death of hope

Chapter 1009 "Psionic Storm" (83) A Soul-Stirring Dream

The video website is broadcasting the Shin-Sapporo morning news live;
"Senator Tsuneaki Shino is about to visit to support Ms. Imah Khan Dehad's campaign for governor of the city."

The Green D election committee is preparing a grand parade, and the Metropolitan Police Department has designated three blocks as 'priority' areas to crack down on crime and improve the city's appearance, striving to showcase the city's best image…

Suddenly, a health product advertisement popped up, completely blocking the video window;
"Insomnia and depression? Lack of energy at work? Brain Silver Tonic Pills can help relieve anxiety and get rid of dark circles. Black Friday sale, only €9.9 per box!"

The man clicked the 'X' button on the advertisement with his mouse, but it turned out to be fake, and even more advertisements popped up, filling the entire screen;
"Damn YouTube! It can't even let me watch the news in peace... I'll just watch TV next time..."

The man cursed as he closed his laptop, rubbed his eyes, and stood up to walk towards the bathroom.
(Damn it... even the AI ​​ad-placing algorithm thinks I'm crazy...)
·
Leon Vilnius clasped his hands together, splashed a handful of cold water on his face, and stared blankly at the mirror without turning off the tap.

(Last night, Yuna was in tears again. Was it because of the brain surgery... or the excessive gamma radiation? Will the psychic research really kill her...?)
A few seconds later, Li Ang turned on the tap, grabbed a towel, and covered his face.
(I failed in my duty; I should have cheered her up...)

But I can't even make myself happy. I used to be able to laugh at comedy duos' stand-up comedy, but that doesn't work anymore...
Li Ang grinned at himself in the mirror, like a professional fake smile being trained as a fast food restaurant server;

(Does a gloomy, love-starved person like me even deserve to fall in love with someone else...?)
·
Leaving the dormitory, I drove to the psychic research institute. While stuck in traffic, I saw a stray cat lying dead on the roadside, crushed by a tire and its body exploding.
A dirty stray dog ​​wagged its tail and came over to feast, its teeth crunching bones with a 'crunch' sound.

Li Ang felt a buzzing in his ears, so he quickly turned on the radio to cover up the sound outside the window, and took out a bottle of bupropion hydrochloride (an antidepressant) from the glove box under the steering wheel and swallowed two pills.

(This city is not like what the travel agencies advertise; I have seen the real Shin-Sapporo...)
After parking his car, Li Ang habitually bought breakfast near the research institute, but after wandering around for a while, he couldn't find anyone he knew.

The Latino man selling burritos wasn't there, so Li Ang had to buy some roasted sweet potatoes to tide him over. The vendor told Li Ang that the burritos stall wouldn't be back. The rain in Shin-Sapporo seemed endless; raindrops pattered on the plastic bag of roasted sweet potatoes, mirroring Li Ang's gloomy mood.

(I should have given the uncle a bigger tip...)
With the governorship election approaching, the city hall is making a concerted effort to clear out tents and makeshift shantytowns in parks and under bridges, removing homeless people and improving the city's appearance in preparation for welcoming important figures.

Many bankrupt individuals and undocumented immigrants have succumbed to the recent freezing rains and flu, with workers in protective suits frequently appearing to carry body bags on stretchers and load them onto refrigerated trucks.

·
Clocking in for work, heading to section B14, elevator operator Higashiyama Ruriko is dressed provocatively, her hot figure on full display.
She deliberately got close and said some mushy things, but Li Ang just greeted her politely.

(The security guard said that this woman has recently hooked up with Dr. Ryan, the director's top disciple, but I don't know if it's true or not...)
Ruriko Higashiyama was the dream girl of all the male employees in the research institute. In the past, Li Ang would definitely have been able to steal a few glances, since he was a straight man in his prime with normal sexual orientation. But now, the heavily made-up elevator attendant only made him feel disgusted.

Upon arriving at the top-secret B14 area, after greeting his colleagues on the night shift and handing over the duties, Li Ang clutched the key and eagerly headed towards Project Zero.
Go find that haunting white moonlight, go find your own redemption;

As he walked through the dense array of psionic research equipment and opened the curtain wall, he saw Yuna Jinguji, dressed in a hospital gown, smiling at him.

At that moment, all the pent-up repression and gloom in Leon Vilnius's heart vanished instantly, and he felt as if he could breathe freely again.
Good morning, Tetsuya-kun!

"Yuna..."