Rosa held me tightly as I sobbed into her shoulder, her soothing words barely registering over the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. "It’s okay, Mia. It’s going to be okay," she murmured, rubbing my back. Pikachu climbed into my lap, nuzzling my cheek with quiet concern.

I didn’t understand why I felt this way, but the pain was so real, so heavy. I was convinced Red despised me, even though Rosa’s words tried to counter my thoughts.

When the others returned, I quickly wiped my tears, trying to act like nothing had happened. But it didn’t fool them. Not Misty, not Brock, and definitely not Gary.

“Mia, are you okay?” Gary asked, stepping closer.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, but my trembling hands betrayed me.

“You’re not fine,” Blue said as he walked up with Red and Leaf. His eyes darted to Red, who looked at me with something strange in his expression—concern?

I avoided his gaze, focusing on the sand beneath my feet. “What are you doing here?” I mumbled.

Red knelt in front of me, his calm eyes searching mine. He didn’t say anything—he never did—but his expression was soft.

“Mia,” Leaf said gently, sitting beside me. “Red doesn’t hate you. He could never hate you.”

“Yes, he does!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “He told me to go away and never come back!”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Red frowned and shook his head, firmly tapping his chest and then pointing at me.

“He says he never said that,” Leaf translated, her voice soft.

“He did!” I insisted, tears welling up again. “I remember it! He—he said I was a burden, that I was useless!”

Red’s eyes widened slightly, and he looked at me with a mix of shock and sadness. He stood, gesturing for everyone to give us space.

The others hesitated but eventually stepped back. Red sat beside me in the sand, pulling out a notebook from his pocket. He scribbled something quickly and handed it to me.

I looked at the page, confused. It read: Mia, you’re remembering something that didn’t happen. It’s not real. This has happened before.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice wavering.

Red wrote again, his movements quick but precise. When you were four, you had an episode like this. You thought I hated you then, too. But it wasn’t true. You were sick, Mia. It’s happening again.

“Sick?” I whispered, staring at the words.

Leaf knelt beside us, her hand on my shoulder. “Mia, you have something called a Delusional Disorder. Sometimes your mind makes things up that feel very real, but they aren’t. Red knows because he’s been through this with you before.”

I shook my head, clutching the notebook. “No… no, that’s not true! I remember it—he said those things to me!”

Red reached out, gently holding my hands in his. His eyes were kind but firm as he tapped the notebook again, silently urging me to read it.

Mia, I love you. I’ve always loved you. You’re my little sister, and I’ll always protect you. Whatever you think I said, it’s not real. I need you to trust me.

My chest tightened, and tears spilled down my cheeks. “But… it feels real…”

Red pulled me into a hug—something he didn’t do often but always meant the world to me when he did. His arms were warm and reassuring, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into his shoulder.

Red shook his head, gently patting my back. He wasn’t angry—he never was. He just wanted me to be okay.

From the distance, I could hear the others watching, their voices hushed but supportive. For the first time, I felt like maybe I wasn’t so alone after all.

Rosa tightened her embrace, her voice soft and reassuring. "Mia, maybe there's some misunderstanding. I know it feels like that right now, but sometimes we tell ourselves things that aren't true. Maybe Red never actually said that."

I pulled away, wiping at my tears, frustration bubbling up. "But it felt real, Rosa. Every look, every word—it feels like he doesn't care about me!"

Before Rosa could reply, a shadow fell over us. Looking up, I saw Red standing there, his expression as unreadable as ever, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder. Misty, Brock, and the others hovered behind him, unsure of what to say.

Rosa looked at him cautiously. "Red, I think—"

He raised a hand to stop her, crouching in front of me so we were at eye level. His Pikachu hopped off his shoulder and nudged mine gently, letting out a concerned, "Pika-pi?"

Red didn’t say a word—he never did—but his eyes were intense, searching mine for answers. Then he reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, firm but not unkind.

“What?” I asked, sniffling, confused by the sudden attention. “What do you want, Red?”

He pulled out his notebook and scribbled something quickly, then held it up for me to read.

You’re wrong. I never said that. I never even thought it.

My brow furrowed as I stared at the words. “Yes, you did! I remember—clear as day—you told me to leave and never come back!”

Red shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. He wrote again, his movements swift and precise.

That never happened. You think it did because of your condition.

I blinked at the page, utterly lost. “What condition? What are you talking about?”

Red sighed, standing and motioning for the others to give us some space. Everyone reluctantly backed off, though Rosa stayed close enough to offer silent support.

He flipped to a fresh page and began writing again, his expression unusually somber. When he turned it toward me, the words hit me like a Thunderbolt.

You have Delusional Disorder. It started when you were four. You don’t remember because you haven’t had an episode in six years. Until now.

I stared at him, my mouth opening and closing as I tried to process what he was saying. “Delusional Disorder?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper. “No... that’s not... I don’t have that. You’re making this up!”

Red shook his head again, his expression softening. He crouched back down and wrote something else.

I’m not making it up, Mia. Mom had to explain it to me when it first started. Back then, you thought I hated you too. But I never have. I love you.

Tears blurred my vision as I read his words. “But... but why don’t I remember any of this?”

Rosa placed a gentle hand on my back. “It’s not your fault, Mia. Sometimes, things like this can be really hard to remember, especially if they don’t happen often.”

Red nodded, pointing at her as if to say, Exactly.

I clutched at my chest, my breathing shaky. “So... so everything I thought... all the bad stuff... it’s not real?”

Red shook his head firmly, then wrote one final message.

No. You’re my little sister. I’m proud of you, always.

At that moment, all the hurt and confusion seemed to crumble away. I flung myself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. This time, Red didn’t hesitate to hug me back, holding me tightly as if to reassure me that everything was going to be okay. His Pikachu nuzzled my cheek, and even Rosa was wiping at her eyes.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. I felt loved. And maybe—just maybe—I could start believing it was true.

Rosa hugged me tightly, gently rocking me back and forth. "Mia, I don’t think that’s true at all. Maybe you’re misunderstanding something. Red doesn’t sound like the kind of person who would say those things.”

I shook my head stubbornly. “He did, Rosa! He said it, I know he did!”

Before Rosa could respond, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up and froze. Red, Blue, and Leaf stood there, Misty, Brock, Gary, and Barry trailing behind them. Red’s expression was calm but concerned, Blue had a frown on his face, and Leaf looked… sad.

“Mia,” Leaf said softly, stepping closer. “We need to talk.”

I tensed, clutching Pikachu tightly. “About what? How much of a failure I am?”

Blue groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “For Arceus’ sake, Mia, stop saying stuff like that! None of it’s true.”

“Yes, it is!” I snapped. “Red said—”

“He didn’t say that,” Leaf interrupted firmly. “Not once. You made it up.”

I blinked, confused. “What are you talking about?”

Blue knelt in front of me, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “Mia, you don’t remember, do you? The last time you felt like this… when you thought Red hated you… it wasn’t real. It was because of your… condition.”

“What condition?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Red crouched down next to Blue, reaching out to gently place a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were soft, full of understanding. He didn’t say a word—he never did—but somehow, I could feel the weight of his emotions.

“Mia,” Leaf said gently, sitting beside me, “when you were four, you had an episode. It’s called Delusional Disorder. You started thinking things that weren’t true, like Red hating you or people being out to get you. Back then, it was bad, but after some time, it went away. We thought it was gone for good.”

I stared at them, shaking my head. “No… no, that’s not true. I remember what Red said!”

“No, you don’t,” Blue said quietly. “You’re remembering something that didn’t happen. Red’s never told you to go away. Ever.”

I looked at Red, who nodded silently. His expression was so kind, so patient, it made my chest ache. “But… but why does it feel so real?” I whispered.

Leaf wrapped her arm around me. “That’s how your condition works, Mia. It makes things feel real even when they’re not. But we’re here for you, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

“I don’t understand,” I mumbled, tears streaming down my face. “Why don’t I remember any of this?”

“Because you were so young the last time it happened,” Blue explained. “It’s been six years. Honestly, who would remember something like that?”

“Red did,” Leaf added, smiling softly. “He’s always remembered, always watched out for you. And Blue and I… well, we grew up together, so we knew too. We’ve always been here for you, Mia, even if you didn’t realize it.”

Red nodded again, his grip on my shoulder tightening slightly, like he was silently telling me that he wasn’t going anywhere.

I sniffled, leaning into Red. “I don’t get it. Why would I think Red hates me?”

“Because you’re scared,” Leaf said gently. “And that’s okay. But you don’t have to be scared anymore. We’ve got you.”

Red reached out, ruffling my hair in a way that was so familiar and comforting it made me cry harder. For the first time, I noticed the way his eyes shone with quiet worry, his way of saying all the words he couldn’t speak.

I buried my face in his shoulder, clinging to her like a lifeline. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Red just held me tight.

Rosa tightened her hug, her voice soft and reassuring. "That doesn’t sound like the Red everyone knows. Are you sure you're remembering things right, Mia?"

I sniffled, wiping at my eyes. "I know what I heard, Rosa. He told me to leave him alone, that he didn’t want me around anymore. And he looked so angry when he said it..."

Rosa tilted her head, thoughtful. "But... that doesn’t sound like something Red would say. He’s quiet, sure, but mean? No way."

Before I could respond, Misty, Brock, Gary, and Barry returned, looking concerned. Blue, Leaf, and Red trailed behind them. I froze, my heart racing as Red’s gaze locked onto mine. His expression wasn’t angry, though. It was calm—almost... worried?

“Mia,” Blue said, his voice unusually gentle, “can we talk?”

I shrank back, clutching Pikachu close. “Why? So you can tell me how I’m wrong? I know what I heard!”

Leaf knelt beside me, her tone soothing. “Mia, no one’s saying you’re wrong on purpose. But... what if what you remember isn’t exactly what happened?”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”

Red stepped forward, his silence more telling than words. He crouched in front of me, his eyes soft yet serious. He gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

“You don’t remember, do you?” Blue said, crossing his arms but not in his usual smug way. This time, he looked... sad.

“Remember what?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Mia,” Leaf began carefully, “the last time something like this happened, you were four. You got upset over something small—Red didn’t hug you back or something like that—and you... you started believing things that didn’t happen. You were so young, so we didn’t think you’d remember. But Red’s been watching out for you ever since.”

I blinked, confused. “That doesn’t make sense. I’m not making this up!”

Red shook his head, and for the first time in years, I saw him reach for something in his pocket. He pulled out a small notebook, flipping through its pages before holding it up for me to see.

It was full of notes—about me. Things like “Mia seemed upset today—comforted her” and “Mia said I was mad at her—told her I wasn’t.” It was like he’d been keeping track of every moment he thought I might misunderstand.

“What... what is this?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“He’s been keeping track,” Leaf explained softly. “Because he knows how much you look up to him. And he didn’t want you to feel like he didn’t care.”

“But... but why didn’t anyone tell me?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face again.

“You were just a kid,” Blue said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “And we thought it was a one-time thing. But Red’s always been ready. Just in case.”

Red gently pulled me into his arms, and for the first time in years, I felt his warmth envelop me. My heart ached as I clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I-I thought you hated me,” I choked out.

Red shook his head firmly, his arms tightening around me.

“Pika pi!” Pikachu chirped, nuzzling into my cheek.

Leaf smiled softly. “He never hated you, Mia. Not even for a second.”

Blue smirked, though his eyes were kind. “And honestly, you’re the only one you let to hug you like that."

Rosa’s eyes widened. “Wait, really?”

“Yup,” Leaf said with a chuckle. “It’s a big deal.”

I sniffled, pulling back slightly to look up at Red. “You really don’t hate me?”

Red shook his head again, his expression so gentle it made me cry harder.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, burying my face in his chest. “I’m sorry for thinking that.”

He held me close, his silence saying more than words ever could. And in that moment, I knew—I’d always be safe in his arms.

Rosa hugged me tighter as tears streamed down my face. I felt safe in her arms, but it didn’t stop the ache in my chest. “He told me to go and never come back, Rosa. I’ll never be enough for him…”

Before Rosa could respond, I heard footsteps behind us. I turned and froze when I saw Red, Blue, and Leaf standing there. Misty, Brock, Gary, and Barry were nowhere to be seen. Red was staring at me with a mixture of sadness and something else I couldn’t place.

“Mia,” Leaf said gently, her voice full of concern. “What are you talking about? Red never said anything like that.”

“Yes, he did!” I insisted, clinging to Rosa. “He told me! I remember!”

Blue exchanged a glance with Red, who sighed deeply but stayed silent. Then Blue knelt down in front of me, his expression softer than I’d ever seen. “Mia, listen to me for a second. Red never told you that. You… you made it up.”

“What?!” I pulled away from Rosa, glaring at him. “Why would I do that?”

Red finally stepped forward, crouching so we were at eye level. He didn’t speak—he never did—but his eyes held a gentleness that made my heart twist. He reached out slowly, his hand hovering near mine, waiting for my permission. After a moment, I let him take my hand.

Leaf crouched next to him, her voice calm and soothing. “Mia, do you remember when you were four? You had a really rough time back then. You were so little, but sometimes you’d imagine things that didn’t really happen. It wasn’t your fault—it was something you couldn’t control.”

I blinked, confusion swirling in my head. “What are you talking about?”

Red squeezed my hand gently, his eyes never leaving mine. He raised his free hand and pointed at me, then at his heart, before shaking his head. He then pointed back at me and made a motion like wrapping his arms around someone.

“He’s saying he’d never tell you to leave, Mia,” Blue translated softly. “He’s your big brother. He loves you.”

“But… but he’s always mad at me,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “And he never hugs me back.”

“Mia,” Leaf said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Red’s not mad at you. He’s quiet, and he’s not great at showing emotions, but he doesn’t hate you. He cares about you more than you realize.”

Red nodded, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. He gently tugged me closer, and before I could protest, he pulled me into a hug. My breath hitched as I felt his arms around me—something I thought I’d never feel.

I buried my face in his chest, my voice muffled. “But… I don’t remember any of this. What’s wrong with me?”

“It’s okay,” Blue said softly. “You don’t remember because it’s been six years. The last time this happened, we were all little. But Red remembered, and so did we. We’ve got your back, Mia. Always.”

I clung to Red, my heart pounding. “I… I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”

Red held me tighter, his silence saying more than words ever could. He was here. He wasn’t going anywhere. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could believe that.

Rosa hugged me tightly, her voice soft and reassuring. “Mia, I don’t think Red hates you. I mean, he’s your brother! Brothers don’t just stop loving their siblings. Are you sure he said all those things?”

I nodded, wiping my tears. “He doesn’t need to say it, Rosa. The way he looks at me… it’s like I’m nothing. Like I’m a burden.”

Rosa frowned, clearly uncertain, but before she could respond, I heard familiar voices approaching.

“There you are!” Blue’s voice rang out, his tone exasperated but concerned. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you, Mia.”

I tensed up, clutching Pikachu a little tighter. Red and Leaf were with him, and the moment Red’s gaze landed on me, I felt my stomach twist. He looked worried—but I didn’t want to believe it.

“Mia,” Leaf said gently, crouching down to meet my eyes. “What’s going on? Why’d you run off?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I mumbled, looking down at the sand.

“Too bad,” Blue said, crossing his arms. “Because we do. You’ve been acting like Red’s some kind of villain, and frankly, I’m tired of it. He doesn’t hate you, Mia.”

“Yes, he does!” I snapped, standing up abruptly. “You weren’t there when he told me to leave and never come back!”

Blue opened his mouth to argue, but Red stepped forward, shaking his head. He placed a hand on Blue’s shoulder, silently telling him to stop.

Red knelt in front of me, his expression calm but firm. He pointed at me, then made a sweeping motion toward his head. I stared at him, confused.

“What… what are you trying to say?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“He’s saying it’s in your head,” Blue translated, his voice quieter now. “Mia… Red never said anything like that. You made it up.”

“No, I didn’t!” I yelled, taking a step back. “I remember it! He told me to leave! He doesn’t want me around!”

Leaf sighed, rubbing her temples. “Mia, think really hard. Do you actually remember him saying that, or… does it just feel like he did?”

I hesitated, my mind swirling with conflicting memories and emotions. “I… I don’t know,” I admitted quietly.

“That’s because you don’t remember,” Blue said, his tone softer than before. “Mia, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. You’ve… made things up before.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my heart racing.

Red reached out and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding. He looked into my eyes, his expression filled with understanding. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook. He flipped through it and pointed to a page. Leaf took it and read aloud.

“Six years ago, when you were four, something similar happened. You thought Red said something mean to you, but he never did. It was… a flare-up of your condition, Mia.”

“My… what?” I asked, completely bewildered.

“Delusional disorder,” Blue said softly. “You were diagnosed when you were little, but you’ve been fine for years. We thought you’d outgrown it.”

I shook my head, stepping back again. “No, no… that doesn’t make sense. I don’t remember any of that.”

“That’s normal,” Leaf said gently. “You were so young. But Red remembers. He’s always kept an eye on you because of it.”

I stared at Red, who nodded solemnly. He pointed to his chest, then at me, and finally made a heart shape with his hands.

“He’s saying he loves you,” Blue said, his voice warm. “And he’s worried about you. He’s always been worried about you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes again as I processed everything. “But… but why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“We didn’t want to scare you,” Leaf said. “And like I said, you’ve been fine for years. We didn’t think it would come back.”

Red opened his arms, silently inviting me in. Without hesitation, I ran to him, clutching him tightly. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly safe.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his jacket. “I didn’t mean to…”

Red shook his head, gently stroking my hair. He didn’t need words to tell me he forgave me.

He always did.

Rosa hugged me tightly, her soft voice trying to soothe my cries. “Mia, I don’t think Red would ever say something like that. Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand?”

I shook my head vehemently, fresh tears streaming down my face. “No! He said it, Rosa. He said it right to my face. I’m not making it up.”

Before Rosa could respond, Misty, Brock, Gary, and Barry came running back with Red, Blue, and Leaf trailing behind. Red’s eyes immediately found me, and his expression softened. Without a word, he walked over and knelt down in front of me, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.

“Mia,” Blue said gently as he crouched down next to Red, his usual teasing tone replaced with rare seriousness. “We need to talk.”

I wiped my eyes and looked away. “What’s there to talk about? Red doesn’t want me around.”

Leaf sighed as she sat beside me, her hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “Mia, that’s not true. Red didn’t say anything like that. You’ve... misunderstood something.”

I scowled, still clutching Pikachu tightly. “I’m not wrong! He told me to leave and never come back!”

Red, silent as always, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook and pencil. He scribbled something quickly and held it up for me to read: That’s not true. I’ve never said that.

My lip trembled as I stared at the words. “But... you did.”

Blue cleared his throat, exchanging a look with Leaf. “Mia... this has happened before.”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean? Happened before?”

Leaf sighed and leaned closer. “When you were four, something similar happened. You thought Red hated you back then too, but it wasn’t true. You... you made it up in your head.”

“What?” I blinked at her. “Why would I do that?”

Red wrote again in his notebook, his handwriting calm and precise: It’s your condition, Mia. Delusional Disorder. You don’t remember because you were so young, but it’s flaring up again.

I stared at the words, my mind spinning. “Delusional Disorder? What... what are you talking about?”

Blue sat down on the sand, resting his arms on his knees. “When you were little, you used to get these... episodes. You’d believe things that weren’t true, like thinking Red hated you or that your Pokémon didn’t love you. It hasn’t happened in years, so we thought you’d grown out of it.”

Leaf nodded, her voice soft. “But Red’s always been aware of it. He’s always been looking out for you, Mia. That’s why he’s so careful with you.”

I shook my head, tears streaming again. “But I remember him looking at me like I was filthy...”

Red quickly scribbled again: That’s your mind twisting things. I’ve never hated you, Mia. Never.

Pikachu hopped onto my lap, nuzzling me as if to agree. “Pika pi!”

Rosa, still beside me, squeezed my hand gently. “Mia, I think they’re right. I think maybe... your mind is just playing tricks on you.”

I looked back at Red, my heart aching. He was looking at me with an expression I couldn’t place—so full of understanding, patience, and something I hadn’t noticed before: love.

“But why don’t I remember any of this?” I whispered.

Blue shrugged lightly. “You were four, Mia. That was six years ago. It’s not unusual for you to forget.”

Leaf smiled faintly. “But Red’s never forgotten. He’s always been keeping an eye on you. And so have we.”

I bit my lip, overwhelmed. Red reached out slowly, as if unsure, and gently pulled me into his arms. I immediately clung to him, my tears soaking into his jacket. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Red just held me tighter, his actions saying more than words ever could.