Chapter 70: Boiling Point

"Alright, training's done for the day," Xiu announced, checking his watch. The sun was beginning its descent, painting the sky in warm hues. "Time to wrap up."

"Huh? So early?" Shirley asked, pausing mid-throw with the bouncy ball, surprised. She was just starting to get into a rhythm with Vulpix's dodging drill.

Xiu just smiled mysteriously. "Are you hungry?" he asked instead of answering directly. Before she could reply, he continued, "Good timing. I suddenly feel like making Mild Honey Curry. Come on, I'll teach you."

"I... I wasn't trying to slack off!" Shirley protested automatically, thinking he was testing her commitment again. Then his words registered. "Wait... teach me? Mild Honey Curry"

"Mild Honey Curry." Xiu repeated patiently, already walking back towards the house. "Good for cooling down after training, especially in this hot weather."

Shirley hesitated, looking uncertainly from Xiu's retreating back to Vulpix, then back again. "Is... is that really okay?" she asked, trailing after him cautiously. "Skipping training time?"

"Training isn't just about mindless repetition," Xiu replied without turning around, his tone flat but reassuring. "Rest and recovery are just as important, a short break won't hurt." He glanced back briefly. "Unless, of course, you prefer to continue the dodging drills…"

"No! Curry sounds great!" Shirley agreed immediately, unusually firm as lightness entered her step, and a spark returning to her eyes. Anything was better than more training.

Back in the spacious kitchen, Shirley, now wearing an apron, carefully monitored a pot simmering on the stove under Xiu's instruction, stirring occasionally. Xiu sat at the kitchen table, sampling a small bowl of the sweet, fragrant concoction – a simple mix of honey, sugar, and some local herbs known for their cooling properties.

"Mmm, sweetness is about right," Xiu commented after tasting. "Keep it simmering for about another hour, then turn off the heat. Let the pot cool down in a basin of cold water before putting it in the refrigerator. It tastes best above room temperature, just not too hot."

"Got it!" Shirley replied cheerfully, seemingly happy just to be doing something other than strenuous exercise. Or perhaps just happy not to be training.

"Alright, I'll leave you to it," Xiu said, finishing his sample bowl. "I need to go fetch Yuto. He should be finishing up his own training soon." He rinsed his bowl, glanced briefly towards Vulpix (who was now napping peacefully in a patch of sunlight near the kitchen door), and headed out.

Left alone in the quiet house, Shirley felt a strange sense of emptiness settle over her. She held Vulpix close, stroking its soft fur, wandering back into the living room. She tried picking up one of the textbooks Xiu had assigned, flipped through a few pages, but found herself unable to concentrate. Restless. She tossed the book aside and turned on the television, needing the noise to fill the silence…

An hour later, the timer she'd set chimed. "Time's up!" Shirley carefully turned off the stove burner and, using thick oven mitts, lifted the heavy pot, placing it into the basin of cool water she'd prepared in the sink, just as Xiu had instructed. The sweet, slightly herbal aroma filled the kitchen.

"Hmm," Shirley murmured, eyeing the pot. "Watched it cook for so long… surely a little taste wouldn't hurt…" She looked around guiltily, found a small tasting spoon, and dipped it in. "Hiss! Hot!" She blew on the spoonful carefully before sipping. Sweet, comforting. Delicious.

Just as she was about to take another 'secret' taste, a familiar, unwelcome voice called out from the front of the house, followed by the sound of the front door opening.

"Yuto? Brother Yuto, are you home?" It was Chanel.

Hearing that voice, an inexplicable surge of irritation washed over Shirley. All the carefully constructed calm from the cooking lesson, all the gentle advice from Xiu about controlling her emotions, seemed to evaporate instantly. An old, familiar anger flared within her. She quickly put the spoon down, wiped her mouth, and marched out of the kitchen towards the front hall, forgetting Xiu's warnings about strategy and patience.

Chanel had already let herself in, Eevee trotting calmly behind her as if she owned the place. Seeing Shirley emerge from the kitchen, Chanel didn't even offer a proper greeting. "Where's Brother Yuto?" she demanded, her tone implying Shirley was merely an obstacle to be bypassed.

Something inside Shirley snapped— all the years of swallowed insults, forced smiles, and quiet resentment boiled over. "Get out," she spat, her voice trembling slightly with suppressed rage. "Get out of my house. Now!"

The direct confrontation, the raw anger, clearly startled Chanel. She blinked, momentarily taken aback, unable to process this sudden shift from Shirley's usual passive avoidance. "What are you looking at?" Shirley pressed, stepping forward aggressively, fueled by righteous fury. "Get the hell out!"

— — —

Meanwhile, Xiu found Yuto down by the riverbank, but not training as expected. He was just sitting slumped on the grassy embankment, staring blankly at the flowing water. Growlithe lay quietly beside him, head resting on its paws, sensing its trainer's somber mood.

"Knew I'd find you here," Xiu commented quietly, appearing beside them. Vulpix trotted curiously towards the river's edge.

"Hmm?" Yuto looked up dully, registering Xiu's presence without much reaction. "Oh. Hey."

Xiu walked over and squatted down beside Growlithe, taking the opportunity to gently stroke the large dog's head. Growlithe offered a weak tail thump in response. Seeing Yuto's continued apathy, Xiu prompted gently, "Everything alright?"

Yuto seemed to pull himself together slightly. "Yeah… fine. Just thinking." He looked at Xiu. "Why are you here?"

"Shirley made Mild Honey Curry," Xiu explained. "Sent me to fetch you back for some."

A faint, bitter smile touched Yuto's lips. "Mild Honey Curry? Oh boy. Remember that 'cake' she tried making last week after you showed her? It was… an experience. Torture, mostly."

Xiu chuckled, deciding not to defend Shirley's culinary skills this time. "Yeah," he admitted. "Even Grandpa couldn't hide his expression after the first bite. Made a quick excuse and disappeared."

"Figured as much," Yuto sighed, though a hint of amusement entered his voice. "You conveniently 'packed it up for later' before I could try any." Despite his reluctance, he pushed himself to his feet. "Alright, might as well head back."

Xiu fell into step beside him as they started walking back towards the villa. "You know," Xiu added casually, "Shirley seemed genuinely concerned about you today. Noticed you were down. Made the soup specifically to try and cheer you up. Even if it tastes awful," he grinned, "you have to eat a big bowl. For her sake."

"Ah, man… let me suffer in peace…" Yuto groaned, though the teasing seemed to lighten his mood further.

They bantered back and forth on the walk back, approaching the villa area. As they neared the house, Growlithe suddenly stopped, ears perked, letting out a low growl, staring intently towards the front door.

Yuto immediately went alert, sensing his Pokémon's reaction. He strained his ears. Faintly, carried on the breeze, he could hear… arguing? Raised voices? He looked questioningly at Xiu. "What's going on? Sounds like trouble at home."

"I don't know," Xiu replied, his own expression turning instantly cold, serious. "Everything was quiet when I left."

Yuto didn't wait for further discussion, breaking into a run towards the house. As he got closer, the sounds became clearer – definitely arguing, sharp and angry. He recognized one voice instantly – Chanel's. His expression turned puzzled. He slowed instinctively as he reached the front path, raising a hand to push open the door.

But Xiu suddenly reached out, grabbing Yuto's arm, pulling him back. "Wait!" Xiu hissed, his voice low, urgent. "What are you doing?"

"It's Chanel!" Yuto whispered back, confused by Xiu's reaction. "She's arguing with Shirley! I have to see what's wrong!"

"Don't just barge in," Xiu cautioned firmly. "Not until you know the situation." He gently steered Yuto away from the front door, towards the side of the house, near the living room window. "Quietly. Let's listen first." His movements were much more cautious now, almost stealthy.

Yuto, realizing Xiu might be right, reluctantly followed, curiosity replacing his initial impulse to intervene. They crept towards the window, staying low, listening intently to the argument raging inside. The voices were clear now.

"…and two years ago!" Shirley's voice, high-pitched with fury, rang out. "You deliberately broke Brother's model airship, then blamed it on me! You forgot, maybe, but I didn't! You b*tch!"

"So what if I did?" Chanel's voice, dripping with smug contempt, retorted. "Serves you right for being so stupid! If you weren't such an easy target, maybe people wouldn't mess with you!"

"Don't deny it!" Shirley shot back. "I remember everything! Every time you bullied me, every lie you told my brother to turn him against me…"

On and on it went. Shirley, apparently emboldened by righteous anger, was unleashing years of pent-up frustration, dredging up incident after incident, big and small, from their childhood right up to the present, her accusations relentless, specific, leaving Chanel little room to deny or deflect. Xiu was almost impressed; Shirley apparently did possess a mental 'notebook' documenting every perceived slight.

Xiu glanced sideways at Yuto. His friend stood frozen, face pale, eyes wide with disbelief, completely dumbfounded as he passively absorbed the venomous exchange, the raw history of manipulation and cruelty being laid bare on the other side of the wall. The carefully constructed image of his 'friend' Chanel, and perhaps even his perception of his 'annoying little sister', was being systematically destroyed and rebuilt in real-time.

Xiu looked away, gazing up at the afternoon sky, then gently patted Yuto's shoulder. "Hey," he whispered softly. "Try to take it easy, okay?"

Suddenly, the tone of the argument inside shifted again, escalating from verbal insults to something more physical. They heard a sharp cry, followed by the distinct, angry roar of Pokémon.

The battle had begun.