As Dawn cried into Kenny’s shoulder, her body trembled with every sob. Kenny didn’t say a word, holding her close, his hands gently rubbing her back in soothing circles. His heart ached seeing her like this, but he knew she needed to let it all out before they could move forward.

“I’ve just… I’ve worked so hard,” Dawn managed between her sobs, her voice muffled against his shirt. “And it’s like it’s all for nothing.”

“It’s not for nothing,” Kenny said firmly, his voice soft but steady. “You’re learning. Every loss teaches you something. You’re not a quitter, Dawn. I know you better than that.”

Dawn sniffled, pulling back slightly to look at him, her face red and tear-streaked. “But it hurts, Kenny. It hurts so much.”

“I know it does,” Kenny replied, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “But that hurt is what’s going to make you stronger. You love contests, right?”

Dawn nodded weakly. “Yeah…”

“Then you can’t give up on something you love just because it’s hard. You’ve got the heart of a champion, Dawn. You just need to keep going, keep fighting. You’ll get there.”

From the doorway, Ash and Brock exchanged glances. “You know,” Brock whispered, “it’s moments like this that remind me how important it is to have someone who really knows you.”

Ash nodded, his expression serious. “Kenny’s really got her back. He knows just what to say.”

Inside the room, Kenny took Dawn’s hands in his own. “Alright, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to take a deep breath, get dressed, and we’re going to head outside. We’ll train until you feel like yourself again.”

“But…” Dawn hesitated.

“No buts,” Kenny said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You’re Dawn Hikari. You don’t back down. You don’t give up. And you definitely don’t let one loss define you.”

Dawn stared at him for a moment before nodding, a tiny spark of determination returning to her eyes. “Okay… I’ll try.”

“That’s my girl,” Kenny said, squeezing her hands gently.

A few minutes later, Dawn emerged from her room, dressed in her usual outfit, her eyes still a little puffy but her posture more confident. Kenny was by her side, his hand lightly on her shoulder as they walked toward the front door.

Ash grinned when he saw her. “Feeling better, Dawn?”

Dawn managed a small smile. “A little. Thanks.”

Brock gave her a thumbs-up. “Good. Because we’re all here to support you, no matter what.”

“Yeah,” Ash added. “You’ve got this, Dawn. We believe in you.”

Kenny smirked. “See? You’ve got a whole cheer squad. Now let’s get to work.”

They spent the next few hours outside, with Kenny helping Dawn work on her techniques while Ash and Brock offered encouragement from the sidelines. Dawn’s confidence grew with each passing moment, the lingering doubts slowly fading away.

As the sun began to set, Dawn landed a perfect spin move with Ambipom, and she turned to Kenny with a grin that lit up her whole face. “Did you see that?!”

“I saw it,” Kenny said, grinning back. “That was amazing, Dawn.”

Ash and Brock clapped from the side. “That’s what I’m talking about!” Ash cheered.

Dawn laughed, the sound light and free. She turned to Kenny, her eyes shining. “Thanks, Kenny. For everything.”

Kenny shrugged, but there was a warmth in his expression. “Anytime, Dawn. That’s what I’m here for.”

As they packed up for the evening, Ash nudged Brock. “You were right, Brock. He’s a good boyfriend. Dawn’s lucky to have him.”

Brock nodded sagely. “And Kenny’s lucky to have her. They’re good for each other.”

Dawn glanced back at Kenny as they walked toward the Pokémon Center, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn’t say it out loud, but in her heart, she knew: Kenny was her rock, and no matter how hard things got, she could always count on him to help her find her way.