Yong drained the coffee in his hand just as Kojima emerged from a passage to the side. Kojima looked at him with an odd smile and said,
"So you're the youngest Researcher everyone has been talking about! Wonderful! I finally get to meet you!"
At those words, the room fell silent. The people in white coats gathered around the computers all turned to look at Yong and Kojima, their faces filled with surprise and uncertainty.
"Ah..."
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Yong forced a smile and hurried to his feet. He gave everyone a small smile, then turned to Kojima and asked hastily,
"Mr. Kojima, what did Professor Sycamore say?"
Kojima handed the Pokédex back to Yong, laughed, and nodded.
"Of course! Now that he knows it's you, Professor Sycamore is delighted and eager to meet you! Please follow me!"
Kojima gestured for him to come along, and Yong hurried after him, escaping all those strange stares...
Once the two disappeared into the passage, a flurry of whispers broke out behind them.
"That's Shiyan Yong?"
"The one who discovered the secret of Mega Evolution before our professor did, and successfully Mega Evolved Steelix and Metagross?!"
"Wow... he's so young! He's still a teenager, isn't he?"
"No wonder he's the youngest Researcher. He really carries himself well."
"I'm so jealous... I'm still a research assistant..."
"Aren't we all... He's also Laverre City's Gym Leader! He's talented as a Trainer, too!"
With those burning stares finally off his back, Yong couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief.
Beside him, Kojima studied him curiously, hesitation and respect mingling in his expression. Eventually, he asked,
"Researcher Ishida, you... dared to test it with Steelix as soon as you discovered Mega Evolution existed... weren't you worried?"
Worried about what?
Yong gave a