Gary leaned back slightly, inspecting Ash’s face for any lingering tears. When he saw none, he offered a small smile and nodded toward the exam tools. "Alright, Ashy-boy, let’s keep going. Open wide for me."

Ash hesitated for a moment before slowly opening his mouth. Gary grabbed a tongue depressor and peered inside, the flashlight in his other hand. "Hmm... teeth look fine, no swelling in the throat. No signs of Pikachu stuffing berries down your gullet or anything." He grinned at his own joke.

Ash groaned, his words muffled. "Mrrf, Gary, not funny!"

Gary chuckled, removing the depressor. "Okay, okay. Just trying to lighten the mood. Your mouth checks out, Ashy-boy."

Ash closed his mouth quickly, rubbing his arm awkwardly. "Cool… so, uh, we done yet?"

Gary raised an eyebrow. "Not quite. We’ve got a few more things to do, buddy. Let’s check your height and weight next."

Ash’s nerves spiked again as Gary gestured toward the corner of the room where the scale stood. "Come on, hop on," Gary said, his tone casual.

Ash dragged his feet, staring at the scale like it was some kind of execution platform. He reluctantly stepped on, standing stiffly as Gary adjusted the height rod above his head. "Stand straight, Ash. Shoulders back," Gary instructed gently, placing a steadying hand on Ash’s shoulder.

Ash felt his heart racing, but the warmth of Gary’s hand grounded him just a little. "Relax, kiddo," Gary said softly. "It’s just numbers, not a battle against a Gyarados."

Gary jotted the numbers down on the clipboard, nodding to himself. "Alright, you’re growing, as usual. Now for the weight."

Ash stepped onto the scale’s platform, fidgeting as the dial moved. Gary reached over and squeezed his hand lightly. "Hey, it’s okay. It’s just me here, Ash. No one else cares about this stuff, alright?"

Ash bit his lip, nodding slightly. "Yeah… okay."

Gary recorded the weight and smiled. "See? Nothing to it. One more thing, though." He stepped back toward the counter, grabbing a tray with a vial, a syringe, and a bandage. Ash’s eyes widened in panic.

"A shot?!" Ash squeaked, his voice jumping several octaves.

Gary turned, noticing the sheer terror in Ash’s eyes. He sighed, setting the tray down and pulling a chair close to the exam table. Sitting beside Ash, he wrapped an arm gently around his shoulders. "Hey, listen to me. It’s just a little shot, okay? Nothing scary. I’ve got you."

Ash’s breathing quickened as he stared at the needle, his thoughts spiraling. "But what if it hurts? Or what if it goes wrong? Or what if—"

"Ash," Gary interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "It’s gonna be fine. Look at me." He reached out, tilting Ash’s chin up so their eyes met. "Do you trust me?"

Ash swallowed hard, then nodded shakily. "Y-yeah… I guess."

Gary smiled softly. "Good. Now, here’s what we’re gonna do. I’ll sit right here with you, and you can even hold onto me if it helps, okay? You’re not alone in this."

Ash hesitated before mumbling, "Okay…"

Gary took Ash’s arm gently, slinging it over his own shoulder. "Just relax, Ashy-boy. The more you tense up, the worse it’ll feel. You don’t want that, do you?"

Ash shook his head, his eyes fixed on the needle. "No… but I’m still scared."

Gary nodded, his tone patient. "That’s okay. It’s normal to feel scared. But you’re braver than you think. Now, take a deep breath for me. In… and out."

Ash obeyed, albeit shakily, and Gary positioned the syringe against his arm. "You’re doing great, buddy. Just keep breathing. On the count of three, okay? One… two—"

The needle was in and out before Ash could even process it. He blinked, looking at his arm. "Wait… that’s it?"

Gary grinned, applying a small bandage. "Yup. Told you it wasn’t so bad, didn’t I?"

Ash let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, his body relaxing for the first time all day. "I guess it wasn’t… thanks, Gary."

Gary patted Ash’s shoulder, standing up. "Anytime, Ashy-boy. Now, how about we grab some snacks after this? My treat."

Ash smiled faintly, finally feeling at ease. "Yeah… I’d like that."