" Alright then. Here we go...." May muttered.

Brock, who was observing, made an observation. " This isn't good. I think she's overwhelmed by the crowd."

" YOU CAN DO IT MAY!" Ash yelled.

" CALM DOWN!" Max added

But even then they could see May wobble slightly.

Ash grabbed his Pokedex and pressed a button. A few moments later, a Pokeball appeared. He jumped over the fense just as May leaned forward.

" Bayleaf, go support May!"

" Baaaaay "

Bayleaf managed to run under May and keep her from falling as Drew and Ash and Brock and Max ran to the scene

Brock felt her pulse. " It's weak. This isn't good."

" I know it's not good!" Max snapped. " We have to do something."

Drew looked at his girlfriend, and he sighed.

" I'll take her to a hospital."

" But the closest one is miles!" Ash argued

Nurse Joy ran to them. " Is she okay?"

Drew shook his head. " No. She's overwhelmed."

Joh nodded. " Bring her to the center. I can treat her and help her regain consciousness."

Drew didn’t hesitate. He scooped May up into his arms, her limp form startling him more than he wanted to admit. “Alright, Nurse Joy. Lead the way.”

“Bayleaf, return,” Ash said, recalling the supportive Pokémon. He and the others followed Drew as he hurried behind Nurse Joy toward the Pokémon Center.

“She just... fainted like that?” Ash asked, keeping pace.

“Overwhelmed by the crowd,” Brock explained, his tone serious. “She’s been pushing herself hard lately. This was bound to happen.”

Max’s fists were clenched tightly, his voice trembling. “It’s my fault. I told her to push herself.”

“No, Max,” Drew said sharply, glancing back. “This isn’t on you. May takes on too much sometimes. It’s just her way.”

They arrived at the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy motioned them into a quiet recovery room. Drew gently placed May on the bed, her pale face worrying him more than he let on.

Nurse Joy checked her pulse and vitals, nodding as she worked. “She’s stable but exhausted. She’ll need fluids, rest, and some peace and quiet.”

Drew crossed his arms, his voice firm. “She’ll get it. Whatever she needs.”

Max hovered near the bed, guilt written all over his face. “Will she be okay?”

“She will,” Nurse Joy assured him with a kind smile. “She just needs time to recover.”

Ash placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. “She’s strong, Max. She’ll pull through.”

As the group stepped back to give Nurse Joy space, Drew lingered by May’s side. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his usual confident smirk replaced by something softer.

Brock, observing from the doorway, gave a faint smile. “You care about her a lot, huh?”

Drew didn’t look up. “Of course I do.” His voice was quiet, almost to himself. “She’s... important.”

Ash tilted his head. “You mean like—?”

“Yes, Ash,” Drew cut him off, his tone dry but lacking its usual sharpness. “Exactly like that.”

The room fell silent, save for the steady rhythm of May’s breathing. Max finally sat down, looking more at ease now that his sister was being cared for.

“Hey,” Drew said suddenly, breaking the quiet. “Let’s not crowd her. Nurse Joy said she needs rest. Let’s give her that.”

The group nodded, reluctantly stepping out of the room, leaving Drew alone with May.

He pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, his hand resting lightly over hers. “You scared us, you know,” he murmured. “But I know you. You’ll bounce back. You always do.”

And for the first time that day, Drew allowed himself to relax, knowing May was in good hands.

Three hours had passed, and the tension in the Pokémon Center was thick. Drew was slumped in a chair, arms crossed, his head tilted to the side as he dozed. Max had curled up on another chair, his face buried in his arms. Ash was sprawled awkwardly against the wall, Pikachu napping on his lap.

Brock, however, couldn’t sit still. He paced back and forth in the hallway outside May’s room, glancing at the door every few seconds. His brows were furrowed, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

Nurse Joy stood nearby, her clipboard clutched tightly in her hands. She was reviewing May’s condition, her expression grave as she considered how to break the news.

Brock stopped pacing and turned to her. “Nurse Joy, is there any update? Anything at all?”

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the clipboard. “I was just about to wake the others and explain her condition. But... I’m trying to think of the best way to phrase it.”

Brock’s eyes widened slightly. “The best way to phrase what? Nurse Joy, what’s wrong with her?”

Joy took a deep breath and met his gaze. “May has slipped into a coma. Her body was already under a lot of stress, and the emotional and physical toll overwhelmed her system. Her vitals are stable for now, but she’s unresponsive.”

Brock felt his stomach drop. “A coma?”

Joy nodded sadly. “It’s not uncommon in situations like this. But we don’t know how long it will last. It could be hours, days, or longer. We’ll do everything we can to monitor her and provide the care she needs.”

Brock rubbed his temples, his mind racing. “Drew’s not going to take this well. None of them will.”

Joy sighed. “I know. But they need to hear it.”

Brock nodded reluctantly. “Let me wake them. It’s better if they hear it together.”

He walked over to Ash first, gently shaking his shoulder. “Ash, wake up. Nurse Joy needs to talk to us.”

Ash groaned, blinking groggily as Pikachu stirred. “What’s going on?”

“Just get up,” Brock said quietly, moving to Max next.

Max stirred at the gentle nudge. “Huh? Is May okay?”

“Let’s talk first,” Brock said softly, his expression giving nothing away as he moved to Drew.

Drew woke the moment Brock touched his shoulder, his sharp green eyes immediately locking on the older boy. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, sitting up straight.

Brock hesitated, then gestured toward Nurse Joy. “She has an update on May.”

The group gathered, their expressions a mixture of hope and dread as Nurse Joy cleared her throat.

“May’s condition has stabilized,” she began.

Max let out a small sigh of relief. “That’s good, right?”

Joy’s face remained serious. “Yes, but... she’s currently in a coma. Her body couldn’t handle the stress she was under, and this is her way of shutting down to recover.”

The room fell silent. Max’s face crumpled as tears welled in his eyes. “A coma? But... she’ll wake up, won’t she?”

Ash clenched his fists. “There’s got to be something we can do.”

Drew, however, said nothing. His jaw was tight, his hands balled into fists as he stared at the floor. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice low and controlled. “What do we do now?”

Joy’s expression softened. “All we can do is wait and give her the support she needs. Talk to her, stay by her side. Sometimes, hearing familiar voices can help.”

Drew nodded stiffly and turned toward May’s room without another word.

Max sniffled, wiping his eyes. “She’ll be okay, right? She has to be.”

Ash put a hand on Max’s shoulder. “She will. She’s May. She doesn’t give up.”

Brock looked toward Nurse Joy, his face grim. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help her.”

The group silently followed Drew into the room, each of them determined to be there for May, no matter how long it took.

Drew hadn’t moved from his spot by May’s bedside. His posture was rigid, his hand clasping hers tightly as if his sheer willpower could pull her back. He hadn’t eaten, hadn’t spoken much, and hadn’t even left the room for a moment.

Ash stood just outside the door, watching Drew through the window with a worried expression. “Nurse Joy?” he asked quietly, walking over to her.

“Yes, Ash?” she replied, looking up from her clipboard.

“I’m... really worried about Drew,” Ash admitted, glancing back at the room. “He hasn’t left May’s side. He hasn’t eaten, hasn’t even taken a break. Is... is that okay? I mean, he’s not going to collapse or anything, is he?”

Nurse Joy sighed, her expression softening. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him, and you’re right to be concerned. As much as he wants to stay by May’s side, he also needs to take care of himself. If he doesn’t, he’ll end up in no condition to support her when she wakes up.”

Ash nodded, his brows furrowed. “What should we do? He’s so stubborn, he’ll probably just ignore us.”

Nurse Joy gave him a reassuring smile. “Sometimes, people just need a gentle reminder. Why don’t you try talking to him? Let him know he’s not alone in this and that May would want him to take care of himself.”

Ash squared his shoulders, determination flashing in his eyes. “Alright. I’ll try.”

He walked into the room, his footsteps soft. “Hey, Drew,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

Drew didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on May’s still face.

Ash moved closer, standing beside him. “I get it, you’re worried. We all are. But sitting here and ignoring everything else isn’t going to help May.”

Drew’s grip on May’s hand tightened. “What do you know about it, Ash?” he muttered. “You’ve never—” He stopped himself, his voice cracking slightly.

Ash crossed his arms. “You’re right, I don’t know what you’re feeling. But I do know that May wouldn’t want you to waste away like this. She’d want you to be strong—for her, for Max, for everyone.”

Drew’s jaw clenched, but he still didn’t look away from May. “I can’t leave her, Ash. Not like this.”

“I’m not saying to leave her,” Ash said gently. “But take a break. Eat something. Get some air. You’ll be no good to her if you make yourself sick.”

Drew finally turned to look at Ash, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. “I can’t... I just can’t leave her alone.”

Ash placed a hand on Drew’s shoulder. “She’s not alone. We’re all here for her. And for you. Let us help.”

For a moment, Drew didn’t say anything. Then, with a heavy sigh, he let go of May’s hand and stood up, his legs unsteady. “Fine. But only for a minute.”

Ash smiled faintly. “That’s all we’re asking.”

As Drew walked out of the room, Ash turned back to May, his resolve strengthening. “Don’t worry, May. We’re all here for you. You’ll pull through—I know you will.”

Ash watched as Drew returned, a single breadcrumb in his hand. He placed it carefully on a nearby table, then sat back down next to May, resuming his statue-like vigil.

Ash’s jaw dropped, and he fell to the ground anime-style, arms flailing dramatically. “Are you kidding me, Drew? That’s not taking a break!”

Drew didn’t even flinch, his eyes fixed on May. “I said I’d take a break. I did. Happy now?”

“That’s not a break!” Ash exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “You didn’t even eat the breadcrumb! What’s wrong with you?”

Drew gave a half-hearted shrug, his gaze never leaving May. “I’m fine. She’s the one who matters.”

Ash groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration. “You’re impossible! Do you want to end up in the bed next to her? Because that’s where you’re headed!”

“I’ll be fine,” Drew said, his voice monotone. He crossed his arms and leaned back slightly, taking on the air of an unmovable statue.

Pikachu hopped onto Ash’s shoulder, tilting its head in confusion. “Pika pi?”

“I know, buddy,” Ash muttered, glaring at Drew. “He’s hopeless.”

Max peeked into the room, raising an eyebrow. “What’s going on in here?”

Ash pointed at Drew, exasperated. “He’s back! And he brought... a breadcrumb! That’s it!”

Max stared at Drew for a moment, then facepalmed. “Drew, come on. May’s not going anywhere right now. You need to eat and rest. Do it for her.”

Drew didn’t respond. He remained frozen in his seat, his expression unreadable.

Ash and Max exchanged looks, both of them at a loss. Finally, Max sighed and shook his head. “Fine. Be a statue. But don’t come crying to us when Nurse Joy drags you out of here herself.”

Ash crossed his arms, muttering under his breath. “This guy... he’s worse than me with Pikachu.”

As Drew continued his silent vigil, Ash and Max stepped out into the hallway, leaving him to his stubbornness.

“Do you think he’ll ever snap out of it?” Max asked.

Ash sighed. “I don’t know. But if anyone can wake him up, it’s May. Let’s just hope she does soon.”

Brock stepped into the room, arms crossed and determination etched onto his face. Drew hadn’t budged from his seat. His hand remained clasped around May’s as if it was the only thing tethering him to reality.

“Drew,” Brock said firmly, walking up to him. “This isn’t healthy. You need to eat, drink, sleep—do something other than sit here like a statue. May wouldn’t want this.”

Drew didn’t even blink. “And what would you know about what May would want?”

Brock pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. “I’ve been traveling with her longer than you have. Trust me, she’d want you to take care of yourself so you can take care of her.”

Still, Drew didn’t move.

Brock sighed and turned to Nurse Joy, who was standing by the doorway. “He’s not listening. Maybe you can talk some sense into him?”

Nurse Joy nodded and stepped forward, her voice soft yet firm. “Drew, I understand how much you care about May, but you’re going to hurt yourself if you keep this up. May needs you to be strong for her, and that means taking care of yourself too.”

Drew’s grip on May’s hand tightened. “I’m not leaving her. I can’t. If I leave, she’ll think I’ve given up on her.”

Joy’s eyes softened. “No one’s giving up on her, Drew. But you’re no good to her if you collapse. Please, let us help.”

“Help her, then,” Drew snapped, his voice tinged with frustration. “Figure out how to wake her up. That’s all I care about.”

Roselia, who had been watching from the corner, waddled over. She gently tapped Drew’s arm with one of her flowers and chirped softly. “Rooo-seee!”

Drew glanced at his Pokémon, his hardened expression softening for a moment. “Not now, Roselia. I’m fine.”

Roselia frowned—if Pokémon could frown—and turned to Nurse Joy, gesturing with her flowers as if to say, Do something!

Joy sighed. “We’re trying, Roselia. Believe me, we are.”

Brock crossed his arms, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Okay, fine. Drew’s not moving, so let’s focus on May. How do we wake her up?”

Nurse Joy tilted her head in thought. “Comas are unpredictable. Sometimes, familiar voices or experiences can help. Maybe if we recreate a moment that’s important to her, it might trigger something.”

Ash, who had been listening outside, stepped in. “Like a contest? She loves contests!”

Max peeked in, nodding eagerly. “Yeah! Maybe if Drew does something, it’ll reach her.”

Drew finally stirred, looking at them. “You think... something familiar might help her wake up?”

Joy nodded. “It’s worth a try. But it has to be something that really means something to her.”

Drew sat back, his mind racing. Then, his eyes lit up with determination. “Her ribbon case. She always said those ribbons reminded her of everything she’s accomplished. Maybe... maybe if I talk to her about them, she’ll hear me.”

Max perked up. “I’ll get the case! Be right back!”

As Max dashed out, Brock, Ash, and Joy exchanged hopeful glances. Drew leaned closer to May, his voice soft but filled with emotion.

“May, I know you can hear me,” he began. “You’ve always been stubborn—too stubborn to let something like this keep you down. You’re strong, and you’ve got so much more to do. So please... come back to us.”

Roselia chirped encouragingly, and Pikachu nodded in agreement.

Max returned moments later, holding the ribbon case tightly. “Here!”

Drew took it, opening it slowly to reveal the colorful array of ribbons May had earned. He held one up and began to talk about each one, recalling the memories they’d shared during her journey.

As he spoke, a faint twitch in May’s fingers made everyone freeze.

“Did you see that?” Brock whispered.

Drew leaned closer, hope flooding his voice. “May? If you can hear me, squeeze my hand.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, ever so faintly, Drew felt the slightest pressure around his fingers.

“She squeezed it!” Drew exclaimed, his voice breaking. “She squeezed my hand!”

Nurse Joy rushed forward, her eyes wide. “That’s a good sign! Keep talking to her, Drew.”

Drew nodded, his voice steady despite the tears streaming down his face. “You’re coming back, May. I know you are. We’re all here, waiting for you. Don’t give up now.”

And slowly, ever so slowly, May’s eyelids fluttered open.

The moment May’s eyelids fluttered open, Drew’s chair screeched across the floor, slamming into the wall with a loud thud. In an instant, he was out of his seat and wrapping his arms around her like she’d been gone for an eternity.

“May!” Drew’s voice cracked, a mixture of relief and raw emotion pouring out. He held her tightly, his head buried in her shoulder. “You’re awake... you’re awake...”

May, still groggy, blinked a few times as her brain tried to process what was happening. She felt Drew’s arms crushing her in an embrace, and a small smile tugged at her lips despite her confusion.

“Hello there,” she said softly, her voice weak but teasing.

Drew pulled back just enough to look at her face, his emerald eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Don’t ‘hello there’ me! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!”

May tilted her head slightly, her expression bemused. “Judging by the death grip, I’d say... pretty worried?”

“You’ve been unconscious for hours!” Drew exclaimed, his voice shaking. “I thought—” He stopped himself, swallowing hard.

“You thought I’d gone off to la-la land for good?” May joked weakly, though her smile faltered when she saw the raw emotion in his eyes.

“Don’t joke about that,” Drew said firmly, his hands still resting on her shoulders. “You scared the life out of me.”

Ash, Max, Brock, and Nurse Joy had gathered at the door, peeking in cautiously.

“Well, she’s definitely back to her usual self,” Brock said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Max ran into the room, nearly tripping over himself. “May! You’re awake!”

She looked at him, her smile widening. “Hey, Max. Did I miss anything?”

“Miss anything?” Max spluttered. “You scared us all! Drew wouldn’t even eat! He became a statue!”

May’s eyes darted to Drew, who was still hovering close to her. “You... didn’t eat?”

“I wasn’t hungry,” Drew muttered, looking away with an embarrassed expression.

May chuckled softly, though it quickly turned into a cough. Drew immediately steadied her, his concern returning full force.

“Take it easy,” he said gently. “You’ve been through a lot.”

“Yeah, yeah,” May murmured, leaning back against the pillows. She looked at everyone gathered around her and sighed. “I guess I owe you all a thank you for taking care of me.”

“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Ash said, grinning. “Don’t scare us like that again, alright?”

“Noted,” May replied, her gaze drifting back to Drew. “And you—eat something. I’m not going to let my boyfriend waste away because of me.”

Drew’s face turned red, and he quickly stood up, trying to mask his embarrassment. “Fine. I’ll grab something. But only because you told me to.”

As he left the room, May looked at the others, her smile growing. “He’s hopeless, isn’t he?”

Max smirked. “Completely.”

Drew walked back into the room with a sandwich in his hand, a small smile on his face as he glanced over at May. The others had scattered, leaving the two of them alone for a moment. He’d finally gotten something to eat, and he felt a small sense of relief.

But then, as his gaze met May’s, that fleeting moment of peace shattered.

May’s smile faded, and her eyelids fluttered again, this time more rapidly. Before Drew could even react, her body slumped slightly to the side, and she fell back against the pillows with a soft thud.

“May!” Drew’s heart skipped a beat. He dropped the sandwich on the floor and rushed to her side, gently lifting her to sit up. “No, no, not again…”

May’s head lolled to the side, her breathing shallow. Drew’s fingers lightly touched her cheek, panic rising in his chest.

“Drew?” Max’s voice rang out from the door, having come back in just as he saw May’s sudden collapse.

Drew’s voice cracked as he looked up at Max. “She fainted again…”

Max rushed to his side. “This doesn’t make sense. Nurse Joy said she was stable!” He looked around, clearly lost on how to help.

Brock, who had been standing outside with Nurse Joy, quickly entered the room when he heard the panic in their voices. He immediately took charge, kneeling next to May. “This doesn’t add up,” Brock murmured, feeling her pulse. “Her vitals were steady before, but now…” He furrowed his brow in concentration. “There’s something deeper going on here.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Drew asked, his voice strained. He was on the verge of losing control, but he was trying so hard to stay calm for May.

Brock didn’t look up, focused entirely on May’s condition. “I’m not sure. Her body’s not reacting like it should. We need to get her back under observation immediately.”

“I’ll carry her!” Drew’s voice was firm, but his hands trembled as he lifted May back into his arms.

“Drew, no. You’re not thinking clearly,” Brock said quickly, but Drew ignored him. He looked down at May, his worry mounting.

“You’re not leaving me again, May,” Drew whispered to her, as if the words themselves could reach her. He was determined, desperate even, to not lose her again.

Nurse Joy rushed in, panic in her expression as she approached. “What happened? She was fine just a few minutes ago.”

“She fainted again,” Drew said quietly, his eyes never leaving May’s face.

Nurse Joy sighed, looking down at May with concern. “This is not a typical fainting spell. We need to take her to the Pokémon Center’s more advanced medical equipment. There’s something off here, and we need to find out what it is.”

Without another word, Drew stood up, cradling May carefully in his arms. Brock, Ash, and Max quickly followed, ready to help, but all they could do was stand back and watch as Drew took the lead. He couldn’t lose her. Not again.

As they hurried to the center, Drew’s mind raced with questions. What was going on with May? Why couldn’t she just wake up, stay awake, and be okay?

He just needed her to be okay.

Seven hours had passed, and the Pokémon Center was eerily quiet in the early hours of the morning. Brock, Max, Ash, and even Nurse Joy had all eventually succumbed to exhaustion, curled up in various corners of the room, their breathing slow and steady as they slept.

But Drew… Drew wasn’t asleep. Not even for a moment. He was seated by May’s bed, his hands resting gently on the side of her arm, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused. He hadn’t moved an inch, not even to stretch or take a breath. His gaze never left May’s pale face, watching for any sign of life.

The night had been long, and the uncertainty had gnawed at him. Every minute that passed without May waking up felt like an eternity. He could hear the soft beeping of the machines around her, but none of it seemed to bring him comfort. Every once in a while, he would lean forward, his hand brushing her cheek as if hoping to feel warmth that wasn’t there.

There were no answers. Nurse Joy had said they would run more tests, that they would keep monitoring her, but the silence between them all felt heavy. Drew was getting more and more impatient, but there was nothing he could do.

His thoughts spiraled. He couldn’t stop imagining the worst. He couldn’t lose her. Not after everything they’d been through. He’d promised to be there for her, and now she needed him more than ever, but he couldn’t even get her to open her eyes.

The sound of a soft sigh from May’s direction caught his attention. His breath hitched. Was it—?

He leaned forward, his hand pressing against hers, but May remained still.

“Come on, May,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Please, just wake up... please.”

He swallowed thickly, running a hand through his messy hair, and tried to settle into the seat again. He wanted to scream, to yell, to demand an answer from anyone, but the hollow silence was the only thing that answered.

Brock’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, glancing at Drew’s tired face. “Drew… you need to rest. You’ve been at this for hours…”

“I can’t. Not until she wakes up. I promised I’d be here for her.” Drew’s voice was hoarse, and his eyes burned with exhaustion, but the desperation never left.

Max, who had also woken up, looked over at Drew, concern written across his face. “Drew… May wouldn’t want you to wear yourself out like this. You need to take care of yourself too.”

But Drew shook his head, his voice tight with frustration. “I can’t… I can’t rest, not until I know she’s okay.”

Nurse Joy stirred from where she had been resting, and as she sat up, she gazed at Drew with a look of sympathy. “Drew, I know it’s hard, but May needs you to be strong. If you fall apart, she won’t have anyone to come back to.”

Drew didn’t respond. He couldn’t. What could he say? His heart ached in his chest, an unbearable weight pressing down on him. He’d never felt so helpless in his life.

Minutes ticked by, the air thick with anxiety and uncertainty.

And then, as if the universe had finally heard Drew’s unspoken plea, May’s hand shifted. Drew froze, his heart racing in his chest. He leaned in closer, staring at her face.

May’s lips parted slightly, her breathing shallow at first, then steadier. Her fingers twitched.

“May?” Drew’s voice was barely above a whisper.

May’s eyelids fluttered once more, her eyes slowly opening, though they were unfocused at first. Then, just as slowly, her gaze met Drew’s, and for the first time in hours, a small, weary smile tugged at her lips.

“D-Drew…” May’s voice was faint, barely audible. “I’m sorry…”

Drew exhaled a shaky breath, his hand finding hers once more. “You don’t have to apologize, May. You’re awake. That’s all that matters. You’re okay.”

She looked up at him, her expression softening even though she was clearly exhausted. “I guess I’m not as strong as I thought I was,” she whispered.

“No,” Drew said, shaking his head as he gently brushed her hair from her forehead. “You’re stronger than anyone I know. Just resting doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

Tears welled up in Drew’s eyes as he gazed down at her. He couldn’t explain how much relief he felt in that moment.

May smiled weakly, though it was still enough to make Drew’s heart swell with warmth. “Guess I scared you, huh?”

Drew chuckled through the tears that were now streaming down his face. “You have no idea.”

And for the first time in hours, everything felt right again. May was awake, and Drew didn’t need to carry the weight of his fears anymore. He leaned in and gently kissed her forehead, whispering, “I’ll always be here for you, May. Always.”