Chapter 5: The Breaking Point and Aftermath

  Remi stared at his refle in the window, barely registering Mrs. Caldwin's voice as she droned on about cellur mitosis. The autumn sun cast long shadows across the school grounds, and his thoughts drifted to the D&D session pnned for the weekend. Johnny had beeing him ideas for their campaigween csses, providing a wele distra from the growing knot in his stomach.

  The bell's sharp ring jolted him back to reality. As his cssmates hurriedly packed their bags, eager for lunch period, Remi took his time. He'd learhrough bitter experiehat timing was everything in high school. Too early to lunch meant dealing with the initial rush and its associated chaos; too te meant pig through whatever remained of the day's s.

  "Don't fet your b reports are due tomorrow!" Mrs. Caldwin called out to the already emptying . Remi nodded absently, though he'd finished his report days ago. Academic work, at least, was something he could trol.

  Making his way through the gradually thinning crowds in the hallway, Remi arrived at the cafeteria at what should have been the perfeent. The initial lunch rush had subsided, but there were still plenty of det options avaible. The familiar weight of his backpack provided some fort as he collected his tray and navigated between the crowded tables, searg for ay spot.

  His gaze caught on Liza, perched at her usual table surrounded by her cheer squad friends. She sat beside Shawn Baker, their school's celebrated athlete, her hand casually draped over his shoulder as she ughed at something he'd said. Remi quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to draw attention.

  Too te.

  The sound of a chair scraping against linoleum was his only warning. As he passed their table, Liza's arm shot out, perfectly timed to catch his tray. The collisio his lunch sprawling across the floor, the cheap pstic tray cttering against the ground with a sound that seemed to echh the suddenly quiet cafeteria.

  "Oh my god, I am so sorry!" Liza's voice dripped with mock siy. "I didn't see you there!"

  The ughter started slowly, rippling outward from their table until it seemed to fill the entire space. Remi stood frozen, staring at his scattered lunch, aware of every eye in the room fixed on him. His chest felt tight, each breath being increasingly difficult as the walls of the cafeteria seemed to close in.

  "Better watch where yoiime," Shawn added, his tone carrying an edge that made the threat clear.

  Remi's face burned as he ko gather his fallen food, hands trembling slightly. The urge to disappear, to somehow make himself smaller, was overwhelming. Without looking up, he could feel Shawn's satisfied smirk, could picture the way the other boy would be lounging ba his chair, arm draped possessively around Liza's shoulders.

  His vision blurred as he abahe scattered remains of his lunch, the cheap pstic tray fotten on the floor. Each step away from the se felt like moving through water, the cacophony of ughter seeming to follow him like a physical presence. His feet carried him instinctively toward the exit, muscle memuiding him through the maze of tables and staring faces.

  The hallway offered e—if anything, the sudden quiet made the echoes of humiliation louder in his head. The boys' bathroom he sce wing beed like a sanctuary. It was usually empty during lunch period, tucked away in a quieter er of the school. Remi burst through the door, the familiar st of industrial er and damp paper towels greeting him as he stumbled to the sink.

  His refle in the scratched mirror told its own story: flushed cheeks, eyes tht, hair disheveled from his hasty retreat. The cold water felt shog against his skin as he spshed his face, trying to wash away the burning shame that seemed to have settled into his very pores. His hands gripped the edges of the por sink until his knuckles turned white, watg water droplets fall from his into the drain.

  For a moment, the only sounds were his ragged breathing and the steady drip of the leaky faucet two sinks down. In that brief solitude, Remi felt his chest strict with a sob he refused to let escape. He wouldn't give them that satisfa. He couldn't.

  The bathroom door creaked open behind him, the sound like a gunshot iiled space. Heavy footsteps—multiple sets—echoed off the walls. Before Remi could turn around, Shawn's voice cut through his momentary haven.

  "'t even up your own mess? That's pretty pathetic, Halistaad."

  The words struck deeper than any physical blow, each sylble carefully chosen to maximize impact. Remi felt stripped of something essential—his dignity, his sense of self, perhaps both. The fluorest lights suddenly seemed tht, too harsh, exposing every vulnerability he'd tried to hide.

  Remi caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror – James Prescott and Eddie Enfield fnking Shawn, spreading out to cut off any easy escape to the door. His heart hammered against his ribs as he straightened up, water still dripping from his .

  "I asked you a question, Halistaad." Shawn's voice carried that familiar edge of casual cruelty. "What's wrong? Too good to up after yourself?"

  "Just leave me alone," Remi managed, hating how his voice cracked o word.

  James let out a sharp ugh. "Or what? You'll g to Ms. Thurngd again?" He affected a mog falsetto. "'Oh, the big mean boys are being so unfair to me!'"

  "Probably already has his little pint form filled out," Eddie added, moving closer. His stocky frame seemed to take up more spa the fined bathroom, making the walls feel like they were closing in.

  Shawn stepped forward, f Remi to back up until he hit the cold tile wall. "You know what your problem is, Halistaad? You think you're better than everyone else. Walking around with your nose in those fantasy books, ag like you're too good for the rest of us."

  "I don't—" Remi started to protest, but Shawn smmed his palm against the wall o Remi's head, the sharp crack eg off the tiles.

  "You don't what?" Shawn leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You don't know your pce? Because I think it's time someoaught you exactly where you belong."

  Eddie's meaty hand grabbed Remi's shoulder, spinning him around to face the mirror. "Take a good look, loser. This is athetic looks like."

  The fluorest lights buzzed overhead, harsh and unfiving as Remi stared at his own refle, fnked by his tormentors. His face was still wet from the sink, but now he could feel hot tears threatening to spill over. The shame of it, of being so weak, so helpless, burned worse than any physical pain they could inflict.

  "Remember tryouts?" James stepped closer, a cruel smile pying at his lips. "The way you pletely choked when Coach ran the drills? I've never seen anyone look so patheti the field." His voice dropped to a stage whisper. "Though watg you try to expin to your dad why you didn't make the ow that was eai."

  The memory hit Remi like a physical blow. He could still see his father's disappointed face, still hear the lecture about "applying yourself" and "living up to your potential." James had been there for all of it, watg from the parking lot with that same smirk he wore now.

  Something snapped inside Remi. Maybe it was the culmination of years of torment, maybe it was the way his refle looked so small and scared, or maybe it was just blind panic. He drove his elbow bato Eddie's stomach, catg the rger boy by surprise. In the moment of fusion, he ducked under Shawn's arm and bolted for the door.

  He ran until his lungs burned, until the school was far behind him and the residential streets of Boston's suburbs stretched out ahead. Only then did he slow to a walk, his breath ing in ragged gasps that had as much to do with held-back tears as physical exertion. The midday sun cast sharp shadows across wns and cookie-cutter houses, a perfect suburban tableau that felt mogly peaceful after what he'd just experienced.

  Remi walked without dire, letting his feet carry him wherever they wanted. Past the local grocery store where his mother shopped, past the GameStop where he and Johnny spent too many afternoons browsing games they couldn't afford, past all the familiar ndmarks of his daily life. Each step put more distaween him and the school, but the weight of humiliation followed like a shadow he couldn't shake.

  His phone buzzed periodically in his pocket – probably Andrew cheg on him, or maybe the school calling to report his absence. He ig. The thought of expining where he was, of putting into words what had happened, made his throat close up. How could he tell ahat he'd let them er him again? That he'd run away like a coward?

  The residential streets gradually gave way to more industrial areas. Train tracks cut through this part of town, a reminder of Boston's industrial past. The rhythmic click of his shoes against the sidewalk became almost hypnotic as his mind circled baes's words, to his father's disappoi, to Liza's perfectly timed cruelty in the cafeteria.

  A uter train rumbled past in the distas horn eg off the old brick buildings. Remi found himself drawn toward the sound, toward the massive metal bridges ay lots that marked the edge of town. Here, at least, there was no oo see him, no oo judge his weakness or mock his failures.

  The te autumn wind picked up, carrying the first hint of winter's bite. Remi pulled his light jacket closer, realizing for the first time that he'd left his backpack behind in his rush to escape. Another mistake to add to the day's growing list. His father would have plenty to say about that, about all of this, if he found out.

  When had he started walking along the tracks? The gravel ched under his feet as he picked his way between the rails, each step carrying him further from the familiar parts of town. The industrial buildings loomed around him like silent wito his exile, their broken windows and graffiti-covered walls a stark trast to the manicured wns he'd left behind.

  He should go back. He knew he should go back. But the thought of returning, of fag everyoer running away, felt impossible. Better to keep walking, to lose himself in the rhythm of his steps and the quiet solitude of the abandoned rail yard. Better to be anywhere but where people could see him, could judge him, could remind him of everything he wasn't and could never be.

  Arain whistle sounded in the distance, closer this time. Remi barely registered it, lost in his thoughts as the shadows lengthened around him.

  He didn't stop until he was outside the school buildiirely, gulping in the fresh air as if he'd been drowning. The te autumn wi sharp against his heated face, but he weled it. Anything was better than going baside, than fag what waited for him there.

  In that moment, standing alone in the school yard with his heart pounding and his hands still shaking, Remi made a decision. He couldn't—wouldn't—go ba. Not today. Maybe not ever.

  He started walking, then running, letting his feet carry him away from the school, away from the humiliation, away from everything. Each step put more distaween him and that cafeteria se, but the weight of it stayed with him, settling into his bones like a cold that wouldn't lift.

  The world had never felt quite so vast ay as it did in that moment, with nothing but the sound of his ed breathing and the steady rhythm of his feet against the pavement to keep him pany.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Johnathon gripped his pstic fork so hard it threateo snap. He stared at Remi's abaray, at the scattered food that the janitor was now quietly ing up. Beside him, Andrew sat in uncharacteristic silence, his own lunch fotten.

  "We should have done something," Johnny muttered, his voice tight. He'd been in the middle of expining the test episode of an anime series to Andrew when it happened, his words dying mid-sentence as he watched Liza's perfectly timed "act" unfold.

  Andrew pushed his gsses up his nose, a nervous habit that surfaced whenever he felt helpless. "Like what? Take on Shawn and his whole crew? That's like a level one party trying to fight a red dragon." He paused, then added quietly, "We'd just make it worse for him."

  They both knew he was right. The social hierarchy of the school was as rigid as any fantasy game's css system, and they were firmly at the bottom. Johnny's extensive knowledge of anime and Andrew's mastery of D&D rules meant nothing in the face of Shawn's athletic status and James's casual cruelty.

  "Did you see where he went?" Johnny asked, finally setting down his fork before it could break. He'd been the oo grab Remi's backpack after his friend fled, knowing they'd have to return it to him eventually.

  "Bathroom, probably," Andrew said, gng toward the cafeteria exit. "But Shawn and his friends followed him." He swallowed hard, guilt written across his features. "Maybe we should tell someone? Ms. Thurngd—"

  "Won't do anything," Johnny cut him off. "Remember st time? She just gave Remi that whole speech about 'learning to handle social situations' and 'developing resilience.'" The bitterness in his voice alpable.

  They sat in unfortable silence as the cafeteria's regur buzz of versation gradually returo normal, as if nothing had happened. As if their best friend hadn't just been publicly humiliated and driven from the room.

  "He's been ag different tely," Andrew said finally, poking at his ashed potatoes. "More... I don't know. Withdrawn? Ever sihe team tryouts."

  Johnny nodded slowly. "His dad's been rough on him about that. You should have heard him st game night, going on about 'living up to his potential' and 'manning up.'" He mimicked Remi's father's stern toh surprising accuracy.

  A otiohe cafeteria doors drew their attention. Eddie burst in, his face red with exertier – possibly both. He spoke quickly to Shawn's other friends, gesturing animatedly. Even from across the room, Johnny and Andrew could guess what it meant: Remi had gotten away from them.

  "Should we try to find him?" Johnny asked, already knowing the ahey'd pyed this se out before.

  "I'll keep his backpack," Andrew said, carefully lifting it from uhe table. "We drop it off at his house after school." He hesitated. "Maybe see if he made it home okay."

  The weight of Remi's backpack felt wrong on Andrew's shoulder as he sat through his afternoon csses. He'd carried it alongside his own from to , earning curious gnces from teachers who k wasn't his but didn't bother to ask. Each period, he found himself gng at Remi's empty seat, half-expeg his friend to suddenly appear with some expnation about where he'd been.

  By sixth period calculus, he'd checked his pho least two dozen times. No messages from Remi. Johnny had texted twice: oo say he'd checked the library during study hall with no luck, and again to report that he'd overheard Shawn bragging about how Remi had "run away g."

  The final bell couldn't e soon enough. Andrew met Johnny at their usual spot by the bike racks, both of them sing the crowd of departing students out of habit, knowing Remi wouldn't be among them.

  "I texted Rachel," Johnny said, unlog his bike. "Remi's sister," he added unnecessarily. "She hasn't heard from him either."

  Andrew adjusted the tacks awkwardly. "I should take this to his house. His dad will flip if he doesn't have his homework tomorrow." He knew all too well how Michael Halistaad could get about academic responsibilities.

  "Wao e with?" Johnny offered, but Andrew could see him gng at his watch. He had his shift at the ic shop in thirty minutes.

  "Nah, I got it. Text me if you hear anything?"

  The ride to Remi's house took lohan usual. Andrew pedaled his beat-up mountain bike slowly through the neighborhood, the tacks making him wobble slightly as he took the long route, cheg all their usual hangout spots along the way. The GameStop where they spent too much time browsing games they couldn't afford. The park where they sometimes did their D&D sessions when the weather was he ic shop where Johnny worked, even though he knew his friend wouldn't start his shift for another few minutes.

  No sign of Remi anywhere.

  Finally, he turned onto Remi's street. The Halistaad house looked exactly as it always did – wn, trimmed hedges, and Rachel's pink bicycle propped against the garage door. Andrew hesitated at the end of the driveway, suddenly unsure. What would he say to Remi's parents? To Rachel?

  Before he could decide, the front door opened and Rachel stepped out onto the porch. At fourteen, she looked more like her mother every day, though she carried herself with a fidehat seemed beyond her years. Her expression shifted from hope to disappoi when she saw Aanding alone.

  "Still nothing?" she asked as Andrew walked his bike up the driveway.

  He shook his head. "Brought his backpack." He lifted it slightly, like evidehought he might ."

  Rachel bit her lip, a gesture so simir to her brother's that it made Andrew's chest tight. "Dad's going to be home soon," she said quietly. "He's already called twice asking if Remi's back yet. Mom's trying to cover, saying he had a group project or something, but..." She trailed off, her usual self-assurance crag slightly.

  " I..." Andrew gestured vaguely toward the house. "Maybe check his room? In case he came back without aig?"

  They both k was unlikely, but Rachel nodded ahe door open. The house felt different without Remi in it – quieter, somehow. Their st D&D session was still set up on the dining room table, character sheets and dice scattered across the surface. Mrs. Halistaad must have left it untouched, hoping her son would return to finish the game.

  Remi's room was exactly as they'd left it yesterday, right down to the rulebook still open on his desk to the page about monster enter tables. Andrew set the backpack down carefully o the desk, then stood there awkwardly, not sure what else to do.

  "He's never dohis before," Rachel said from the doorway. Her voice was small, worried in a way Andrew had never heard from her. "Just... disappeared."

  "He'll e back," Andrew said, trying to sound more fident than he felt. "He always does."

  Rachel's phone buzzed, making them both jump. She checked it, then paled slightly. "Dad's on his way home. He's... not happy."

  Andrew aking the hint. "Text me? If you hear from him?"

  "Yeah." Rachel followed him back downstairs. At the front door, she hesitated. "Andrew? You don't think he'd... do anything stupid, right?"

  The question hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken fears. Ahought about the look on Remi's face as he fled the cafeteria, about all the little ges in his friend's behavior tely that he'd noticed but hadn't really registered until now.

  "He'll be okay," he said finally, not quite answering her question. "Remi's smarter than people give him credit for."

  But as he rode home in the lengthening shadows of te afternoon, Andrew couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong. He pulled out his phoo text Johnny, then stopped. What could he say that they didn't already know?

  Instead, he found himself opening their D&D group chat, staring at Remi's st message from just yesterday: "'t wait for Saturday's session! Things are finally going to turn around for my character!"

  Andrew hoped his friend was right – about more than just the game.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  End of Chapter

  Hello All! Another chapter up. tinuing to write!

  Also, a quiote. Yes, the book will get to the Isekai! Ohing that usually bugs me a little bit about so many Isekai genre is either how short a time they put iablishing the main character if they’re going to do so in the beginning pre-isekai. Especially in the case of them getting reborn. Either take some time or just have them appear reborn aheir past iory. The best ones of course (Such as Jobless Reination and Rising of the Bookworm) do either of those. But seriously, so many have like the equivalent of a half chapter or two of character development and it is so cookie cutter. So, in this one I decided to make a full backstory. Because it shapes Remi. Especially ter in the rebirth cycle.

  I’m putting my Discord el back up on perma invite:

  https://disc/NYjPU3auVy

  Join Me and some other people to talk shop, discuss artwork, stories, chatter, or just share fun videos or memes!

  I’ll put this link in other chapters as well.

  Also, feel free to PM me if you have any questions or wanna ent.

  TTFN Everyone.