[FLASHBACK]
The world was always full of pain and misery. It was inevitable, and it was the natural cycle of life, created by whatever god exists out there. People preyed on you like animals, loving to have control and power, and I was a victim of that—for so very long.
Every day of my life, ever since I was a little boy, I was always bullied.
["Pwa haha! Look, Yuto peed his pants!" A child by the name of Haru pointed at Yuto and his wet pants, catching the attention of nearby students.
"I-I wanted to go to the bathroom." Yuto sobbed, rubbing both eyes with his hands. "But you wouldn't let me in, you jerk!"
Kids all around him laughed—they were ruthless—untamed by the power of virtuous ethics, and they were no older than 10; barely in the fifth grade.]
I lived all my life in pain and longing for friends, and despite the support my family gave me, it wasn't enough. Every day I had to wake up for school to deal with the same exact thing; name-calling, physical harm, emotional manipulation, and taunting. It got to the point where I became suicidal in none other than the seventh grade.
[Yuto sat alone in the school cafeteria with his lunch tray untouched as students walked by his table. He was rather big, as his large frame made him an easy target for ridicule. Students couldn't help but laugh at the fat, obese student. Thus, without warning, a group of popular students approached his table, sneering as they circled around him. One of them, a tall boy named Mark, spoke up with cruel amusement.
"Look who's eating alone again! What's wrong, Alltear? No one wants to sit with the fat, adopted bastard?" The other students laughed cruelly as their voices echoed through the cafeteria. Yuto's face flushed red with embarrassment and shame, his hands trembling. "Isn't it obvious by now, you piece of shit? Nobody cares about you, man. I mean, look at yourself!"
Mark leaned in closer to Yuto's face as his expression twisted with sadistic pleasure. "I heard your real parents abandoned you because they couldn't stand looking at you. Must be tough being such a pathetic excuse for a human being." The other students snickered behind him, whispering among themselves. It was obvious that they were emboldened by Mark's cruel words. Another one of his friends had even chimed in from the crowd.
"He's not lying! Yuto is the only fat pig in this school, and supposedly, his biological parents died yesterday, yet I haven't seen him shed a single tear. What a monster, can you believe that shit?" Yuto widened his eyes, realizing they knew of his personal life. Seeing his reaction, the bully smiled cruelly, approaching the table beside Mark. "Yeah, that's right, we heard all about it yesterday when the principal talked to you in the hallway, giving you his sympathy."
Yuto's shoulders hunched forward, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. His hands clenched into fists on the table, but he remained silent, unable to defend himself.
"Hm? What's this? Not gonna speak up, fat ass?" Mark smacked the back of his head, causing Yuto to whimper. "C'mon, say something! Why are you so quiet, piece of shit?"
Yuto's body started to shake as he silently sobbed, witnessing his vision blurring with tears. The laughter of the other students echoed in his ears like a death sentence.
"M-My... parents were... killed in a car crash..." Tears spilled from his eyes as he hid them with his forearm, sniffling through his nose. He couldn't mask his pain any longer.
"Pfft, in a car crash!? You're telling me they didn't know how to drive? Why don't you look at that, people?" Mark lifted up his arms, gaining the attention of the cafeteria. "Yuto isn't the only useless sack of junk in his family! Apparently, his Mom and Pa didn't know how to drive! Retardation just runs in the family!"
Everyone burst out laughing while others remained quiet, quite sympathetic for Yuto. They knew they could speak up, but doing such a thing would lead to them being bullied as well. It was an unfortunate situation.]
My biological parents weren't actually killed in a car crash, it was a lie fabricated by me to create a delusion to mask the pain. The real reason they died was due to their profession as human traffickers. Apparently, they only gave birth to me to be sold away in the black market like a slave when I was old enough, but thankfully, due to some complications with CPS, I was taken away from their household and given away to my adoptive parents after a few complications.
That was one of the saddest points of my life. I loved my biological parents, but I was also blind to the truth... until the day of their death.
A cop showed up at my adoptive parent's house, relaying the news to me and telling me the truth. Finding all the proof he needed in their contacts and notebook, apparently, I was only created to be some slave for human trafficking.
It hit me like a truck. Everything I thought I knew came crashing down on me like anvils. Maybe everyone was right—I had no true value in life—I was only created to be used like trash... but my adoptive parents cared for me greatly and told me that I mattered. They were the only thing keeping me going and pushing me forward, but that all changed... during that fateful day.
[Yuto trudged down the hallway, feeling his heart race with nervous excitement. Just recently, he got a girlfriend who had been supporting him and dating him for a few months by now. She was absolutely stunning, he couldn't believe someone like her actually existed in his life.
"One of the happiest moments of my life is seeing Yui..." He whispered to himself, feeling more confident than usual. Yuto clutched his books tightly against his chest, just waiting to catch a glimpse of her familiar smile. The thought of her warm embrace made him momentarily forget about the hatred this world had for him. He was truly bliss.
But all of a sudden, Yuto's steps faltered as he caught a glimpse of Yui across the hallway. "Huh..." His heart sank as he saw her standing close to none other than Tanimoto with their fingers intertwined. His girlfriend—the one person who made him feel like he wasn't completely worthless—was now kissing his worst bully in full view of everyone.
The hallway seemed to spin around him as Yuto watched them break apart. He saw Yui giggling at something Tanimoto said with a big grin on his face. She didn't even notice him standing there. He was completely invisible.
"Y-Yui..." He tried speaking up, but his cowardice prevented him. Yuto could only watch his entire world shatter while Yui and Tanimoto continued their intimate exchange. The way they touched each other, the knowing looks they shared, it was clear they had been together for some time behind his back.
As Tanimoto whispered in his girlfriend's ear, Yui playfully swatted his chest before pulling him closer. "Maybe we could skip the last period and go to your place... I heard your parents are out of town." Tanimoto smirked and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling their bodies together in a sexual manner, completely oblivious to Yuto's presence, and him hearing all of this.
"Yui... I still... love you... even if you hate me..." Yuto's feet moved mechanically as he turned away from the painful scene. Ambling away from their intimacy, each step he took felt heavier than the last as his body trembled with suppressed emotions.
His mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts, betrayal, anger, and pain. How could she do this to him? How long had this been going on behind his back? Tears streamed down his face as he walked through the hallway, desperate to escape the crushing weight of his broken heart. "I-I guess it's fine... as long as we're still together... and as long as you continue being there for me like how I'm there for you." His hands shook uncontrollably while he clutched his books tighter against his chest, lowering his head.]
I couldn't trust anyone, not even my girlfriend at the time. Needless to say, a few weeks later, she broke up with me. Despite everything I done for her like buying gifts, taking her to the movies, and even helping her financial problems, she chose Tanimoto over me. He was just that popular at the time... I guess.
All the girls wanted him, and he managed to take my world away.
Fast forward a few years later, Tanimoto and Yui have been dating for three whole years. That's right, three entire years. She doesn't know that I found out about her cheating on me, but it didn't matter, she was happy, and that's all I cared about, despite her betrayal.
During these past three years, Tanimoto started bullying me. He hated how I was Yui's ex, and he hated my weight. He hated my cowardice and how I always apologized and acted like a loser. Overall, I was just a disgusting human being to the likes of him and everyone else in the world.
I couldn't fend for myself. Everywhere I turned was always pain and suffering, but now, I finally acquired the chance to get revenge. Not only upon those who wronged me but to the entire GODDAMN WORLD!
[PRESENT]
Walking through the streets of Grambosia City, Ophelia suddenly came to a stop, widening her eyes in exhilaration. She felt a presence, eerily familiar, and her nature as a Voidbound heightened her five senses greatly
A sign of recognition crossed her face as she turned to her left, facing the other pathway of the city, and there in the crowd, she spotted hun; Tanimoto walking with a blonde woman, Annabel. Her heart raced with anticipation as all of her painful memories flooded back. Memories of being tormented by him, memories of abuse, and memories of Yui.
Ophelia whispered under her breath, barely containing her excitement as she saw her former bully with another woman. "Tanimoto... even after all this time... you still remain the same disgusting pig." A dark aura intensified noticeably around her figure, drawing curious glances from nearby festival-goers.
Ophelia could no longer contain herself. Her rage was about to be unleashed.