" Hey, Mia?"

I looked up at Rosa. * Hm?"

" Why don't you hug your brother anymore? You used to love to do that."

I sighed. " Well that's just the thing. Ever since I've started my journey, he doesn't like me anymore. I show him love, he doesn't show it back. When I want a hug, he's reluctant. At this point it's better that way. After all, in his eyes I'm just another person he has to beat."

I stood up and walked away

But what I didn't realize was Red's wide eyes.

He had heard everything.

" Wait, what do you mean Red's missing??" I exclained

" He went to stop Team Rocket but... we haven't heard from him in three days." Bellis sighed

" Three days... that's the day we had that conversation..." I muttered.

" What was that, Mia?*  Lance Asked.

I shook my head. " Nothing. Let's go find my brother."

There's just no end to this!" Paulo complained

" Stay strong." I said, stepping forward. " Pikachu, Thunderbolt! And a good one too!"

" Pika... CHUUU!"

Suddenly two people jumped in front of me.

" Go!" Sabrina said

Her Alakazam used Psychic, and the Pokemon collapsed.

" Sorry to keep you waiting." Brock said as he turned.

" No need to worry." Lillie said

" Is everyone okay?" Sabrina questioned.

Lillie nodded. " Thanks to Mia!"

" Me?! I did nothing!" I squeaked.

Brock chuckled. " In any case, you did well keeping them at bay until we got here."

" Though... I suppose I did for see that you would be fine from the beginning." Sabrina added.

Suddenly we heard more Grunts enter.

" We should hurry.... Professor Bellis is in danger!" Sabrina said

" We can take care of these grunts." Brock said. " Go and save the Professor!"

I hesitated. " Are you sure?"

Brock smiled back at me. " Queen of Kanto, go."

I nodded and turned to the others. " Follow me."

As we walked in, Blue was growling, and I had a really weird look on my face."

" Hey."

Grunts

They sent their Pokemon out.

I groaned. " Not this again...."

" They just keep coming and coming! This is staring to get annoying!" Blue said.

I stepped forward. " You guys go. I'll fend these guys off."

" Chu!"

" Pikachu, give em a thunderbolt!"

" Piiika.... CHUUUU!"

meanwhile Blue grunted. " Tsk. If only Red were here...."

Speak of the devil.

Because as soon as Pikachu was gonna get hit with a Poison Attack, a Hyperbeam was shot.

We turned to see a fat Snorlax.

" Hiya Laxlax." I said. " How you doing?"

" Snoooooor....!"

" What the...." Blue, Lillie and Paulo turned to see....

Well guess who.

" Red?!" Blue exclaimed.

" Red! I'm so glad you're safe." Lillie said.

" Pikachu thunderbolt!"

Paulo looked at me and sighed. " She's also happy."

" Where were you all this time?" Blue asked.

" ... ... ..."

I froze. " Wait WHAT?! You took out half of Team Rocket, then you went into hiding so you and your Pokemon could recover?!"

" H- half of them? All by yourself?" Lillie said softly.

" SNORLAX DODGE THE DARN POISON AND USE HYPER BEAM- YES YOU! PIKACHU THUNDERBOLT!"

Lillie winced. " Oh dear...."

" How is that even possible?!" Paulo said.

" Why you- you idiot! Why didn't you take me with you??" Blue shouted. " If you took down half of 'en, I could've done the other half and we'd be done in one go!"

" Or even better, let ME handle all this!" I shouted, still deep in battle.

They all turned to me, who was still fighting. " Thunderbolt! And you, Slam! Also, you guys are civilians. You wouldn't indulge in this matter."

" ... ... ..."

" Hmph. Whatever." Blue said. " I'm just glad you're safe!"

Red smiled as Blue said, " and it's not to late to let loose on the rest of these amateurs!"

" Oh no you don't-" I shouted. " Both of you!"

Snorlax let out a roar, and all the Pokemon fainted.

I sighed as Pikachu ran onto my shoulder. " Look, none of you are going anywhere. You're staying here, and that's final."

Lillie's eyes widened. " But Mia-"

" Lil, I'm the champion. If anyone, I should face him. Mostly because I was the most recent one to fight him."

Blue groaned. "Mia, you always do this! You’re so stubborn—"

I raised a hand. "Nope. Not listening. Don’t care."

Red tilted his head, watching me with that unreadable expression of his. He opened his mouth—then closed it, deciding against whatever he was going to say.

Lillie stepped forward hesitantly. "But... what if it’s dangerous?"

"Then it’s dangerous." I shrugged. "Look, I just took down all those grunts, I have a full team, and I’m not about to let any of you get in the way. So just stay here."

Blue crossed his arms, glaring. "I hate when you pull the Champion card."

I smirked. "Then maybe you should’ve beaten me back when you had the chance."

Blue twitched. "Oh, you little—"

"Mia!" Lillie interrupted, looking genuinely concerned. "Please, don’t do this alone."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I’m not alone, Lillie. I have Pikachu, I have my team, and I’m going to end this." I turned, facing the path ahead. "I won’t let them keep doing this."

Paulo frowned. "Mia..."

I clenched my fists. "Team Rocket has done too much. They hurt people, they steal Pokémon, and they don’t care who they have to step on to get what they want. Someone has to stop them, and it might as well be me."

Red suddenly stepped forward.

I turned to him. "What? Gonna tell me not to go?"

"... … …" He shook his head.

I blinked. "Wait, really?"

Red reached out and adjusted my hat. Then, in the softest voice, he said, "Be careful."

I stiffened.

Lillie gasped.

Blue’s jaw dropped. "DID YOU JUST—DID YOU JUST SPEAK?!"

Red turned, walking away like nothing had happened.

Paulo stared. "I think I just saw history being made."

I swallowed, then turned back toward the path. "Alright. Time to finish this."

And with that, I ran ahead, Pikachu on my shoulder, ready to face whatever was waiting for me.

Back at the Pokemon Center, Blue sighed. " It's been an hour since we last heard from her."

Lillie gave him a sympathetic look. " It's only been ten minutes since we left her and came here."

" Feels like hours ." Blue groaned, collapsing on the couch.

Bellis sighed. " This isn't good. What if-"

Suddenly they heard a loud blast.

In the direction of the Rocket Hideout.

And where I was.

" MIA!" Lillie screamed as they ran out to see a human flying in the air, shielding a Pikachu and falling in the forest.

Red's eyes widened, and he took off running, Paulo, Blue, Bellis and Lillie following.

When they arrived at the crash sight, I was coughing while standing up. " Ugh... That wasn't very pleasant."

" Mia!" Lillie exclaimed, sighing in relief. " You're okay."

I grinned. " Yeah."

Then I gasped. " Oh no!"

I grabbed my bag and dug through it.

And I picked up a broken device.

I swallowed and walked to Professor Bellis. " Professor, I swear, I tried to-"

Bellis just grabbed and hugged me.

My eyes widened. " Wha-"

" Mia, I don't care about the device. I care about you." She said softly.

I blinked. " This wasn't how it was supposed to go."

Red blinked

Paulo raised a brow. " How was it supposed to go, then?"

" Well, I was supposed to be gone, and the device was supposed to be okay. Professor Bellis would be happy, and Red would regain his title of Champion. Blue would challenge him. Lillie and Paulo would marry and be happy. And you wouldn't remember me, because I know I'm a pain in the neck."

And before they could say anything, I added one last thing. " Besides. What's the point of living if the one who literally brought you up doesn't hug you anymore except out of reluctance?*

I turned to walk away,

but a hand grabbed my wrist.

I froze.

"... … …"

Red.

I didn't dare look at him. I couldn't. I was already too overwhelmed, too raw from everything. My chest ached, my body hurt, and I just wanted to disappear before they could tell me how wrong I was.

But he wouldn't let go.

"... … …"

I swallowed. "Let me go, Red."

He tightened his grip.

I clenched my fists. "Red. I said let go."

Still, nothing.

Then, before I could react, he pulled me toward him—and into his arms.

I stiffened. My breath caught.

Red was hugging me.

Not out of reluctance. Not because he had to.

Because he wanted to.

"... … …"

I felt his hand rest on the back of my head, holding me there. I was too stunned to move.

"You idiot," Blue muttered, but for once, he didn’t sound angry. "You serious right now?"

Lillie sniffled. "Mia… you really thought we'd just forget you?"

Paulo sighed. "You're a pain, yeah, but our pain."

Bellis chuckled softly. "You mean more than some old device, dear."

I bit my lip, my hands trembling. "... You don’t—"

Red hugged me tighter.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "But you—"

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"... … I do."

And that’s when I broke.

I buried my face in Red’s chest, my shoulders shaking as I finally let myself cry.

And this time, when I hugged him back, he didn’t pull away.