"What?!"
"You're leaving again?!!"
At the entrance to the research institute, Steven stared at his friend, who had only just returned, his voice suddenly rising.
"Wait, you just gathered a bunch of doctors to study that thing. Why are you suddenly leaving?"
"What happens to the institute if you go?"
Chen Shi fell silent, then spoke with a hint of helplessness. "I can't help it. There's something I have to do."
"As for the institute, I'll have to let my teacher take charge."
"Shi, can you take me with you?" Jirachi flew into Chen Shi's arms and gazed up at him, blinking its little black eyes.
When Cogita had taken him away earlier, she hadn't brought Jirachi, Mew, or the other Mythical Pokémon, so they had waited here for him along with Steven.
Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Originally, he had planned to bring Eternatus, the Pokémon Sword and Shield Kings, Mew, Hoopa, and Little V. He hadn't intended to take Jirachi.
But faced with the little one's expectant gaze, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
"Yay~" Jirachi cried happily. "I love you most, most, most of all, Shi~"
"Old Chen, what are you going to do? Can I come along?" Seeing Chen Shi agree to take Jirachi, Steven suddenly wanted to go too.
He didn't know what Chen Shi was going to do, but following him would definitely be more interesting than digging for stones.
Chen Shi refused without even thinking.
You've got to be kidding. I'm not going on vacation. The place I'm heading to is crawling with Shadow Pokémon.
What if Steven came along and something happened to him?
I still need Mew to protect me.
Chen Shi patted the somewhat disappointed Steven and reassured him. "It's a bit dangerous where I'm going this