The front door creaked open with the familiar rhythm of homecoming. Miles stepped inside, tired but steady, his mind still somewhat elsewhere from the wilds. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of the TV in the living room.
Seated on the couch was his father. The man had just returned from a grueling month of work aboard a ship. His work as a heavy-duty repairman was tough—welding and soldering complicated equipment for long hours in harsh conditions. He worked for a shipping company, repairing engines and electronics in the bowels of massive cargo ships. The job was physically demanding, sometimes dangerous, but it also paid enough to keep them afloat.
Now, despite his exhaustion, his father was sitting in front of the TV, watching the news about the new phenomenon transforming the world. The TV was tuned to a channel filled with scattered reports of the Pokémon game making waves everywhere. Kids flooding outdoors, adults quitting their jobs, and entire markets shifting as people scrambled to understand what this all meant.
On the screen, reporters explained that many were leaving their desks and workplaces behind, captivated by the game. Some parents were worried, fearing that their children might not want to go back to school after their vacations—addicted to the game or simply lost in the thrill of catching Pokémon or battling online.
His father sat in silence, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand the chaos unfolding. The scene showed kids playing in parks, adults strategizing in cafes, markets buzzing with the trading of rare berries and Pokémon items. The world was changing faster than anyone had expected, and nobody knew where all of it would lead.
Finally, his father glanced over when Miles entered, eyes narrowing slightly. There was a guarded look on his face—concern mixed with curiosity. He kept his eyes on the screen as Miles approached.
"Been out there again?" his father asked, voice tired but steady. He gestured vaguely at the TV. "They're saying everyone's losing their minds over this Pokémon thing. Kids outside, adults quitting jobs, markets crashing… It's all just endless chaos."
Miles shrugged, trying not to show how much he'd been thinking about it. "Yeah, I've been exploring. It's not as crazy as it looks. People are just getting excited, that's all."
His father turned his gaze back to the screen, but Miles caught the worry lurking beneath the surface. He knew his father was trying to keep a cool head, but he also knew the man was secretly concerned—about the changes, about the world, and about his own son.
Finally, his father spoke again, voice cautious. "I've been watching all this, wondering if you're messing around with that game too. It's everywhere, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. Kids quitting school, parents freaking out—the money those companies are making now is nuts. I mean, I worked a month straight just to keep us afloat. And now people are just... throwing everything away to play."
Miles hesitated. He knew his father's concerns weren't just about the game—they were about the future, about how easily everything was changing. But he also sensed the unspoken question: Was Miles just wasting time on it too?
His father leaned back and rubbed his face, sighing. "When you get a chance, we should talk. I want to hear what you're thinking, not just about the game but about all this. Might as well get it out in the open now."
Miles nodded quietly. The atmosphere was tense but not hostile. His father's words carried concern, not accusation. The man just wanted to understand.
As Miles sat down across from him, he glanced at the TV again. The world was caught in a whirlwind of change. It was surreal—kids outside, adults obsessing over things that seemed almost like gambling, shifting markets, and a new culture forming on the fly.
His father looked at him, eyes searching. "Just don't go off on some stupid adventure and forget everything else. I mean, I know you've got your own mind, but don't forget what's important. We're just trying to keep things stable. That's all I want."
Miles looked at his father and offered a determined nod. "I plan to focus on the game. I can make a lot of money through it, and I want to become a professional trainer. There's a tournament organized by Arceus Corp. The winner can earn fifty thousand dollars, with other prizes for the runner-up and top eight. If I get into the top eight, I want you to at least let me try for a year. If I can't make enough money by then, I'll listen to you—seriously. But I need this chance."
His father studied him for a moment, eyes filled with concern and skepticism. After a long silence, he muttered, "You're going crazy. That's... that's not how things work. But if this is really what you want, I won't stop you. Just... don't forget what's real. Don't lose yourself in it."
Reluctantly, he nodded again. "Fine. I'll let you try. But if after a year you're not doing enough, you come home, and we talk about real future plans. No more dreams about some fancy game."
Miles nodded back. "That's all I ask. I need to see if I can make this work. I'll prove to you I can be serious about it."
His father sighed, the weight of the decision settling over him. He thought Miles was losing his mind, chasing something that might just be a passing fad. But he would keep those thoughts to himself—for now. The boy was determined, and as much as it worried him, he wasn't about to hold him back from trying.
The TV continued broadcasting the chaos outside, but inside these walls, an unspoken understanding was forming—about the future, about dreams, and about a boy trying to find his place amid a world in flux.