" Pika pi!" Pikachu pleaded, tugging at my sleeve. "Piii!"

I clenched my fists and struck the rock in front of me again, ignoring the sharp sting in my knuckles. "Sorry, Pikachu," I grunted. "But I can't stop. This is my training."

"Pi?" Pikachu tilted her head, eyes full of worry.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. "Why?" I echoed her question. "So I can get stronger!"

Pikachu hopped up and down, tail twitching. "Pika pikaaaaa pi pikachu?"

I exhaled sharply. "Red and his friends," I answered. "Who else would I want to get stronger for?"

"Chu?"

I pulled my arm back, my fingers curling into a tight fist. "So he'll be proud of me!" My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. "For not making a big deal over getting injured!"

I swung—

But before my knuckles could collide with the rock, something caught my wrist.

A hand.

A hand clad in a black sleeve.

A wristband wrapped around it.

I froze.

"...Let me go," I muttered through gritted teeth.

"Nope," came the flat reply.

I yanked at my arm. "Red, I mean it!"

Red didn’t budge. His grip was firm but not painful, his expression as unreadable as ever. His deep brown eyes stared into mine, unmoving, unwavering.

Then—

"Wait, wait, wait, WAIT!"

Blue's voice echoed through the training ground as he ran up, arms flailing. "Are you serious?! Mia, are you seriously punching boulders?!"

Leaf was right behind him, hands on her hips. "Again?! We just talked about this!"

I scowled and pulled my arm back again, but Red still wouldn’t let go.

Blue pointed at me, then at the rock, then back at me. "Y’know, normally I’d say something cool like ‘Way to go, kid,’ but this is just stupid!"

Leaf crossed her arms. "If you really wanna break boulders, at least use your legs! You’ve done that before!"

Blue groaned. "Don’t encourage her!"

I smirked. "Oh?"

And before anyone could stop me—

I turned, pivoted on my heel, and kicked the boulder with all my might.

CRACK!

A long, jagged line split through the rock.

Blue’s jaw dropped.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" He threw his hands in the air. "WHO EVEN ARE YOU?!"

Leaf whistled. "Okay, I was joking, but—"

Red let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. Then, before I could react, he grabbed me by the wrist again and pulled me away from the rock.

"Hey!" I protested.

But he didn’t let go.

Instead, he held my hands up, turning them over—bruised, scraped, raw.

I swallowed.

Red’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then, without a word, he pulled a small roll of bandages from his pocket and started wrapping my hands.

"...Tch." I looked away. "I could’ve handled it."

Blue snorted. "Sure, and next you’ll be saying you can punch mountains."

I huffed.

Red finished wrapping my hands, then flicked my forehead lightly.

I yelped. "Hey!"

His expression softened just slightly.

Blue sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mia, seriously. You don’t have to break yourself just to prove something to Red."

I clenched my fists—then winced because, oh right, they were injured.

"...You don’t get it," I muttered. "I just—"

Leaf crouched beside me. "We do get it," she said gently. "You want Red to be proud of you, right?"

I bit my lip.

Leaf smiled. "Mia, trust me—he already is."

I blinked, glancing at Red.

He was staring at me, silent as ever.

Then, finally—he nodded.

Something in my chest clenched.

I looked down at my bandaged hands. "...Oh."

Blue groaned. "Took ya long enough!"

I glared at him. "Shut up, Blue."

Pikachu cheered. "Pika pika!"

Leaf stood up, clapping her hands. "Alright! Now that that’s settled, no more punching rocks, got it?"

I hesitated.

Blue narrowed his eyes. "Mia—"got it?"

"...Fine," I muttered. "No more punching rocks."

Leaf and Blue sighed in relief.

I smirked.

Kicking, though?

That was still fair game.

"Pika pi!" Pikachu pleaded, her little paws tugging at my sleeve. "Piii!"

I ignored her. My fists were clenched, my knuckles raw, but I didn’t care. I gritted my teeth and punched the rock again, the impact sending a sharp sting through my fingers.

"Sorry, Pikachu," I grunted. "But I can't stop. This is my training."

"Pi pika?" Pikachu tilted her head, concern clear in her big brown eyes.

"Why?" I wiped sweat from my forehead, stepping back and rolling my shoulders. "So I can get stronger!"

"Pika pikaaaa pi pikachu?"

I narrowed my eyes at the rock. "Red and his friends. Who else would I want to get stronger for?"

Pikachu's ears drooped. "Chu?"

I clenched my fists, my body trembling. "So he'll be proud of me! For not making a big deal over getting injured!"

Pikachu gasped. "Piii!"

I lifted my fist again, determined to strike even harder this time—

But before I could make contact, a strong hand caught my wrist.

A hand wrapped in a black sleeve.

And a wristband.

"Let me go!" I growled, twisting my arm.

"Nope," came the calm, firm reply.

I looked up, my glare meeting the unshaken expression of Red.

"Red, I mean it!" I snapped, trying to yank my wrist free. But his grip was like steel.

Behind him, Blue and Leaf were watching, their expressions shifting between concern and disbelief.

"Okay, hold up," Blue spoke first, crossing his arms. "What in the actual heck do you think you're doing?!"

Leaf placed her hands on her hips. "Mia, you can’t just go around punching rocks like that! That’s—"

"Insane?" Blue finished. "Yeah, I’d say so!"

I clenched my teeth, frustration bubbling in my chest. "I have to do this!"

Blue scoffed. "Oh really? And what’s next? Kicking boulders too?"

I glanced at a nearby boulder.

And kicked it.

Hard.

It cracked.

Blue's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?!"

Leaf smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh my Arceus, she’s serious."

Red, still holding my wrist, let out a sharp breath through his nose.

His grip didn’t loosen.

Instead, he pulled me forward—gently but firmly—and placed his other hand over my bruised knuckles. His red eyes locked onto mine, filled with something I couldn’t quite place.

I swallowed hard.

"...Red," I muttered.

He exhaled again, then pulled something out of his pocket—a small roll of bandages.

Without a word, he started wrapping my hands, his movements careful and deliberate.

I stayed still, my breath hitching. "...Why?"

Red flicked his gaze up to me.

And then he did something rare.

He spoke.

"...Because I don’t want you hurting yourself."

My heart skipped a beat.

Blue let out a huff, shaking his head. "Finally, some sense!"

Leaf crossed her arms. "You don’t have to destroy your hands to prove something, Mia. You’re already strong."

I looked at Red. His grip was gentle now, his touch light as he finished wrapping my hands.

"...You mean that?" I asked quietly.

Red nodded.

I bit my lip, my chest tightening.

Maybe I didn’t need to prove anything after all.

"Let me go!" I said through gritted teeth, trying to yank my hand free.

"Nope."

Red's grip was firm but not painful, his expression as unreadable as ever. I struggled against him, but he held me in place, his other hand reaching for my wrist to inspect it.

"Red, I mean it!" I hissed, but he didn't budge.

"Pika pika!" Pikachu pleaded, tugging at my sleeve.

The sound of footsteps crunched against the dirt, and I turned to see them.

Blue and Leaf.

Blue crossed his arms, staring at the scene with an exasperated look. "Are you serious?! You’re out here punching and kicking boulders like you're trying to break a record for dumbest training method ever!"

Leaf put her hands on her hips. "Mia, what are you doing?!"

"I'm training!" I snapped, yanking my hand away from Red's grasp. "I have to get stronger!"

Blue pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh my Arceus, you're kicking boulders too, aren't you?"

"...Maybe."

"Mia!"

I turned away, shaking my head. "I don't expect you to get it, Blue."

Leaf groaned. "Okay, so explain it to us, then."

I clenched my fists. "I need to get stronger! I need to prove to Red that I can handle myself! That I'm not weak! That I won't make a big deal out of getting hurt!"

Silence.

Then, Blue just burst out laughing.

I glared at him. "What's so funny?!"

Blue wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Oh man, I knew you were stubborn, but this? This is a whole new level!"

I scowled, but before I could argue, Leaf stepped forward and flicked my forehead.

"Ow!"

"You're an idiot," she said bluntly. "You think Red wants you to beat yourself up just to impress him?"

I faltered. "I-I just—"

"You just think Red won't be proud of you unless you're as strong as him?" Blue said, crossing his arms. "Mia, do you hear yourself?"

I gritted my teeth. "You guys don’t get it! Red—"

Red suddenly took a step forward.

Before I could react, he tapped my forehead with two fingers.

It was quick, gentle—but it made me stop.

"...?" Red tilted his head slightly, as if asking me something without words.

I swallowed hard.

I knew what he was saying.

Why?

Why was I doing this to myself?

My breath hitched.

I clenched my fists, trying to stop my hands from shaking. "Because I—I just—" My voice cracked. "I just want you to be proud of me."

Red blinked. Then, he sighed through his nose and stepped closer.

And then, without a word, he wrapped his arms around me.

I froze.

My whole world seemed to stop.

Leaf smiled softly. Blue smirked. "Well, finally."

I stood there, completely still, before my arms slowly lifted.

I clutched Red’s jacket, burying my face into his shoulder.

And, for the first time in a long time... I let myself cry.

Pika pi!" Pikachu pleaded, her little paws gripping my leg as I tried to pull away.

I ignored her.

I clenched my fists, turned back to the boulder, and struck it again. Pain shot through my knuckles, but I didn’t care.

"Sorry, Pikachu," I grunted, shaking out my sore hand. "But I can’t stop. This is my training."

"Pi? Pika pika!" Pikachu whined.

I exhaled sharply. "Why? So I can get stronger!" I said, rolling my shoulders. "Who else would I want to get stronger for besides Red and his friends?"

Pikachu’s ears flattened, concern in her eyes. "Chu?"

I clenched my jaw and raised my fist again.

"So he’ll be proud of me!" I shouted. "For not making a big deal over getting injured!"

Before I could strike the rock again, a firm hand caught my wrist mid-swing.

A hand clad in black.

With a wristband.

I immediately knew who it was.

"Let me go!" I growled, trying to yank my arm free.

Red’s grip didn’t budge.

"Nope."

I gritted my teeth. "Red, I mean it!"

Nothing.

I glared up at him, but he only stared back, expression unreadable as ever. His grip was firm but not painful, his eyes sharp but not unkind.

I twisted my body, trying to pull away, but then another voice cut through the tension.

"Are you serious right now?!"

I turned my head to see Blue and Leaf standing a few feet away, watching the scene unfold. Blue had his hands on his hips, eyes wide in absolute disbelief.

"You kicking boulders wasn’t bad enough? Now you’re punching them too?!"

Leaf shook her head. "Honestly, this is so like you."

Red sighed through his nose and finally let go of my wrist—but only to grab my hand instead.

I winced as he turned it over, revealing scraped and reddened knuckles.

"See?" Blue huffed, crossing his arms. "This is what happens when you don’t listen."

I stubbornly turned away. "It’s fine."

"Fine?!" Blue threw his hands up. "Red, back me up here!"

Red’s grip tightened slightly, his way of scolding me without words.

I sighed, finally looking down.

Leaf walked over and crouched next to me. "Mia, look, I get it," she said gently. "You want to be strong. You want to prove yourself. But hurting yourself like this? That’s not the way to do it."

Blue grumbled. "Exactly! Strength isn’t just about smashing things. You know that, right?"

I bit my lip.

Red finally moved. Without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small bottle of ointment, and grabbed my wrist again.

I stiffened.

He carefully began dabbing the ointment onto my scraped skin, his touch impossibly gentle.

I swallowed hard. "...I just wanted to be better."

Red paused, then gave my hand a firm squeeze before continuing his work.

Leaf sighed, giving me a small smile. "You already are, Mia. You don’t have to destroy yourself to prove it."

Blue smirked. "Yeah. Besides, if you break your hands, how are you gonna punch me in the face when I annoy you?"

Despite myself, I snorted.

Pikachu perked up. "Pika!"

Red finally let go of my hand, patting my head once before standing.

I looked up at him, watching as he crossed his arms and gave me one of those looks—the kind that didn’t need words to get his message across.

I sighed. "Fine. No more punching rocks."

Blue raised a brow. "And?"

I rolled my eyes. "...And no more kicking boulders either."

Leaf grinned. "Good girl."

I pouted, crossing my arms.

Red simply gave a small nod before turning to leave.

As he walked away, Blue shook his head with a chuckle. "Man, Red’s gonna have gray hair dealing with you."

I smirked. "That’s assuming you don’t go bald first from stress."

Blue gasped, clutching his head. "HEY!"

Leaf burst out laughing, and Pikachu cheered.

And just like that, the tension melted away.