After the loss on the field, Mao tried to pretend it didn't matter. That soccer was just a test. A one-time thing.
But the truth was clear: he didn't belong there either.
Still, he wasn't ready to give up. Not yet.
So, he turned to something else—clubs.
He visited the science club first. He'd always liked numbers, logic, experiments.
"Sorry," the president said. "We're full this term. Maybe next semester."
Next was the literature club. He thought maybe his quiet nature would be welcome there.
The girl at the door frowned. "We're looking for people who can present and discuss in groups. You don't really... speak much."
He tried the art club, even though he hadn't drawn in years.
The advisor glanced at his sketch. "You need fundamentals before you join. We're focused on prep for competitions right now."
The rejection wasn't harsh. But it added up. Quiet voices closing doors.
Then came the teachers.
Once, Mr. Tsukuda used to pull Mao aside to compliment his essays. Now, he didn't even glance his way.
When Mao asked about tutoring positions, the English teacher blinked.
"Tanaka? I thought you were struggling yourself lately."
"I was hoping to help lower-year students," Mao said.
"You should focus on catching up first," she replied, smiling—but it didn't reach her eyes.
The last straw was when he applied for student council assistant—just assistant, not even a leadership role.
"You didn't pass the initial screening," came the email reply. "Thank you for your interest."
No explanation. No second chance.
Every hallway felt narrower now. Every conversation moved around him, not through him. Even Ren—always cheerful, always polite—seemed to walk past Mao more easily these days, like they were never meant to collide.
And maybe they weren't.
Mao sat alone on the rooftop during lunch, knees pulled to his chest, rejected by clubs, overlooked by teachers, and forgotten by most of his classmates.
He had no status.
No role.
No place.
He wasn't the smartest. Wasn't athletic. Wasn't charming. And now… he wasn't needed.
A cold breeze tugged at his collar as he stared out across the schoolyard. He wondered:
If you disappear slowly enough… does anyone even notice you're gone?