Let's go Pikachu ✨ Part Fouuuuur✨

A Lesson in Self-Care (and Friendship)

Iono fidgeted, adjusting the sleeves of her oversized jacket. "Mia-chan… it wasn't your fault."

I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the fabric of my blanket. I wasn't even really thinking—just staring at nothing, my mind replaying everything over and over.

I should’ve been there.

Iono sighed and sat down next to me. "Look, I know how you get when stuff like this happens, but seriously, you were in the bath. What were you supposed to do, sprint out in a towel and fight off bad guys?"

I flinched.

Because… yeah. That’s exactly what I should’ve done.

Iono groaned. "Mia."

I stayed silent.

She sighed again, this time softer. "You’re always like this, huh? Even when it’s something completely out of your control, you still blame yourself."

I closed my eyes. "I… I should’ve been paying attention." My voice sounded small. Weak.

Iono frowned. "Mia, you deserve to take care of yourself too, y’know? You’re not some kind of battle machine that has to be on guard 24/7."

I bit my lip. "But Red and Blue—"

"—aren’t mad at you," she cut in. "Leaf either."

That didn’t make me feel better. If anything, it made me feel worse. Because of course they wouldn’t be mad. They wouldn’t say anything. They’d just silently deal with it, shouldering the weight that I should’ve carried.

Iono’s gaze softened. "Mia-chan… have you even talked to them?"

I shook my head.

She sighed. "Well, you might wanna do that soon. Because they’re worried about you."

I flinched. "Worried?"

Iono nodded. "Like, super worried. Blue looked like he was ready to kick down your door, and Red just did that thing where he stares at the floor like he’s trying to solve all of life’s problems."

That sounded about right.

I pulled my blanket tighter around me. "I don’t know what to say to them."

Iono nudged me gently. "Then don’t say anything. Just listen."

I hesitated.

And then—

Knock knock.

I froze.

Iono grinned. "Welp, that’s my cue!" She hopped up, heading for the door.

I grabbed her sleeve instinctively. "Wait—!"

But she just gave me a mischievous smile. "Nope! Time to face the music, Mia-chan~!"

And with that, she swung the door open.

Red, Blue, and Leaf stood there.

Before anyone could react, I bolted from my bed, ran straight to them, and dropped onto my knees.

"I’M SORRY!" I practically yelled, my forehead nearly touching the floor. "I SHOULD’VE BEEN THERE! I SHOULD’VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION! I MESSED UP, AND I’M SORRY, AND PLEASE DON’T BE MAD, AND—"

A hand landed on my head.

I froze.

Red.

He didn’t say anything—of course he didn’t—but his hand remained there, warm and steady. A quiet reassurance.

I peeked up hesitantly.

Leaf had her hands on her hips, looking utterly bewildered. "Mia, what in the world—?"

Blue, on the other hand, just groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Mia. Get up."

I shook my head frantically. "Not until you forgive me!"

Blue let out a strangled noise. "FOR WHAT?!"

I flinched, gripping the fabric of my pants tightly. "For… for not being there…"

There was a long pause.

Then—

"Mia." Blue’s voice was quieter this time. Frustrated, yeah, but not in an angry way. In a hurt way.

I hesitated, peeking up at him again.

He was frowning. Not his usual, cocky smirk. Not his exasperated ‘Mia, you’re being ridiculous’ expression.

Just… sad.

"You seriously think we’re mad at you?" he asked.

I bit my lip. "I… I don’t know…"

Leaf sighed, crouching down to my level. "Mia, we’re not mad. We never were. You were just taking a bath. What were you supposed to do, teleport?"

I hunched my shoulders. "I should’ve been paying attention."

Red’s hand, still on my head, gave the smallest, faintest pat.

I swallowed hard.

Blue let out a sharp exhale, then—before I could react—squatted down, grabbed my shoulders, and looked me right in the eyes. "Mia. You deserve to take care of yourself, too."

I felt my throat tighten.

"You think Red never sleeps?" Blue continued. "You think I never take breaks? C’mon, Mia, Leaf takes entire spa days!"

"Hey!" Leaf huffed. "They’re relaxing!"

Blue ignored her. "Point is, just because you weren’t there for one tiny moment doesn’t mean you failed. You’re allowed to breathe, y’know."

I sniffled. "But—"

"No buts!" Blue cut in. "If anything, I should be mad at you for thinking we’d be mad at you in the first place!"

I blinked. "Wait—huh?"

Leaf rolled her eyes but smiled. "What he means is that we don’t want you thinking you have to be perfect all the time."

Red nodded.

I stared at them.

Then, slowly, hesitantly, I whispered, "So… you’re not mad?"

Blue groaned, letting go of my shoulders only to ruffle my hair aggressively. "NO! You absolute disaster of a human being!"

I let out a small, hiccuping laugh.

Red finally moved, standing up and offering me a hand. I took it.

As he helped me to my feet, his other hand gave my shoulder a light squeeze.

No words. No long speeches.

Just a simple, quiet reassurance.

I exhaled shakily. "Okay… Okay."

Blue smirked. "Good. Now, if you ever do this again, I will personally drag you out of your room and make you listen to one of Gramps’ three-hour lectures on self-care."

I paled. "You wouldn’t."

Leaf grinned. "Oh, he would."

Blue smirked wider. "Try me."

I swallowed. "Noted."

Leaf giggled. "There we go. Now you’re acting like yourself again."

I sniffled one last time, rubbing at my eyes. "…Thanks, guys."

Red just nodded.

Blue rolled his eyes but smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Just remember—next time you think we’re mad at you for something dumb, ask instead of throwing yourself on the ground like a dramatic movie protagonist."

I pouted. "I was not that dramatic."

Iono poked her head in from the doorway, grinning. "Mia-chan, you were totally that dramatic."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands as the others laughed.