"Look ahead, Ashy."

Ash's gaze shifted to the Umbreon sticker that Gary had placed on the cabinet beside them. The black and yellow colors seemed to shimmer under the fluorescent light, but Ash's heart was too heavy with anxiety to appreciate it. "Where'd you get the sticker from?" he asked, trying to divert his mind from the impending check-up.

"Oh, that? I just printed it out and stuck it," Gary replied casually, a hint of pride in his voice.

Ash nodded, but the nervous knot in his stomach tightened. He could feel his palms growing clammy as he fidgeted in his seat. Gary turned, his expression shifting as he noticed Ash's discomfort. He set the penlight down and scooted closer to him.

"Hey, Ash?" Gary said softly.

Ash looked at him with wide, uncertain eyes.

Gary's voice dropped to a comforting whisper as he sat next to Ash and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Are you okay?"

Ash buried his face into Gary's shirt, feeling the warmth of his friend envelop him. "N... No," he mumbled, his voice muffled.

"Wanna talk about it?" Gary prompted gently, sensing the fear radiating off Ash. He knew how much Ash hated check-ups; he had seen it before. It was a recurring battle each time they met for an appointment.

"I just... I don't like it here," Ash admitted, his voice shaky. "What if something goes wrong? What if it hurts?"

Gary tightened his grip, allowing Ash to lean into him more. "I understand," he said, his tone steady and reassuring. "But remember what I told you last time? I'm right here with you, and I won't let anything happen that you can't handle."

Ash sniffed, a small, reluctant part of him wanting to believe Gary. "But what if I mess up? What if I can't follow your instructions?"

"Then we'll try again. It's okay to be scared," Gary replied, his fingers gently rubbing circles on Ash's back. "You don't have to be perfect. Just do your best."

Ash pulled back slightly, looking into Gary's warm green eyes. "What if I cry?"

Gary smiled softly. "Then you cry. It's totally normal, and I promise it's okay. I'll be right here to hold your hand through it."

Taking a deep breath, Ash felt the tension in his chest loosen a bit. "You really mean that?"

"Absolutely," Gary affirmed, his voice unwavering. "Let's just take it one step at a time. We can start with listening to your heart. Remember how we did it last time?"

Ash nodded slowly, recalling how Gary had placed his hand over Ash's heart, allowing him to feel the rhythmic thumping.

"Okay," Gary said, shifting so he could better face Ash. "Let's do that now. Put your hand on your neck and feel your pulse. Can you do that for me?"

Ash hesitated but reached up, placing his fingers on his neck. He could feel the quickened beats beneath his fingertips, a constant reminder of his anxiety. "It's... really fast," he said, his voice trembling.

Gary gently took Ash's hand and guided it to his own neck. "Feel that, buddy? That's my pulse. It's steady, right? You can do this, too. Just take deep breaths with me."

"Okay..." Ash replied, closing his eyes for a moment. Gary's presence was calming, like a familiar shelter from the storm of fear swirling inside him.

"Breathe in... and out," Gary said, demonstrating. "In... and out."

Ash followed suit, feeling a little steadier with each breath. "In... and out." With each exhale, the tightness in his chest eased slightly.

"There you go!" Gary encouraged, his voice brightening. "Now, let's listen to your heart together."

Gary reached for the stethoscope and placed the cool metal disc against Ash's chest. "Can you hear that? That's your heart working hard for you."

Ash listened intently. The sounds were rhythmic, a steady beat that resonated with a comforting familiarity. "It sounds... normal," he said, a bit of surprise creeping into his tone.

"Exactly!" Gary exclaimed. "You're doing great, Ashy. Just focus on the sound, and remember that it means you're strong."

Ash opened his eyes and met Gary's gaze again, feeling a flicker of confidence spark within him. "Really?"

"Really," Gary assured him, smiling. "And you're not just strong physically; you're brave for facing your fears right now. I'm proud of you."

The weight of Ash's anxiety started to lift. "Thanks, Gary. I guess... I just get so worried."

"It's okay to worry. That means you care," Gary replied, removing the stethoscope and placing it aside. "You care about your health and how you feel, and that's important."

Ash took a moment to process Gary's words. "I guess so. But I still don't like the idea of getting poked and prodded."

"Understandable," Gary said, nodding in agreement. "But it's part of keeping you healthy. And remember, I'll be with you the whole time. You can squeeze my hand if you need to."

"Okay," Ash said, his voice steadier. "I'll try."

"Good," Gary said, squeezing Ash's shoulder gently. "Let's finish up this check-up so we can get to some Pokémon battles, alright? I'm looking forward to kicking your butt again."

Ash chuckled, the humor lifting his spirits. "You wish, Gary."

"That's the spirit!" Gary grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "Alright, let's do this together."

Gary's eyes softened as he looked at Ash, who was now sitting a little straighter, a faint spark of bravery glinting in his gaze. He gave Ash's hand a gentle squeeze, a subtle reminder of his promise to stay by his side.

"Alright, next up, we're going to check your eyes," Gary said, reaching over to grab a small flashlight. He slid on a pair of latex gloves with a soft snap, the faint sound making Ash flinch just a little. Gary noticed and gave Ash's hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay. Just like last time, remember?"

Ash nodded, his eyes darting around nervously. "Yeah... I remember."

With calm, practiced movements, Gary leaned forward, angling the light so it wouldn't feel too bright. He brought his gloved fingers up gently to Ash's face, using his thumb and forefinger to open Ash's left eye a bit wider. "Just look straight ahead, buddy. Try to focus on my shoulder if you want," he suggested softly.

Ash swallowed and did as Gary said, his gaze settling on Gary's shoulder, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. Gary shined the light into his left eye, moving it gently to check for any irregularities. "Good job, Ash. You're doing great," Gary murmured.

Ash's heart beat a little faster under the attention, but he kept still, feeling Gary's steady hand on his face. "Is... everything okay?"

"Everything's perfect so far," Gary said with a warm smile. He switched to Ash's right eye, repeating the process with gentle care. Ash barely noticed the light, more focused on the steady feel of Gary's gloved hand and the warmth in his friend's voice. "There we go, almost done with the eyes."

Ash let out a small breath of relief, feeling some of the tension ease. "Thanks, Gary... for, you know, being so patient."

Gary just grinned. "Hey, I told you-I'm here with you the whole way."

They moved on to the ears next. Gary adjusted his gloves slightly, then carefully placed his hand on Ash's head, steadying him as he leaned in. "Alright, now I'm just going to take a quick look at your ears. You're okay with that?"

Ash nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I think so."

With his gloved hand, Gary gently held Ash's ear, tilting his head slightly so he could examine it closely. His touch was careful, and his tone stayed lighthearted as he said, "I promise, I'm not looking for Pikachu in here."

That earned a little laugh from Ash, who rolled his eyes. "Very funny."

"Hey, just checking," Gary chuckled, moving on to the other ear. He stayed close, the warmth of his hand a steadying presence as he inspected with a reassuring calm. "Looks all good," he said after a moment, patting Ash's shoulder.

Ash managed a small smile. "So, that's it?"

"Almost," Gary replied, shifting his gaze to Ash's nose. "Just need to check your nose and throat next, okay?"

Ash wrinkled his nose instinctively, but Gary gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, the warmth of his grip comforting. "Hey, remember, I'm right here. If it gets too much, just tell me, alright?"

Ash nodded, relaxing under Gary's steady gaze. With care, Gary gently tipped Ash's chin up and examined his nose, his gloved fingers resting on either side as he looked with attentive precision. "Doing great, Ash. Just a quick look here," he assured him softly.

Finally, Gary turned to check Ash's throat. "Okay, last step," he said, picking up a small tongue depressor. "Can you open your mouth and say 'ahh' for me?"

Ash hesitated, but Gary's calm encouragement gave him the confidence to open his mouth. "Ahh..."

Gary leaned in, gently pressing down Ash's tongue with the depressor. "Almost done. Just a couple seconds," he said, his tone as steady and reassuring as ever. He quickly finished, setting the depressor aside and giving Ash's shoulder a comforting pat. "There we go-all done with the check-up."

Ash sighed, a mixture of relief and pride. "That... wasn't as bad as I thought."

Gary grinned, releasing his hold on Ash's hand only to ruffle his hair affectionately. "See? You did amazing, Ashy. Brave as ever."

Ash's cheeks flushed slightly, but he smiled, a warm gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks, Gary. I don't think I could've done it without you."

"You're stronger than you think, Ash," Gary replied, his voice gentle but full of pride. "And now that it's all over, how about that battle?"

Ash chuckled, the weight of his fear completely lifted now. "You're on!"