"What's Modafinil?" I repeated, looking between the adults and Gary. Everyone seemed frozen in varying stages of disbelief, panic, or outright horror.

Professor Oak cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses. "Mia, Modafinil is a very strong medication for staying awake. It’s not something a ten-year-old should be taking."

Gary, standing off to the side, pinched the bridge of his nose. "I knew you were weird, but this is next-level even for you."

"Hey!" I shot back, glaring. "I’m not weird! I’m just... resourceful!"

Lance, still holding the bottle, gave me a look of pure exasperation. "Resourceful? Mia, this could have serious side effects! You’re lucky you haven’t already passed out or—" He cut himself off, muttering under his breath.

Lorelei crouched down to my level, her voice gentle. "Mia, sweetie, what else have you been taking? Be honest, okay?"

"Uh..." I hesitated, glancing at my bag. "Nothing big. Just… a few other things."

Bruno folded his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Define 'a few.'"

With a sigh, I dumped the contents of my bag onto the floor. Pills, bottles, powders, and even a few energy drinks clattered out, spilling across the dojo floor.

The room went silent.

"WHAT THE—" Gary’s voice cracked as he pointed at the pile. "Are you trying to die?!"

"Gary!" Oak scolded, but even he looked pale.

Lance crouched down, grabbing one of the bottles and reading the label. "Caffeine tablets? Melatonin? …WHAT IS THIS?!" He held up another bottle.

"Herbal focus supplements," I explained matter-of-factly. "They’re supposed to help me concentrate during battles."

Lorelei was massaging her temples now. "And this?" She held up a bright orange bottle.

"Uh… I think it’s some kind of super-vitamin? I found it in a bargain bin."

Bruno’s pacing turned frantic. "Kid, half of these are for adults! What were you thinking?"

"I wasn’t," I admitted with a shrug. "I just wanted to win and not be tired, okay?"

Oak sat heavily in a nearby chair, fanning himself with a clipboard. "Mia… this is beyond concerning. Do you have any idea what this cocktail of medications could do to your body?"

I blinked at him. "Uh… make me less tired?"

"No!" they all shouted at once.

Gary threw his arms up and stormed into the next room, yelling something unintelligible about “irresponsible kids” and “what even is my life?”

Meanwhile, Lance and Lorelei started whispering furiously. I couldn’t make out much, but the words “doctor” and “hospital” definitely stood out.

Greta and Bruno were pacing back and forth like caged animals. Every now and then, they exchanged worried glances, their normally calm exteriors completely gone.

I just sat cross-legged on the floor, watching the chaos unfold around me. "Why is everyone freaking out? You’re acting like I’m dying or something."

"MIA!" Oak shouted, louder than I’d ever heard him. "This isn’t a joke! These kinds of medications can seriously harm you—especially at your age!"

I tilted my head. "But I feel fine."

"That’s not the point!" Greta snapped, her voice uncharacteristically sharp.

Bruno muttered under his breath, "The kid’s a walking pharmacy."

By this point, Lorelei had crouched down again, trying to keep her voice calm despite the clear panic in her eyes. "Mia, do you trust us?"

I shrugged. "I guess?"

"Then trust us when we say this is dangerous," she said firmly. "We care about you. We want you to be okay."

I blinked at her. "You… care about me?"

The room fell silent again, this time for a very different reason.

"Of course, we care," Lance said, his tone softening. "You’re not just some random kid running around the Pokémon League. You’re part of this… family."

"Wait." I pointed at them all, my face scrunched in confusion. "You guys actually like me?"

"Yes!" they all shouted, exasperated.

I leaned back, processing this revelation. "Huh. That’s new."

Gary reappeared in the doorway, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "Unbelievable. She’s breaking the law, wrecking her body, and the only thing she’s surprised about is that people care."

"Hey!" I shot back. "I’m not breaking the law! Probably."

Lance sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, new plan. No more pills, no more energy drinks, no more anything without our approval."

"Agreed," Oak said firmly.

Lorelei reached out, taking my hand. "We’re going to get you checked out by a doctor, okay? Just to make sure you’re really fine."

I sighed dramatically. "Fine. But I’m still battling Gary after this."

"Not if you’re unconscious," Gary muttered, crossing his arms.

And with that, the room descended into chaos again, with everyone talking over each other while I sat there, calmly munching on a granola bar. Honestly, the Elite Four were kind of overdramatic.