The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time Grace returned home, the sky painted in shades of dusky purple and deepening blue. The streets of Jubilife were still alive with the distant hum of evening activities, but Grace felt a different kind of energy—the weariness that comes after a long day. Graduation had been a whirlwind of ceremonies, speeches, and farewells. After that, she also had to work for a few hours. It was a strange feeling, like closing a chapter in a book that she'd been reading for years.

As she approached the apartment building she shared with her girlfriend, Grace’s steps slowed. The thought of what lay ahead felt almost more tiring than the graduation itself. She had never been one for long amounts of social attention from others or speeches; too much energy, too much noise. All she wanted now was to collapse onto the couch and let the world fade away for a few hours, and cuddle with her girlfriend.

The elevator ride up was a blur. Grace stared at her reflection in the mirrored walls, her college uniform slightly wrinkled after the day's events. It had been a long day, not just physically but mentally. Her mind was already wandering to the next steps—part-time work at Professor Rowan's Pokémon research lab, time with her friends mostly classmates, and the vague uncertainty of what came next.

The familiar click of the key in the lock brought her back to the present. She nudged the door open with her shoulder, stepping into the cool, quiet apartment. The lights were off, save for the soft glow of the TV that her girlfriend had left on, probably dozing off on the couch. Typical. Grace wasn’t surprised; they both had a habit of crashing after a long day.