The room fell eerily silent as Lance held up the bottle of Modafinil. His normally calm demeanor was replaced with an expression of deep concern. Lorelei and Oak exchanged worried glances while Greta and Bruno started pacing the room. Gary, however, just stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

“Mia,” Lance finally said, his voice steady but tense. “Do you understand what this is?”

I shrugged, completely oblivious. “Uh… medicine?”

Gary groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Medicine?! Mia, this isn’t candy! Modafinil is a powerful stimulant! It’s not something you just… take for two weeks straight!”

I blinked, confused. “But… I didn’t feel sleepy after taking it. Isn’t that what it’s supposed to do?”

Lorelei knelt down to my level, her face softening. “Sweetheart, this kind of medication is used under very specific conditions, and only when prescribed by a doctor. It’s not meant to be used like… like a snack.”

“A snack?!” Gary exploded, throwing his arms into the air. “Lorelei, she’s been popping pills like they’re Poké Puffs, and you’re downplaying it?! What were you thinking, Mia?!”

I flinched at his tone, suddenly feeling very small. “I just… I couldn’t sleep, okay? Between all the training, the battles, and the Elite Four, my brain wouldn’t shut off! So I… tried to fix it myself.”

Bruno stopped pacing and turned to me, his expression unusually gentle. “Mia, we get it. The pressure can be overwhelming, but this… this isn’t the way to deal with it.”

Lance cut in, holding up the bottle again. “What else have you been taking, Mia? Be honest.”

I hesitated, feeling all their eyes on me. Reluctantly, I dug into my bag and pulled out a handful of bottles and packets, placing them on the desk.

Gary’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious right now?”

Oak picked up one of the bottles, examining the label with a frown. “Mia, this is melatonin. You’ve been mixing a stimulant and a sleep aid?”

“And this one,” Greta added, picking up another bottle. “This is herbal tea for relaxation. Have you been drinking this too?”

I nodded sheepishly. “Sometimes, when the pills didn’t work…”

“That’s not all,” Bruno muttered, holding up a packet of energy chews. “She’s been using these to stay awake, too.”

Lorelei looked at me, her expression a mixture of concern and disbelief. “Mia, how have you been functioning?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just… kept going.”

Gary groaned loudly, walking into the next room and shouting something incoherent. Meanwhile, Lance rubbed his temples like he was trying to ward off a migraine.

“Mia,” he said firmly, “this is dangerous. Your body can’t handle this much stress, especially not with all these chemicals running through your system.”

“I didn’t know,” I mumbled, feeling tears prick at my eyes. “I just wanted to be ready for the battles. I didn’t want to let anyone down.”

Greta walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not letting anyone down, dear. But you need to take care of yourself first. You can’t battle if you’re sick or worse.”

Oak nodded solemnly. “Greta’s right. This isn’t about your strength as a trainer. It’s about your health. We’re all worried about you, Mia.”

I looked around the room, surprised to see genuine concern on all their faces. Even Bruno, who I thought was just about muscles, looked like he was ready to bench-press anyone who tried to hurt me.

“Why… why do you all care so much?” I asked softly.

Gary stormed back into the room, his face red with frustration. “Because, Mia, you’re important! You matter to us, okay? And watching you do something so reckless is… terrifying!”

I blinked at him, stunned. “You mean that?”

“Of course we do,” Lorelei said, pulling me into a gentle hug. “We’re your friends, your teammates. We want you to be safe.”

Lance nodded, his expression softening. “We’ll help you get through this, Mia. But first, no more pills. Understood?”

I nodded, tears streaming down my face. “Understood.”

Gary sighed, ruffling my hair gently. “Good. Now, come on. Let’s get you some real rest.”

For the first time in weeks, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Maybe I didn’t have to handle everything alone after all.