"An intact cup? What's this about?"
Summer, sitting up from his bed in the morning, noticed a cup on the table and voiced his question.
He distinctly remembered accidentally breaking it during the celebration with Team Yell's trio and Nayo's younger siblings after they caught their Pokémon yesterday.
He had simply cleaned up the broken glass and thrown it into the trash. How had it been restored and ended up on the table?
Getting out of bed and examining the cup closely, Summer concluded it was indeed the same one from yesterday. Green fracture lines spread across its surface, seemingly glued together by something, giving it a unique aesthetic.
"Rillaboom, did you feel anything enter the room last night?" Summer asked his equally awakened Rillaboom.
"Rilla?"
Did someone come in? How did it not notice?
"Look, isn't this the cup that was broken yesterday? Now it's been repaired by someone or some Pokémon," Summer said, holding the cup up to Rillaboom.
Rillaboom nodded. It had indeed been fixed, but why hadn't it noticed anything?
"Hmm, it likely wasn't a person. A human couldn't have done this without making any noise. So, a Pokémon, perhaps?" Summer pondered.
Repairing things... Wait, that sounds familiar! Right!
With a sudden realization, Summer picked up his phone from beside his pillow and began searching. He remembered reading about a Pokémon that loved to repair damaged items.
"Got it, it's Sinistea! Found in Johto and Sinnoh regions, this Ghost-type Pokémon loves repairing cracked or broken objects. It's the Pokémon we investigated in Northon Town!" He scrolled through the screen.
"A broken tea pot appearance, with its body made of tea powder. It scatters the powder onto food or opponents to absorb their energy—definitely a Ghost-type Pokémon trait."
Summer then sniffed Rillaboom, who didn't smell of matcha.
He also sniffed himself—no matcha scent and no fatigue. It seemed this Sinistea hadn't targeted them.
Of course, if it had intended to harm them, Rillaboom would have sensed it.
Summer then checked all the food in the cabin, sniffing each item. No matcha scent there either. Had he guessed wrong, or was this Sinistea only interested in repairing the cup?
"Never mind, let's ask the Phantump. As fellow Ghost-type, they should easily sense another's presence."
Summer pocketed his phone. With a plan in mind, he prepared breakfast. One can't search on an empty stomach.
After making a simple breakfast, the Phantump he intended to ask for help came knocking on the door themselves.
"What's going on, Phantump? Did another Ghost-type Pokémon appear in the forest?" Summer asked, putting down his bread.
The leading Phantump nodded and then extended its two small hands, intertwining them—signaling that not one, but two Pokémon were involved in a fierce battle.
"I see. Please, lead the way."
Summer stood up, grabbed his bread again, and decided he'd have to eat on the go.
Around the green tea tree lay several innocent Pokémon caught in the crossfire. They had come to enjoy the fragrance of the tea leaves Summer had planted, only to be dragged into the battle between Sinistea and Poltchageist.
Originally thought to be regional variants, recent research showed they were entirely different species—much like the difference between Tentacool and Toxapex.
The two Pokémon couldn't stand each other. One symbolized matcha, the other black tea. Now, with a tea tree to fight over, a battle was inevitable.
They hurled tea at each other, trying to prove whose tea was superior.
The more attractive tea would lure more Pokémon to drink it, allowing them to absorb more energy. Their battle was now about precision in their tea shots.
"Such a fierce fight," Summer sighed, surveying the scene. Fortunately, he had brought help. Covering his ears, he said, "Everyone, please."
As Rillaboom's drums played, Eldegoss in the canopy blew soothing flute melodies. A calming lullaby echoed through the area.
The two Ghost Pokémon began to feel sleepy, swaying and falling to the ground, slipping into sweet dreams.
The Sunset Forest's professional ensemble guaranteed sweet sleep for all.
"Is it over for now? Nuzleaf, please take the fainted Pokémon to Misty Lake." Summer paused, then added, "Tell Milotic to use Life Dew to restore their energy. Make sure to say it's from me."
After dealing with the fallen Pokémon, Summer looked at the snoozing teacup and teapot. Were they attracted to the tea tree?
Did they fight because there was only one tea tree?
"Alright, I'll plant another one."
After a while, both Ghost Pokémon woke up and floated into the air, ready for round two.
"Stop!" Summer called out. "Sinistea, Poltchageist, were you fighting over the tea tree? Look behind you—there are two now, so no more fighting."
They turned and saw the additional tree. No need to fight over it now, right?
Wrong. They refused. Who would live with a matcha/black tea enthusiast? Clearly, their tea was superior!
Sinistea and Poltchageist stared each other down again, considering how to defeat their rival.
"So it's purely personal animosity," Summer sighed. "This is tricky."
"Caw!"
From the sky, Corviknight descended, initially excited but then confused. Wasn't there supposed to be a spectacle?
Fight! Why weren't they fighting? Corviknight wanted to see some action. Wait, tea should be flowing, not blood.
"Corviknight, you're here. Hmm, how about you be the judge?"
Corviknight looked puzzled. A judge? That didn't seem right for its impartial nature.
"Well, maybe because you're full of energy." Summer patted its wing.
Corviknight felt uneasy, sensing trouble. Shouldn't have come to meddle.
Corviknight then became the judge, evaluating Sinistea and Poltchageist's tea. After careful tasting, it gave its verdict.
"All scores are zero. Bitter and astringent—who'd drink this?"
Instantly, Sinistea and Poltchageist found each other less detestable. They shook hands, agreeing that tea was good.
Corviknight cawed, thinking its words were... wait, feeling dizzy...
Thud. Corviknight fell. The tea's doubled effect was too much, even for its excess energy.
Ugh! Corviknight suddenly woke, noticing berries in front of it. Forgetting why it fainted, it devoured the berries.
Forget it. Eating is more important now. Time to dig in!
(End of chapter)