We were exploring a mysterious mansion.

Notice how I said ' were'.

Not ' am'.

And why?

Because we found an unexpected guest .

As we walked through the spooky mansion, I gripped Rosa's arm. She gripped me back.

" B.... Blue, are you s.... S.... Sure this is the r.... Right way?" Rosa whispered.

I gulped. " I'm afraid so."

" Mia, you aren't Blue."

Blue turned and sighed. " Mia's right, Rosa. This is the only way."

Suddenly, there was a rustle.

Rosa gasped and clung me closer. " W... Who goes there?"

Out of the shadows came.... Guess who.

" Red!" Blue exclaimed. " Where were you all this time?"

" ... ... ..... ......"

" Wait, you took out half of Team Rocket, then went into hiding so you and your Pokemon could recover?!"⁴

Red nodded.

I didn't look at him, though I had a strong urge.

Rosa looked at me. " Red? I think Mia wants to hug you but she doesn't want you to beat her to death."

I glared at her. " I don't wanna hug him!"

Rosa gave me a look.

Blue looked surprised. " Beat you up?!"

Red also looked surprised. " ... ....?!"

I didn't look at them. " Because Red threatened to do it."

Red and Blue shared a look.

Blue sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mia, I don't think Red ever said that. You sure you're not mixing things up?"

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Mixing things up? He told me he'd do it if I ever hugged him again!"

Rosa frowned, glancing between us. "That doesn't sound like Red..."

Red's expression softened, and he shook his head firmly. He pulled out his notebook, scribbled something down, and held it up for everyone to see: I never said that, Mia.

I looked away, refusing to meet his gaze. "Liar."

Blue crouched down in front of me, his tone unusually gentle. "Mia, listen to me. This... this isn't the first time you've thought Red said something like that. It's happened before."

I blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Blue hesitated, glancing at Red. Red gave him a small nod, urging him to continue. "You don't remember, but when you were little, you'd sometimes think people said or did things that weren't real. It's... part of your condition."

I frowned, my heart racing. "My condition? What condition?"

Blue sighed, his voice quiet. "It's called Delusional Disorder. When you were younger, you'd have episodes where you believed things that didn't happen. Like thinking Red hated you or that he was going to hurt you. But it wasn't true, Mia. None of it was true."

I stared at him, my mind spinning. "You're lying. I would remember something like that!"

Blue shook his head. "You don't remember because it's been years since your last episode. But Red and I never forgot. We've been keeping an eye on you, just in case."

Rosa's eyes widened as she looked at me. "Mia... is that why you've been so upset? You really thought Red hated you?"

I couldn't speak. My throat felt tight, and my vision blurred with tears. "But... but I remember him saying it. I remember."

Red stepped forward, his eyes filled with a quiet determination. He scribbled something else in his notebook and handed it to me directly: Your mind is playing tricks on you, Mia. I've never hated you. Never.

I stared at the words, my hands trembling. "But... why do I remember it so clearly?"

Blue placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice steady. "That's how the disorder works, Mia. It makes you believe things that aren't real. But Red's always been there for you. He'd never hurt you."

Rosa gently took my hand, squeezing it. "Mia, I think they're right. Maybe... maybe you've been holding onto something that wasn't real."

Tears streamed down my face as I looked up at Red. "I'm sorry... I didn't know... I didn't remember..."

Red didn't hesitate. He stepped closer and pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly. I froze for a moment before breaking down completely, clutching his jacket as I sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Red. I didn't mean to think that..."

He shook his head, rubbing my back reassuringly. His actions said everything his words couldn't: It's okay. I'm here for you.

Blue smiled faintly, crossing his arms. "See? Told you he didn't hate you."

Rosa wiped her own tears, sniffling. "You've got the best brother in the world, Mia."

I nodded against Red's chest, my tears soaking into his jacket. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.

Blue crossed his arms, his expression shifting to one of concern. "Mia, you know Red would never do that, right?"

I shook my head vehemently, still clinging to Rosa. "But he did! He told me he would hurt me if I ever hugged him again. I heard it."

Red frowned and reached into his pocket, pulling out his trusty notebook. He scribbled quickly and held it up for everyone to see: I never said that, Mia.

I refused to look at him, my hands trembling. "You're lying."

Blue sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mia... this is your disorder talking again."

I froze, my breath hitching. "What disorder? What are you talking about?"

Blue exchanged a glance with Red, who nodded solemnly. "Mia, you've had this since you were little. It's called Delusional Disorder. Sometimes you think things happened when they didn't. Red and I... we've been keeping an eye on you because of it."

I stared at him, my chest tightening. "That's not true. I'd know if I had something like that."

Blue's expression softened as he crouched down to my level. "You wouldn't, Mia. You were too young to remember when it first happened. But it's real. Red never said he'd hurt you. He'd never hurt you."

Rosa placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice gentle. "Mia, think about it. Has Red ever hurt you before?"

I bit my lip, trying to recall. Every memory I had of him flashed through my mind. He was quiet, reserved, but never cruel. And yet, the memory of his supposed threat felt so real.

"I... I don't know," I whispered, my voice breaking.

Red stepped closer, slowly so as not to startle me. He crouched down and wrote something else in his notebook: You're my sister. I'd never hurt you.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I read the words. "But... but I remember..."

Blue shook his head. "Your mind's just playing tricks on you again, Mia. It's happened before, remember? When you thought your Pikachu didn't like you?"

I blinked, the memory surfacing. I'd cried for hours, convinced Pikachu hated me, only for Red to patiently sit with me until I realized it wasn't true.

"You remember now, don't you?" Blue asked softly.

I nodded slowly, my gaze shifting to Red. He reached out carefully, his movements deliberate, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I didn't pull away.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible.

Red shook his head and gently pulled me into a hug. I froze for a moment before melting into his embrace, the warmth of his silent reassurance washing over me.

Blue smirked. "See? No beating up here."

Rosa laughed lightly, wiping a tear from her eye. "Told you he wouldn't."

I clung to Red, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "I'm sorry," I repeated. "I didn't mean to think..."

Red tightened his hold, and though he didn't say a word, I knew he forgave me.

crossed his arms, looking frustrated but concerned. "Mia... Red never threatened to beat you up. That doesn't even sound like him."

I kept my gaze on the dusty floor. "He did. I remember it clear as day."

Red shook his head silently, his expression pained. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his notebook, quickly scribbling something. He held it up for all of us to see:

I've never threatened you. I'd never hurt you.

Rosa looked between me and Red, confused. "Mia, why would you think that? Red doesn't seem like the type to threaten anyone, especially not his own sister."

I clenched my fists. "Because... because he doesn't like me! He looks at me like I'm nothing, like I'm a burden!"

Red visibly flinched at my words, his grip tightening on the notebook. Blue ran a hand through his hair, muttering under his breath. "Here we go again..."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped, my voice shaking.

Blue sighed and crouched down so we were eye-to-eye. "Mia, this isn't the first time this has happened. When you were little, you used to think Red hated you. You'd get these ideas in your head-ideas that weren't true. It's... your condition."

"What condition?" I demanded, my heart pounding.

Blue glanced at Red, who nodded solemnly. "Delusional Disorder," Blue said carefully. "You had episodes when you were a kid. You'd believe things that weren't real, like thinking Red hated you or that Pikachu didn't like you. We thought you'd grown out of it, but..."

I stared at him, my mind racing. "That doesn't make any sense. I remember it, Blue! I'm not crazy!"

"No one's saying you're crazy," Rosa said gently, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But... maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. It happens sometimes, right? We all misremember things."

I shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "But why would I think something like that? Why would I think Red hates me?"

Red stepped forward, his expression soft and full of understanding. He quickly wrote in his notebook and showed it to me:

Because you're insecure. You think you're not good enough. But you are.

His words hit me like a Thunderbolt. I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. "You really think that?"

Red nodded firmly, then did something that surprised me-he opened his arms, offering me a hug.

I hesitated for only a second before running into his embrace, burying my face in his chest. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Red held me tightly, his silence more comforting than any words. Blue smiled faintly, leaning against the wall. "Took you two long enough to sort this out."

Rosa beamed. "See? I knew Red didn't hate you!"

As I stayed in Red's arms, I realized that maybe-just maybe-I'd been wrong all along. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe.