Gary stormed out of the room, yelling, “She’s a walking pharmacy! Someone call a doctor!” His voice echoed down the hallway as if the volume alone could summon help.

Lorelei was crouched next to Lance, whispering in a tone too low for me to catch. Occasionally, they glanced at me with concern so intense that it felt like they thought I was dying right then and there.

Meanwhile, Bruno was pacing back and forth with a hand on his head, muttering, “This is bad. This is really bad. How did she even get her hands on this stuff? Who let a ten-year-old stockpile meds?!”

Greta was similarly walking circles in the room, alternating between wringing her hands and muttering, “Mrs. Witch, really?” under her breath.

Professor Oak, who had initially been calm, was now fanning himself with what appeared to be a Pokédex manual. His face was pale as he glanced at the assortment of bottles I’d laid out. “Mia, this… this is dangerous! Do you have any idea what could have happened?”

I shrugged. “Uh… no? I’ve been fine so far. I just couldn’t sleep, so I took the pills. Then I couldn’t stay awake, so I took more pills to stay awake. Problem solved, right?”

“Problem solved?” Greta exclaimed, stopping mid-pace to stare at me as if I’d grown a second head.

“Mia,” Bruno said, his voice suddenly very serious. “You’re mixing medications that are not meant to be taken together. Do you know what that does to your body?”

“Uh… makes it work harder?” I guessed.

“No!” Lance barked, holding up the bottle of Modafinil. “It messes with your brain chemistry! Do you even know what this is for?”

I shrugged again, entirely unbothered. “Nope. But it kept me awake, so it’s good, right?”

“Wrong!” Lorelei exclaimed, her normally calm demeanor replaced by a tone of sheer exasperation. She knelt down in front of me, grabbing my shoulders gently. “Mia, sweetie, you can’t just take whatever you want because it feels like it’s helping. These things can seriously hurt you!”

“But I’m fine!” I said, throwing my hands up in mock defense. “See? Alive, breathing, and ready to battle Gary!”

“Alive for now,” Oak muttered grimly, earning a sharp glare from Lance.

Gary re-entered the room, dragging a nurse in tow. “Here! I brought reinforcements!” he declared, shoving the poor woman forward.

The nurse blinked at the chaotic scene, then at the bottles spread across the floor. Her eyes widened. “She’s been taking all of these?”

Gary pointed at me, nodding frantically. “Yes! And she doesn’t even think it’s a big deal! She’s insane!”

I leaned back against the wall, utterly confused by the fuss. “Why is everyone acting like I’m dying? I’m fine! The Elite Four are just dramatic.”

Lance pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. “Mia, this isn’t about being dramatic. You’re ten years old and messing with things that could shut your body down. Do you even know what half of these do?”

“Nope,” I replied with a smile. “But they worked, didn’t they?”

Lorelei sighed heavily, muttering, “She’s ten. How does a ten-year-old get her hands on all this?”

“Good question!” Oak chimed in, his voice full of exasperation. “Mia, who gave these to you?”

“I didn’t need anyone to give them to me,” I said smugly. “I found them.”

Gary’s jaw dropped. “You found them?! Where? A trash can?!”

“No!” I protested. “The pharmacy! People leave things lying around. It’s not my fault they’re careless.”

Lance looked like he might faint. “You… you STOLE medication?!”

“I didn’t steal!” I huffed. “I… borrowed. With no intention of returning.”

Bruno looked like he wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. “Kid, that’s stealing.”

“Well, whatever,” I said, brushing it off. “You guys are blowing this way out of proportion.”

Lorelei stood, pinching the bridge of her nose again. “Mia, this isn’t just dangerous—it’s illegal. And it’s reckless.”

Oak turned to the nurse. “Can we test her? I need to know what’s in her system right now.”

I groaned, plopping onto the floor dramatically. “Ugh! You guys are crazy. I’m fine. Let’s just battle Gary and be done with it.”

“Absolutely not,” Lance said firmly. “You’re not battling anyone until we know you’re okay.”

I crossed my arms, pouting. “This is so unfair. I didn’t even do anything wrong.”

Gary stared at me, wide-eyed. “You’re insane. Absolutely insane.”

The nurse sighed, kneeling down with a gentle smile. “Mia, we’re not mad at you. We’re just worried. Will you let me help?”

I blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard by her kind tone. “Uh… I guess?”

As the room erupted into a whirlwind of action—Lance barking orders, Lorelei pacing, Bruno attempting to calm Greta, and Gary dramatically recapping the chaos to anyone who’d listen—I sat there quietly, watching them all fuss over me.

“They’re actually worried about me,” I muttered to myself, feeling oddly warm inside despite the situation.

“Of course, we’re worried,” Oak said, catching my words. “You’re part of our world, Mia. We care about you.”

I blinked at him, unsure of what to say. Then, with a sly grin, I asked, “Does that mean I get out of battling Gary?”

“No!” Gary and Lance shouted in unison.

“Worth a shot,” I mumbled, leaning back with a smirk.