"King of Bountiful Harvests?"

  "What kind of Pokémon is that?"

  "No wos head is se. Look closely—it almost seems like it's wearing a !"

  "A ?"

  The audience was abuzz with curiosity aement.

  At that moment, spectators in the arena, as well as people watg from their homes across Gar, were all captivated by the mysterious Pokémon. The cameraman zoomed in, fog on the King of Bountiful Harvests.

  The King wore a calm expression, though he didn't seem quite sure about the attention. Still, he responded with a smile.

  "I should probably ask Naoki about this ter," he mused to himself.

  The King's gentle smile appeared on the s, and some viewers gasped in delight.

  "It's smiling at me—how adorable!" a person excimed.

  Vivian, holding the microphone, looked at the King with awe.

  firming with Naoki, she asked, "King of Bountiful Harvests?"

  Naoki nodded with a warm smile. "Yes, that's His name."

  "I've never heard of it!" Vivian remarked with wonder. "It's amazing how many mysteries still remain in the Pokémon world! So, Naoki, are you pnning to use Him in the match?"

  The crowd's anticipation grew. Koraidon had already swept through Briar's team single-handedly. They could only imagihe strength of this dignified Pokémon standing by Naoki's side.

  Vivian, intrigued by the King's ret dispy of healing powers, added, "The King's healing abilities were incredible. I think we're all curious to see what other abilities He might have in battle. So, Naoki, will you use the King of Bountiful Harvests in the round?"

  The eadium held its breath, awaiting Naoki's response. Even Champion Leon, ba the testant hall, leaned in with a look of anticipation.

  He could tell Naoki was holding back, likely saving his full strength. Leohe excitement building inside him. He longed for a fierce battle, pitting his ace Charizard against this powerful trainer and his mysterious Pokémon.

  At their level, entering an oppo like this was truly thrilling. Leon's eyes shoh hope as he stared at the s.

  But Naoki's response surprised everyone.

  With a kind smile, he looked into the camera and said, "The mato, I'm not tinuing."

  The entire audience was stunned.

  Was Naoki really giving up the match? He hadn't even faced some of the top trainers yet! Leo a pang of disappoi.

  Vivian, equally shocked, asked, "Leaving? Naoki, are you joking?"

  Naoki chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm not kidding. I came here to fulfill a promise, and now that it's plete, it's time for me to go."

  Mike, watg from the audience, was torweeement and disappoi.

  Iands, the crowd was crestfallen. Many had bee fans of Naoki after watg the battle, charmed by his strength and poise.

  Before long someoarted shouting with hope, calling out his name:

  "Naoki! Naoki! Naoki!"

  Under his lead, the entire crowd cheered in unison, and some even stood up, waving their cheering sticks with enthusiasm.

  The sound echoed throughout the arena like an unstoppable wave.

  In the Gar region, there's a deep admiration for powerful trainers. Just like the reigning champion, Leon, whom everyone admires, respects, and looks up to as their hero.

  At this moment, the Gar audieruly hoped that this incredible trainer, Naoki, would stay and tinue in the Rising Star petition.

  Even Leon, watg from the testant hall, ched his fists in anticipation.

  "You've got to say yes!" he murmured to himself.

  Naoki gnced around at the enthusiastic faces in the audience, momentarily speechless.

  But… he really wasn't a trainer!

  He looked at the camera and said with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry."

  They had already been away from home for quite some time. If he tihere would be the quarterfinals, then the semifinals, and after that, the finals.

  Typically, the petition schedule allowed for a day of rest for the Pokémon after each match. This whole process would take much lohan he'd pnned.

  Hearing this, the audie out a collective sigh of disappoi.

  Vivian, sounding genuinely regretful, asked, "It looks like Mr. Naoki has made his decision! So, Naoki, where are you headed ?"

  That, he could answer with a smile. "After this, I'll be returning to my home in the Paldea region."

  "Paldea, huh? I see!" Vivian nodded, her voice warm. "Thank you so much fiving us such a memorable match today. We wish Naoki, Koraidon, and the King of Bountiful Harvests a safe journey!"

  Naoki paused for a moment, a bit amused. 'It almost feels like they're sending us off on an adventure,' he thought.

  After a brief pause, Naoki nodded with a small wave and turo leave Wyndon Stadium with Koraidon and Calyrex by his side.

  In the testant hall, Leon watched him go, feeling a deep sense of disappoi.

  "What a shame," he muttered.

  But when he heard Naoki's mention of Paldea, his spirits lifted.

  "Paldea?"

  A trainer with such strength must be a big deal in that region. Maybe he's even a champion-level trainer for the Paldea League.

  Leon smiled to himself, determination rekindled. 'It's settled! When I have the ce, I'll go to Paldea and challenge him to a match!'

  ...

  One hour ter, at the Corviknight Flying Taxi Headquarters.

  Mike looked at Naoki with a relut expression. "Are you sure you won't stay?"

  Naoki smiled and shook his head. "No, there are people waiting for me bae."

  Mike felt a pang in his heart. 'Such talent... if only Naoki were part of his family!'

  Despite his disappoi, the straightforward and warm-hearted man handed over Naoki's promised reward.

  A rge bag filled with shimmerihers y on the floor.

  "These are the feathers shed by Corviknight every day," Mike said, looking thoughtful. "I'm not sure what you're pnning to do with them, but they're yours now!"

  As he spoke, Mike took two more items from his office.

  The first eculiar-looking teacup with strange markings resembling eyes and a mouth, taining a slightly wobbly, purple liquid.

  o it sat a matg teapot with a simir color pattern. The outer walls of the teapot had a few cracks, which the purple liquid from the teacup seemed to fill and repair.

  Naoki looked at the items in surprise. "Is this...?"

  Mike chuckled and pced them on a tray. "Yep, this is the set of Sinistea and Polteageist I promised."

  At that moment, the teapot lid lifted slightly, and a tiny, purple creature peered out, its eyes resembling tte art. It held onto the lid with small, hesitant hands, gazing at Naoki with cautious curiosity.

  The creature notiaoki looking and quickly ducked baside, like a shy hermit crab retreating into its shell.

  Naoki: "..."

  Mike ughed. "Ghost-type Pokémon like these be a bit timid at first. Just let them be, leave them out on a coffee table or something, and soon enough, they'll start warming up to you."

  He poio the teacup. "This one here is Sihe 'eye' patterns are actually a part of its body, and that purple liquid ihat's its real form, even the handle is part of it!"

  This was the first time Naoki had seen Sinistea in person. He looked at its purple, swirling form withieacup and couldn't help but ask, " I touch it?"

  Mike nodded. "Of course, but whatever you do, don't try to drink it! If it doesn't know you well, it might try to enter your body and drain your energy from within!"

  "What if we get along well?" Naoki asked, curious.

  Mike shook his head firmly. "Even then, it's not meant for drinking. Siastes terrible—people who have dared to try describe it as undrinkable! Mostly, collectors keep it for its value; genuine Sinistea is incredibly rare."

  Naoki nodded, beginning to uand.

  Sinistea wasn't for drinking—it was more like a collectible or decorative teacup with a unique personality.

  Then, he looked over at Polteageist and asked, "I drink from Polteageist, right?"

  "That's correct!" Mike replied, ughing. "Polteageist's bck tea has a uaste and aroma, though drinking too much cause a bit of an upset stomach. Some daring tea enthusiasts enjoy it daily!"

  Mike grimaced. "Not me, though. That tea tastes like it's been sitting out in the sun for a week."

  Naoki hesitated. "Is it really that bad?"

  Mike shuddered. "Trust me, I'll pass. The tea inside Polteageist has a, well... unique blend of ingredients!"

  "Alright, let's not dwell on that!" Naoki quickly ged the subject, sensing his own stomach start to .

  Mike chuckled, rexing again. "One more thing—you should knoolteageist trol the taste of its tea. If it trusts you, it'll serve you something pleasant. But if it's upset or doesn't trust you, it might add a bit of ghostly energy to the brew."

  "I've heard from others that drinking it then make you feel cold and shivery all over," he added, his tone dropping to a whisper.

  "I uand." Naoki nodded.

  He took the tray, gng at the Sinistea and Polteageist with newfound appreciation.

  Sinistea's liquid form had a distinct swirl pattern, making it hard to tell where its eyes were hidden. But the gentle rippling in the cup hihat it was aware of him.

  Polteageist, meanwhile, was a bit more direct.

  As if sensing the ge in hands, it lifted the lid slightly, peeking out with wide, curious eyes to get a better look at Naoki.

  Naoki couldn't help but smile as he met Polteageist's gaze.

  The sed, Polteageist quickly shrank bato the teapot.

  It looked like a ti crab retreating into its shell.

  e to think of it, the ecology of these two Pokémon does resemble hermit crabs. They seek out teapots and teacups to inhabit. For example, when Sinistea evolves into Polteageist, it finds an antique teapot, moving from a teacup to its new "home."

  Many wild Sinistea and Polteageist be found blending in with stacks of tableware in hotels aaurants, mimig ordinary ceramics.

  "Amazing," Naoki remarked with genuine wonder.

  He wondered whether Sinistea and Polteageist became ghostly tea Pokémon because they inhabited tea sets or if they had always been that way. This thought led to an amusing question—what if one of these spirits actally took up residen, say, a toilet?

  "It really is remarkable," Mike agreed, nodding. "My grandfather collected these antique teacups as from all over. They were just sitting in the warehouse when one day, these two Pokémon appeared out of nowhere and decided to move in."

  "The first time I went to the warehouse and saw them, they scared me half to death! But when I realized they were harmless, I let them stay there."

  "What's even more amazing is that they don't need food to survive!" Mike added with a grin.

  Just then, a woman in a uniform walked over, carrying a small mae.

  She set it oable and said, "Here's the microscope you asked for, boss."

  "Perfect, thank you!" Mike replied, then turo Naoki, motioning to the Sinistea. "Let's take a closer look."

  Naoki pced Sinistea uhe microscope as Mike began adjusting it.

  "The teacups that Sinistea and Polteageist inhabit are usually famous antique tableware, and there are fakes everywhere. Authenties have a unique mark otom. Collectors look for this mark to tell the real ones apart."

  Naoki leaned forward, looking through the microscope, and indeed, he could see a signature-like pattern otom of the cup—proof that this was genuine.

  "See it?" Mike asked with a satisfied smile.

  Naoki nodded. "I do."

  Mike was about to say more when he suddenly noticed Polteageist. While they were distracted, it had lifted its lid and popped out a pair of tiny, purple legs, and was n to make a quick escape.

  Mike gasped. "The Polteageist is esg!"

  Naoki spun around to see it wobbling away.

  Hearing the otion, Polteageist hastes pace. Its lid, banced like a hat, wobbled and partially blocked its view.

  Just then, it bumped into something soft and furry. The impact made its tea-like body quiver, leaving it momentarily dizzy.

  When it recovered, it looked up to find itself face-to-face with Calyrex, who was gazing down at it with a, calm expression.

  Polteageist was startled and quickly performed a "Retreat" move, pulling its lid over itself with a decisive k as it settled bato the teapot, safe and sound.