The progress bar crawled forward. 10%. 35%. Ren held his breath. At 72%, the bar stalled. The internet cafe's router let out a soft, dying whine. "Don't do this to me," Ren pleaded.
The neon sign of the internet cafe flickered against the rain-slicked pavement of the city. Inside, a young man named Ren sat hunched over a glowing monitor in a dimly lit booth. The clock in the corner of his screen read 2:45 AM. The progress bar crawled forward
He closed his eyes and remembered the melodies. He remembered the triumph in the music when Ash Ketchum finally stood on the world stage, battling champions. That music had told Ren that no matter how long the journey takes, or how many times you fail, the summit is always within reach. The computer beeped. Download Complete. Ren held his breath