After checking the photo again and again, Mingyou was almost certain: the gem Clay had sponsored for the Junior Cup was the Light Stone in which Reshiram slept. What were the odds?
"Now I have to win!"
If it was being offered as a prize, nobody had recognized the Light Stone. They just thought it was an exceptionally valuable gem. If someone else won it, they would probably turn around and sell it.
Mingyou knew he had no claim to it, but he couldn't let the Light Stone fall into someone else's hands. Team Plasma was surely looking for it too.
If I use the Light Stone as bait... No, Reshiram wouldn't accept me. What about Akari? She'd qualify, right?
The tournament hadn't even begun, yet Mingyou already felt certain he would win.
Shali wiped the milk tea off her face with a handkerchief, stood up, and snatched the photo back. Arms crossed, she gave him an aggrieved look.
"Just a moment ago, you weren't interested at all. Why are you so worked up now? Did you figure something out? Explain yourself, or we're not done talking about you spraying milk tea all over my face!"
"Uh, well..."
Mingyou finally realized what he'd done and hurriedly apologized. Then, since he trusted Shali, he gave her a brief explanation.
After hearing him out, Shali glanced around cautiously and sat down. Disbelief filled her face as she asked, her voice trembling with excitement, "You're saying... that gem is actually Reshiram, the legendary White Hero of Unova who represents truth?"
"Unless something unexpected is going on..."
"Oh my goodness!"
Shali picked up her Camera, thoroughly excited.
She had never dreamed she would get to see Reshiram. Statues of the Pokémon stood not only in the Unova Region but even in the Kalos Region,