As Kazuki's consciousness reluctantly returned to the harsh reality of his surroundings, he was jolted from his slumber by a sharp impact to his stomach. With a gasp of pain, his eyes snapped open to the sight of fleeting figures darting away into the darkness, their laughter echoing like a cruel taunt in the empty alley.
Despite the physical discomfort, Kazuki's thoughts remained fixed on a singular desire—to find his parents, to seek the solace of their presence once more. With a determined resolve, he struggled to extricate himself from the confines of his makeshift cocoon, his movements clumsy and awkward as he navigated the debris-strewn alleyway.
Emerging into the harsh light of day, Kazuki set out on his solitary journey through the dusty streets of Rinera, his gaze fixed firmly ahead as he pressed onward, driven by an unyielding determination to reunite with his family.
Yet, as he traversed the crowded thoroughfare, he could not escape the harsh whispers and accusing glances that followed in his wake. The epithet "demon child" rang out like a refrain, each utterance a painful reminder of the isolation and ostracism that had become his constant companions.
Undeterred by the harsh judgment of those around him, Kazuki continued along his path, his lips curving upwards in a defiant grin, his eyes shining with an inner strength that belied the pain etched upon his face.
But his brief respite from the cruelty of the world was shattered in an instant as a sudden blow sent him sprawling to the ground, his nose erupting in a gush of crimson. With a startled cry, he turned to confront his assailants, his eyes blazing with a mixture of defiance and confusion.
Standing above him were three boys, their faces twisted with malice and amusement. Two of them wore smug expressions, their laughter ringing out like a cruel symphony, while the third boy stood off to the side, his expression torn between guilt and uncertainty.
As the cruel taunts of the boys cut through the air like a knife, Kazuki's resolve wavered for but a moment before he turned to face his tormentors, blood trickling down his battered face. Yet, instead of meeting their malice with anger or resentment, his gaze held a glimmer of something altogether unexpected—a sincere, almost earnest, grin etched upon his lips.
"Sorry... to disappoint... you..." Kazuki's voice, though muffled by the trickle of blood from his nose, carried a note of genuine sincerity, his words a quiet rebuke to the hatred that surrounded him.
Caught off guard by Kazuki's unexpected response, the boys faltered for a moment, their expressions shifting from malice to confusion before one of them, emboldened by his companions, lashed out with renewed aggression, delivering a vicious kick to Kazuki's already bruised mouth.
As the trio retreated into the distance, their laughter fading into the ether, Kazuki rose slowly to his feet, his battered form a testament to the cruelty of the world around him. With trembling hands, he brushed off the dust and debris that clung to his clothes, his movements slow and deliberate as he sought to regain his composure.