YM778.TV Chapter 5: 5: What's left? Home
\'This familiar feeling... No!\' Axel\'s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and denial. Refusing to accept the harsh reality, he hurried down from the Crystal platform, desperate to find solace in his friends, Williams and Sarah.
As he strode through the crowd, students parted as though he were carrying a contagious disease, their faces masks of repulsion. Each sidestep felt like a dagger to Axel\'s heart, a silent confirmation of his newfound pariah status. But he held onto a sliver of hope, believing that his friends would be different.
Axel forced a grin, stretching his hand towards Williams, expecting a reassuring grasp. Instead, Williams recoiled, slapping Axel\'s hand away with a sneer. The force of the rejection caused Axel to stumble backward, struggling to maintain his balance.
"Don\'t touch me, you fool!" Williams spat, his voice dripping with contempt. The harshness of his tone struck Axel like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Williams, it\'s me, your best friend, Axel," Axel pleaded, his voice breaking. He knew how pathetic he sounded, but desperation clawed at his insides.
Williams avoided Axel\'s eyes, his expression conflicted but resolute. "I know... But I have a good thing going now. I can\'t be seen with the likes of you," he said, attempting to soften the blow. However, his words were still harsh, slicing through Axel\'s last shreds of hope. "So don\'t bother me again."
Axel\'s world spun. He turned to Sarah, his last lifeline, his eyes wide and pleading. "S-Sarah... Babe, I\'m sorry..." he began, but his words were cut short as Sarah\'s hand met his face with a resounding slap.
"How dare you call me your girlfriend!" Sarah hissed, her eyes blazing with fury and disgust. "You should be ashamed! You should be a slave from the gutters to me. How could you think someone like me would be with a man without a future?"
The words stung, each syllable a blow to his already battered spirit. Axel\'s eyes widened, and his breath hitched as the realization dawned. "You... you used me? Everything we had was never real?"
Sarah\'s lips curled into a cruel smile. "You\'re right, Axel. The only reason we were with you was because you showed promise. But now? Now you\'re nothing but trash." Her voice was cold, dripping with disdain. "There is nothing real in a relationship without gain.
To me, you are simply dust now... just blow away."
Axel felt his knees weaken, his mind racing with a torrent of emotions. \'I was used... They exploited me... Just like back then, when I was overworked and undervalued. This is the same feeling!\' The realization hit him hard, and his chest tightened painfully. \'I\'ve become trash again.\'
...
With his confidence shattered, Axel trudged home, keeping his head down to avoid meeting anyone\'s eyes. The once familiar path to his house felt like a walk of shame. He reached the door of his large, well-furnished home—a symbol of his family\'s status. The metallic relays and holographic tech display showed the message, "Tax Paid!
Non-Debtor," a government measure to ensure transparency in financial dealings.
Axel couldn\'t bring himself to care about the message or the house\'s imposing presence. He hesitated, wrapping his right hand around the cold, smooth doorknob. With a timid twist, he pushed the door open, hoping to slip inside unnoticed.
"Happy Graduation Day, Axel!"
Axel was greeted by the sight of his father, mother, and little sister, Annie. The room was decorated with balloons and streamers, a large cake in the center—a celebration of what should have been his awakening. His family\'s faces were lit with joy and anticipation, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside him.
The cheerful scene shattered Axel\'s fragile composure. He collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face. "I-I\'m sorr... sorry," he choked out, unable to meet their eyes.
His parents\' expressions shifted instantly. His father, who had been beaming with pride, dropped to the ground, overwhelmed with despair. Axel\'s failure was a heavy blow, not just to him, but to his entire family, especially his father, an S-Rank hunter who had once believed in his son\'s potential.
"Don\'t cry, Axel!" His mother, the only one managing to hold herself together, rushed to his side. She knelt beside him, pulling him into a warm embrace. "It\'s going to be alright," she whispered, her voice soothing.
Axel felt the soft wool of his mother\'s clothing against his skin, but the warmth did little to thaw the cold, frosty feeling in his heart. This was a feeling he knew all too well—the feeling of becoming a nobody, a failure, just as he had in his past life. He could see the same future unfolding before him.
From a distance, Annie, his little sister, watched with confusion. She folded her arms, tears welling in her eyes as she tried to understand the situation. "Big brother, why are we crying?"
Seeing Annie\'s innocent face made Axel\'s heart ache even more. The thought of being the senior meant to inspire and protect her, now reduced to a disgrace, weighed heavily on him. He felt like he had failed her, failed his family, and failed himself.
\'I\'m sorry, Annie, but I don\'t deserve that title... I am only a failure,\' Axel thought, burying his face in his hands. The room\'s decorations, the cake, and the smiles that had greeted him felt like a cruel mockery of what could have been. The warmth of his mother\'s embrace couldn\'t chase away the cold reality that had settled in his soul.