Chapter 3: Unseen Burden

The once vibrant home had become a hollow shell. Rei's mother had left without a word, leaving behind an emptiness that swallowed the warmth and laughter they once knew. His father, Takahiro, retreated into himself, his grief manifesting in silence and neglect.

Rei, now eight, wandered through the house, each room echoing with memories of a happier time. He found his father in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the television, a half-empty bottle of sake on the table beside him.

"Dad?" Rei's voice was small, hesitant.

Takahiro didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the screen.

Tentatively, Rei approached and placed a hand on his father's arm. In that instant, a surge of emotion flooded into him—grief, despair, a profound sense of loss. It was overwhelming, a torrent of feelings that weren't his own.

He gasped, pulling his hand back, but the sensations remained, settling deep within him. Looking at his father, he noticed a subtle change. The tension in Takahiro's shoulders had eased, and his eyes, though still distant, seemed less burdened.

Confused and frightened, Rei retreated to his room, his mind racing. He didn't understand what had happened, but he couldn't shake the feeling that, somehow, he had taken on a part of his father's pain.

In the days that followed, Rei became more attuned to the emotions of those around him. He noticed that when he touched others, he could sense their suffering, and if he concentrated, he could absorb it into himself. But with each act, he felt himself becoming more fragmented, the weight of others' sorrows pressing down on his young soul.

At school, he began to withdraw, the burden of his secret isolating him from his peers. He feared accidental contact, worried that he might inadvertently take on more than he could bear.

One afternoon, as he sat alone beneath the cherry blossom tree, a classmate named Aiko approached him.

"Rei, are you okay?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.

He forced a smile, nodding. "I'm fine."

But Aiko wasn't convinced. She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The connection was immediate. He felt her anxiety, her fear of not meeting her parents' expectations, the pressure she placed on herself to be perfect.

Without thinking, Rei absorbed her distress, offering her a comforting smile as he did.

Aiko blinked, a look of relief washing over her. "Thank you, Rei. I don't know why, but I feel better now."

As she walked away, Rei was left grappling with the realization of his ability. He could take away the suffering of others, but at what cost to himself?

The days turned into weeks, and Rei continued to navigate this newfound power, each encounter leaving him more conflicted. He wanted to help, to alleviate the pain of those around him, but he feared losing himself in the process.

And so, the boy who could devour sorrows began to carry the weight of the world, his own heart growing heavier with each act of compassion.