Lance stared at the pill bottle in his hand, his expression grim. "Mia, Modafinil is not something kids should be taking, let alone for two weeks!"

I tilted my head, confused. "But… it helped me stay awake. And, like, I really needed it with all the battling and stuff. So, what’s the big deal?"

"The big deal?" Lorelei repeated, her voice laced with concern. She knelt beside me, gently taking my hand. "Mia, this medication is meant for serious sleep disorders. Taking it like candy is incredibly dangerous."

Bruno paced back and forth, running a hand through his hair. "What were you thinking?!"

Greta folded her arms, trying to stay calm. "Mia, honey, do you have any idea what this could’ve done to you? This isn’t just some energy booster. It can mess with your heart, your brain—everything!"

I blinked, still not entirely understanding. "I mean… I feel fine."

Gary, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly exploded. "FINE?! YOU’VE BEEN TAKING MODAFINIL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE, AND YOU THINK YOU’RE FINE?!" He stormed into the next room, shouting, "I NEED A PAPER BAG OR SOMETHING—SHE’S GONNA KILL ME!"

Professor Oak was fanning himself with a folder, looking pale. "Mia, my dear girl, what… what else have you been taking?"

I tilted my head. "Other stuff? Uh… let me check." I opened my bag and began pulling out various bottles. "Okay, so this one’s caffeine pills, this one’s melatonin because I figured I should try sleeping sometimes, and… oh! This one’s vitamin gummies because they taste good."

Lance’s eyes widened. "That’s not… Mia, those aren’t vitamins! That’s ephedrine! Where did you even get this?"

I shrugged. "A vending machine in Celadon City. I thought they were just fancy energy pills."

Lorelei pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath. "This child is going to give me gray hair."

Bruno stopped pacing and grabbed one of the bottles. "This one’s a muscle relaxant! What on earth were you doing with this?"

I shrugged again. "Sometimes my arms hurt after training, so I thought it might help."

Lance looked at me like I’d grown a second head. "Mia, you’re ten! You shouldn’t even be considering stuff like this!"

Gary re-entered the room, his face red. "Okay, we’re banning you from everything! No pills, no vending machines, no nothing!"

I crossed my arms, feeling defensive. "What’s the big deal? I’m fine, aren’t I?"

Oak stepped forward, his voice unusually stern. "Mia, you may feel fine now, but these medications could have serious, long-term effects on your health. Your heart, your liver, your growth—they’re all at risk."

I stared at him, finally starting to feel a little nervous. "Oh… I didn’t know that."

Lorelei placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice softening. "Sweetheart, we’re not mad at you. We’re worried. You’re so young, and you’ve been pushing yourself so hard. But this isn’t the way to handle stress or exhaustion."

Greta nodded. "Exactly. You need proper rest, a good diet, and support—not a pharmacy in your backpack."

Gary sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mia, why didn’t you tell me you were this stressed out?"

I looked down, feeling embarrassed. "I didn’t want to bother anyone. Everyone’s always so busy, and I didn’t want to seem weak."

Bruno crouched down in front of me, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Asking for help isn’t weak, kid. It’s smart. And we’re here to help you, no matter what."

I looked around at all their concerned faces and suddenly felt a lump in my throat. "You guys really care about me that much?"

Lance smiled softly. "Of course we do. You’re part of this crazy little family now, whether you like it or not."

"Pika," my Pikachu chimed in, nuzzling my cheek.

I sniffled, wiping my eyes. "Okay… I promise I won’t take any more pills."

Gary crossed his arms. "Good. Because if you do, I’ll personally drag you to Nurse Joy."

Everyone laughed, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a little lighter. Maybe I didn’t need to handle everything on my own after all.