The moment those words left my lips, the silence shattered and everything came rushing back at once.
"Nyaa…!"
"Lopun…!"
They reached me almost instantly.
Meowscarada was the first to crash into me, her arms wrapping tightly around my body as she buried her face into my chest, holding on as if I might vanish.
And before I could even steady myself, Lopunny pressed in from the side, her warm body fitting against mine, her long ears brushing and tickling faintly against my neck and arms as she clung just as desperately.
Their combined weight shifted me back.
For a brief second, my balance faltered… and then…
Pressure brushed against my injured back.
A sharp, burning pain tore through me.
"Ah…!"
The sound escaped before I could stop it.
They froze.
Their bodies went stiff in my arms, warmth turning into hesitation. Fear flickered across their faces as the doctor's warning echoed in their minds… to be careful…
Realizing what they had done, they began to pull away.
But I didn't let them.
My hands tightened gently but firmly, stopping them before they could retreat, drawing them back into me instead.
"It's alright…" I murmured softly, my voice low and steady despite the lingering pain.
"Stay like this…"
They hesitated.
Then, slowly… carefully… they gave in.
This time, their hold was softer, more cautious… but no less desperate.
And in that quiet closeness, I could feel it.
The faint tremble in their bodies. The uneven rhythm of their breathing as they tried to steady themselves while holding on to me.
A soft, shaky "Nyaa… nyaa…" slipped from Meowscarada, her voice low and trembling, like a mix of scolding and relief tangled together.
Beside her, Lopunny let out a faint "Lop… lopun…" her voice fragile, almost pleading… like she was quietly asking me not to do something so reckless again.
I understood.
A small, tired smile formed on my lips.
"I'll be more careful…" I whispered, my voice gentler now. "I won't put myself in danger like that again… so don't look so worried."
They didn't loosen their hold.
If anything, they pressed closer.
"I'm sorry…" I added softly, my eyes closing for a brief moment as I let myself sink into their warmth.
"For making you worry so much…"
Almost immediately, both of them shook their heads.
Instead of pulling away, they held me tighter… as if trying to erase the apology itself… as if telling me I didn't need to say it at all… it wasn't my fault.
And as their breathing slowly began to calm, my attention shifted past them.
Gardevoir stood a short distance away.
Her posture was uncertain, one hand slightly raised… like she had wanted to reach out just like before… but stopped herself.
A quiet guilt lingered in her crimson eyes. Heavy… unspoken… but painfully clear.
"Hey…" I called gently.
Her gaze lifted at once, meeting mine.
"Don't stand so far…"
For a moment, she didn't move.
So I spoke again, softer this time.
"It wasn't your fault..."
"It was my choice. I stepped in because I wanted to… because you matter to me."
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"I would've done the same for Meowscarada… for Lopunny…" I continued, my voice steady.
"So don't blame yourself for that."
The tension in her shoulders wavered.
A faint, trembling sound finally left her lips.
"Gar… voir…"
It was soft… fragile… almost breaking, like she had been holding it in for far too long.
Slowly, I loosened one arm and reached out toward her, my hand open.
"Come here."
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then, step by step, she moved forward… like someone holding back for too long… like someone who needed this more than anything.
"Voir… garde…" she whispered again under her breath, her voice unsteady, filled with guilt and longing as her eyes shimmered.
By the time she reached me, they were already glistening.
I didn't wait.
I gently pulled her into the embrace.
She tensed at first.
A soft, broken "Gar… voir…" slipped from her, her voice cracking into something closer to a sob.
And then… she melted.
Her body relaxed into mine, fragile and trembling, as if all the weight she had been holding finally gave way.
I wrapped my arm around her as much as I could, holding all three of them close despite the dull, persistent burn in my back.
"See…?" I whispered softly, my hand moving gently over her head, smoothing her hair.
"Everything's okay…"
A quiet, muffled "Voir…" came from against my chest, softer now… calmer… as if she was finally letting herself believe it.
No one said anything else.
They didn't need to.
In that quiet room, their warmth surrounded me completely. Their presence pressed close… real… grounding.
Even the pain felt distant now.
And as I closed my eyes, holding them all together…
In their arms, my heart finally found its way back to peace.
–<>--
The next chapter will introduce a new Pokémon and also mark the point where the MC finally begins to form a more intimate bond with Gardevoir.