The chat window was still, a blank pane of silence. Lena adjusted her headset, her voice soft as she guided her under-leveled team of Pokémon through the tall grass. She never chose the flashy ones—just the little creatures others overlooked.

“Alright, let’s see if poor Cubone can handle this,” she murmured, half to herself. Then, a flicker—one new name popped up in chat. Her heart jumped. She smiled, nervous but earnest. “Oh—hi there! Welcome! I’m really glad you stopped by.”