Hahaz! This chapter came exceptionally fast!

Normal POV

"It's alright Ray. You could've told us earlier. Then we could've helped you out. You didn't have to resort to suicide." Kenny's words weren't comforting to Ray.

"And what could you do? Nothing!" Ray exclaimed.

"We could've shared your burden." Tyson said, suddenly becoming very sensible.

"What about mine?" Max whined.

"Do you have a burden, Mr. Happy – go – lucky?" Tyson taunted insensitively, standing up.

"What do you think, glutton?" Max challenged, raising his voice. He also stood up and made eye contact with Tyson, their noses almost touching.

"You're not the one that's always being laughed at.

You're not the one that is being mocked.

You're not the one that doesn't know who his mother is.

You're not the one whose father visits him once in a blue moon and only stays with his grandfather.

You're not the one that has never had many friends.

You're not the one…you're just not…and I envy you…" The last few words were slurred. Tears were streaking down his face and he sat back down onto the chair he had been sitting on before.

Max was looking down at the floor, feeling a little guilty.

"I'm not much better off either.

Before my parents divorced when I was 9, they always fought. I was able to hear them from my room and I'd be sobbing, listening to them quarrel. Every night I would wake up from nightmares about them and have no one comfort me. I was so young then, yet I had already experienced much of the atrocious world, this obdurate world with little compassion, little empathy.

Then I had to leave America and come to Japan. In a way it was good because I could leave those sad memories behind but I had to leave my few and precious friends behind too. I also had to leave my mother.

When I came to Japan, I wasn't welcome. I know very little Japanese and since I'm a foreigner, all my classmates didn't want to befriend me. I had no friends and was void of friendship.

It was until you guys came along and I showed off a little of my beyblading skills did I make my first friends in Japan. I didn't want to lose you and I knew an optimistic person is favoured by most so I pretended to be an insouciant person.

However, once I made that decision, I couldn't turn back. But my true personality wasn't that hyper one and I couldn't show that I'm sad. All the sadness that is suppressed is bursting out and I just can't take it anymore!" Max also broke out in tears. Now 60 per cent of the people in the room were crying.

Make it four-fifth since Kenny just started. Don't know why, guess he's just sad hearing everyone speak like this.

They all looked at Kai. He was in one of his usual postures – right leg bent vertically on the bed, right lower arm resting on his right knee, left hand draped down, eyes closed.

He could feel the stares but didn't open his eyes.

"What do you want?" He said adamantly, scowling.

"Do you have anything to say?" Ray asked between sobs and sniffles.

"Expecting me to break down like all of you?"

"You don't have to keep up that tough demeanor around us. We aren't Voltaire, or Boris."

"I...I guess I do have something to say..." He trailed off. It was very unlike Kai to stutter or to leave anything unsaid.

"We're listening." Max said.

"It's very long a story..." Kai started.

"Go on, we're listening." Tyson prompted.

"I'm not sure..." Kai said, turning to face the wall. His eyes were watering and he did not want anyone to see the unshed tears.

"Just tell us." Kenny encouraged.

--Long uncomfortable silence--

"Well...fine..." He said, a little unsure of himself. He turned back to face them, a little calmer and looking perfectly inexorable like before.

They gave him strained smiles, urging him to go on.

He burst out, "I'm sick of being emotionless! I want to laugh like all normal people, cry like everyone; show that I'm sad, show that I'm angry and all the other emotions! Is that alright?" The last sentence was reduced to a whisper. Tears were brimming out and one by one they slid down his face, staining his near perfect countenance.

"I guess it is about time we just gave up our past and start anew."

"Yeah, Max."

Kai and Ray nodded.

Their lips curved into a smile.

They all silently promised that they won't hide behind a mask again or keep anymore secrets from the others. Maybe Kai didn't promise the latter...

It's done! It's done! I've finished a chaptered fiction! Hurray! And do my research and my homework. And revise for the school-deciding exam in October. And resolve some complications in my life. And get the guts to say something. That's lots to do. And there's only 23 hours 56 minutes a day! Can't a day be longer!