As the opening electronic beat and soaring vocals flooded his ears, the dingy walls of the internet cafe seemed to melt away. He wasn't a tired, stressed-out adult sitting in the dark anymore. He was a kid with boundless potential, standing in a field of tall grass, looking toward a horizon full of adventures yet to be had.
The years 2019 to 2022 had been the hardest of his life. The world had shut down, isolated and quiet. During those long, uncertain days locked in his small apartment, Ren had found an unlikely sanctuary in the Pokémon anime. While the real world felt like it was crumbling, the animated world offered bright skies, unwavering friendships, and the relentless, optimistic pursuit of a dream. As the opening electronic beat and soaring vocals
Ren didn't waste a second. He plugged his worn-out headphones into the jack, unzipped the file, and clicked on the first MP3 track. The years 2019 to 2022 had been the hardest of his life
"Come on," Ren whispered to the empty booth, clicking the link. While the real world felt like it was