"Hey, Chen—what are you staring off into space for? Don't tell me you're sad because your good… friend just left?"
In the hotel lobby, Steven couldn't resist teasing when he saw Chen Shi sitting on the lobby sofa, staring blankly at the floor.
Chen Shi snapped back to reality and glared.
"What are you imagining? She and I are just normal friends."
He leaned back, eyes unfocused.
"I was thinking about something else."
And he really was.
The Elite Four exhibition match earlier had been scripted, predictable—yet something about it had lingered with him.
Phoebe, wild and uninhibited.
Moora, unmoving as a mountain.
Lance, radiating pride like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Lorelei, calm and composed.
All of them had presence.
Confidence.
Certainty.
And now he understood something:
All of these people were used to winning, used to climbing to the top.
They believed they were born for that peak.
Cynthia and Steven too—he'd simply grown used to their auras.
But Chen Shi… did not have that same unshakable self-belief.
He realized that, before even competing in the World Championship, he had already told himself:
"Just do your best."
Not "I'll win."
Not "I'll sweep them all."
Just do your best.
He lowered his gaze.
He remembered Swampert.
Remembered Charmander's trembling determination.
Remembered Togekiss's trust, Dragapult's loyalty, Metang's hunger for strength, Florges's quiet dedication.
He had promised them—
"I'll take you all to the highest stage."
So why… did he feel like he wasn't enough?
Why was he hesitating?
Why did he keep hiding himself?
He had been hiding his strength his whole childhood.
Then as a teen.
Then now.
Hide long enough, and even your confidence begins to fade.
There had been a time—when he was younger—when he believed he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone.
Where did that Chen Shi go?
His voice came out quiet.
"Steven… why does life have so many things we can't control?"
Steven stopped mid-step.
On Chen Shi's face was something he had never seen before—confusion.
It startled him.
This friend of his… this genius… this unpredictable, frighteningly skilled boy…
Seeing him look lost felt wrong.
Steven breathed out, then answered honestly.
"Life always has things out of our control. Take me, for example."
"I love stones. I love battles. I love Pokémon. But how much time do I really spend on any of that?"
"As the heir of the Stone family, I have to learn business, diplomacy, management… I don't get to mine stones whenever I want."
"I only truly started doing what I love when I began traveling last year."
"But that's the trade-off. I was born into privilege, so I have responsibilities to match."
Chen Shi exhaled slowly.
It made sense.
Steven's identity brought both power and burden.
After a long pause, Chen Shi asked quietly:
"Do you think… I think too much before doing anything? That I hesitate too much?"
Steven froze—then understood instantly.
He spoke carefully.
"If it were anyone else, hiding strength wouldn't matter."
"But you? I don't think you need to hide anything."
"Your grandparents are top-tier breeders. Their influence reaches higher than you realize."
"And we're friends, aren't we? If something happens, do you think I wouldn't help you?"
He placed a hand on Chen Shi's shoulder.
"Don't forget—my father isn't just Devon Corporation's president. He's the vice-chairman of the Hoenn League."
Something warm stirred in Chen Shi's chest.
He touched the necklace hidden under his shirt.
Then his hand brushed over a Poké Ball at his belt.
Quietly—he made a decision.
24 Days Later — Inside Meteor Falls
"Chen! Come quick—I found another one!"
Deep in the cavern, Steven ran over, holding up a newly unearthed stone.
Chen Shi paused his Pokémon training and took a look.
A Heracross Mega Stone.
Not bad.
In 24 days, Steven had mined five Mega Stones in total.
"Keep it," Chen Shi said. "You'll need it later."
Steven nodded, grinning like a child with candy.
"I arranged for someone to help gather stones outside too. No idea how that's going, but I trust him."
"You trust that person?" Chen Shi asked.
"Completely. And I didn't tell him what they do—just said I collect them. No one will suspect a thing."
Naturally.
Everyone knew Steven was obsessed with rocks.
Him collecting weird stones was normal.
And he had promised to split all Mega Stones 50-50.
So Chen Shi simply nodded.
"I'm leaving Meteor Falls soon. What about you?"
Steven froze.
Then sighed.
"If you're leaving, why would I stay? I'll go too."
He hesitated.
"But… there's one spot I dug earlier. I know something's inside. Let me dig one more day. Otherwise, I can't sleep."
Chen Shi laughed.
"Fine."
He waved as he began to pack up.
"If you need anything, come to the ranch. I'll head back first."
"No problem."
Steven waved.
"See you tomorrow."
As Chen Shi walked toward the exit, light from outside filtering into the cavern—
A silver-white figure stepped quietly from behind a boulder.
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