Lance stared at the label on the bottle like it was a live grenade. “Mia, Modafinil is a powerful stimulant! It’s for people with narcolepsy or severe fatigue—not for a ten-year-old trying to pull all-nighters before battling the Elite Four!”

I tilted my head. “But it worked, didn’t it? I mean, I’m awake and—”

“MIA!” Lorelei cut me off, her voice sharp but laced with concern. “Do you have any idea what this could do to your body? You could seriously harm yourself!”

I blinked, unfazed by the rising panic in the room. “Harm? Nah, I feel fine. A little jittery, but that’s normal, right?”

“Normal?!” Gary shouted, throwing his hands in the air. “That’s not normal! What else have you been taking?!”

“Oh, uh… let me check.” I reached into my bag and started pulling out bottles like a magician with an endless supply of scarves. “Let’s see… caffeine tablets, some weird herbal stuff I found in the Poké Mart, these blue ones that said ‘energy boost’—oh, and these gummies taste amazing—”

Bruno snatched a bottle from my hand, squinting at the label. “These are not gummies! These are melatonin tablets!”

I shrugged. “Well, they tasted like candy…”

“That’s because they’re not candy!” Greta groaned, running a hand down her face. “How are you even standing right now? You’ve basically been using your body as a science experiment!”

Oak held up a small, bright pink bottle, his face pale. “Mia, this… this is a strong antidepressant. Where did you even get this?”

“Oh, that one? I found it in a drawer at home,” I replied casually. “It said it helps you relax, so I figured, why not?”

“WHY NOT?!” Lance exploded. “Because you’re TEN, that’s why not!”

By now, Gary had walked into the next room and could be heard screaming at the top of his lungs. “THIS IS INSANE! SHE’S INSANE! SHE’S GONNA KILL HERSELF BEFORE I EVEN GET TO BATTLE HER!”

I tilted my head in confusion as Lorelei leaned down and grasped my shoulders firmly. “Mia, sweetheart, listen to me very carefully. You cannot—cannot—just take random medications. Your body isn’t built to handle this! You’re risking your health, your life even, by doing this.”

I blinked up at her. “But… it’s just pills. They’re supposed to help, right?”

“Not when you’re mixing them like a chemist without a license!” Bruno shouted, pacing back and forth. “How have you even survived the past two weeks without collapsing?!”

“Pokémon trainers are tough,” I said with a shrug, picking at my nails.

Oak fanned himself with a nearby clipboard, his usual calm demeanor nowhere to be found. “This is beyond reckless! Mia, I had no idea you were struggling like this. Why didn’t you tell anyone you couldn’t sleep?”

I sighed, finally sitting down on the floor. “Because… I didn’t want to seem weak, okay? Everyone keeps saying how strong trainers are supposed to be, and I thought if I couldn’t handle it, maybe I wasn’t cut out for this.”

Greta’s stern expression softened as she knelt beside me. “Oh, Mia… being strong doesn’t mean hurting yourself to prove something. We’re here to help you, not judge you.”

Lance pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. “Alright, everyone calm down. First, we’re confiscating all these meds. Second, we need to get her checked out by a proper doctor.”

Lorelei nodded, her voice gentle again. “Mia, we’re not mad. We’re just… worried. You mean a lot to us, and seeing you like this is scary.”

Gary stomped back into the room, looking both furious and panicked. “You guys are taking her to a doctor, right? Like, immediately?”

“Of course,” Oak said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “But first, Mia needs to understand that this behavior is not okay.”

I crossed my arms, pouting. “Fine, fine. No more pills. Happy?”

“Not until we’re sure you’re alright,” Greta said with a small smile. “But yes, it’s a start.”

As the adults resumed their panicked discussions, I sat calmly in the center of the chaos, watching them with mild amusement. “You guys are really dramatic, you know that? It’s not like I’m dying or anything.”

Gary pointed at me, his voice cracking. “You almost did! And you’re just sitting there like it’s no big deal!”

I grinned. “What can I say? You guys are crazier than I am.”

Bruno groaned. “This kid is going to be the death of us.”

Lorelei shook her head, laughing softly. “No, Bruno. She’s going to be the life of us.”