The room was abuzz with a chaotic mix of disbelief, concern, and sheer panic. Gary had stormed into the next room, yelling something unintelligible, while Lorelei and Lance were huddled in an intense whispering session. Bruno paced back and forth, muttering about "responsibility," and Greta was staring at the assortment of pill bottles I'd dumped on the floor, her expression unreadable. 

I, on the other hand, sat cross-legged in the center of the room, munching on a granola bar. "Why is everyone freaking out? I’m fine," I said with a shrug. 

Professor Oak looked like he was about to faint. He fanned himself furiously with a clipboard. "Mia," he said, his voice strained, "do you understand how dangerous it is to take medication without proper supervision?!" 

I blinked at him, utterly confused. "What? They're just pills. I couldn’t sleep, so I fixed it. No big deal." 

"NO BIG DEAL?!" Gary's voice came from the other room, followed by a loud *thud* that sounded suspiciously like him kicking a chair. 

Lance groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mia, some of these medications are prescription-only. They’re not meant for kids, let alone for... however many you’ve been taking!" 

"Wait, how many *have* you been taking?" Greta asked, her voice calm but clearly laced with worry. 

I tilted my head and began counting on my fingers. "Uh... maybe one pill every night for sleep, another one for staying awake during the day—oh, and then this one for anxiety because I got really nervous before battling Bruno." 

Bruno stopped mid-pace and stared at me. "Wait. You were taking pills because of me?" 

I nodded earnestly. "Yeah! I mean, have you seen yourself? You're, like, *intimidating.* I needed something to calm down!" 

Lorelei let out a sharp sigh and crouched down to my level. "Mia, honey, these aren’t candies. They’re powerful medications that can mess up your body, especially if you don’t need them. Who gave these to you?" 

I shrugged. "No one? I found them in a store." 

"In a *store*?!" Oak’s voice cracked. "Mia, this is not how medicine works!" 

Gary re-entered the room, his face red and his hair looking more disheveled than usual. "I can’t believe this," he muttered, glaring at me. "Why didn’t you tell anyone you were struggling?" 

I frowned, hugging my knees. "Because I didn’t want anyone to worry. You guys already have so much going on with Team Rocket and stuff. I thought I could handle it myself." 

"Mia," Lance said softly, kneeling in front of me, "it’s okay to ask for help. No one expects you to handle everything alone." 

"Exactly," Greta added. "You’re ten. You’re not supposed to have all the answers." 

"But... you’re all, like, *super important.* I didn’t think you’d care," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. 

The room went silent for a moment, and then Gary plopped down beside me, his expression softening. "Mia, you’re my best friend. Of course I care. And clearly, so does everyone else here." 

"Absolutely," Lorelei said firmly. "We’re not just the Elite Four. We’re people who care about the trainers we meet." 

"Even the ones who call me ‘Mr. Workout,’" Bruno grumbled, though his lips twitched in a faint smile. 

I looked around at their concerned faces and felt a lump form in my throat. "I... I didn’t think I mattered that much to you guys." 

Oak sighed, finally sitting down with a groan. "Mia, you’re one of the most spirited, determined trainers I’ve ever met. Of course you matter. But you also need to take care of yourself." 

Gary nudged me with his shoulder. "Yeah, and maybe next time, don’t try to self-medicate with an entire pharmacy, okay?" 

I chuckled weakly. "Okay. No more pills. Promise." 

Lance smiled. "Good. Now, how about we get you checked out by Nurse Joy, just to be safe?" 

I groaned dramatically but nodded. "Fine. But only if Gary carries me." 

Gary rolled his eyes but stood up and offered his hand. "Deal. Let’s go, you drama queen." 

As he helped me up, I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe I didn’t need to do everything on my own after all.