Larna mindlessly stared at the screen of his computer as he played one of his favorite games. His fingers moved automatically on the gamepad, accustomed to the controls of the game. He had dedicated thousands of hours of his life to it. There he was among the top players, but that didn't seem enough anymore.

  ”You will show nothing.” Those were the last words Rising Shadow told him.

  When Larna returned to reality after the Battle, he kneeled on the floor, grabbing his neck with his right hand. It didn't hurt. But battle gave a sensorial experience, and being told that your neck was sliced wasn't something easy to get accustomed to.

  After that, Rising Shadow left without a single word or look.

  At first, all Larna wanted to do was to beat Rising Shadow, punch him in the stomach, and kick him as he had done to him. But now...

  Larna sank deeper in the warm cloak that already wrapped him.

  He thought about what Rising Shadow had told him. Why was he so rough? He asked himself a lot of times. And finally, he understood it.

  Rising Shadow was right. Larna could never be a battler. He lacked the will, the strength, the courage, to even try it. He wasn't capable of imagining himself exercising or training, much less winning against someone.

  Everything he said was just a poor delusion created by the heat of the moment. He won’t show anything, as Rising Shadow said.

  Larna bit his lips as tears swept down his face.

  I should forget about Battle. It'll be the best.

  He repeated that thought in his mind several times. He felt the burning on his chest becoming duller. But there was no other choice.

  Larna saw his damp eyes and wet cheeks reflected on the screen of the computer. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh and stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow’s Monday…

  Larna fell asleep earlier that night. The games weren't entertaining him too much.

  ---

  The shrill shriek of an alarm drowned the room.

  Larna rolled away and wrapped himself in the blanket. But the alarm didn't stop. He haphazardly moved his right hand to reach his phone, knocking over all the things above the desk, and failing to turn it off.

  Giving up his sleep, he sat on the bed with a sigh and deactivated his phone’s alarm. He stretched up and rubbed his eyes, his fingers becoming wet in the process. He exited his room, closing the door to hide the mess from his parents and sister.

  He walked through the hallway that led to his isolated room. Being so apart was perfect for sleepless nights of gaming and anime marathons, but now, Larna felt it was too cold.

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  He reached his house's kitchen. His mother, father, and sister were at the table. Larna’s mom and dad gave him the “good morning”, but Lia just stared at him.

  She was mad because of a discussion they’d had a few days ago. It consisted of her lecturing him to be responsible and to stop losing his time on video games and anime, to do something worthy. But he just closed his room's door in her face.

  Maybe he was a bit rude, but he didn’t care about things like productivity. He would leave the role of being the pride of the family to his smart sister.

  He sat in the chair beside her. He didn’t want to apologize. It’s just that it was the only seat left.

  Larna submerged himself in daydreams as he ate his breakfast.

  His parents and sister chatted, smiling and casually chuckling. They looked like a perfect family.

  Larna was bringing the food to his mouth when his sister pushed his shoulder, making the spoon crash into his cheek.

  ”Hey, I'm talking to you!”

  Larna blinked, trying to puzzle himself out. ”Huh, sorry.”

  She frowned. “I asked you how your day was. You went out, didn't you?

  Larna played with the food on the plate and nodded.

  ”So, how was it?”

  Larna's frown deepened. “Nothing special”

  Lia looked down and continued eating his breakfast. Larna glimpsed his parents shrugging at each other, with furrowed brows.

  It always was that way. Larna's sister was the joy of his parents. When they talked, a warm feeling spread through the house. Meanwhile, Larna just made them put those kinds of faces.

  When he was done, he grabbed his backpack and headed towards the house's entrance. He put on his headphones and sighed. Another day. He walked with his eyes on the floor, careful not to trip.

  Because his sister went to a different high school, he was alone. But he was accustomed to it.

  Not too much time passed until Larna walked among the other students. He had chosen the nearer school for the advantage of waking up as late as possible.

  He went straight to his classroom. When he stepped across the door, too many eyes were on him. Larna didn't greet anyone, as he just looked down and walked, focusing on his music. His seat was at the back, far from the window.

  The class went as expected. Larna’s grades weren't bad, but he didn't participate in classes and did everything in his power to escape the professor's gaze.

  Finally, the recess alarm rang. The student's chatter and laughter could be heard throughout the school.

  It was a habit among the students to go out of the classroom during lunch time, and because of that, Larna always stayed in the classroom.

  He opened his backpack and took a small recipient from inside it. Inside was the lunch prepared by his mother. It was adorned with heart shapes and was still warm. His mother's lunches were a reminder to Larna that his family loved him.

  He turned to take his utensils he had forgotten getting from his backpack, but froze mid-movement.

  “Oh, this looks delicious!”

  Garuma had taken his lunch. His mocking face made Larna’s blood boil.

  ”That's very kind of you. Thanks for bringing it for me.”

  Garuma sat on the table in front of Larna and turned the bowl, letting the food fall into his big mouth.

  “So, Larna, have you changed your mind?” he said, still chewing the food Larna's mom had prepared with so much care.

  Larna clenched his teeth. That question. That was the question Garuma always asked him before things got worse.