Night gradually draped White Silver Town in darkness, a velvet curtain settling over every rooftop and street.
Cynthia and Chen Shi didn't linger outside for long. Before the night fully deepened, the two returned to the villa.
The moment they stepped inside, a rich, fragrant aroma rushed into their noses—
Hot pot.
Inside the brightly lit living room, Phoebe and Steven were already seated, happily fishing for meat and vegetables bubbling in the steaming pot.
"Yo! Old Chen—back from your date, huh? Come eat with us!"
Steven waved his chopsticks with a grin the moment he spotted them.
Cynthia's ears turned red instantly beneath her hat.
The word "date" hit her like a Solar Beam.
She sat down with all the elegance she could muster… but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her calm façade.
Chen Shi, on the other hand, didn't even pretend.
He dropped into a seat, grabbed chopsticks, and started eating immediately.
Steven hid a knowing smile behind his cup.
Yes, he teased Cynthia intentionally—because teasing among close friends was a way of showing affection.
And Cynthia was not the fragile type; a little jab wouldn't shake her in the slightest.
Phoebe, however, was a different beast entirely.
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling like twin gossip lanterns.
"Chen Shi–ge, how was it? Something romantic happen? Anything interesting?"
Chen Shi's mouth twitched.
He knew exactly what she wanted.
Instead of answering, he casually scooped several slices of meat and plopped them into her bowl.
"Children shouldn't be so curious. Eat."
Phoebe stared at the meat—offended, but obedient—and began chewing.
Steven wiped his mouth.
"Old Chen, tomorrow's the match to enter the Top 8. Any thoughts on who we'll face?"
Chen Shi shrugged.
"No idea. But whoever it is… definitely won't be easy."
Only sixteen competitors remained.
At this level, every single opponent was a monster in their own right.
As long as he didn't get matched against Steven or Cynthia, he'd consider it a blessing.
If he did get matched with them… then he could only apologize.
Steven suddenly remembered something.
"Oh—there's a rule change tomorrow. The format shifts to 3-on-3."
"And semifinals will be full 6-v-6 with unlimited rotations," Cynthia added calmly.
Chen Shi nodded.
He had expected this.
Every major tournament ended with full-team battles—
the World Championship wouldn't be an exception.
And honestly?
He was confident.
If it came down to a full battle, he believed he could defeat anyone left in the bracket.
Cynthia spoke gently but seriously:
"Don't force anything. If your Pokémon get injured too much here, it may affect the later rounds."
Both Chen Shi and Steven nodded.
After Dinner
Cynthia returned to her room early.
Steven and Phoebe also headed upstairs.
Chen Shi stretched and went back to his own room—
Then stopped mid-motion.
"…I forgot to feed them."
He had gone out with Cynthia, then gotten distracted by hot pot…
His partners had been waiting inside their Poké Balls this whole time.
Guilt slammed into him.
He jumped out of bed, threw open his spatial bag, grabbed food, and released everyone at once.
The moment his Pokémon appeared, they all stared at him with the same expression—
Deep betrayal.
Even gentle Lady Florges was glaring at him ever so slightly.
Chen Shi rubbed his cheek awkwardly.
"…My bad, everyone. I really forgot dinner today. I'm very sorry."
He offered the Pokéblocks with both hands.
"Here. Eat. This is my fault."
"Draa-pult!"
Dragapult zipped forward first, snatching a Pokéblock and munching angrily.
The rest followed quickly, and soon the room filled with the comforting sound of Pokémon chewing.
Chen Shi exhaled in relief.
They weren't truly angry—only hungry.
They were his partners. His family.
He owed them better care than this.
He silently swore never to forget their meals again.
Togekiss Seizes the Moment
After eating, Togekiss fluttered forward—
eyes sparkling with opportunistic brilliance.
Tonight was perfect.
Romantic atmosphere?
Check.
Hot pot distractions?
Check.
Chen Shi drowning in guilt?
Double check.
A god-tier opportunity had arrived.
Her prized treasure—
ice cream—
had been off-limits for days because Mew kept stealing it.
But Mew hadn't come back for two whole days now.
Therefore…
Togekiss floated dramatically in front of Chen Shi and chirped:
"To-geh~ to-geh~ TO-GEEEEH!"
She wanted ice cream.
Chen Shi didn't even need translation.
He sighed, defeated.
"Fine, fine. When we go home, I'll buy you an entire box of ice cream."
"TO-GEH!!"
Togekiss lit up instantly, rubbing her face happily against his chest.
Chen Shi helplessly patted her head.
She may have been a pseudo-angelic Fairy-Type…
But she was also a shameless negotiator when she wanted treats.
He finally sat down, exhaling softly.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small white crystal—the one Mew had given him—turning it between his fingers.
Mew still hadn't come back.
Two whole nights.
No sign of the mischievous pink cat.
Normally, no matter how far it wandered, it always returned at mealtime.
Now?
Nothing.
Chen Shi frowned deeply.
"…Could it really be related to the World Tree?"
He remembered Mew's earlier hints—
Something was wrong with the World Tree.
A creeping unease tugged at him.
Had something already happened?
But after thinking it over, he shook his head.
If danger was imminent, Mew wouldn't have stayed with him so leisurely before.
It didn't act panicked.
Then…
Where did it go?
Chen Shi stared out the window, voice barely a whisper.
Outside, the night sky stretched endlessly—
dark blue, dotted with distant stars, eternally silent.
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