" Thanks!" I called cheerfully, waving to the the old couple who happened to be my first customers. " Please come again!"

I sighed, looking back at my stall.

So far I made a bunch of potions even I didn't know I could make, built a stall out of wood and twigs, and... Well yeah.

Sold stuff

My days as a trainer were behind me.

Now I was a healer

" Pika..."

I looked back and saw my poor Pikachu looking at me with pleading eyes

I sighed. " Pikachu, no. I'm not a trainer anymore."

" Chuuu!"

I turned fully. " Hm?"

Pikachu was animating something. " Chuuu! Pika pi!"

I raised a brow ." You're saying... You want to be my partner in making medicine?"

Pikachu nodded.

I sighed, thinking about denying.

But then I thought about it

I was a healer

Pikachu needed to be healed of a broken heart ( I think).

So the best way to heal it was to let her still be my Pokemon, just... Not for battling.

I sighed but nodded, and she squeeled, scurrying up my body and onto her perch ( AKA my right shoulder)

I sighed. " You're persistent."

But just as I was starting to feel a bit of peace, I heard footsteps. My heart sank. I already knew who it was.

“Hey,” I heard the familiar voice call from behind me.

I froze.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. I recognized that tone, that presence. Slowly, I turned and looked over my shoulder.

Red.

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.

Instead, I gave him a long, cold stare, willing myself not to react. I couldn’t deal with this. I didn’t need him in my life right now.

“... Who are you?” I asked, my voice sharp, biting. “I don’t know you.”

His expression didn’t change, though I could feel his eyes on me, the way they always had when I was younger. But this time, I wasn’t that little girl anymore. I wasn’t his little sister. Not in my eyes.

I saw him glance at Pikachu, who was now sitting proudly on my shoulder. Her little ears twitched at his presence, but she didn’t seem phased.

“... You’re… Red, right?” I asked, though my voice was filled with uncertainty and irritation.

He didn’t respond at first, his gaze moving to the stall I’d set up. The silence between us stretched on like an uncomfortable void.

I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Go away,” I snapped, crossing my arms defensively. “I don’t know who you are. I don’t need anything from you. Just leave me alone, okay?”

I turned away, too frustrated to deal with the silence, with him, with any of it.

Pikachu nuzzled my neck gently, as if trying to offer some comfort. But the weight of the words I had said, and the heaviness in my chest, remained. I wasn’t ready to deal with him. Not now. Not ever again.

I walked off, not looking back. I was done with that part of my life. Done with being a trainer. Done with the expectations. Done with the past.

He could think whatever he wanted, but I knew what I was doing. And right now, that was all that mattered.

But of course, Red didn’t move.

I didn’t expect him to.