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An illustrated scene of several teenagers in a dimly lit school-like hallway, with a young man in a red hoodie and a blonde woman holding a book in the foreground.

An illustrated scene of several teenagers in a dimly lit school-like hallway, with a young man in a red hoodie and a blonde woman holding a book in the foreground.

A young man stands in a shared barracks hallway that feels part military, part school dormitory. It’s midnight. His friends are heading out, energized and chatty, while he remains behind, calm and resolute, saying he wants to sleep. “More power to you,” he says as they leave. A blonde woman approaches, curious about a boxed printer sitting beside him. She suggests he buy another one. He replies that he’ll test this one at home first. She nods and moves on to mingle with another group. The lighting is soft and institutional—fluorescent overheads casting pale shadows. The mood is quiet, slightly surreal, with undertones of autonomy, mild flirtation, and deferred decision-making. The boxed printer sits like a symbol of untested potential. See more