The room was silent except for Dawn’s quiet sobs as she clung to Kenny, her face buried in his shoulder. His arms held her firmly, grounding her in a way that words couldn’t. She felt safe, as if the weight of her emotions could finally be released.

Kenny gently rubbed her back, his voice soft but steady. “Dawn, you’re allowed to feel sad. You’re allowed to cry. But you’re not allowed to give up. Not you. You’re the girl who’s been chasing her dreams since we were kids. You don’t quit.”

Dawn sniffled, her voice muffled against him. “But what if I’m just not good enough? What if… what if I never win?”

Kenny leaned back slightly, just enough to meet her tear-streaked eyes. “Then you keep going. Because it’s not about winning, Dawn. It’s about the journey. The memories you make. The people who believe in you—like me. Like Ash and Brock out there. Like your Pokémon.” His voice softened even more. “You’re more than just your victories. You’re Dawn, the girl who lights up every room she walks into.”

Dawn blinked up at him, her lips trembling. “You really mean that?”

Kenny gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Every word.”

She hesitated for a moment, then let out a shaky breath. “Thanks, Kenny. I… I needed that.”

“Anytime.” Kenny gently wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Now, how about we go outside and train? Aipom’s probably just as eager as you to get back out there.”

Dawn gave a small laugh, the first genuine one in what felt like forever. “Okay. But only if you promise to help me.”

“Deal.” Kenny stood, offering her his hand. She took it, letting him pull her to her feet.

From the doorway, Ash and Brock exchanged glances, both smiling. Brock folded his arms, nodding approvingly. “Kenny’s got it figured out. That’s what a good partner does—supports you even when you can’t see the light.”

Ash grinned. “Yeah. I’d say Dawn’s pretty lucky.”

As Kenny led Dawn out of the room, she noticed Ash and Brock standing there. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly wiped her eyes. “How long have you two been standing there?”

“Long enough to know Kenny’s earned himself some major boyfriend points,” Brock teased with a smirk.

Ash nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! That was awesome, Kenny.”

Kenny scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. “I just… did what I thought was right.”

Dawn glanced at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. “You did more than that.”

She hesitated for a moment before giving him a quick, soft kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Kenny froze, his face turning red. Ash burst out laughing, and Brock gave him a playful pat on the back. “You’re doing great, champ.”

As Dawn walked ahead to grab her Poké Balls, Kenny stood there, dumbfounded but smiling. Ash elbowed him lightly. “C’mon, Kenny. You’ve got a training session to lead.”

Kenny snapped out of it and jogged to catch up with Dawn. “Hey, wait up! I’m not letting you hog all the progress.”

Dawn looked back, her confidence slowly returning. “Then you’d better keep up, Kenny!”

As they headed out to train, Ash and Brock stayed behind, watching them with warm smiles.

“Now that,” Brock said, “is teamwork.”

Ash nodded. “Yeah. They’re gonna be okay.”