When I met you

On the morning of October 23rd, 2020, the sun rose in the horizon, illuminating a world that seemed oblivious to the significance of the day.

In an apartment building, a young man prepared himself for his first day of senior high school. With a somber expression, he dressed in his uniform, ate his breakfast, and locked the door of his solitary home. Heavy with fatigue from a lack of sleep, he made his way to school, arriving a few minutes too early.

Finding himself alone in the empty classroom, he let out a sigh and realized he wasn't in the best condition to start the day. Weighed down by exhaustion, he decided to rest his head on his crossed arms and closed his eyes, seeking a brief moment of respite.

As he drifted off into a peaceful slumber, his troubles momentarily forgotten, time slipped by unnoticed. Gradually, he stirred from his sleep, only to find himself still alone in the quiet room. He blinked, feeling a hint of moisture on his cheeks. Gently touching his face, he realized he was shedding tears - tears he hadn't even realized were falling.

"Son..." a faint voice whispered, both soft and familiar to his ears.

"M-Mom?" he responded, his voice filled with hope and longing.

"Son, it was you... you're the one who did this!" the voice replied, dripping with anger and accusation.

"What? No, Mom... it wasn't me!" he protested, the shock and hurt evident in his voice. Tears continued to stream down his weary face as he tried to defend himself, unable to fathom why his own mother would accuse him of such wrongdoing.

"B-Believe me, Mom! It wasn't me. Why would I do something like that?" his plea was filled with desperation, a mix of sadness and pain seeping through.

The voice revealed itself, a dark silhouette resembling his mother. He stood up from his seat, his tear-filled eyes fixated on the shadowy figure.

"Mom?" he whispered, both hopeful and uncertain.

In an instant, the shadowy figure struck him, a slap cutting through the air. His expression transformed into one of shock and disbelief as he crumbled under the weight of the blow.

"Never come close to me and your father again... you disgusting child," the voice proclaimed, seething with contempt.

Kyo's right cheek stung with a subtle red mark, his entire body trembling in response. It was a coping mechanism, an attempt to calm himself down, but it felt inadequate to quell the turbulent emotions inside.

"I hate you. I'm ashamed to have birthed you," the voice spat, cloaked in revulsion.

"I... I know," Kyo responded, his voice heavy with resignation, his gaze lowered to the floor. The weight of the accusations and the pain of rejection weighed heavily on his shoulders.

"Hey?"

He accepted his current state as his reality, believing he didn't deserve to live and resigned himself to the harshness of the world.

"Hey!"

He heard nothing, saw nothing. He felt only one thing—despair.

"HEY!!"

Suddenly, a loud but gentle voice jolted him from his sorrowful thoughts. To his surprise, it was a girl from his class. He didn't know how to respond at first, his emotions still clouded by the previous dream-like encounter.

As he looked around, he realized that the classroom was filled with students, and the oppressive silence he had experienced earlier was shattered.

"Class is about to start. So, I woke you up," the girl explained, unknowingly dispelling the remnants of the dream-like haze that had enveloped him.

"Uh, sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night. Thank you for waking me up," he mustered up the energy and strength to respond, his voice lacking its usual vibrancy.

"You better be," she remarked, a touch of sarcasm and concern accompanying her words. Taking a seat beside him, she had likely noticed his dozing off due to their proximity.

The instructor's voice broke the silence once more, commanding the class to introduce themselves to their classmates, beginning from the front and continuing towards the back.

One by one, the students complied, revealing their names, ages, favorite pastimes, and most notably, their ranks and class.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as each student proudly announced their ranks and classes. Kyou's turn was nearing, and his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't help but feel apprehensive about revealing his rank to his classmates, unsure of how they would react.

"My rank is Wayfinder and my class is swordsman!" exclaimed a male classmate, brimming with enthusiasm.

"I'm ranked Voyager, and I'm a healer." softly spoken a female classmate.

"I ranked Wanderer, but I am a multi-class of both a swordsman and a mage." proclaimed another male classmate confidently.

The introductions continued until only 2 remained. With a racing heart, she stood up and mustered the courage to speak her

truth.

"Nice to meet you all. I am Nakama Chihiro, ranked Awakened and a multi-class of Archer, Healer, Mage, Swordsman, and Assassin," declared Nakama, receiving applause and praise from their classmates.

Now it was Kyou's turn. His voice wavered as he struggled to find the right words.

"I... I'm Kurushimo Kyou. My rank... is Dormant, and I don't have a class yet," he admitted, feeling a wave of vulnerability wash over him.

A heavy silence engulfed the room, pressing down on Kyou's spirits as if his words had disappeared into thin air, leaving him unseen and unheard. The weight of his dormant rank and the significance placed upon it in this world weighed heavily on his shoulders, triggering a sense of disappointment and isolation.

With a sigh of resignation, Kyou slowly lowered himself back into his seat, his dreams of acceptance fading into the ether. As the school day came to an end, he trudged down the hallways, the empty corridors sharing his feelings of loneliness.

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, Kyou felt a gentle yet firm pull on his arm, drawing him into a seldom-used classroom. Confusion filled his expression as he grunted in question, "Uh...?"

Now alone with him in the room, revealed her true identity as Chihiro. Her voice carried a tender reassurance as she made eye contact with him, her understanding gaze offering a glimmer of solace. "Kyou, it's me Nakama, I'm just wanted to say that your worth extends far beyond your rank," she spoke softly, her words like a balm for his wounded spirit.

Kyou, taken aback by this unexpected act of compassion, couldn't help but inquire, "That's nice to hear, Chihiro... but why do you care?"

In that moment, Chihiro's voice carried the weight of genuine empathy as she opened up to him. "Kyou, I understand the pain of feeling lost, forgotten, and rejected. I've been there. The ache of isolation is something I know all too well. If you ever feel alone or have something to talk about, please come to me. I'll listen. I could sense the pain in your voice, and it worried me deeply. You don't have to face it all alone."

A poignant mix of relief and embarrassment filled Kyou's heart as Chihiro's words washed over him. He was grateful for the sliver of human kindness she extended toward him, but at the same time, he felt a surge of self-consciousness. Unsure of how to respond to such an unexpected connection, he mustered the courage to blurt out, "Could...you step back first, please?" His voice carried a tinge of bashful embarrassment.

In an instant, Chihiro's realization washed over her, and her own cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She quickly covered her mouth with both hands, realizing her proximity and lack of regard for personal space. "S-sorry," she stammered, her voice muffled by her hands. "I didn't realize... I apologize for invading your personal space."

"It's fine, really. I should thank you for giving me a new perspective in life. So thank you, Chihiro," Kyou expressed with gratitude, his voice filled with sincerity.

Her blush widened, spreading across her cheek as her expression turned conflicted.

"Y-yes. Well, I'll be going now," Chihiro responded, her words slightly rushed as she made a hasty retreat from the room, attempting to escape the overwhelming embarrassment.

Kyou sank to the ground, his hands instinctively covering his face, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"What am I doing..." he squealed, his voice filled with self-consciousness.

Thoughts buzzed through his mind, "what would you think mom and dad. Am I being delusional again..." He couldn't help but question if her kindness to him was a something else or if she treated everyone in the same way.

Silence weighed heavily in the room, amplifying Kyou's self-doubt. He doubted the possibility that Chihiro would truly consider him, convinced that any other girl wouldn't either.

He continued, "Right...that's impossible. No way she would actually consider. Any other girl wouldn't, so why would she."

Silence seemed to shatter any hopes that had started to form, leaving Kyou trapped in a swirl of uncertainty and self-deprecation.

"Why did I even think of this? I really am arrogant to think that..."