The Tainted Past

The morning light gently filtered through the tightly closed curtains of Ryo's room. The room was dark, with simple furniture reflecting the neglect Ryo lived in. His study desk was cluttered with scattered papers and open textbooks. A large drawing board next to the bed was covered in a layer of dust, indicating it hadn't been used in a long time.

Ryo slowly woke up, glancing at the clock with half-closed eyes before sighing and getting out of bed. He rose sluggishly, his black hair disheveled and his facial features weary. His eyes were shadowed with dark circles, reflecting long sleepless nights. He walked to his wardrobe, haphazardly dressed in his school uniform, and then went downstairs for breakfast with his adoptive family.

The kitchen was warm and bright, reflecting the loving family atmosphere. The breakfast table was set with bread, eggs, juice, and some fruit. Family photos on the wall showed happy moments. The family sat around the table, waiting for Ryo to join them.

"Good morning, Ryo. How did you sleep last night?" the mother asked in a warm, gentle tone, placing a plate of eggs in front of him.

Ryo responded in a low, indifferent voice, "As usual." He avoided eye contact with his mother and took a small bite of bread.

The father, with a strong voice trying to joke with Ryo, said, "Your dark circles have gotten bigger; you must be staying up late. Looks like our clumsy son got dumped by his girlfriend, hahaha." He slapped Ryo's back hard as he laughed.

Ryo coughed from the slap. The mother intervened and handed him a glass of water.

"Are you okay? Does your back hurt?" she asked with a worried tone.

She then punched the father on the head and scolded him, "You idiot, how dare you hit him so hard? Do you want to kill him?"

The father, in a fearful tone, replied, "I thought he could handle it."

"How could he handle it? Do you think he's a ghoul like you?" the mother retorted.

The father, with a submissive and fearful expression, said, "I'm sorry, I didn't think he'd get hurt."

The sisters tried to interact with him in their own way.

The eldest sister, seriously: "Do you need help with your homework, Ryo?"

Ryo shook his head indifferently, "No, thanks."

The middle sister, excitedly: "I think today will be great, right?"

Ryo murmured, "Maybe."

The youngest sister approached him and whispered, "If you need anything, I'm here."

Ryo finished his breakfast quickly, stood up slowly, grabbed his school bag, and left the table. "I'm going now." He headed for the door without looking back.

The streets were quiet, lined with trees on both sides, children playing on their way to school, and the weather was sunny. Despite all this, Ryo felt cold inside. He walked slowly, head down, shoulders slumped, carrying his bag carelessly. Ryo's school uniform reflected his psychological state. He wore a white shirt that was usually ironed, but now it looked wrinkled and untidy, with one button open at the collar. His tie hung unevenly, almost slipping off. His black pants needed adjusting, as his belt wasn't fastened properly, making the pants appear slightly loose at the waist. His brown shoes were unpolished, with some dirt clinging to them.

Ryo's black hair was unkempt, strands tangled randomly as if he hadn't combed it in days. His dark eyes were surrounded by deep black circles, reflecting long nights of sleeplessness and contemplation. His pale face and prominent cheekbones added to his tired and worn-out appearance, clearly showing his psychological state.

Yumi saw him on her way to school, a 17-year-old girl with long, wavy brown hair, neatly wearing her school uniform. Her face showed a mix of happiness and shyness because of Ryo.

Yumi to herself: "He looks so handsome, what should I say to him?" She saw Ryo differently because of her vivid imagination.

"Hehe, fwooo hehe, fwooo let's act natural." Inhale, then a long exhale, like the wind's moan on a stormy day. The sound slipped through her lips with each breath to calm herself.

"Ryo, you should take better care of yourself. Did you sleep well?" Yumi said, stopping in the hallway and trying to straighten his clothes.

Ryo responded in a low, faint voice, "It doesn't matter." He avoided looking at her.

Yumi, with a tone full of concern, said, "I'm worried about you. What happened to you?"

Ryo coldly replied, "Nothing. Leave me alone." He walked away slowly, leaving Yumi looking back at him sadly.

In the classroom, Ryo sat at the back, staring out the window. His eyes were glazed, his expression lifeless. The lesson started, and he gradually lost focus, falling into a deep sleep on his desk.

In his dream, he returned to the painful memories of the past incident. He felt suffocated and tense, hearing the sound of the crash repeatedly.

The teacher, Satomi, noticing him sleeping, approached and hit him on the head with a book to wake him up. Ryo woke up suddenly in a state of panic, breathing heavily because of the nightmare. Holding his chest, he struggled to breathe. Satomi tried to help him, and in a moment of panic, Ryo accidentally slapped her hand away, muttering, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to."

Satomi looked at Ryo in shock and concern, her eyes quickly examining him. Ryo froze for a moment, his expression a mix of fear and sadness. His eyes were filled with unshed tears, reflecting the depth of his pain.

"Ryo, are you okay?" Satomi asked with a voice full of worry and kindness, cautiously trying to approach him again.

Ryo, breathing heavily, replied, "No... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He looked at her with a broken, sorrowful gaze, his eyes quickly darting away from hers.

Satomi stepped back, then knelt beside him to be at eye level. "Ryo, I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to wake you up. Are you okay?" she said in a warm and gentle tone, trying to provide some comfort.

Ryo responded in a low voice, "It's okay... It's my fault." He lowered his head.

His expression was frozen, as if life had left him.

"I'm here to help. If you need to talk, I'm always here," Satomi said softly, gently placing her hand on his shoulder, trying to make him feel supported.