" So......" Gary said as he cut the silence. " What do you want to do?"

Ash didn't reply.

Gary turned to Ash. " Ash? Hey Ash!"

Ash still didn't reply. Furrowing his brow, Gary walked over to his best friend and shook his shoulder. " Ash?"

He crouched down in front of him, hand still on shoulder. " Ash, what's going on?*

Suddenly, Ash threw the letter and grabbed Gary's shoulders and pulled him in for a hug, sobbing into Gary's long sleeve purple shirt.

Gary's eyes widened slightly but didn't hesitate. He sat on his knees, noticing Ash's grip on his shoulders. " Easy, Ashy. I'm right here, Ash. I'm right here."

Ash didn't respond.

Gary sighed softly and sat on the ground. " Ash, please, what happened?*

Ash shook his head. " I... It's nothing."

Gary looked at him in the eye. " If it was, we wouldn't be doing this."

Ash bit his lip and buried  his face deeper into the Pokemon Researcher's shirt.

Then Gary noticed the letter Ash was reading. Furrowing his brows, he picked it up and scanned it.

Ash hiccuped slightly. " Gary?"

" Hmmm?"

" D.... Do you think I.... I'm a loser?"

Then he quickly added, " not because of your nickname for me. It just popped up."

Gary looked at the raven haired boy in his arms. " Hmmmm, let's see? No. I don't."

" Oh."

Gary sighed softly.  " Who is it, Ash?"

" Huh?"

" Who sent you this letter?"

No reply.

Gary shifted slightly, still holding Ash in a comforting embrace. He looked down at the letter, his anger beginning to simmer just below the surface. "Who sent you this letter?" he asked again, trying to keep his voice calm. “You know I won’t let anyone treat you like this.”

Ash pulled back slightly, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "It’s... it’s just some stupid bully," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t even know why I’m letting it get to me.”

Gary narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Just some stupid bully? Ash, you don’t deserve this. Nobody does. What did they say?"

Taking a deep breath, Ash looked down at the letter still clutched in Gary's hand. "It’s just... they called me a loser. Said I’d never be a good trainer and that I should just give up. It’s dumb, really. It doesn’t matter.”

Gary’s jaw clenched, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “It does matter! People like that need to be taught a lesson. You’re not a loser, Ash. You’re one of the best trainers I know.”

Ash sniffled, looking back up at his friend. “But what if they’re right? What if I never become a Pokémon Master?”

Gary shook his head vehemently. “You won’t be a loser. You’re already a hero to so many Pokémon, Ash! And think about everything you’ve accomplished. You’ve faced down legendary Pokémon, battled Gym Leaders, and made a bunch of friends along the way. Do you really think a bully’s opinion matters more than that?”

Ash remained quiet, contemplating Gary’s words. The warmth of Gary’s support was comforting, and he appreciated it more than he could say. But the self-doubt lingered.

“I guess I just... I don’t know. Sometimes it feels like no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough.”

Gary frowned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! You’ve never backed down from a challenge. You’ve got more determination than anyone I know. Just because one person is too cowardly to face you doesn’t mean you should listen to them!”

Taking a moment, Gary placed the letter on the ground between them and looked Ash directly in the eyes. “Listen to me, Ash. I won’t let you get walked all over. We can handle this together. You’re not alone in this.”

Ash’s expression softened, and he nodded slowly. “Thanks, Gary. I just... it’s hard sometimes.”

“I know it is,” Gary said, giving him a reassuring smile. “But it’s okay to feel down. Just don’t let that bully win. You know what we need to do?”

Ash raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“We need to find that loser and show them what it means to mess with Ash Ketchum,” Gary declared, a fierce determination lighting up his face.

Ash blinked in surprise. “What? You mean, like, confront them?”

“Absolutely! We’re going to give them a taste of their own medicine,” Gary said, a smirk forming on his lips. “I mean, they obviously don’t know who they’re messing with. You have a whole team of Pokémon, and you’re not afraid to use them.”

Ash chuckled, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “But we don’t even know who it is or where they are!”

“Then we’ll find out! We’ve got connections. Remember all those trainers we met at the last Pokémon League? They might have heard something. Plus, I’ll start asking around,” Gary suggested, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Yeah, but what if it makes things worse?” Ash asked, fidgeting with his hands.

“Worse? I doubt it. The worst thing that could happen is we find out they’re just some no-name punk, and we make them look foolish,” Gary replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And if they try to mess with you again, I’ll be there to back you up.”

Ash felt a spark of hope at Gary’s words. “Okay, let’s do it.”

“That’s the spirit!” Gary exclaimed, standing up and pulling Ash up with him. “Let’s show that bully they picked the wrong person to mess with.”