Lance held the bottle up, his face a mix of disbelief and concern. "Mia, do you know what Modafinil does?"

I blinked at him. "Uh... makes me awake? Duh."

Lorelei gasped, covering her mouth with one hand. "Dear, this isn’t just some over-the-counter supplement. It’s a powerful stimulant for people with sleep disorders! And you’ve been taking it for two weeks?"

"Wait, wait," Gary interrupted, stepping closer. "That’s not all, is it? What else have you been taking?"

I hesitated, looking around nervously at their intense expressions. "Uh… nothing serious."

Gary crossed his arms. "Mia. Show us."

I sighed dramatically and reached into my bag, pulling out a handful of bottles. As I placed them on the floor, the adults’ expressions grew even more alarmed.

Lance picked up a small orange bottle and read the label. "Caffeine pills?!"

Lorelei grabbed another. "Melatonin… in massive doses?"

Bruno knelt down, holding up a bottle of herbal supplements. "What even is this? Some kind of energy booster?"

Greta snatched a bright pink bottle. "This one literally says, ‘Not for use without medical supervision’!"

Professor Oak, who had been quiet, sat heavily in a chair, fanning himself with his hand. "Mia, this… this is beyond reckless. Do you understand how dangerous this is for your body?!"

I shrugged. "Not really. I mean, I feel fine."

Gary stared at me, his jaw dropping. "Fine?! Mia, you’ve been taking a cocktail of pills that could knock out a Snorlax—or worse!"

"I wasn’t knocked out," I argued, crossing my arms. "I was fine, see? Awake, alert, and ready to beat Giovanni!"

Gary threw his hands in the air and stormed into the next room, muttering something about "unbelievable girlfriends."

Meanwhile, Lorelei and Lance exchanged worried whispers while Bruno paced the room, muttering under his breath.

Greta knelt in front of me, her expression softer but still serious. "Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell anyone you were struggling with this? Taking on the Elite Four is tough, yes, but this isn’t the way to handle it."

I looked away, chewing on my lip. "I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t handle it."

"Handle it?" Lance repeated, kneeling beside Greta. "Mia, there’s no shame in asking for help. What you’ve been doing is dangerous, not just for your health but for your ability to battle effectively."

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu chimed in, hopping onto my shoulder and nuzzling me.

Professor Oak leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm. "Mia, the pressure you’ve been under is understandable. But this… this is not the solution. We’re all here to support you, but you need to trust us enough to let us help."

I fidgeted, feeling the weight of their concern settle over me. "I just… I didn’t want to let anyone down."

Bruno stopped pacing and crossed his arms. "The only way you’d let us down is by hurting yourself like this."

Lorelei nodded, her eyes softening. "We want you to succeed, Mia, but not at the cost of your well-being."

Gary re-entered the room, his face red with frustration. "Mia, if you ever do anything this reckless again, I swear, I’ll… I’ll—"

"You’ll what?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"I’ll tattle on you!" he blurted out.

The room fell silent for a moment before Bruno let out a loud laugh, and even Lorelei cracked a smile.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Ugh, fine! I get it, okay? No more pills. Happy?"

Lance placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We’re not trying to scold you, Mia. We’re trying to make sure you’re okay. That’s what matters most to all of us."

"Even Gary?" I asked skeptically.

Gary huffed but softened. "Even me. You’re my… weird little rival, and I need you in one piece for our battles."

I couldn’t help but smile a little. "Thanks, guys."

As the tension eased, Oak stood up. "Well, now that this is sorted, perhaps we can focus on the next step of Mia’s journey—after a good night’s rest."

Lorelei raised a hand. "And under supervision. No more self-medicating."

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu cheered in agreement, wagging her tail.

I sighed but nodded. "Fine, fine. But you’re all taking me out for ice cream after this."

Greta laughed. "Deal."