Shinji Nakamura, a 16-year-old with a quiet demeanor and an intense love for botany, sat in his classroom, staring blankly at the chalkboard. His thoughts drifted far from the lecture, lost in the verdant world of plants that had become his only refuge. Life had been a whirlwind since his parents' bitter divorce, and the constant pressure to follow in his father's footsteps as a government official had slowly eroded his spirit.
Though Shinji's heart belonged to biology and the serene world of plants, he found himself enrolled in a prestigious high school that prioritized churning out future government officials. His father's ambition for him to carry on the family legacy overshadowed Shinji's dreams, leaving him trapped in a world where he didn't belong.
Every day after school, Shinji sought solace in the nearby park. Tending to his beloved plants was his only escape from the suffocating expectations that surrounded him. Here, among the greenery, he could forget about the world and simply exist in the moment.
Lyra, his childhood friend, was his one beacon of light in the storm. Her presence was like a warm ray of sunshine on a cold day, always there to lend a listening ear and offer a comforting smile. She was the only person who truly understood him, yet even Lyra's unwavering support couldn't shield him from the torment he faced daily.
**A Father's Expectations**
One evening, as the sun set behind the mountains, Shinji sat at the dinner table with his father, the air thick with unspoken tension. His father, a stern but well-meaning man, looked at him with a mixture of pride and expectation.
Shinji's Father: "Shinji, I've been thinking about your future. I believe you have the potential to do great things."
Shinji's heart sank as he heard the familiar tone in his father's voice. He knew what was coming.
Shinji: (Hesitantly) "Thank you, Dad."
Shinji's Father: "I want you to enroll in the government official training high school. It's a prestigious opportunity that will open many doors for you."
Shinji felt a knot form in his stomach. He had expected this, but that didn't make it any easier to hear.
Shinji: (Trying to muster the courage to speak up) "But… Dad, I'm not interested in that path. I want to study biology, not politics or administration." *(His voice was quiet, but there was a hint of desperation in it.)
His father's expression softened for a moment, but his resolve remained firm.
Shinji's Father: "I know it's not what you want right now, but this is about securing your future. You'll learn valuable skills and make important connections. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Shinji looked down at his hands, feeling the weight of his father's words press down on him. He wanted to protest, to tell his father how much he hated the idea, but the words wouldn't come. He was too used to suppressing his true feelings, too conditioned to obey.
Shinji: (Feeling defeated) "Okay, Dad. I'll do it."
Shinji's Father: (Pats Shinji's shoulder with a proud smile)* "That's my boy. I'm proud of you. You'll understand why I'm doing this eventually."
As Shinji nodded silently, a part of him felt like it had died. His father's pride in him only deepened the chasm between what he was and who he truly wanted to be.
**Daily Torment at School**
The prestigious high school that Shinji's father had forced him into was a breeding ground for competition and cruelty. The halls were always bustling with students, most of whom saw Shinji as an easy target. He was different—quiet, introverted, and more interested in plants than in politics. And for that, they tormented him relentlessly.
One day, as he walked down the hallway, clutching his biology textbook close to his chest, he heard the sneering voice of Jake, the ringleader of his tormentors.
**Jake**: *"Hey, bookworm! What fairy tale are you reading now?"* (He smirked, referring to the manga Shinji often read during breaks.)
Shinji: (Nervously, trying to avoid confrontation)* "It's a biology textbook."
Jake: "Biology? More like 'boring-ology.' You're such a nerd, Nakamura."
Jake's friends joined in, their laughter echoing off the walls.
Friend 1: "Yeah, why don't you go back to your garden and play with your plants, loser?"
Friend 2: "Or maybe you should join the debate club—oh wait, you'd probably talk to trees there too!"
Shinji's face flushed with humiliation, but he kept his head down, hoping they would lose interest.
Shinji: (Barely audible) "Please, just leave me alone."
But Jake wasn't done.
Jake: (Grabbing Shinji's books and yanking them out of his hands) "How about you leave us alone, freak?"
Shinji: (Desperately trying to get his books back) "Please, give them back!"
Jake: "Not until you apologize for being so pathetic."
The taunt cut deep, and Shinji felt a burning sense of shame wash over him.
Shinji: (Hesitantly, his voice barely a whisper) "I'm sorry."
But Jake wasn't satisfied. With a cruel grin, he and his friends began tearing the pages out of Shinji's books, scattering them across the hallway like confetti. Shinji watched helplessly as his precious textbooks were destroyed, his eyes welling up with tears. It felt like they were tearing apart the last pieces of himself.
Just as Shinji was about to break down, Lyra appeared, rushing towards him. She knelt beside him, helping him gather the torn pages, her expression one of both anger and sorrow.
Lyra: (Softly but firmly) "Don't worry, Shinji. We'll fix this. I'm here."
But despite her comforting words, Shinji felt a deep sense of hopelessness. His life had become an endless cycle of pain and humiliation, and he couldn't see a way out.
**The Breaking Point**
A few months later, Shinji's life had only gotten worse. The bullying had intensified, and even his teachers seemed to take pleasure in his suffering. His mind was a storm of dark thoughts, the constant abuse wearing him down to the point of exhaustion.
One afternoon, as he sat in class, his teacher, a man notorious for his harshness, grew increasingly irritated with Shinji's lack of participation.
Teacher: (Sneering, throwing a piece of chalk at Shinji's head) "Nakamura, you're nothing but a waste of space! Why are you even here?"
The chalk hit him squarely on the forehead, the sharp sting snapping him out of his daze. The physical pain was fleeting, but the emotional wound cut deep. The teacher's words echoed in his mind, mingling with the taunts and jeers of his classmates.
Shinji felt like he was drowning in a sea of despair, every breath harder to take than the last. He couldn't go on like this. He couldn't endure another day of this torment.
**Shinji**: *(In his mind, filled with anguish)* "I wish I could just disappear…"
As the teacher continued to berate him, something inside Shinji snapped. A surge of energy, raw and uncontrollable, coursed through his body. Before he could comprehend what was happening, vines burst forth from his skin, tearing through the classroom with terrifying force.
The vines were relentless, wrapping around desks, chairs, and even students, crushing everything in their path. The classroom descended into chaos as the students screamed and tried to escape, but the vines were everywhere, moving with a mind of their own.
In the midst of the destruction, Shinji stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of fear and confusion. He had no control over what was happening; it was as if the darkness within him had finally found an outlet, and it was wreaking havoc on everything around him.
Lyra: (Rushing towards him, terrified but determined)* "Shinji! What's happening? You have to stop this!"
But Shinji couldn't hear her. His mind was overwhelmed by the surge of power, the vines acting on his darkest thoughts and desires. The bullies who had tormented him were caught in the chaos, their screams of terror filling the room as the vines closed in on them.
Suddenly, without warning, Lyra's own power awakened. A bright light enveloped her, and before she knew it, she had teleported across the room to Shinji's side. Instinctively, she reached out to him, her hand finding his, and in a flash, they were both gone, transported to safety.
The next thing Lyra knew, they were lying in a nearby field, the school far behind them. Exhausted from the effort, she passed out, her mind reeling from the realization of what had just happened.
A massive military force, equipped with futuristic weaponry and helicopters, had surrounded the area, ready to neutralize the threat. The entire zone was evacuated, with the media strictly barred from reporting on the situation. Panic and urgency filled the air.
"Reports confirm the targets: a cursed energy user with plant-based abilities, and a girl with space manipulation powers."
"Move out, now!"
"Prepare the PN-772 and SCD-227."
"Negative. Both subjects are unconscious. Secure them!"