Professor Oak rubbed his temples as he examined the collection of bottles I had dumped onto the floor. His lips moved as he read the labels silently, his brow furrowing deeper with each word. Meanwhile, Gary was pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, MIA?!" Gary finally shouted, his voice echoing through the room as he stormed into the hallway.

I blinked at his retreating form. "What’s his problem? I’m fine," I said, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"You are not fine!" Lance snapped, crouching down to look me in the eyes. "Mia, do you have any idea what Modafinil does? Or what it means to take all these pills? These are serious medications!"

Lorelei sighed, her tone much gentler. "Sweetheart, you’ve been putting your body through a lot more stress than you realize." She leaned closer. "Why didn’t you talk to anyone if you were struggling so much?"

I shrugged, pulling my knees up to my chest. "I didn’t want to bother you guys. You’re busy being the Elite Four and all."

Greta, pacing in small, tight circles, suddenly stopped and pointed at me. "Mia, you’re ten! You’re a child! You can’t just… self-medicate like this!"

"Also," Bruno interjected, holding up a tiny pink bottle, "What even is this? Where did you get this?"

"Pidgey Mart," I said matter-of-factly.

"Who sells these to a ten-year-old?!" Bruno threw his hands in the air.

Lance stood up abruptly, holding the green bottle in one hand and running the other through his hair. "We need to call a doctor. Immediately."

"Wait, wait!" Oak interrupted, holding up a hand. "Let’s not jump to conclusions. Mia, have you been feeling dizzy? Sick? Anything unusual?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I feel great! Except, you know, for the whole running-around-screaming part earlier."

Gary re-entered the room, his face pale but his voice firm. "She thinks she’s fine, but she’s not! She hasn’t slept in two weeks, she’s been eating random pills, and you’re all just standing here talking about it!"

"Gary, we’re trying to assess the situation," Lorelei said soothingly.

"ASSESS?! SHE COULD DIE!" Gary shouted, throwing his arms up.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down," I said, waving my hands. "Nobody’s dying. I’m just… tired, I guess?"

"Exactly!" Gary pointed at me as if he’d just proven a point.

Lance groaned. "Okay, everyone calm down. Greta, Bruno, check the kitchen. See if we have anything to help flush this out of her system. Lorelei, call a medical professional."

"And what should I do?" Gary demanded.

Lance glared at him. "Stop yelling and let us work!"

"Fine!" Gary huffed, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed.

Meanwhile, Oak was still inspecting bottles, his face increasingly horrified. "Mia, these are not even supplements! This is..." He trailed off, fanning himself with a clipboard.

"Why are you fanning yourself?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Oak sighed heavily. "Because I cannot believe you’ve been carrying all of this in your little bag. How did you even find these pills?"

"I told you. Pidgey Mart," I said with a shrug.

"Mia, this is beyond irresponsible!" Oak exclaimed.

"But I’m fine," I said again, lying back on the floor. "You guys are so dramatic."

"You think we’re dramatic?!" Greta returned, holding a glass of water. "Kid, you’re the one who screamed for five minutes straight earlier!"

"I had to express my feelings," I said nonchalantly.

Bruno returned with a packet of crackers, muttering under his breath. "She doesn’t even get it. Not one bit."

Lorelei hung up the phone and knelt beside me. "Mia, sweetheart, we’re not mad at you. We’re just… scared for you. You’re important to us."

I stared at her, my mind blank for a moment. "Wait. You care?"

"Of course we care!" Lance snapped, looking genuinely offended.

Gary muttered from the couch. "Why wouldn’t we care? You’re annoying, but you’re also family."

I blinked, sitting up straighter. "Wait. Family?"

Gary rolled his eyes. "Yeah, like... found family or whatever. Don’t make it weird."

I grinned at him. "You’re so dramatic."

He groaned, burying his face in his hands.

Meanwhile, the adults kept working, pacing, and whispering as I watched from the floor. For the first time, it hit me: these people actually cared about me. Like… a lot.

And yet, I still couldn’t figure out why they were acting like the world was ending.