Littleroot Town was in Vincent's sights as he stood on the pathway that would have him only take a few steps to be within the small town's boundaries.

With the distant sound of people chattering, in addition to a faint ocean breeze, his attention, however, was not focused on the destination, but on the pages of his journal that he'd just taken a moment to write in yet again.

Vincent sighed, wiping a strand of hair back caught on his forehead from the accumulated sweat that's dried up while on the walk towards Littleroot, quickly glanced at what he wrote.

Didn't think I'd be making moves already, especially with an officer no-less. Nah, let's not turn into a Brock here since I imagine he'd be dying to give an Officer Jenny his number. I'm just lucky enough since her, and Nurse Joy as a matter of fact, have been generous enough to lend a hand and it'd be nice if somebody calls up my number to offer me a job. I just hope I don't get too attached to anyone here…I feel like if that were to happen, I wouldn't want to leave this world.

I pray it doesn't come to that. In the meantime, let's stay alive, stay alert, and hopefully this will be all over before I know it. I could use a Mudkip though…

As he held the journal in one hand, he clamped it shut as he put it away. Looking onto Littleroot Town's entrance, noting how he'd expected something smaller and much more different compared to what he remembered, he gently took off his sunglasses, squinted at the blazing sun peering his vision, he wiped off the small build up of fog and dry sweat that had built up while on his walk.

Plopping the sunglasses back on his face, he was satisfied to see the lens being much more transparent and felt relief that the sun was no longer beaming down at his light sensitive eyes.

Getting closer within Littleroot's boundaries, there seemed to be an eruption of chatter that appeared to actively amplify with each step he took to get closer to the town. As he stopped at the entrance, he scanned the area cautiously as he became bewildered at the sight of people crowding around the area closer to the harbor.

"Hm." Vincent exhaled as he scratched his chin. "Wonder what's going on? Wouldn't hurt to ask."

Noting his dry throat, he reached around his small backpack uncapped his water bottle and hastily gulped down some water. Exhaling, he coughed as he tapped his chest with his hand now curled up into a knuckle.

"Wrong pipe…" Vincent wheezed and sighed one last time before approaching the small gathering near the harbor.

"Excuse me." Vincent called out to a man.

"Yes? May I help you, young man?"

"What's going on today? Seems quite lively here."

"Ah. Many of us here have travelled in person to attend the Grand Festival being held in Slateport City in a few weeks time."

"Grand Festival?" Vincent inquired as his eyes perked up with interest. "That rings a bell but…"

"Yes. It's a Pokémon contest that's held yearly for top coordinators who've travelled far and wide to get to the very top!" The man exclaimed. "And I'm here all the way from Kanto to cheer for my son!"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but people competing in the Grand Festival must have five contest ribbons to register?" Vincent asked.

"That is indeed correct, my friend." The man replied. "My son has had to struggle and tirelessly train to get those five ribbons and I'm very proud to come out and support him!"

"Well…I wish your son the best." Vincent nodded.

"Why, thank you, young man!" The man smiled. "Say, I haven't caught your name and I do apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Richard. And you are…?" He reached out a hand only to be met with visible discomfort radiating from Vincent's body language. "Young man, are you alright? It's just a handshake, I assure you…unless if you don't do handshakes?"

"Oh, sorry…" Vincent sighed, finally accepting the gesture, reaching over to shake Richard's hand. "I'm Vincent. I'm just…well, I don't really know what I'm doing right now but I'm working on it. I'm definitely not a Pokémon trainer."

"Well Vincent, perhaps if you've got the time, you can swing on by Slateport and watch the Grand Festival for yourself."

"Maybe." Vincent shrugged, looking out to the sea.

"Well, it looks like my ride is here, so I best be off, but I do wish you all the best, Vincent." Richard waved as he prepared to walk off. "Safe travels."

"Same to you." Vincent nodded.

"Goodbye!"

"Right…see ya." Vincent sighed, pressing his knuckle against his hip. "Man, it feels refreshing to not worry about a mask for once…let's sit down for a sec…" Overwhelmed, he shivered as he held back the urge to let tears escape his eye lids. "Thank God I've got my sunglasses on…"

Sitting down at a bench by himself, having a clear view at the harbor and the sea, he placed his backpack at his side and once more took out his notebook and took off his sunglasses to write things down.

Masks, Social Distancing…it's all just nonexistent. Man, I sure missed these times. I feel like I don't deserve these experiences.

I should be, and probably deserve to be, rotting in the hellhole that is my home, my planet earth that I know. This new wave of positivity and resemblances to a pre-pandemic, quote on quote 'Normal' world is getting scary…yet I'm enjoying myself somehow.

I need to relax before I turn into a ticking time bomb and self combust. I just hope I live long enough to see my world embrace a new dawn…I can't die in this world, and yet I can't help but feel that it's giving me more reasons to stay.

Furthermore-

In that moment when Vincent found his emotions too overwhelming, the pressure building caused him to inadvertently apply too much pressure on the page, resulting in the tip of his pencil to crack as the led cracked off.

"FUCK." Vincent grumbled as his rage got the better of him, causing him to toss his pencil away. "Argh…"

Consumed by his frustration as he felt fatigue and weariness, he held back tears as he creased his eyes with the base of his fingers and palm, letting out a big yawn, helping him cancel out the tears that would have fallen had he not yawned.

"So, now what?"

"Sir?" A woman's voice called out.

"What is it now?" Vincent whined. "Why can't people just leave me alone, already?"

"You dropped this…"

"Hmm?" Vincent looked up to see her holding the pencil that he threw. "Oh um…I'm sorry, I just…thanks." He sighed, embarrassed to see the woman's sad expression on her face.

"You're- I'm so sorry that I disturbed you…I better get going. Again, I'm very sorry about this."

"…Me too." Vincent shivered as he crossed his arms together and turned his neck to gaze at the floor, letting out a sniffle followed by a yawn.

Quickly gathering his composure once again, he turned as he leaned his elbow at the top of the bench's frame and noticed vacant video phones sitting in the shade. Gathering his belongings, he got himself on his feet as he trudged along to one of the empty booths. Booting it up, he was worried for a moment that he hadn't thought this through, but luck was in his favor as there was an already pre-set option to contact any Pokémon Center he wished. With use of the number and its extension, he dialed for Oldale Town's Pokémon Center, hoping for Nurse Joy to pick up.

"Hello? This is the Pokemon Cent- Oh, Vincent!" Nurse Joy exclaimed as she popped up on the screen. "How was Littleroot Town? Are you okay? You look-"

"Yeah, I look horrible, don't I?" Vincent remarked as he put his sunglasses back on. "There. All is right again…heh, heh, heh."

"Vincent…" Nurse Joy frowned. "Please come back to the Pokémon Center. You look like you could use a rest."

"I…" Vincent peered into his wallet and peeked at his ID. "Can't do that. I just have one thing I want to take care of."

"Vincent…please don't push yourself, okay? As soon as you're able to, will you please come back to Oldale Town?"

Sighing, he let out a big yawn, covering his mouth while doing so, then continued to speak.

"Alright…" He nodded. "I promise I'll just be tending to one more thing and I'll be coming back, okay?"

"Okay. I'm trusting you, Vincent. Again, please don't push yourself, alright?"

"Yeah, of course. Take care, Joy."

"Bye, Vincent."

Finally ending the call session with Nurse Joy, as soon as her image faded away from the screen, he temporarily gripped himself in panic seeing her go like that, but he knew that he didn't have to miss her long.

"Get a grip, Vince…" He told himself as he tapped his skull lightly with his knuckle. "Good to go? Yeah…I'm good to go."