**Prologue**

*"Gak... gak... gak... my chest... it hurts... it hurts... it hurts..."*

His mind screamed, but his voice barely made a sound. His body trembled, curled up on the cold, unforgiving floor of the school hallway. His ribs ached from the last blow, every shallow breath sending fresh waves of pain through him. His vision blurred—whether from the impact or the tears welling up, he didn't know anymore.

Above him, cruel laughter rang through the empty corridor, echoing like a twisted melody in his ears.

*"Hey, bookworm! How does it feel now, huh?"*

Kazuki's voice dripped with amusement, his gray eyes shining with satisfaction as he loomed over Hayato's broken form. His lips curled into a smirk, proud of his handiwork.

Hayato wanted to answer—to beg, to scream, to fight back—but the words wouldn't come. His throat felt tight, suffocated by shame, fear, and the unbearable weight of helplessness.

*"Come on, Kazuki, we gotta go. We can't waste our time on trash,"* Toru's voice was casual, as if beating someone half to death was nothing more than an afterthought.

Rika, standing beside them, pouted playfully. *"Yeah, Kazuki, I don't want to miss the movie we planned to watch today."*

A movie.

They spoke so easily about their plans, as if his suffering was just another dull moment in their day. As if he wasn't even human.

Kazuki clicked his tongue and shrugged. *"Sure… but I ain't buying anything."*

Then, just as casually, he swung his leg back and drove his foot into Hayato's stomach.

*"Gak—!"*

His body convulsed as a sharp, gut-wrenching pain shot through him. His fingers clawed at the floor, his whole frame trembling violently.

Kazuki laughed. *"Next time, it won't just be a kick. You'd better do my assignment."*

*"Come on, Kazuki, we're gonna be late!"* Toru called as he and Rika started walking away.

Kazuki let out a small scoff, then spat on Hayato's face before turning his back and leaving.

And just like that, they were gone.

The hallway was silent now.

Only the sound of Hayato's ragged breathing remained.

Slowly, he tried to push himself up, but his arms shook violently beneath him. His vision swam. His entire body throbbed, screaming at him to stop.

But the pain in his body was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

*I can't… take it anymore…*

His fingers curled into fists, his nails digging into his skin.

*I can't do this… I can't win… No matter what I do, they'll never stop…*

Tears streamed down his face, silent and unseen. His body convulsed with each aching sob, his breath shaky and uneven.

*Why?*

Why did it have to be like this? Why did no one help? Why did no one care?

His chest tightened.

There was no one.

No one to stop them. No one to pull him out of this hell. No one to tell him that he mattered.

No one.

He slowly forced himself to stand, his legs weak, his breaths short. Each step sent searing pain through his battered body, but he kept moving.

One step.

Then another.

Dragging himself toward the stairwell, his mind hazy, his heart heavy.

He reached the door to the rooftop. His trembling fingers curled around the handle.

He pushed it open.

A rush of cold wind hit him, whispering against his bruised skin. The sky stretched out before him—vast, endless, indifferent.

He stepped forward, feeling the rough texture of the rooftop beneath his feet.

The world below looked so small from up here.

The pain inside him felt suffocating, but up here, the air was lighter.

Hayato let out a shaky sigh.

*This is it…*

No more pain. No more fear. No more Kazuki.

No more anything.

A bitter smile formed on his lips.

*They won't be able to hurt me anymore.*

His toes curled over the edge.

The wind howled softly, as if whispering a final lullaby.

He closed his eyes.

And jumped.

Falling.

The world spun around him, weightless, distant.

For the first time in years, he felt free.

Then—

Darkness.

Silence.