" Maril?"

May and Drew looked at one another, then at the Maril.

" I guess she's our kid now?" May suggested.

Drew raised a brow. " Why'd you phrase it like that?"

May shrugged. " Dunno."

Drew scratched his head. " So.... What now?"

May held a toolkit up. " This!"

Drew's eyes widened. " You're gonna dissect it?!"

May blinked. " What no."

Drew sighed.

" I'm gonna take it apart!"

" May are you crazy?!"

" No I don't think so why?"

Drew sighed deeply. " We are not doing that."

Maril looked at the couple and got teary eyed, as if it understood what May was suggesting. "

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Drew and May had to close their ears

' MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP!" May yelled

" LET'S TRY MAKING FUNNY FACES!" Drew yelled back.

They tried.

Nothing.

Drew picked the Maril and started to rock it. " Upsy daisy!"

Maril blinked. " Maril?"

May sighed and took Maril. " Sorry for scaring you Maril."

" WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

May held the Maril away. " Hey who are you yelling at!"

Drew took Maril and lifted it up. " Happy Maril Happy Maril."

Maril blinked. " Maril?"

May sighed. " Thank goodness."

" Maril!"

May blinked as the Maril hugged Drew's hand.

Drew laughed. " Well whatdya know. A daddy's girl."

May pouted. " Why do they like you?"

" Because I'm a better coordinator."

" Hey!"

" WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

May closed her ears and shrieked, " DREW MAKE IT STOP PLEASE!"

" Happy Maril Happy Maril."

Maril stopped crying.

May sighed. " Fine. She can be yours. I'll.... Make us a new crib."

She turned away and ran to the garage.

" May, wait!" Drew reached for May, but she was gone.

" Maril Maril!" Maril said happily.

Drew sighed deeply. " Oh great."

" Ow!" May yelped as she accidentally hammed her finger instead of the nail, sucking her finger to try and take the pain away

Then there was a bitter taste in her mouth.

She took her finger out.

It was covered in a red substance.

Before she could panic, two hands took May's finger and a green haired boy examined it, pulling a bandaid from his pocket and applying it on May's finger. " There, all better."

May smiled tightly. " Thanks Drew. But why aren't you with your Maril."

Drew looked concerned. " Because I was worried about you."

May stiffened. " W... Why?"

" You looked heartbroken."

May turned away. " Maybe it was. But what does it matter?"

" It matters to me."

May blinked at Drew, tears threatening to spill. " Oh Drew...."

Drew wrapped his arms around her. " It's okay, June bug. It's okay."

May hugged him back and buried her face in his shoulder.

" Is it something about me? Am I not likeable?"

" Your Pokemon love you. Your family loves you. And your friends love you. And... I love you."

May only cried harder.

" But why doesn't Maril like me? Why?"

" I don't know, May. I don't know. But I know one thing."

May looked up. " What's that?"

Drew smiled. " You and Maril will be friends in no time."

May wiped her brow. " Well, at least Mariel's bed is finished."

Drew laughed as he looked at May. " May, your face is all blue."

May raised a brow. " How?"

" The paint, what else?"

" Oh. I'll take a shower after we bring this to the Pokemon's room."

" You're right you will."

May laughed. " Since when were you such a stickler for hygiene?"

" Since always."

May sighed and shook her head. " Help me take it to the room will ya?"

" What's the magic word?"

May have him a death glare. " Now."

Drew chuckled as he helped May carry the freshly painted crib into the Pokémon’s room. Maril sat happily in its makeshift bed, humming to itself. The moment the duo entered with the new crib, Maril’s eyes lit up—until they landed on May.

"Maril!" it screeched, its happy expression instantly morphing into pure terror.

May froze. "What the—? What did I do now?!"

"Maril! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The cry was so loud it made the windows rattle. Drew clutched his ears. "MAKE IT STOP! MARIL, PLEASE!"

May groaned, holding her ears as well. "I didn't even do anything this time!"

The screeching was relentless. Just as Drew managed to pick up the Maril to calm it down, May’s phone rang. She stumbled over to the table and grabbed it, answering with a shaky hand.

"Hello?"

Professor Birch’s frantic voice boomed through the line, loud enough for Drew to hear. "MAY! Is everything alright?! Did someone die over there?! I can hear screaming all the way from Hoenn!"

May's eye twitched. "No, Professor, no one died. It's just… Maril."

"Maril?! That doesn’t sound like a Maril—it sounds like a Wailord in distress!"

"Yeah, well, this one has lungs like a Gyarados!" May shot a glare at Maril, who was still bawling despite Drew’s best efforts.

Birch sighed on the other end. "Did you try soothing it? Feeding it? Singing to it?"

May groaned. "Professor, I've done everything! Drew’s the only one it listens to, and it hates me for some reason!"

Birch paused, then chuckled. "Hates you? May, Pokémon don’t hate people—they’re just particular. Keep at it, and maybe Maril will warm up to you."

May gritted her teeth. "Yeah, maybe. Thanks, Professor. I’ll call you back later." She hung up with a frustrated sigh.

Drew looked over, still holding the wailing Maril. "What’d Birch say?"

"That Maril doesn’t hate me, and I should keep trying," May muttered, crossing her arms.

Drew grinned. "Sounds like good advice. Why don’t you hold her for a bit? Maybe she’ll get used to you."

May shot him a death glare. "Did you hear what just happened? The moment I get close, she acts like I’m a Beedrill attacking her!"

Drew laughed. "Alright, alright, but you can’t give up, May. Here, give it another try. I’ll be right here to save you if she explodes again."

With great reluctance, May extended her arms toward Maril. Drew carefully placed the little Pokémon into her hands. Maril blinked up at her, its watery eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Maril?" it asked, almost accusingly.

"Hi, Maril," May said softly, forcing a smile. "I’m not so bad, see?"

For a moment, it seemed like Maril might accept her. But then…

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

May nearly dropped the Pokémon, her ears ringing. "I CAN’T DO THIS!" she cried, handing Maril back to Drew like it was a live Voltorb.

Drew sighed, cradling Maril. "Happy Maril, happy Maril," he cooed, rocking it gently. The crying immediately stopped, and Maril snuggled into his chest.

"Unbelievable," May muttered, throwing her hands in the air. "She’s your Pokémon now. I’m done."

Drew smirked. "Aw, don’t be like that, May. She’ll come around eventually."

"Yeah, sure," May grumbled, walking toward the door. "I’m taking a shower. You deal with the little screamer."

As she stomped out, Maril peeked over Drew’s shoulder and stuck out its tongue at her. Drew chuckled, shaking his head. "Maril, you’re lucky you’re cute."

May stepped out of the shower, water dripping from her hair as she wrapped herself snugly in a towel. She sighed, enjoying the warm steam lingering in the bathroom, and reached for her hairbrush when she heard an unexpected sound: a flush.

Her heart skipped a beat. "What was that?" she whispered, clutching her towel tightly. Slowly, she turned toward the source of the noise.

There, perched on the toilet, was Maril. The little Pokémon was holding a newspaper upside down, its stubby paws flipping the pages as though it was deeply engrossed in reading.

"Maril!" it chirped, looking up at her cheerfully.

May’s scream echoed through the house. "DREW! WHY IS YOUR MARIL IN THE BATHROOM?!"

Drew’s voice called out from the other room, muffled but amused. "She’s your Maril too, May!"

"NOT RIGHT NOW, SHE ISN’T!" May yelled, pointing accusingly at the oblivious Maril. The little Pokémon didn’t even flinch at her outburst, casually flipping another page of the newspaper.

"Maril," it said with a tone of absolute nonchalance, giving May a look that seemed to say, What’s your problem?

May groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This has to be some kind of nightmare." She backed out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut. "Drew! You better get your Pokémon before I lose my mind!"

Moments later, Drew appeared, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. "What’s going on now?"

May glared at him, still clutching her towel. "Maril is in my bathroom. On my toilet. With a newspaper."

Drew raised a brow, clearly trying not to laugh. "Wait—what? Are you serious?"

"See for yourself!" May snapped, pointing at the door.

Drew opened the door and immediately burst out laughing. There was Maril, still sitting there, completely unbothered by his presence. It waved its tiny paw. "Maril!"

Drew doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Oh, this is too good! May, you’ve got yourself a sophisticated Maril."

"Sophisticated?!" May shouted, her face turning red. "That’s not the word I’d use!"

Drew wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "Relax, May. She’s just making herself at home."

May threw her hands in the air. "She’s YOUR Maril now, Drew. I quit!"

Maril tilted its head, blinking innocently at Drew. He chuckled, picking up the Pokémon. "Alright, Maril. Let’s leave May to cool off before she explodes."

As Drew carried Maril out of the bathroom, he called over his shoulder, "Don’t worry, May! I’ll teach her proper bathroom etiquette!"

May collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. "What did I do to deserve this?"

May sat at the dinner table, staring blankly at the plate of food in front of her. Drew approached, placing a steaming bowl of soup in front of her with a small smile.

"I'm not hungry," May mumbled, pushing the bowl away weakly.

Drew frowned, his green eyes narrowing as he studied her pale face and glassy eyes. "May, you’ve barely eaten anything all day."

She didn’t respond, simply resting her head on the table. Drew sighed, setting the bowl aside before gently pulling her up by the arm. "Come on, let’s get you to bed."

May groaned in protest but didn’t resist as Drew led her down the hall and into her room. He guided her to sit on the bed, kneeling in front of her with a concerned expression. He placed a hand lightly on her neck, then her forehead.

"June," he said softly, his tone filled with worry. "You’re burning up. I think you caught a cold."

"I’m fine," May muttered, though her voice was weak, and she shivered slightly.

Drew wasn’t convinced. "No, you’re not. You need to change into your pajamas and get under the covers now."

"But—" May started, only for Drew to cut her off with a stern look.

"Pajamas. Now," he repeated firmly but gently, standing up and crossing his arms.

May sighed, knowing there was no arguing with him in this state. She slowly got up and trudged to her dresser, grabbing her pajamas and heading to the bathroom to change. When she returned, Drew had already pulled back the covers and fluffed the pillows.

"Come on," he said, guiding her to lie down. "You’re not going anywhere until you’re feeling better."

May couldn’t help but smile weakly at his care. "You’re bossy when you’re worried, you know that?"

Drew smirked, tucking the blanket around her snugly. "And you’re stubborn when you’re sick. Now rest, May. I’ll check on you in a bit."

As he turned to leave, May’s soft voice stopped him. "Thanks, Drew."

He glanced back with a small, warm smile. "Anytime, Junebug."

When May woke up, the soft morning light was filtering through the curtains. She turned her head to see Drew lying beside her, fast asleep. His arms were wrapped tightly around a pillow, his expression surprisingly peaceful. May couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"So much for being a tough guy," she thought fondly.

Gently, she sat up, intending to start her day—but the moment she did, her head spun, and a sharp pounding echoed in her skull. She clutched her forehead, groaning softly as dizziness washed over her.

"Ugh, maybe I shouldn't have gotten up so fast," she thought. But her stubborn nature wouldn’t let her stay in bed. "I’ll just take it slow," she mumbled to herself, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

She carefully stood, steadying herself against the wall before shuffling out of the room. "Drew did a lot for me yesterday. The least I can do is make him breakfast," she reasoned, even though her body protested every step.

When she reached the kitchen, she grabbed a pan and some ingredients. Her movements were slower and clumsier than usual, but she pressed on, determined. The smell of sizzling eggs and toasting bread began to fill the room.

Back in the bedroom, Drew stirred, his arms tightening around the pillow before his eyes blinked open. He immediately noticed the empty spot beside him. "May?" he mumbled groggily, sitting up. It took him only a moment to hear the faint clatter of dishes from the kitchen.

He frowned, his worry instantly returning. "She better not be pushing herself," he muttered, throwing on a shirt and heading out to find her.

When he walked into the kitchen, he saw May at the stove, wobbling slightly but still trying to flip pancakes. Drew’s brows furrowed. "May! What are you doing out of bed?"

May turned to him, startled. "Oh, good morning, Drew! I’m making you breakfast." She tried to smile, but it came out weak and tired.

Drew crossed the room in a few quick strides, gently taking the spatula from her hand. "You’re supposed to be resting, not playing chef while you’re half-dead."

"I’m fine," she protested, though her pale face and shaky stance said otherwise.

Drew sighed, placing a firm hand on her shoulder and guiding her to sit at the table. "No, you’re not. Sit down before you pass out. I’ll finish this."

"But—"

"No buts, May," Drew said, his tone firm but kind. He turned back to the stove, expertly flipping the pancakes and finishing up the meal.

As he placed a plate in front of her, he smirked. "If you wanted me to cook, you could’ve just asked, you know."

May laughed softly, her voice still weak. "You’re such a show-off."

"And you’re hopeless," Drew shot back with a grin. "Now eat. You need your strength."

May shook her head but complied, taking a bite of the food he’d made. Despite the headache, her heart felt warm at how much he cared. "Maybe being taken care of isn’t so bad," she thought.

After breakfast, Drew stood with his arms crossed, leaning casually against the kitchen counter as May finished the last bite of her pancake. His emerald eyes were sharp with determination, and May didn’t miss the slight smirk tugging at his lips.

"Alright, May," Drew said, pushing off the counter. "Back to bed you go."

May blinked, her brows furrowing. "What? No way! There’s work to be done!"

Drew raised a brow. "Work?"

"Yes, work!" May huffed, standing up and wobbling slightly. Drew was by her side in an instant, steadying her with a hand on her arm.

"You can barely stand, and you’re talking about work?" he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.

May gave him a defiant look. "Haven’t you seen those shows on TV? The heroines are always up and about, running households, battling evil, and saving the day even when they’re sick!"

Drew snorted, shaking his head. "May, you’re not on some cheesy TV show, and you’re definitely not a heroine right now. You’re just a stubborn girl who needs to rest."

May crossed her arms, though it looked more like she was hugging herself for balance. "I’m not stubborn! I’m just… proactive!"

Drew smirked, his tone turning teasing. "Oh, is that what we’re calling it now?"

May glared at him. "Laugh all you want, but I can’t just lie in bed all day! The dishes need washing, the Pokémon need feeding, and—"

Drew interrupted her with a wave of his hand. "All of which I can do. You’re forgetting that I’m more than capable."

"But—"

"No buts," Drew said firmly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and steering her toward the bedroom.

May dug her heels in. "Drew, I’m not helpless! I can still do things!"

"Yeah, like faint in the middle of feeding the Pokémon," Drew quipped, his smirk widening as he kept guiding her down the hall.

May sighed dramatically. "You’re impossible."

"No, you’re impossible," Drew shot back, steering her into the bedroom. He pointed to the bed. "Now, sit."

May reluctantly sat down, her arms still crossed. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

Drew crouched in front of her, his green eyes softening. "Honestly? No. I’d much rather see you healthy and yelling at me for real instead of this half-hearted arguing."

May blinked at him, her glare faltering. "You’re so annoying, you know that?"

"Yeah, but I’m your annoying," Drew replied with a cheeky grin.

May couldn’t help but smile, even if she tried to hide it. "Fine. I’ll rest. But just for a little while!"

Drew stood and pulled the blankets over her, tucking her in snugly. "Sure, just for a little while," he said with a smirk that told her he wasn’t planning on letting her up anytime soon.

As he turned to leave, May called out, "Hey, Drew?"

He glanced back. "Yeah?"

"Thanks… for everything."

Drew smiled warmly. "Anytime, Junebug. Now, sleep."

And with that, he left the room, leaving May feeling both frustrated and cared for all at once.

Two hours later, the house was silent. The kind of stillness that May found both comforting and unnerving. She peeked out of the bedroom, her feet padding softly against the wooden floor as she made her way to the living room.

There, sprawled out on the couch with one arm draped over his eyes, was Drew. His breathing was slow and steady, his hair falling messily over his forehead. A faint smile tugged at May’s lips as she watched him. "So much for Mr. Bossy," she thought.

The opportunity was too good to pass up. "If he’s asleep, he won’t notice," she reasoned. Slowly and carefully, she tiptoed past him, grabbing a basket of laundry and heading for the washroom.

The next hour was a blur of quiet chores. May folded clothes, fed the Pokémon, and even managed to tidy up the kitchen. She moved slowly, her head still pounding slightly, but the satisfaction of getting things done was worth it.

That was, until she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"May…"

She froze, mid-fold with a towel in her hands. Turning slowly, she saw Drew standing in the doorway, his hair tousled from sleep and his expression somewhere between exasperated and concerned.

"Uh… hey, Drew," she said with a nervous laugh, hiding the towel behind her back.

Drew raised a brow, crossing his arms. "Didn’t we have a deal? You rest, I work."

"I was resting!" she protested.

Drew gave her a pointed look. "Really? Because this looks a lot like you doing chores while you’re supposed to be in bed."

May huffed, setting the towel down. "I couldn’t just sit there while there’s so much to do!"

Drew sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You’re impossible, you know that?"

"Hey, I got a lot done!" May said defensively, gesturing to the now-clean room.

Drew stepped closer, his voice softer but firm. "And now you’re pale and wobbling again. May, you’re not helping anyone by pushing yourself too hard."

"I’m fine—"

Drew cut her off, placing a hand on her forehead. "You’re still burning up. Do I need to call the doctor, or are you going back to bed voluntarily?"

May pouted, crossing her arms. "You’re overreacting."

"No, I’m being responsible. Someone has to be," Drew shot back, his smirk creeping in despite his frustration.

May glared at him. "You’re the worst."

Drew chuckled, taking her gently by the shoulders and steering her toward the bedroom. "And you’re stubborn. Now move, before I have to carry you."

"You wouldn’t dare," May challenged, narrowing her eyes.

Drew leaned down slightly, a playful glint in his green eyes. "Try me, Junebug."

May groaned dramatically but let him guide her back to bed. She flopped onto the mattress with a sigh. "You’re so bossy."

"Only because you make me," Drew retorted, tucking the blanket around her again.

As he stood to leave, May mumbled, "Thanks… I guess."

Drew smirked, ruffling her hair lightly. "Don’t mention it. Now stay put, or next time, I’ll call your mom to make sure you listen."

May’s eyes widened. "You wouldn’t!"

Drew just chuckled, walking out of the room. "She’ll stay in bed this time," he thought confidently. But as he reached the kitchen, he kept one ear open—just in case.

May, of course, did not stay in bed. The moment Drew's footsteps faded, she slipped out of the covers and tiptoed to the garden.

"He’s too overprotective," she thought, slipping on a pair of boots. "I’m not made of glass. Besides, the plants need watering, and he’s probably forgotten all about them."

She grabbed the watering can and started tending to the plants, her movements slower than usual but determined. The fresh air helped clear her head a little, and she found herself smiling as she checked the crops.

"Tomatoes are coming in nicely," she muttered to herself, crouching to inspect the green stems. She wiped sweat from her brow, the dizziness only slightly present now. "I knew I couldn’t just lie around."

But her moment of peace didn’t last long.

"May."

The single word, spoken with a groan, made her freeze mid-pour. She turned her head slowly to see Drew standing at the garden gate, arms crossed and looking more annoyed than ever.

"Oh… hi, Drew," she said sheepishly, trying to hide the watering can behind her back.

Drew’s eyes narrowed. "What did we just talk about? Bed. Rest. Not watering plants."

"I was just—"

"Not listening to me? Yeah, I noticed," Drew interrupted, walking toward her. "May, you’re sick. You shouldn’t be out here in the sun, crouching over crops like you’re a farmer on some reality show."

May stood up, her hands on her hips. "The plants were thirsty! Someone had to do it."

Drew pinched the bridge of his nose. "And that someone isn’t supposed to be you right now!"

"They’re not going to water themselves!"

"You have me!" Drew snapped, throwing his arms out in exasperation.

May blinked, taken aback. "You’re… offering to do the gardening?"

Drew sighed, stepping closer and gently taking the watering can from her hands. "If it keeps you from collapsing out here, yes."

May bit her lip, her stubbornness wavering under his genuine concern. "I just didn’t want everything to fall apart while I’m resting."

"May," Drew said softly, meeting her eyes. "Nothing’s going to fall apart. You’ve got me, remember?"

Her face softened, and she looked down, feeling guilty. "I… I know. I just don’t like feeling useless."

Drew smirked, though his voice was kind. "You’re not useless. But you are a handful."

May gave a small laugh, wiping at her eyes. "Fine. I’ll go back to bed. But only because you’re such a nag."

Drew chuckled, handing the watering can to her with a playful bow. "And don’t you forget it."

As he escorted her back inside, May muttered, "Next time, I’m sneaking out when you’re asleep."

Drew smirked, holding the door open for her. "I’ll be sure to sleep with one eye open, then."

As Drew finally got May to lie back down in bed, the door creaked open, and a familiar blue shape waddled into the room.

"Maril!" May groaned, pressing a hand to her pounding head.

The little Pokémon looked at May with wide eyes, then tilted its head curiously. "Maril? Maril!" it chirped happily, hopping up onto the bed.

"Hey, Maril," May said weakly, trying to muster a smile despite her headache.

But Maril, sensing something was off, began yelling loudly. "MARIL! MARIL!!!"

May winced, clutching her head as the noise amplified her headache. "Maril, please!"

The Pokémon kept yelling, jumping up and down on the bed.

Drew rushed in from the hallway. "What’s going on—"

"Maril, stop yelling!" May snapped, her voice sharp and louder than intended.

Maril froze mid-jump, its little face crumpling as tears welled up in its eyes.

"Ma… Maril?"

Then, with a wail louder than anything May or Drew had heard before, Maril burst into tears.

"WAHHHHHHH!"

May groaned, her headache now a full-blown migraine. "Oh no, Maril, I didn’t mean it—"

But Maril wasn’t listening. It continued to cry, hopping off the bed and running into the other room, leaving May with an overwhelming wave of guilt.

Drew sighed, rubbing his temples. "Great. Just great. I’ll handle Maril."

But before either of them could make another move, May’s phone buzzed on the bedside table. She grabbed it, her heart sinking when she saw who was calling.

"Professor Birch?" she mumbled, answering the call.

The professor’s voice boomed through the line. "May! What on earth is going on over there?! Is someone hurt? I could hear that Maril crying all the way from Hoenn!"

May winced, holding the phone away from her ear. "No, no one’s hurt, Professor! It’s just… a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?!" Birch barked. "It sounds like World War Three in your house! Are you sure everything’s alright?"

Drew, returning with Maril still sniffling in his arms, raised an eyebrow. "Is that Birch?"

May nodded, mouthing, "He heard everything."

Drew sighed, taking the phone from May. "Professor, everything’s under control. May’s just a little sick, and Maril’s… uh… sensitive."

Birch snorted. "Sensitive? That’s an understatement! Fix this, Drew, or I’ll come over there myself."

"Yes, sir," Drew replied quickly, ending the call. He turned to May, who looked mortified.

"I yelled at Maril," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I made her cry."

Drew sat on the edge of the bed, handing Maril back to her. The Pokémon hesitated but allowed May to gently cradle it.

"I’m sorry, Maril," May said softly, stroking its head. "I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just… I’m not feeling well."

"Maril…" The little Pokémon sniffled, looking up at May with watery eyes before nuzzling into her arms.

Drew smirked faintly. "Looks like you’re forgiven."

May smiled weakly, hugging Maril close. "I’ll do better. I promise."

"Good," Drew said, standing up. "Now, both of you stay in bed. I’m taking care of everything from here."

May opened her mouth to protest but stopped when Maril snuggled against her, already dozing off. With a resigned sigh, she leaned back into the pillows.

"Fine, Mr. Doctor. But don’t think I’m letting you off the hook for all this bossiness."

Drew chuckled, heading toward the door. "Noted, Junebug. Noted."

"WAHHHHHHHHHH!" The loud, shrill wail echoed through the house again, making May wince and clutch her head in misery.

Drew bolted into the room, his eyes wide with alarm. "What's going on?!" he asked, grabbing the doorframe for support.

May was sitting on the bed, holding Maril in her arms, but the poor little Pokémon was in full-blown meltdown mode. "I… I accidentally nudged her," May sighed, her tone both apologetic and exhausted. "She was already upset, and I didn’t mean to. I just—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the phone on the nightstand rang, cutting her off.

"Not again," May muttered under her breath, rubbing her temples. She didn’t even bother looking at the caller ID this time. She already knew who it was.

Drew glanced at the ringing phone, then back at May, his face barely masking his frustration. "Please, not Birch again."

But of course, the phone kept ringing. May groaned, lifting the receiver to her ear. "Sorry, Professor," she said through clenched teeth.

"May! What is going on over there?!" Professor Birch's voice boomed from the other end. "I just heard the loudest crying I’ve ever—"

May held the phone away from her ear, the volume too much even for her to handle. Drew stepped over and gently took the phone from her, placing it back to his ear.

"Professor," Drew began calmly, "I promise you, everything is fine. Just a little... situation with Maril."

"I can hear the situation, Drew," Birch replied, his voice still full of concern. "May’s sick, Maril’s upset, and I’m worried this whole house is about to come apart. Are you sure you’re both okay?"

Drew glanced at May, who was gently rocking Maril and murmuring soft apologies. "We’re fine, Professor. Just… a little chaotic. I’ll make sure everything’s under control."

Birch sighed on the other end. "Well, alright. But if things get worse, I’ll come over myself. You two take care of things, alright?"

"Understood," Drew said, hanging up the phone. He turned to May, raising an eyebrow. "That was fun."

May slumped back into the pillows, trying her best to calm Maril down. "I didn’t mean for any of this to happen," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I’m just so… overwhelmed."

Drew sat next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know, Junebug. It’s been a lot. But we’ll figure it out."

May looked at him, blinking through the tears. "You really think so?"

"Of course," Drew said, his voice warm and steady. "You’re not alone in this, May. We’ll get through it."

Maril sniffled, then hiccupped, snuggling closer to May. The little Pokémon seemed to calm down just a little, sensing her comfort.

"See? She’s already feeling better," Drew said with a small smile. "Now, let’s get you some rest. I’ll take care of Maril for a bit while you relax."

May nodded, still exhausted but grateful for Drew’s support. "Thanks… I don’t know what I’d do without you."

"Probably make me insane, honestly," Drew teased gently, his eyes softening.

May chuckled weakly. "Probably."

With that, Drew carefully took Maril from her arms, and May closed her eyes, finally allowing herself to rest, knowing she had someone who understood her chaos.

Thirty minutes later, May slowly began to stir. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. She blinked a few times, her head still heavy with the remnants of sleep, and noticed two voices softly drifting in from the living room.

One was Drew’s, the other—her brain barely processed it at first—was none other than Professor Birch’s.

Curious, she rubbed her eyes and yawned, feeling the weight of sleep leave her slowly. As she sat up, she spotted her stuffed monkey lying at the edge of the bed. Grabbing it, she held it close, the familiar comfort of it easing her into full wakefulness.

May stretched her arms above her head, her body protesting slightly as she padded barefoot out of the bedroom, walking toward the source of the voices.

As she entered the living room, the sight that greeted her made her pause for a moment. Drew and Professor Birch were sitting on the couch, deep in conversation about Maril.

"It’s really strange, Professor," Drew was saying. "Maril’s behavior is all over the place. One moment she’s perfectly fine, and the next, she’s crying like there’s no tomorrow."

Birch nodded thoughtfully. "It could be stress, Drew. The poor Pokémon might be feeling overwhelmed with everything going on. Plus, May’s condition… it must be affecting her too."

May walked closer, unable to stop a small smile from forming as she heard Drew’s voice so full of concern. But just as she was about to speak, her legs felt like they couldn’t support her anymore. She swayed slightly, feeling dizzy.

"May!" Drew immediately stood up, rushing toward her.

"Good morning," May mumbled, holding the stuffed money tighter, a bit groggy but happy to see Drew.

He immediately enveloped her in a tight hug, pulling her into his chest with relief. "Thank goodness you’re awake!" His voice was shaky, like he’d been holding his breath for far too long.

May, still sleepy and a little confused, blinked up at him. "What do you mean, awake? I’ve only been asleep for like… an hour?"

Drew stepped back and gave her a surprised look. "What?! May, you’ve been out for three days!"

"Three days?" May repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What do you mean, three days? I feel like I just went to sleep!"

Birch, who had been watching the interaction quietly, leaned forward with a gentle smile. "May, you’ve been quite ill. It’s not uncommon for someone to sleep a long time when their body is fighting off something."

May frowned, still trying to wrap her head around what Drew had said. "Three days… I feel like I was only asleep for ten minutes. What happened in those days?"

Drew shook his head with a small chuckle. "You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Maril’s been a handful, and you’ve been sleeping through the chaos."

"Chaos?" May blinked, her eyes narrowing as she tried to focus. "What do you mean?"

Drew grinned. "Maril’s had a lot of emotional breakdowns. I think she’s been feeling your stress too, with all the stuff going on."

Birch nodded. "It’s not unusual for Pokémon to pick up on the emotions of their trainers. But it sounds like things are stabilizing now."

May frowned, her tired eyes searching Drew’s face for reassurance. "And me…? What about me? Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?"

"Because I wanted you to rest," Drew said gently, his hand brushing her cheek. "You needed it more than anything, May. You were exhausted. I’ve been keeping an eye on you."

She smiled softly at him, feeling both touched and a little embarrassed. "I didn’t realize I’d been out for that long…"

Drew chuckled. "You’ve been out cold, Junebug. But now that you’re awake, we’ll get everything back to normal."

May nodded, feeling a rush of gratitude for Drew. Even though she’d been asleep for so long, he’d been by her side the whole time, taking care of things. "I’m sorry for worrying you."

"Hey, don’t apologize," Drew said, pulling her back into a warm hug. "I’m just glad you’re okay."

May snuggled against him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "I’m okay, but I need a plan for Maril. We can’t keep having these breakdowns…"

Birch spoke up, his voice calm and reassuring. "Give her time, May. It’ll take some patience, but Maril will come around. Just remember, she’s still adjusting."

May nodded, finally feeling like she could breathe a little easier. "Thanks, Professor. I guess we’ll figure it out, right?"

"Exactly," Drew said, smiling at her. "Together."