I turned toward the others, still buzzing with leftover adrenaline from my "battle" with Misty. That’s when my eyes landed on Bruno. Big, muscle-bound, stoic Bruno. The Fighting-type expert. The guy who looked like he could bench-press a Snorlax without breaking a sweat. And something inside me snapped.

“You,” I said, pointing a dramatic finger at him.

Bruno blinked, confused. “Me?”

“Yeah, you,” I said, cracking my knuckles like I was some kind of wrestling champion. “You’re next.”

Misty groaned from where she was still catching her breath on the floor. “Mia, please, don’t.”

Bruno raised an eyebrow, folding his arms over his chest. “Mia, I’m not sure this is a good idea. You’re strong for a kid, but—”

“But?!” I interrupted, my eyes narrowing. “Are you saying I can’t handle it? Are you challenging me?”

Bruno sighed, clearly realizing there was no stopping me. “Alright, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The rest of the group stood back, eyes wide and slightly horrified. “This is going to end badly,” Gary muttered, already rubbing his temples.

“Or hilariously,” Lorelei said, smirking.

Bruno stepped forward, towering over me like some kind of giant mountain. I tilted my head up to look at him, undeterred. “Ready?” I asked, grinning like a maniac.

He shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The moment he said that, I launched myself at him like a wild, feral Mankey. Bruno barely had time to react as I wrapped my arms around his waist and heaved.

To everyone’s absolute shock—and horror—I actually managed to lift him a few inches off the ground.

“What the—?!” Bruno exclaimed, his calm demeanor cracking as he tried to regain his balance.

“HOW IS SHE THIS STRONG?!” Gary shouted, staring in disbelief.

“MODAFINIL!” Misty yelled back, as if that explained everything.

Bruno finally managed to plant his feet back on the ground, but I wasn’t done yet. I was determined to prove that I could take him down. “You’re going down, Mr. Workout!” I declared, giving him the nickname I’d coined earlier.

“Mr. Workout?!” Bruno sputtered, momentarily distracted.

Using that split second, I twisted around, somehow managing to grab his arm and flip myself onto his back like a crazy Spinarak. Bruno stumbled forward, trying to shake me off, but I held on tight, laughing like a maniac.

“Get her off me!” Bruno shouted, his voice more panicked than anyone had ever heard it.

“Bruno, you’re the Fighting-type master,” Lorelei called, barely holding back her laughter. “You figure it out!”

“I DON’T KNOW HOW!” Bruno yelled back, spinning in circles to dislodge me.

The rest of the group was losing it. Misty was clutching her sides from laughing too hard. Gary was just standing there with his mouth hanging open. Lance looked like he couldn’t decide whether to step in or let the madness play out. And Oak? Oak had taken a seat, rubbing his temples like he was regretting every life choice that had led him here.

Finally, Bruno managed to grab my arms and pull me off his back, setting me down firmly on the ground. “Alright, that’s enough!” he said, his voice firm but not unkind.

I looked up at him, grinning from ear to ear. “So, did I win?”

Bruno shook his head, utterly bewildered. “Mia, I don’t think anyone wins when you’re involved.”

“That’s a win for me!” I declared, throwing my arms in the air triumphantly.

Lorelei clapped sarcastically. “Well done, Bruno. You got out-wrestled by a ten-year-old.”

“I did not get out-wrestled!” Bruno protested, glaring at her.

“You kind of did,” Misty chimed in, still giggling.

Bruno groaned, rubbing his forehead. “I need a break.”

“Me too,” I said cheerfully, plopping down on the gym floor like nothing had happened. “Wrestling is hard work.”

Gary just stared at me, shaking his head. “You’re insane.”

“Thanks!” I replied, grinning at him. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

And with that, the chaos finally subsided—at least until I found my next victim.