They never really saw him—even when he sat in the same room, doing the same tasks, breathing the same air—his existence was completely ignored. No one ever truly saw him.Since he was a child, Reno had always walked in the shadows.
In elementary school, he still believed that kindness would be repaid. He smiled even when hit by erasers, helped classmates who couldn't remember his name, and eagerly raised his hand only to be told to stay quiet. Even when he didn't understand, he still tried.
Middle school taught him silence. If he didn't speak, maybe people wouldn't think he was strange. But they still kept their distance. He sat alone during ceremonies, was never chosen for group work, and no one noticed when he was absent.The most painful thing wasn't the insults—it was the silence.As if he didn't exist.
High school turned him into a tool. A gofer. Running errands, doing other people's homework, writing group reports all by himself.They said he was useful.But never once said thank you.
Then came college…
He still hadn't given up. Still tried to be good. Diligent. Unremarkable. But the world stayed the same.They mocked the way he walked. Accused him of showing off when he answered questions.Called him creepy just for being quiet.
"Reno? He's… creepy.""Just ignore him.""Hey, don't sit next to him—he'll try to talk to you."
There was no physical violence.But because of all this, Reno learned that in order to blend in with others, he had to adapt. Not the other way around.He had to adjust.
Years of living under social pressure, always observing, had taught him—naturally—how to wear masks to match his surroundings.And eventually… he started wearing them all the time.A mask to blend with anyone, anywhere. When in a kind environment, he acted kind. In a toxic one, he became toxic.And so on.
He kept changing masks to suit where he was and who he was with—Without ever losing his core self: Reno.
An observer from the edges of the stage.One who had instinctively learned how to read emotions, interpret gestures, decipher tone.One who knew how to give the answers people wanted to hear.
Reno could even blend lies with truth—Or wrap a lie inside an honest truth—Cut information into fragments to create bias.And most importantly, no one ever knew when he was lying,Because Reno could lie without flinching. Without the slightest giveaway.
That night, he sat alone in front of his glowing computer screen.His room dim.No sound.No tears.No final note.Only the silence he had grown so familiar with.
He closed his eyes, resting them from the monitor's glare.Old memories surfaced slowly, and for a moment, a small smile tugged at his lips.
He opened his eyes, trying to return to work…But the moment he opened them, the first thing he saw was a soft blue sky.Tall, unfamiliar trees.Crisp air.Birdsong he'd never heard before.And grass beneath him.
He slowly sat up.He was at the edge of a forest.
"Hm… a forest? What happened?"
It felt strange. Just moments ago, he had been in front of his computer.So why was he in a forest now?
Was this… what they called Another World?
Reno liked reading stories about other worlds.But he never thought he'd actually be in one.And yet, to him, that was the only logical explanation:He had been transported to another world.
"Quiet… just like always,"He murmured softly. To no one. Only to himself.
And for the first time in his life—Reno felt unseen in a good way.No judging eyes.No whispers behind his back.No stares.
Just him… and a new world—One that didn't know who he was.
And if no one knew him,Then he could become anyone he wanted to be.