The room erupted into chaos.

Gary ran into the next room, screaming, "SHE’S BEEN TAKING MODAFINIL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE!"

Lorelei and Lance were whispering furiously to each other, their eyes darting toward me.

Bruno and Greta were pacing the room like Tauros in a confined space, their expressions a mix of worry and frustration.

Meanwhile, Professor Oak sat on a chair, fanning himself with a stack of papers. "Oh dear, oh dear... This is worse than I thought."

I tilted my head, utterly baffled. "Okay, can someone explain to me why everyone’s acting like I just set the Pokémon League on fire? It’s just medicine!"

Lance whirled around, holding up the Modafinil bottle. "Mia, this isn’t just medicine. This is a powerful drug meant for narcolepsy and severe sleep disorders. You’ve been taking it casually for two weeks?!"

I blinked. "Uh, yeah? I mean, I couldn’t sleep. What else was I supposed to do? Count Mareep?"

Gary stormed back into the room, pointing an accusatory finger at me. "Do you even know the side effects of all this? Headaches? Insomnia? Increased heart rate?!"

"Sounds like my usual day," I replied, shrugging.

Lorelei stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Mia, sweetheart, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Taking medication like this without a doctor’s supervision is dangerous."

I sighed, slumping against the wall. "I just wanted to be prepared for the Elite Four. You guys are all amazing, and I’m just… me. I didn’t want to let anyone down."

Bruno stopped pacing and looked at me with a rare softness in his eyes. "Kid, you’ve got more heart than half the trainers who walk through these doors. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your health for a battle."

Greta nodded. "Bruno’s right. And honestly, we’re not as scary as you think. We’re here to test you, not break you."

I frowned, looking down at the pills scattered in my bag. "I didn’t think you guys would care this much."

Lance crouched down to my level, his usual smug demeanor replaced with genuine concern. "Mia, of course we care. You’re more than just a challenger. You’re a bright, determined trainer who’s already proven her worth. But we can’t have you jeopardizing your health like this."

Gary crossed his arms, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah, and for the record, you’ve never let anyone down. Not me, not Pikachu, and definitely not yourself."

I felt my face heat up, and I quickly turned away. "Well… I guess I messed up, huh?"

Professor Oak chuckled softly. "We all make mistakes, my dear. The important thing is learning from them. Now, how about we get you some proper rest before your next battle?"

I hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But can someone explain why I shouldn’t take this other bottle?"

Lance took the new bottle from my hand, squinting at the label. His eyes widened. "Mia… this is a Pokémon supplement. For Snorlax."

The room went dead silent.

I blinked. "…So that’s why it tasted funny."

Gary groaned loudly, slapping his forehead, while Lorelei stifled a laugh. Greta actually facepalmed, and Bruno looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Okay, okay, no more pills!" I declared, holding up my hands in mock surrender. "But can we all agree that Snorlax supplements make great snacks?"

Lance sighed, shaking his head. "Mia, you’re one of a kind."

Gary smirked. "Yeah, a walking disaster."

I grinned. "Hey, at least I keep things interesting!"

As the tension in the room eased, I realized something important: the Elite Four, Gary, and even Professor Oak weren’t just strong trainers—they were people who genuinely cared. And maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to do everything on my own.