7 Wonderful Years – Farewell from Keita/Shinohara

[Shinohara]

It’s been 7 years. 7 years of a long journey together, challenges, laughter, and growth. I joined the Staff when I was 22 and now I am almost 30 in a few months

 

What began as a simple step into a community I admired quickly became one of the longest and most meaningful journeys of my life. 

For 1/4 of my life, PRO has been a community, a family, and a place where I’ve spent 20.000+ hours alongside you all as someone whose job was to protect the integrity of the game and ensure everyone could enjoy it fairly.

 

MY ROLE IN PRO

As a Moderation Staff and later Admin, my role wasn’t always the most glamorous and visible to players. 
I didn’t design new regions or events. Instead, I worked behind the scenes, reviewing reports, investigating rule-violations, handing out punishments when necessary, and sometimes having the tough conversations nobody likes to have ().

It wasn’t always easy, and it certainly wasn’t always fun or rewarded, but it was very important for me… because keeping PRO fair and safe meant protecting the adventure you all love and protecting the community in general, which is the reason I joined the Staff Team.

 

I know that sometimes my role put me in situations where I had to make hard calls.
I would be lying if I said I’ve always done everything right. 
Not every decision I made was perfect, and I’m sure there were moments where I did wrong (I mean, in 7 years of work it would be impossible to make 0 mistakes) or where I could have done better.
There were decisions I wish I had handled differently.

However, all of my actions were motivated by wanting the best for both the game and its community, and that never changed.

WHY AM I LEAVING?
The truth is, my journey here is ending not because I’ve stopped caring, but because my mental and physical health has reached a point where I cannot give the game, the community, or the staff team the dedication they deserve. I’ve always believed the players deserve my very best, and if I can’t provide that, continuing would feel like letting you all down and kind of disrespecting you.

 

As some player know, my life has never been a simple one. I was born with more health problems than I could count, and as the years passed, they only grew heavier. Surgeries, endless hospital stays just to survive.

Surviving was never a given, but something I had to fight for, over and over like an endless battle.

Every time I thought I had won, something new emerged to destroy me. 

Last year and the first half of this one I fought through a severe infection that nearly destroyed a lot of my organs and almost took my life. 
I spent months in the hospital, clinging to hope.
Once I beat the infection, I thought I had fixed everything only for life to strike again. Without warning, recently I suddenly lost the sight in one eye completely and am blind, and half the vision in the other due to another health issue.

 

Due to all of this, I had a complete mental breakdown because I spent a whole life in this situation over and over.
The tears/crying wouldn’t stop, the desperation wouldn't stop and it's been a continuous "why me?" and then situation is getting worse and worse and I have almost reached the bottom of the barrel and cannot see the light anymore.

 

Given this, I’ve decided to step back, focus on recovery, and fight for myself for once. I’ve already taken steps to get the help I need, and I hold on to hope that better days will come.

 

 

TO ALL OF YOU PLAYERS

To every player I’ve met along the way, regardless if we spoke 1 or 100 times, thank you.

Thank you to everyone who made my years here worthwhile and fun, to the players who respected the rules or reformed themselves after violating them, to those who gave constructive feedback, to those who showed kindness in chat, and even to those who challenged me to do better. 

You all played a part in my time here.

Please, keep this community strong.

 

Be patient with the Staff Members, they’re not perfect, but their heart is in the right place and they’re doing a tough job for the good of everyone as they want the best for PRO and its community.

 

Treat each other with respect and remember that behind each username there is a person with feeling and emotions.

Help new players find their way in the game, and remember that at the end of the day, we’re all here for the same reason: our love for Pokémon and this world we share.

FINAL WORDS
I leave proud, proud of the time I was here. PRO will keep evolving without me, and I’ll be watching from the sidelines, cheering and smiling for every success, and rooting for all of you and the next generation of both players and staff to find their own unforgettable moments here like I did.

 

7 years is a long time to give a piece of your heart to something. 
And PRO will always have my heart.

 

This is not goodbye forever. It’s just the closing of my chapter, so that new ones can be written by those ready to carry the torch.
I wish you all to continue your player journey and find a lot of happiness on your path like I did on mine.

 

 

— Keita here, signing off for the last time — thank you for some of the brightest days of my life.  

 

PS: I've no news about Summer Tournament. I was asked to wait due to some background stuff, but further info will be provided by the Admin Team

 

 

[Eetaachee]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Saw your posts regarding health issues before in discord, I really hope the universe becomes kinder to you and you overcome all the problems as soon as possible.
Welp, thanks for your immense contribution to the community. Will miss you. Take care always.
Good luck for everything ahead.
Drop in at times if you miss us too much. 

Edited August 17 by Eetaachee

[Darkmaster269]

Thanks for all your service 

Hope everything goes well for you in the future 

Good luck 🩷

[Nhocxxboyxx]

Thank you for having been one part of our community. Wish you the best wishes. 

[Leeluckya]

i sincerely hope that you will recover you health.  

hope you can happy every day. 

[Sakayanagi]

Thank you so much for your dedication and years of hard work for PRO and its community. Your efforts to keep the game fair and safe have made a difference for all of us. Wishing you strength, health, and brighter days ahead—you will always be remembered and appreciated.

[Kitretsu05]

Very very sad to know abt your retirement and I knew you had health problems but you have always given your best for the game not as a staff but as a person too,Idk how i could give you sympathy I have no words ..I Just hope whatever in future is to come you will Come through it..I personally will pray for your well-being.

Thank You Forever @Shinohara

[Keja]

Thank you for all of your work and love you put into the game and the community. I wish you all the best for your health recovery, Keita. 

[Vangogsan]

Im sad to read all this, not because you leave the staff position, but for the struggle you pass and still passing by. I know the fight anf struggle you passing now so i wish you to overcome it and be well. Ik in Japan they can help you and back you up. The game is here so as we, and we will welcome you as player so you can enjoy it from better perspective.

 

Be safe, take care of yourself, you can win the battle, just don't give up.

[Swer4412]

After seven incredible years, today we say goodbye to a true pillar of PRO. You have dedicated your time, passion and energy not only to the game, but above all to the community, leaving a mark that will remain forever. Your contribution has been fundamental to the growth and stability of the game and the community, and will be remembered with gratitude by all of us.

We are aware of the personal and health difficulties that made this decision necessary, and we wish him our sincerest wishes for improvement and serenity for the future.

Your name will remain in the history of the game! We wish you health, serenity and new joys for the future with all our hearts.

Have a good and well-deserved rest.

Edited August 17 by Swer4412