Chapter 6: Breaking Points

The school day began like any other, but the weight in his chest felt heavier than usual. Each breath was a reminder of the invisible chains that bound him. He moved through the hallways as if walking underwater, every glance feeling like a blade slicing through his skin.

Aki was already waiting near their classroom door, her calm presence a tiny island in the sea of hostility. She smiled at him softly, and for a moment, he felt something close to peace. But it was fleeting.

The classroom buzzed with quiet whispers as he took his seat. The other students exchanged glances that carried a cruel amusement he couldn’t escape.

The club activity was supposed to be a welcome distraction. They were rehearsing for the cultural festival, practicing a short play the literature club had put together. Yet, the moment he stepped into the room, a sudden shove sent him sprawling against the wall.

A harsh laugh echoed around the room.

“Still can’t stay out of trouble, huh, _?” a tall boy sneered, arms crossed as others gathered like vultures, eager for the spectacle.

He kept his eyes down, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him react.

The classroom fell silent, all eyes on him. His heart pounded so loudly he feared it might betray him.

Then, a voice broke through the tension—clear, steady, and unwavering.

“Stop it!”

Aki stepped forward, her voice cutting sharply through the silence.

The boys turned to face her, surprised and irritated.

“Why do you care?” one spat, voice dripping with mockery.

“Because he’s my friend,” she said simply, her eyes locking onto his.

The words seemed to shock even her. She hadn’t planned to say them aloud. But standing there, watching him shrink beneath their gaze, she realized that sometimes silence was worse than any punishment.

A low murmur spread among the students. Some shifted uncomfortably in their seats; others glared, unwilling to let the challenge go unanswered.

The tall boy sneered but took a step back.

The teacher, alerted by the noise, finally stepped in.

The crowd dispersed slowly, but the heavy weight of the encounter lingered.

He met Aki’s eyes, feeling a raw mix of gratitude and sorrow.

“Thank you,” he whispered, voice barely audible.

She smiled faintly, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.

After school, the rain started again, large drops splattering against the pavement as they walked home beneath a shared umbrella.

The quiet between them was heavy.

He struggled to find words but the knot in his throat tightened.

Finally, his voice cracked through the silence.

“I’m sorry.”

Aki glanced at him, confused.

“For what?”

“For everything. For dragging you into this mess.”

Her grip on the umbrella tightened slightly.

“You’re not dragging me anywhere. I want to be here.”

He wanted to believe her, but years of pain made it hard.

“What if it never stops? What if I can’t change?”

She stopped walking and faced him.

“Then I’ll stand with you anyway.”

Her words were simple, but to him, they felt like a lifeline thrown into a stormy sea.

That night, thunder rumbled outside his window, shaking the glass as rain poured relentlessly.

He opened his notebook—the one he hadn’t touched in weeks.

Instead of writing words, he sketched a small seedling pushing through cracked earth, fragile but determined.

It was his silent hope, a promise to himself that even broken things could grow again.

Yet deep down, the ache remained.

The battles were far from over.

And he wasn’t sure how much more he could take.