybe not the kind meant for battling."

I felt my face heat up, and I stomped my foot. "That’s it! I don’t have to take this!" I turned to leave, throwing my hands in the air. "Good luck finding someone else to—"

Before I could finish, I felt a familiar pair of hands grab me by the waist and hoist me into the air. "Hey! Put me down!" I squawked, flailing my arms as Red casually swung me onto his back.

"Red!" I protested, though I couldn’t help but feel a little calmer as I clung to his shoulders. There was something about being carried like this that always made me feel safe, no matter how chaotic things got.

"You’ll be fine," he said quietly, his voice steady and reassuring.

I blinked. He talked. Red almost never talked, but when he did, it was always to reassure me or get me to calm down. And it worked. Mostly.

"But what if I lose?" I asked, my voice small as I rested my chin on his shoulder.

"You won’t," he said simply.

Blue groaned. "Geez, Red, you’re gonna spoil her with all that confidence. She’s supposed to be training, not getting pep talks!"

Red ignored him, and I smiled a little. I hugged him tighter, and though I knew he wasn’t a big fan of hugs, I could tell he didn’t mind mine. In fact, I felt him shift slightly to make it easier for me to hold on.

Leaf rolled her eyes, but she was smiling too. "Red, you’re such a softie when it comes to her."

"Yeah, yeah," Blue added with a grin. "If she wins, we’ll know it’s because you carried her—literally!"

I glared at them from Red’s back. "I’ll show you! I’ll win without his help!" Though, in truth, the thought of battling them still made me want to scream.

Red gave me a small, almost imperceptible smile as he set me down. "Let’s see what you’ve got," he said, stepping back to watch.

Despite the odds, I felt a surge of determination. If Red believed in me, maybe I could believe in myself too.

“Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?” Leaf smirked, folding her arms as he glanced at me.

Rosa giggled softly, hiding her smile behind her hand. Lillie gave a polite laugh, but her eyes betrayed the nervousness she was clearly feeling.

Me? I was about two seconds away from passing out.

“W-Wait,” I stammered, pointing to myself, Lillie, and Rosa. “We have to beat you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than us?!”

Blue’s smirk turned into a sheepish grin. “Uh... surprise?”

I looked at Red. He stood silent as ever, but his expression softened when his eyes met mine. Then I looked at Blue, Leaf, Pikachu, and back to Red. The reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”

The scream that tore from my throat was nothing short of a siren. Everyone winced and slapped their hands over their ears, including Pikachu, who even sparked a little in protest.

“YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!” Rosa yelled over the racket, her voice strained.

“NO, I CAN’T!” I shouted back, doubling down on my screaming.

Red groaned, his usual stoic demeanor cracked just slightly by the sheer volume of my outburst. Even his Charizard, who had been silently watching from the side, let out a rumbling sigh and shook its head.

I kept screaming for what felt like forever until my voice finally gave out. Hoarse and exhausted, I turned on my heel and stormed off, silently daring anyone to stop me.

No one did. In fact, no one even noticed I was gone until thirty minutes later, when the ringing in their ears started to subside.

Lillie sighed, shaking her head as she looked at Red. “Your sister is... loud,” she said nervously.

Red let out a soft sigh, nodding in agreement. He seemed unfazed, though, as if he’d lived through this exact situation a hundred times before.

Meanwhile, I sat on a rock a little ways away, hugging my knees to my chest. My throat burned from all the screaming, but more than that, I felt embarrassed. They were probably all laughing at me by now. I kicked at the dirt, feeling frustrated and small.

Before long, I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t even need to turn around to know who it was.

“Go away, Red,” I mumbled, hugging my knees tighter.

He didn’t say anything. Typical. Instead, I felt his hands lift me up as if I weighed nothing.

“Red, I’m fine,” I said, though I didn’t protest as he settled me on his back. “I can walk on my own.”

“You’re not fine,” he said softly, his voice low but firm. “And you’re too light. You need to eat more.”

I blinked in surprise. Red hardly ever spoke, but when he did, it was always straight to the point. “I’m not that light,” I mumbled, resting my chin on his shoulder as he carried me.

“You are,” he replied simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I sighed, but a small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. I loved it when Red gave me piggyback rides. They always made me feel safe, like when I was little and he would carry me after I scraped my knee or got scared of the dark.

“Thanks, Red,” I whispered, leaning into him a little more.

He didn’t respond, but I felt his hand shift slightly to make sure I was secure.

By the time we got back to the group, Blue and Leaf were mid-argument about whether or not they should have gone to find me sooner.

“You finally found her,” Blue said, grinning as Red approached. “Man, Mia, you really gave us an earful earlier.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, earning a chuckle.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I muttered, though I didn’t move to get down from Red’s back.

As much as I hated to admit it, being here with my brother, even with the ridiculous challenges ahead, made everything feel just a little bit better.

As I sulked behind the trees, clutching my Pikachu, my voice still hoarse from all that screaming, I couldn't stop replaying the ridiculous situation in my head. How was this fair? I mean, come on—three battle-hardened teenagers versus me, Lillie, and Rosa? The odds were absurd.

Pikachu gave a concerned "Pika?" as it tilted its head at me. I sighed. "Yeah, I know, buddy. Maybe I overreacted...a little."

Snap.

I spun around at the sound of a branch breaking, instantly on edge. Before I could even react further, two strong arms grabbed me from behind, and I let out a surprised yelp.

"Relax," a familiar voice said softly, almost awkwardly.

I blinked and looked up to see Red crouching behind me, his face as stoic as ever, though there was a faint trace of amusement in his eyes. My heart instantly melted a little. Of course he’d be the one to find me.

"Red!" I croaked out, my voice still scratchy. "You scared me!"

He tilted his head slightly, as if to say, Did I? Then, without a word, he bent down, gesturing for me to hop on his back.

I grinned despite myself. "A piggyback ride? Really?"

He nodded, his expression unchanged, but I could tell he was trying not to roll his eyes at my teasing tone. Red never offered piggyback rides lightly, so I wasn’t going to turn it down. I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck as he stood up.

"Better?" he asked, his voice low but gentle. Red didn’t talk much, but when he did, I felt like the luckiest little sister in the world.

I nodded, burying my face into his shoulder. "Yeah. Thanks."

As he carried me back to the others, I couldn’t help but feel safe. Red always had this way of making me feel like nothing could touch me when I was with him. It reminded me of when I was little, and he’d carry me like this whenever I was scared or tired.

"Hey, Red," I said quietly, my voice muffled against his jacket.

"Hm?"

"I don’t care if we lose to you, Blue, and Leaf. I just want you to know that... I think you're the best big brother ever."

He froze for a second, and I could feel his heart beating against my back. Then, without turning around, he mumbled, "You’re not bad as a little sister, either."

My grin widened. That’s about as close to an “I love you” as I’m gonna get from him.

When we got back, Lillie and Rosa immediately bombarded us with questions.

"Mia, where were you?!" Rosa exclaimed. "We thought you ran away!"

Lillie added, "We were so worried!"

I climbed off Red’s back and waved them off. "Relax, I just needed a break."

Blue smirked. "You needed a piggyback ride is what you needed."

Red shot him a glare that could’ve frozen Moltres. "Shut up, Blue," he muttered, his voice surprisingly sharp.

Leaf giggled. "Aw, don’t tease them. It’s cute."

I blushed furiously and crossed my arms. "Whatever! Let’s just get this battle over with so we can prove we’re not completely hopeless."

Red didn’t say anything, but I caught the faintest hint of a smile as he stepped back into position with his team.

Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?" Leaf teased, leaning casually against a nearby rock. Her smirk was as smug as ever.

Rosa giggled, trying to cover her mouth, while Lillie bit her lip to hold back a laugh.

Me? I was two seconds away from fainting.

“W-Wait... we..." I stammered, pointing back and forth between myself, Rosa, and Lillie. "We have to battle you three?! Three teenagers who are FOUR years older than me?!"

Blue gave a sheepish grin. “Uh… surprise?”

I stared at him, then at Red, who was standing silently, arms crossed. I looked at his Charizard.

Then my eyes shifted to Leaf, who waved innocently, like she wasn’t about to completely destroy us in a battle.

I looked at my Pikachu, who tilted her head curiously.

Then I did the only logical thing I could think of: I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Everyone flinched and immediately covered their ears.

“YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!” Rosa shouted over me.

“NO, I CAN’T!” I yelled back at the top of my lungs.

Red groaned, rubbing his temple in frustration. Even his Charizard let out a low, exasperated growl, as if to say, Not this again.

I kept screaming. For five straight minutes.

When I finally lost my voice, I turned and silently walked away, crossing my arms as I pouted to myself. No one seemed to notice until thirty minutes later, after their ears had stopped ringing.

Lillie broke the silence first. “Your sister is loud,” she said with a nervous laugh, glancing at Red.

Red sighed but nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable as usual.

Blue shrugged. “I mean, she’s your sister, Red. You should’ve seen this coming.”

Red didn’t respond, but his shoulders relaxed slightly. He started walking in the direction I’d gone, clearly intent on finding me.

I was sitting on a boulder a little ways off, muttering to myself about unfair battles and older brothers who didn’t warn me about impossible challenges. My Pikachu was sitting next to me, trying to cheer me up by nuzzling my arm.

I heard footsteps behind me and stiffened. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

“Mia,” Red said softly.

I kept my back to him, crossing my arms tighter. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

There was a long pause before I felt his hand on my shoulder. “You’re mad.”

“No kidding,” I mumbled. “You knew I’d freak out. Why didn’t you warn me?”

Red sighed and crouched down in front of me, his gaze meeting mine. His eyes, so calm and steady, had a way of making me feel safe even when I was upset. “I thought you could handle it.”

I blinked at him. “Handle that? Are you serious? You’re all way stronger than me!”

“You’re stronger than you think,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a rare gentleness. “You just don’t see it yet.”

I looked down, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. “I don’t feel strong…”

Red stood up and turned around. “Come on,” he said simply, kneeling slightly with his back toward me.

I blinked in confusion. “What are you—?”

“Piggyback ride,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “You used to love these.”

I hesitated for only a second before climbing onto his back. His arms hooked under my legs, holding me securely as he stood up. The familiar feeling of being carried by him brought a small smile to my face.

“You don’t have to do this,” I muttered, though I secretly loved it. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“You’re still light,” he replied, his tone almost teasing. “Too light. You need to eat more.”

I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks turned pink. “I’m not that light.”

“You’ve always been underweight,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s not healthy.”

I rested my head against his shoulder, too tired to argue. “You sound like Mom.”

Red didn’t respond, but I felt him chuckle softly under his breath. His grip on me tightened slightly, like he was silently reassuring me that no matter what, he’d always be there.

“Red?” I murmured.

“Hm?”

“I… I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier. I didn’t mean it.”

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke, his voice soft but steady. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t.”

I hugged him from behind, squeezing him tightly. “Thanks for being my big brother.”

He didn’t say anything, but I felt his hand briefly pat my leg, his way of saying, I love you too.

"Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves," Leaf began, a smug grin plastered on her face, "but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?"

Rosa giggled, her hand covering her mouth, while Lillie struggled to hold back a smile.

Me? I was on the verge of a meltdown.

"W... wait..." I stammered, pointing between myself, Rosa, and Lillie. "You mean we—just us—have to beat you three?!" I gestured wildly to Red, Blue, and Leaf. "Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue gave an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh... surprise?"

I blinked, looking at Red for some kind of backup. Nothing. His usual stoic expression didn’t shift. Then, I looked at Blue. Then Leaf. Then Pikachu, who was perched on Red’s shoulder.

And then I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Everyone winced and slapped their hands over their ears. Even Red, who rarely reacted to anything, winced slightly. His Charizard let out a groan of shared exasperation.

"YOU CAN STOP SCREAMING NOW!" Rosa yelled, her voice straining over my shrieks.

"NO, I CAN’T!" I yelled back, my voice cracking.

Red sighed heavily, exchanging a glance with his Charizard as if to say, Here we go again.

The screaming continued for a solid five minutes before my voice gave out entirely. My throat raw, I turned on my heel and stomped away. Not one of them tried to stop me.

It wasn’t until thirty minutes later that they even noticed I was gone. By then, their ears had finally stopped ringing.

"Your sister is loud," Lillie muttered nervously, trying to lighten the mood.

Red sighed, shaking his head, but he didn’t disagree.  Pikachu gave a small squeak of agreement from his shoulder.

"Where’d she go?" Blue asked, finally catching on.

Everyone turned, scanning the area.

"She just... walked away," Rosa said, blinking in realization. "We were too distracted to notice!"

Red didn’t hesitate. He knelt, letting Pikachu hop down, and motioned for his Charizard to stay back. Without a word, he began walking in the direction I’d gone, his usual silent determination taking over.

"Red!" Leaf called after him. "Do you want us to come?"

He shook his head, not even glancing back. This was something only he could handle.

Meanwhile, I was sitting on a rock by a small creek, my arms wrapped around my knees. My voice was still hoarse from screaming, but my frustration was slowly fading.

A soft rustle behind me made me jump. Before I could turn, a pair of strong hands grabbed me under my arms and hoisted me up.

"Red!" I squeaked, recognizing his scent and the warmth of his presence.

Without saying a word, he lifted me onto his back, letting me wrap my arms around his neck like I used to when I was little. His hands held my legs securely, just like he always did.

"I can walk on my own," I muttered, embarrassed.

He finally spoke, his voice soft but firm. "You’re not heavy."

"I am heavy!" I protested, though I didn’t try to wriggle free.

Red sighed. "You need to gain weight, Mia."

I froze. "What?"

"You’re too light," he said simply, his voice carrying no judgment, just concern. "You’ve always been underweight. It’s not healthy."

I felt a lump rise in my throat, and I buried my face in his shoulder, my voice muffled. "I... I didn’t mean to make you worry."

"I know," he said, his tone gentle. "But you do."

His words hit harder than I expected, and tears pricked my eyes. But being on his back, held the way he used to carry me when I was little, made me feel safe. Loved.

"You know," I whispered, my voice shaking, "I thought you didn’t like hugs."

"I don’t," Red admitted, his voice softening, "except when they’re from you."

I couldn’t help but smile, even as a tear slipped down my cheek. Red didn’t say much, but when he did, his words meant everything.

And in that moment, as he carried me back to the others, I knew just how much he loved me—more than he’d ever admit out loud.

"Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves, but I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?" Blue smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.

Rosa giggled into her hand while Lillie hid a smile behind hers. I, on the other hand, felt like I was seconds away from fainting.

"W-wait," I stammered, pointing between myself, Lillie, and Rosa. "We… we have to beat you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Uh… surprise?"

I looked at Red, hoping for some sort of reassurance. He just gave me his usual calm, unreadable look. I turned to Blue, then Leaf, then my Pikachu, who was perched on my shoulder, and then back to Red.

And then I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!*

By the time my voice finally gave out, I realized that continuing my screaming spree wasn’t worth it anymore. So, instead of yelling more or staying to deal with their nonsense, I did what any sane person would do—I walked off. Quietly. Calmly. Okay, maybe not so calmly. But I definitely walked off.

The others didn’t even seem to notice me leave until much later.

Thirty whole minutes later.

I had found a comfortable spot near a tree, sitting there with Pikachu on my lap, just petting her to soothe my nerves. She let out little content squeaks as I scratched behind her ears, her tail twitching happily. “I can’t believe they’re making me go up against them,” I muttered under my breath, mostly to Pikachu. “Do you think they’ve finally lost it? All three of them? Red’s been around Blue too much, I swear.”

Pikachu tilted her head, letting out a small “Pika?” as if she agreed but wasn’t entirely sure.

Suddenly, the sound of crunching leaves behind me made me turn my head. Red was standing there, hands in his pockets and his Charizard trailing behind him. His expression was unreadable, but the slight tilt of his head gave him away—he was checking if I was okay.

I crossed my arms and glared. “What do you want?”

He didn’t say anything at first, just sighed and walked over to sit down beside me. Charizard settled a few feet away, curling up like some oversized lizard-dog. Red was never one for words, but this time, I wasn’t letting him off easy.

“You think I can actually beat you three?” I pressed, narrowing my eyes.

He shrugged.

“Don’t you shrug at me!” I scowled, jabbing a finger at him. “This isn’t fair, Red! You’re supposed to be my big brother. Supportive big brother. Not ‘let’s team up with Blue and Leaf and destroy my little sister’s self-esteem’ big brother!”

Red finally turned to look at me, his expression softening just a little. After a moment, he held out his hand.

I blinked at it, confused. “What… what are you doing?”

He gestured for me to take it. Hesitantly, I did, and before I knew it, he pulled me to my feet, then crouched down slightly and patted his back.

“Oh no.” I stepped back. “You think a piggyback ride is going to fix this? Think again, Red.”

But he didn’t move, just stayed there with his back turned, waiting patiently. Pikachu hopped off my shoulder and climbed onto his Charizard instead, leaving me no choice.

I sighed, muttering under my breath as I climbed onto his back. “You’re lucky I like these stupid piggyback rides.”

Once I was settled, Red stood up and started walking back toward the others. His silence was annoying, but… at the same time, it was kind of comforting. He didn’t need to say anything. He just knew. Even when I was mad at him, he always found some way to make me feel better.

When we got back, Blue, Leaf, Rosa, and Lillie all turned to look at us. Blue was the first to speak, smirking as usual.

“Aw, look at you two. Sibling bonding time? Adorable.”

I glared at him, but Red just rolled his eyes and let me down. Before I could say anything, Red’s Charizard let out a small growl, and Blue’s smirk faltered just a little.

Leaf crossed her arms and grinned. “I hope you’re ready to battle. We’re not going easy on you.”

“Oh, I’m ready,” I said, cracking my knuckles. “After all, I’ve got the best big brother on my team. Right, Red?”

Red just gave me a small nod, his expression calm and confident.

Maybe, just maybe, we had a chance after all.

The journey to Pasio was supposed to be a fun adventure—Red and I had agreed on that much. But somehow, it had turned into this chaos.

Red and I were standing in the middle of the arena with Rosa and Lillie by my side, while across from us stood three of the strongest trainers I had ever met—Red, Blue, and Leaf.

"Red and I were totally fine coming here by ourselves," I said, glaring at Blue. "But I seem to recall someone just begging us to let him in on this, no?"

Rosa giggled softly, trying to stifle her laughter behind her hand. Lillie hid a smile, her usual nervous energy evident in the way she fidgeted with her bag.

Me? I was on the verge of fainting.

"W-wait... we..." I stammered, pointing to Rosa, Lillie, and myself. "We have to beat you three?! Three teenagers who are four years older than me?!"

Blue gave me a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "Uh… surprise?"

I looked at him in disbelief. Then I turned to Red.

Red, as usual, remained silent, his signature cap shadowing his eyes.

Then I turned to Leaf, who gave me a friendly wave like this was no big deal.

Then to Pikachu, who tilted her head at me, chirping innocently.

And then I screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Everyone winced and slapped their hands over their ears.

"You can stop screaming now!" Rosa shouted, trying to be heard over my banshee-like wail.

"NO, I CAN'T!" I yelled back, my voice cracking slightly.

Red groaned, shaking his head. Even his Charizard let out a low growl of annoyance, clearly unimpressed by my antics.

After five minutes of uninterrupted screaming, my voice finally gave out. I stopped mid-yell, throat raw and scratchy, and decided to simply walk away.

No one noticed.

It wasn’t until thirty minutes later, when the ringing in their ears had subsided, that anyone realized I was gone.

"Your sister is loud," Lillie remarked with a nervous laugh.

Red sighed, glancing around. His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he might actually say something. Instead, he adjusted his cap and took a step forward to search for me.

I hadn’t gone far. I was sitting on the edge of a small hill overlooking the sea, knees pulled to my chest as I watched the waves crash against the shore. My throat still hurt, but at least I wasn’t crying anymore.

"Hey," a familiar voice said softly.

I glanced up to see Red standing a few feet away. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and his Charizard lingered a few steps behind him, watching me with curious eyes.

"Lost my voice," I croaked, managing a weak smile.

Red smirked slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. He walked over and crouched beside me, resting a hand on my shoulder.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the sound of the waves filling the space between us. Then, to my surprise, Red spoke.

"You okay?" His voice was quiet and gruff, like he wasn’t used to using it much.

I nodded, leaning against him. "Yeah. Just… nervous, I guess."

Red didn’t say anything, but his hand gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"I don’t think we can win," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Red finally turned to look at me, his dark eyes filled with a quiet determination. "You don’t have to win," he said simply. "You just have to try."

It was such a simple statement, but it felt like the most profound thing anyone had ever said to me.

"I’ll try," I promised, my voice trembling slightly.

Red nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. Then, in an uncharacteristic move, he pulled me into a tight hug.

I froze for a moment, surprised by the gesture. Red wasn’t one for physical affection—at least, not with anyone else. But with me? He made exceptions.

"I love you," I whispered, my arms wrapping around him.

Red didn’t respond verbally, but I felt his embrace tighten slightly, and that was all the answer I needed.

No matter what happened in that arena, I knew one thing for certain: I wasn’t alone.