Gary could feel the tension in the air as Ash shifted uncomfortably on the examination table. The fluorescent lights above flickered lightly, but it was the rhythmic tapping of Ash's foot against the metal frame that truly filled the room. His foot, though small, made a sound like a ticking clock, each tap counting down to something neither of them wanted to address.

Gary, standing across the room, couldn't help but smile, albeit a little smugly. "Ashy boy, you ready for this?" he asked, trying to keep the mood light. But even he could tell that Ash was anything but ready.

Ash barely glanced up from his hands, which he was nervously twisting together. "I... uh... I don't know," he muttered, clearly uneasy.

"Come on," Gary continued, moving closer. "It's just a routine check-up. You've done this a hundred times."

Ash opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a loud squeak of his sneakers as he shifted his weight nervously. "Yeah, but... this time it's you," Ash said, his voice low and unsure. "You... you're not just a doctor, you're my rival. My best friend. And... I don’t know, it’s... different."

Gary’s lips curved into a soft smile. He hadn’t expected Ash to be so open about it, but he couldn’t help feeling a little proud of the fact that Ash trusted him enough to admit it. "Listen, kiddo," he said gently, sitting next to Ash and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Nothing’s changed. I’m still the same guy you’ve known since we were kids. And no matter how old we get, that’s not going to change."

Ash nodded slowly, but Gary could see the anxiety still bubbling under the surface. Gary wasn't going to rush him, though; he knew Ash's nerves wouldn't go away instantly. He needed to ease him through it.

"Okay," Gary said, standing up and giving Ash some space. "First things first. Step on the scale, buddy. Let’s get that out of the way."

Ash hesitated for a moment, then slowly swung his legs off the table and stood up. He looked at Gary, trying to hide his nerves behind a forced smirk. "Yeah, yeah, I can do this."

Gary, always perceptive, watched Ash carefully, noticing how he couldn’t stop fidgeting. He walked over and gently placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder. "Relax, Ash," he said softly. "I’m here. Just breathe. You don’t want to feel worse than you need to, do you?"

Ash gulped but nodded, stepping onto the scale with careful movements. His eyes were wide, scanning the room for any possible threat.

Gary’s grip on his shoulder was light, just enough to ground him. "You're doing great," Gary reassured him, his voice steady.

Ash barely nodded, still lost in his thoughts. The weight readout blinked, and Gary quickly noted it down on his clipboard.

"Okay, now for your height," Gary said, his voice calm. "You’ve been growing like a weed, so let’s see how tall you’ve gotten."

Ash stood straight, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to block out the sensation of vulnerability. The measuring stick clicked into place above his head, and Gary, ever patient, kept a reassuring hand on Ash’s shoulder.

"Looking good, kiddo. Just a few more things to go," Gary said, his voice light and warm.

Ash nodded, though the nerves hadn’t fully subsided. As he sat back down on the table, his legs swung slightly again. He was trying, but every muscle in his body was tense.

Gary took a deep breath. "Okay, next up..." he began, carefully unlooping his stethoscope. "Let’s listen to that heart of yours."

Ash gulped again, and Gary could see how tightly he was gripping the edge of the table. "I know you don’t like this, Ash, but you have to relax. It’s just a listen. Nothing more."

Ash squeezed his eyes shut as Gary gently lifted his shirt. The cool metal of the stethoscope felt like it was freezing his skin, but Gary kept his touch gentle, moving the stethoscope over Ash’s chest.

The sound of Ash’s heart beating steadily was a small comfort, but Gary could still feel the tension radiating off of him.

"You're good," Gary said, nodding as he pulled the stethoscope away. "Heart’s perfectly healthy. See? That wasn’t so bad."

But Ash didn’t answer, his mind was too preoccupied with the next thing—the part he really feared.

"Now," Gary began, his tone shifting slightly. "There’s just one last thing we have to do... the shot."

Ash’s eyes widened in horror. "A-a shot?" His voice cracked, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Gary stepped over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ash," he said softly, "relax. I know you’re scared, but you’ve had shots before. This one’s no different. Just breathe with me, okay?"

Ash shook his head, his entire body shaking. "I... I don’t want to. I can’t. It’s... it’s just... I can’t."

Gary’s expression softened. He had seen Ash nervous before, but this was different. He had always been the one to push through, to tackle any challenge head-on, but this fear was something else.

"You don’t have to worry, buddy. I’m right here, okay?" Gary sat beside him and wrapped his arm around Ash’s shoulders, pulling him close. "Take a deep breath. It’ll be over in a second."

Ash’s chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, his eyes darting around the room. "What if it hurts? What if it’s worse than I think?"

Gary placed his hands on Ash’s shaking arms, moving them gently to rest over his shoulder. "If you stay tense, it’s going to hurt more, Ash," he said softly. "Trust me, you don’t want that. So please, for me—just relax. We’re in this together."

Ash could barely bring himself to reply, but the calmness in Gary’s voice, the gentleness in his touch, made him feel like it was going to be okay.

"Promise it won’t hurt too bad?" Ash whispered, looking up at Gary.

"I promise, Ashy Boy," Gary replied, his voice unwavering. "Now, just take a deep breath... and trust me."

Ash nodded, his grip loosening as he breathed in deep. The tension remained, but it was slowly ebbing away. And as Gary prepared the syringe, he stayed right by Ash’s side, the hand on his shoulder a steady comfort.

"You’re my best friend, Ash," Gary said quietly, as he gently slid the needle into Ash's arm. "And I’ll always be here for you."

Ash flinched at the sharp sting, but Gary was quick to pull back, giving him a moment to breathe.

"See?" Gary said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It wasn’t so bad, was it?"

Ash just stared at Gary for a long moment, still in shock. But then, as the warmth from the shot began to settle, a small, shaky smile appeared on Ash’s face.

"Thanks, Gary," he whispered, his voice still a little uncertain.

Gary ruffled his hair playfully. "Anytime, Ashy Boy. Anytime."