He's a young kid, eager and bright, and he feels on top of the world.
The Youngster wants to be like the other kids, who are all aiming to become great Pokémon trainers; the ones who manage to make it big.
But when he runs out, the child feels drawn to a nearby route, the feeling of excitement gripping his heart as his legs brush against tall grass. Running, he finds himself in an open area, where he could see other figures and silhouettes loitering around. Other trainers, he thinks, and he proceeds without hesitation.
His legs are moving, but his mind is somewhere else, and suddenly he is tired, sitting down on the grass with blankness clouding his senses. The young child stands up after a while, but he feels like he just cannot move from that spot. He doesn't, and as a light breeze passes by the boy wonders if time has passed at all since he's stayed there.
He is awaiting something, and there is the constant nagging of anticipation at the back of his mind. It's annoying at times, and exactly what was he staying here for?
Sometimes, he tries to speak or challenge the neighboring trainers; he scuffles about and shouts out to them with his hands cupped around his mouth.
They respond, but when he whips around to speak to them, he finds that his eyes are either closed, or his hands are obscuring his vision from whoever answered his calls. The Youngster takes small steps to their voices, wondering why his hands and eyes won't budge, but he never gets to them.
We can't make eye contact.
When he stumbles back, feet guiding him clumsily, he lowers his hand only to be facing the same area of grass as he did before.
Then, he eventually comes, hat lowered on his forehead, with his black hair messy around his face. The Youngster's feet are twitching slightly, and he feels something stir in the pit of his stomach. He suppresses a shiver as he feels the boy approach, but he can't help but think that something is actually happening for once.
"I knew I had to fight you!" The words slip out naturally, and he finally feels as if his position from that patch of green was just a starting line as he tumbles over his feet to stop the strolling boy.
The younger boy throws his foot down, pointing a finger at the passing trainer. He keeps his defiant expression before the quiet kid slowly raises his red eyes up to his, and almost mindlessly, the child throws out his Ekans before his opponent.
Still silent, the boy only nods his head in acknowledgment before he reaches at his belt and retrieves a pokeball, chucking it forward. A short flash erupts, and his Charmeleon is now in front of him, wisps of flame escaping its mouth.
The Youngster begins shouting attacks, stupid attacks, that he just can't help but command, and he watches as Charmeleon uses his flames to brusquely damage both his Ekans and Sandshrew. Disappointed, he calls them back into their pokeballs when they collapse, and relinquishes some of his money over to the winner. I knew I'd lose too.
The black-haired boy impassively takes his reward, and continues on his way without sparing another glance at the dazed child he had just defeated.
Glumly, the kid stands there in silence, now frozen on the spot where he had ran after the other trainer. He casts a wary glance around, over the shrubs and grasses, to the others who had lingered around the route, who were now stilled at the place where they had encountered that one kid. Each had similar expressions of… something he could not exactly describe.
Did they know? Did they already know that they were only there to provide more for him?
Playing around with his beat-up cap, the Youngster kicks the grass at his feet and sighs to himself.
His purpose was already fulfilled.