"Hm?"
A girl wearing a thin white short-sleeved shirt and loose shorts stood up, holding a Pyukumuku with its innards spilling out.
Pokémon like Pyukumuku lived in warm, shallow coastal waters, such as those along beaches. They expelled their internal organs to catch food or fight enemies, and they also competed in tests of strength with their companions. Once they found a spot they liked, they would stay there without moving.
Because of their strange appearance and habits, tourists often disliked them. For that reason, beaches catering to tourists offered a job that involved throwing Pyukumuku back into the sea.
This both prevented Pyukumuku from starving as they sat motionless on the beach and accommodated the tourists' feelings, making it fairly meaningful work.
The girl before them was doing precisely that sort of odd job.
"That's strange. What a lovely smell-
Is it herbal medicine? It doesn't seem like a standardized potion-"
The girl's nose twitched slightly as she followed the scent, looking toward Tong Hua and his group.
Her gaze soon settled on the waist pouch Tong Hua carried. The delicate fragrance of medicinal liquid that kept enticing her nose was coming from there.
"Could it be a homemade potion? What an unusual blend of scents. It feels like a potion I've never encountered before-"
The girl threw the Pyukumuku in her hand back into the sea with a whoosh, then walked briskly toward Tong Hua and the others.
Her steps were light, but her manners were very proper, giving the impression of a well-educated young lady from a scholarly family.
"Excuse me."
The girl stopped a few steps away from Tong Hua and bowed politely. "My name is Manyue, and I'm studying pharmacology. May I ask-is the potion in your waist pouch homemade?"
Her voice was soft and