Just looking at Maya incredulously, Linus didn't know what to say.

What…?

Was this supposed to be a joke?!

Maya sighed with annoyance. "Where's Akira at? I need to talk to him."

An uneasy feeling spread in Linus' stomach. Wouldn't she at least take a look at it?

With trembling lips, he made stuttering noises that got lost in the crowd.

Throwing the envelope away like trash, Maya turned her back on him and walked away.

Watching her go, as the envelope dropped to the ground, he felt a lump forming in his throat. He blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over.

But it didn't help.

They were already flowing down.

Was this really Maya?

The Maya he loved?

Was it even love?

If not, what was it then, that he had felt for her?

He knelt down, his hand trembling as he reached for the discarded envelope lying on the ground. Just as his fingers brushed against it, another hand swooped in and snatched it away. Startled, Linus' gaze shot up to see maliciously glowing eyes laughing at him, a cruel smirk twisting beneath it, casting dark shadows.

Linus felt exposed, vulnerable to Marlon's ridicule and mockery, despite him not even having said a word yet.

"What's this, Linus? A love letter?" Marlon sneered, holding the envelope tauntingly out of reach. "No wonder she ran off."

Marlon's laughter rang out, so sharp and mocking that people around them cast odd looks at them.

Linus bowed his head, his tears flowing freely, unchecked by pride or shame. In that moment of vulnerability, he felt like wanting to die.

But then, to his own surprise, he raised his voice. "Shut up..."

Marlon's smirk widened, his eyes alight with amusement. "Hm? Or what?!" he asked, "Or you're gonna beat me up?" his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Pfffft!"

Linus ignored the jeers, his focus fixed on the envelope held tauntingly in Marlon's hand. With a shaky breath, he pushed himself up from the ground. "Give it back," he sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

They were reddish by now.

But Marlon just shook his head, waving the envelope over his head like a carrot in front of a donkey. "You want it? Come and get it, loser!"

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Entering the scene was Leopold, observing the conflict unfold. Hesitantly, he looked between the two boys. As he was about to intervene, he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. Looking back, Akira's orange-red eyes warned him. Leopold froze in place, unable to move.

Suddenly, Linus charged forward, his vision blurred with rage, as he collided with Marlon. The latter was caught off guard by his outburst, stumbled backward until he was finally thrown to the ground. His cocky demeanor faltered for a moment, the envelope flying through the air. But Marlon quickly recovered, pushing Linus to the side, then rolled over and prepared to strike him with his fist.

The surrounding crowd erupted into confused looks and startled murmurs as the two boys grappled with each other.

"What are they doing?!"

"Get someone to help!"

For a brief, chaotic moment, the world around them faded away, leaving only the clash of bodies and the sound of harsh breaths echoing in Linus' ears. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the burning desire to prove himself.

With a thud, Marlon's bones clashed into Linus' cheek, making him gasp.

"Stop it!" screamed Leopold and rushed at Marlon. He had already stopped this bully before, and he would again. But this time it wouldn't stay at a warning.

As Leopold jumped at Marlon, a strange feeling came over him. Something was off. Not about himself, but about Marlon.

He seemed surprisingly confident, staring at Leopold, as if he was moving in slow motion albeit running at full speed.

Only now Leopold noticed the dead expression on Marlon's face. And his eyes, they weren't a soft blue like before, but glowing red instead. Leopold had seen these eyes before way too many times. They were the eyes of death—the eyes of a Shinigami.

Suddenly a heavy force crashed into Leopold's face. With nothing more than a half-hearted slap, Marlon sent him to the ground.

Before Linus realized what's going on, another punch followed, now crushing his nose, blood spraying everywhere. Filled with adrenaline, Linus didn't care about the physical pain, but the emotional damage of humiliation was tremendous.

Praying for help, hoping for someone to save him, he felt even more the loser he was.

Yes, he was a loser.

Marlon was right.

And Linus knew it.

Everyone did.

His classmates, Akira, Beyza, Leopold, and… his mother?

She was probably scared Linus would end up like his father.

Despite showing the will to fight back, there was no way of winning. At this point, it made no difference anyway. Linus' life was ruined. He wouldn't be able to look at himself in the mirror anymore, nor could he show up at school.

And with Maya seeing him as nothing more than a weirdo, what was even the point of going there anymore?

Everyone hated him anyway.

Even he himself did so.

All the words Marlon yelled at him, Linus had told himself a thousand times already. So they were no use.

The only reason it hurt was that Linus believed it himself. Marlon just showed it to everyone, laid open his insecurities like ripping off the bandage of a deep wound for everyone to see.

Looking at Linus' demolished face, Marlon, in all his bloodlust, paused for a moment. It was as if looking into a mirror. Marlon was the exact same as him. Weak, insecure, a wimp. And yet, he was victorious.

Isn't that paradox?

As Marlon paused, his fist still poised in the air, a flicker of something unfamiliar crossed his features. The adrenaline-fueled haze began to lift, and Marlon's hands trembled as he stared at Linus. The thrill of dominance faded, replaced by a gnawing sense of remorse.

Or was it not much more fear?

Fear of not being an inch better than this sorry excuse lying before him?

The surrounding crowd fell silent, their murmurs fading into the background as they watched the unfolding scene.

"Should we call the police?"

"More like an ambulance..."

Heavy breathing escaped Marlon. He seemed to fight his own demons in this exact moment. Linus, on the other hand, was close to stop breathing. Perhaps it would be a release from his suffering.

"Why are you so useless…?" Marlon asked, almost whispering, tears starting to run down his face, dropping onto Linus.

"You're such a disappointment… I'd be better off if you were never born."

Linus, his gaze vacant and hollow, absorbed Marlon's words without response.

Then, Marlon clenched his fists, raising them once more, poised to deliver a final, crushing blow.

Looking at his watch, Akira's gaze took on an eerie stare.

This, indeed, was Linus' day of death.