Dawn clung to Kenny, her face still buried in his shoulder as tears fell freely. Her body trembled slightly with each sob, and the weight of her frustration seemed to press harder against her chest, the feeling of inadequacy consuming her thoughts.

“I can’t do it anymore, Kenny,” Dawn mumbled between sobs, her voice shaky. “I’m just not good enough. I tried so hard, and it wasn’t enough. I keep losing... I keep letting everyone down.”

Kenny gently ran his hand through her hair, his grip on her tightening as if to remind her that he was there, that he wasn’t going anywhere. “Dawn, listen to me,” he said softly, his voice firm but comforting. “You’re not failing. You’re learning, and that’s all anyone can ask for.”

Dawn shook her head, her tears dampening the fabric of his shirt. “But I’ve been doing this for so long. Everyone expects me to succeed. And I keep failing... What if I’m just not cut out for this? What if I’m just... a failure?”

“No,” Kenny said sharply, his voice more intense now. “You’re not a failure, and don’t you ever think that about yourself. You’re strong, you’re determined, and you’ve worked harder than anyone I know. You don’t just give up because of one bad result. You’ve got something that most people don’t have—the heart to keep going when the world tells you to quit.”

Dawn pulled away slightly, looking up at him, her eyes red from crying. “But Kenny... Why do you even want to be with me? I can’t even get a ribbon half the time. I just let you down.”

Kenny gave her a soft but determined smile, wiping away a stray tear from her cheek. “I don’t care about ribbons or trophies, Dawn. I care about you. I care about the girl who never gives up, no matter how hard it gets. I care about the girl who lifts everyone else up, even when she’s struggling herself. That’s why I’m with you.”

Dawn stared at him, her heart racing. “But... why?”

“Because I believe in you, Dawn. More than anyone else could. I want to be there for you when you win, and I want to be there when you fall. Because it’s not just about contests—it’s about you as a person. You’ve got this incredible heart, and that’s why I want to be with you.”

Dawn blinked, her chest tightening with emotion. She felt something shift within her, a small flicker of hope lighting up amidst the storm of doubt. “You really think I can do this?”

Kenny nodded, his expression earnest. “I know you can. But even if you didn’t win, I would still be proud of you. Because to me, you’re already a winner.”

Dawn sniffled, her tears subsiding as she took in his words. “Kenny...” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Thank you.”

He smiled, wrapping his arms around her once again, holding her tightly. “Don’t thank me. Just keep moving forward, alright? One step at a time. And when you feel like giving up, remember that I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Dawn closed her eyes, savoring the comfort of his embrace. The warmth of his words and the strength of his support seemed to melt the wall of self-doubt she had built around herself. For the first time in days, she didn’t feel so alone.

“I’ll try... I’ll try for you,” she whispered.

Kenny pulled back slightly to look at her, his hands cupping her face gently. “That’s all I ask. Just try. And when you fall, we’ll pick you back up, together.”

Ash and Brock, who had been standing in the doorway, watched the exchange quietly. Ash’s face softened, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I guess that’s what true love is, huh?” he said quietly, almost to himself.

Brock, who had been watching with a knowing smile, nodded. “Yeah, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about supporting each other, even when things aren’t going well. Kenny’s doing exactly what a good boyfriend should do. He’s showing her what she’s really capable of.”

Ash looked back at the couple, a mixture of admiration and understanding in his eyes. “I think Dawn’s lucky to have him by her side.”

Brock nodded again, his voice quiet but firm. “She is. And Kenny’s lucky to have her too.”

Back in the room, Dawn slowly pulled away from Kenny, her eyes filled with newfound resolve. “Okay... I’m not giving up just yet. I’ll train. I’ll do whatever it takes to get better. I’m not doing this for anyone else... I’m doing it for me. I want to prove that I can do it.”

Kenny grinned, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. “That’s the spirit. And no matter what happens, you’re never alone in this. I’m here, always.”

Dawn smiled back, a small but genuine smile. “Thank you, Kenny... I really mean it. You’ve always believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

“And I always will,” he said, his voice soft but unwavering.

With a renewed sense of determination, Dawn stood up, brushing the last of the tears from her eyes. “Alright, no more wallowing in self-pity. Let’s go train.”

Kenny stood as well, offering his hand with a confident grin. “That’s my girl. Let’s show everyone what you’ve got.”

Dawn took his hand, squeezing it gently as she let go of the last bit of doubt. “With you by my side... I know I can do it.”

And together, they walked out of the room, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything.