Spicy!
Only after realizing what he'd done did Lucas's mind buzz with that single word.
Especially with that prickling feeling—the sense of being stared at.
He had no need to guess—the glare must be from Oranguru.
And so it was.
Oranguru pulled its gaze from Lucas, meeting the Forest Sage's triumphantly arched brow.
Even your own human patron was won over by my juice.
Admit it, foolish kin! My skills are superior.
No need for words—Oranguru got the message.
But it wasn't too angry. If the situation were reversed, it would have been just as smug.
Normally, neither Oranguru would have been this emotional, but when kin are involved, it's different.
Tapu Koko and Gladion also drained their cups in one go. Tapu Koko, a regular, was used to the taste, but Gladion couldn't help but exclaim softly, "So good!"
Though it felt a bit rude, in his mind, if he had to rate this juice against the Oranguru's he'd had last night… he'd pick this.
But Gladion was no fool. That thought stayed private—final judgment would have to wait until the next tasting.
Seeing everyone had sampled both, Oranguru slid its chilled, glass cups in front of them, ice cubes clinking.
Condensation beaded on the frosty glasses, invitingly cool.
Lucas swallowed, craving that surprise he suspected lingered in the adjusted recipe.
If the Forest Sage's juice was "back to basics" with fresh ingredients, Oranguru's offered modern elegance.
By the light of Tapu Koko's sparks:
Pinap, honey, other berries for extra layers—golden juice shimmering under the light.
Ice cubes floated lazily, releasing coolness and blending with the drink.
In Alola's long summer heat, nothing could be more tempting.
Plus: lemon slices perched on the glass and tiny, decorative flourishes.
The style? Impeccable! The photo-worthy kind you post for likes.
In terms of appearance, Oranguru had a clear win—but taste was the real test.
Lucas took up the cold glass, pulling it close.
Just as the Forest Sage used homegrown, fresh fruit, Oranguru's were farm-grown—honey painstakingly produced by Vespiquen herself.
On ingredients alone, Lucas was confident.
But there was no denying: the Forest Sage's produce was freshly picked, bursting with juice.
Oranguru's fruit had spent some days in the fridge—inevitably less fresh.
Oranguru, aware of this, likely opted for an ice-cold version to smooth over the mouthfeel.
Thinking this, Lucas sipped through the straw.
Instantly—
Pinap's sour and honey's sweet exploded on his tongue, washing away the summer heat with a refreshing chill.
The first sip was stunning.
Savoring the next, Lucas even tasted a hint of "astringency."
Normally, that'd be a disaster for food or drink.
But here, the slight astringency, the result of keeping fruit cold, added complexity. Balanced with ice, the taste became richer, not overpowering.
Amidst delicious novelty, Lucas, Gladion, and Tapu Koko unconsciously finished the drinks.
That cooling sensation made them all sigh in relief.
So refreshing—!
Who knows the power of a summer iced drink? Enough to risk a stomachache for, again and again.
Now it was the Forest Sage's turn to fall silent. Oranguru, eyebrow raised, flashed a look.
See? Even if my ingredients aren't as fresh, I can achieve this.
Admit it, frog-in-a-well—whether in skill or smarts, I am stronger.
"Yaleh Yuta."
The Forest Sage glared back. In the end, their judgments would decide.
Lucas, Gladion, and Tapu Koko now had to vote under intense pressure.
Tapu Koko went first.
It showed no pretense as an island guardian; unable to choose between the two, it simply decided to cheat.
"Tapu Koko!"
I abstain!
Forest Sage & Oranguru: "…"
No abstaining!
Threatened with "no more service," Tapu Koko reluctantly voted—by placing its shell claw on the glass cup.
Humans really are remarkable creatures. After all, Oranguru with human experience had so many clever tricks.
Tapu Koko, lover of novelty, was entranced by the ice cubes—a whole new sensation.
The Forest Sage's juice was reliably delicious, but less surprising.
First point: Oranguru.
Both Oranguru and the Forest Sage then directed their stares to Gladion.
Between the two, Gladion was sweating bullets.
The cool thrill from his juice had all but melted; now, beads of actual sweat formed on his brow.
Long torn between the two, Gladion finally chose the coconut shell—the Forest Sage's creation.
You can't blame him; after sampling so many human-world drinks, the Forest Sage's simple, explosive flavors stunned his senses.
The score: one to one.
The final decider—Lucas.
Now Lucas felt nothing but crushing pressure. His hand wavered between the two cups before making a decision.
"I choose—"
Just then, a powerful presence surged toward the treehouse.
Tapu Koko sensed it first, called out as warning, and shielded Lucas and Gladion.
The next instant—
"Screee!!!"
With a deafening shriek, a black shadow crashed down from above—like a meteor, smashing through the roof with brute force.
Cough cough!
Gladion, the only one caught off guard, coughed endlessly, lungs burning.
He was the only unprepared one; Lucas, shielded by Tapu Koko, had avoided inhaling the dust.
Glowing psychic energy enveloped them, keeping Lucas and Gladion unharmed despite the collapse.
With the roof blown open, sunlight flooded in.
They now could clearly see Tapu Koko grappling with a massive Pokémon—one that looked like a plush bear, its pink and black fur starkly contrasting.
No—calling it a standoff wasn't quite right. Tapu Koko was clearly being pushed back by this brute force.
Its carapace trembled; the Pokémon's grip only tightened.
"That's… Bewear?"
Gladion, recovering, rubbed tears from his eyes, shocked.
He wasn't surprised to see a Bewear—in the wilds of Alola, Bewear were a dangerous but not unseen presence.
What stunned Gladion was the raw power the Bewear wielded—even Tapu Koko struggled to withstand it.
The last time a Pokémon overpowered Tapu Koko, it was Lucas's Swampert.
Now, this Bewear seemed to be in a frenzy, completely ignoring Tapu Koko's defense.
"Yaleh Yuta?"
Oranguru glanced at the Forest Sage, asking if it had any idea what was happening.
Had a grudge from some past affair come home to roost?
"Yoyo Yuta."
The Forest Sage shook its head—it had no clue either.
Half an hour ago, it had traded the Bewear some homemade honey. Why the sudden change?
Applying its sharp mind, the Forest Sage paced behind the humans, deep in thought.
It guessed Bewear's agitation must relate to the two new human faces.
After all, it and Tapu Koko were both familiar to Bewear. Unless something extraordinary had happened, Bewear wouldn't do this.
Suddenly recalling a long night when Bewear had sought help in a panic, the Forest Sage's mind clicked.
It called out to Oranguru: "Yuta Yuta."
"Kid, relay my words to your patron and his brother, will you?"
Though irritated at being called "kid," Oranguru faithfully relayed the message by telepathy.
'Bewear has picked up her cub's scent. Have either of you recently spent time around a Stufful?'
Gladion, a self-proclaimed shut-in lately, shook his head in confusion—he hadn't left the villa in days, never mind seen a Stufful.
Lucas, with a jolt, suddenly recalled why Bewear might be here. He'd changed clothes, bathed thoroughly the night before…
But even without direct contact, Bewear seemed to have picked up the scent.
At this moment—
Tapu Koko, nearing exhaustion in a purely defensive struggle, began sparking, pushing its powers for a last-resort boost.
Lucas called out urgently: "Use Instruct! Stop Bewear!"
"Yaleh Yuta!"
Oranguru responded quickly, waving its radiant fan. A mysterious wave passed Tapu Koko to strike Bewear.
Bewear's movements paused, and Tapu Koko's burden was lifted.
But not for long. One more shrill cry, and Bewear brute-forced through the mental hold, pushing forward even harder.
Oranguru was about to try again when the Forest Sage spoke up.
"Yuta."
Let's work together.
Both being high-IQ Pokémon, Oranguru immediately understood and nodded in agreement.
Their rivalry was meaningful only in peacetime—at a time like this, unity was required.
Together, both Oranguru waved their fans, enacting a joint "Instruct" move. This time, even Bewear, struggling madly, was forced to stand still like a puppet.
Now it could be reasoned with.
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward: "You're looking for your child? I know where your child is!"
Even immobilized, Bewear twisted its head to glare at Lucas, as if promising to break him in half if he'd harmed Stufful.
"Screee!"
Another shriek—Bewear was desperate for an answer.