They knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them hand in hand, united as one.

But as the adrenaline faded, a sense of unease lingered.Max finally stirred, shaking off the remnants of unconsciousness as The others filled him in, but an unsettling tension filled the air.

Max's heart sank as he thought...

Max:'We won? No, THEY won because...I didn't even harm the guy...I was just some weakling to him...I couldn't do anything...I came to this school by accident!I'm not a leader, I'm just...the weak link.'

He felt a gnawing inadequacy, questioning his place in a world where everyone had something amazing to offer.

How could he belong when he felt so ordinary?

As the group discussed their next steps, Max stood at the edge of the gathering, feeling isolated as The echoes of victory rang hollow in his ears, overshadowed by his self-doubt.

The air around them crackled with the remnants of their recent battle, yet Max felt a heaviness that settled in the pit of his stomach.

His friends were laughing, sharing stories of their combined assault against the scientist, but all he could focus on was the feeling of inadequacy that gnawed at him like a relentless tide.

Ruby:Max!

Ruby's voice cut through the noise, her exuberance palpable as she waved him over.

Ruby:Come join us! We want to hear what you thought of our epic victory!

He forced a smile, but it felt like a mask, hiding a heart weighed down by feelings of inadequacy. Our victory, not his.

Their smiles, their laughter—all of it felt so vibrant and full, while he felt the dull throb of his sense of failure.

Max:I'm good over here, thanks!

he replied softly, almost inaudibly.

The other classmates mingled around him, sharing stories and strategizing for the battles they might still face. Wendy's laughter chimed like wind chimes, and Issei's boisterousness punctuated the air with warmth.

But Max felt like he was on the outside. No matter how hard he tried to suppress it, the gnawing doubt remained, whispering that he was worthless, just the weak link threatening to drag them all down.

Wendy:Max, you should really celebrate with us!

Wendy chimed in, her sky-blue eyes glimmering with excitement.

Wendy:This victory wouldn't have been the same without You and all of us working together. 

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of hope as Issei stepped forward, placing a supportive hand on Max's shoulder.

Issei approached and placed a reassuring hand on Max's shoulder.

Issei:Yeah! You played your part too. We wouldn't be as strong if one of us was missing.

The warmth of his grip offered comfort, yet it only served to deepen Max's feelings of disconnection.

Max:'Sure,I was there...'

he thought to himself.

Max:'but it was only your strengths that brought us through....I'm just the guy who stumbled into the school by accident'

Max glanced around, absorbing the vibrant display of camaraderie. They were a salad of talents—a mix of extraordinary abilities,Ki,Magic,Ninja arts and quirks that complemented each other seamlessly. 

Meanwhile, he felt like the crouton that sat awkwardly in a bowl of exquisite salad, a crunchy reminder of his unremarkable presence.

Max:I just... don't feel like celebrating.

he said, the words slipping out laden with untruth. His heart cracked as he glanced at his 147 classmates, each one a paragon of heroism and strength.

Setsuka, with a solemnity only she could command, stepped forward, her insight cutting through the cloud of self-doubt.

Setsuka:Are you sure, Max? This is your victory, just as much as the rest of us.

Max's internal dialogue raged against her affirmation.

Max:'But it's not, though....'

He wanted to scream it, to shout the truth that churned in his mind. Instead, he fabricated a smile—one that he hoped wouldn't reveal the abyss within.

Max:Yeah, I'm just gonna go to bed...Have fun.

As he turned to leave, he felt their stares, some filled with concern, others with confusion, but most with a palpable sense of camaraderie that he yearned for yet felt entirely excluded from. With every step away from them, the laughter began to fade like notes of a song he loved but couldn't sing along to.

Max found his way to the Ballroom, feeling the weight of his loneliness solidifying around him As he closed the door behind him, the chorus of celebration fell silent, replaced by the echoes of his thoughts.

Max:'Am I really one of them?'

He collapsed onto his sleeping bag in the ballroom as he was staring at the ceiling, the shadows dancing across the walls as if mocking him.

The warmth of friendship that had once felt like an embrace now felt like a chasm.

The Next day,cafeteria buzzed with life with a lively backdrop of laughter and chatter contrasting sharply with Max's desolation.

He sat at the far end of the long table,away from his classmates with cereal in one hand and his phone in the other, desperately trying to escape into the familiar world of "Inuyasha."

Each bite seemed to dull the bittersweet pang in his chest, but the restlessness within him persisted but As he watched the animated characters embark on their adventures, he felt acutely aware of the rift growing between himself and his classmates.

They'd fought bravely together, but all he felt was the weight of their victory suffocating him. He preferred to be invisible, to fade into the background where he wouldn't have to face the truth of his perceived inadequacies.

with the rest of the class,sucy spoke up.

Sucy:Anyone else feel like Max is avoiding us?

Sucy's voice drifted over the table, a casual observation that hit him like a sharp arrow intended for a bullseye.

Yuri:Who cares?

Yuri Kagarin grunted, his tone dismissive as he doesn't care about other men before receiving a playful slap from one of his friends.

Goku:That's not cool.

Goku interjected with genuine concern.

Goku:He seemed pretty upset about something,Should we go talk to him?

Max's heart sank.

They truly cared about him, and yet he couldn't shake the feeling of being a weak link.

How could he face them, these heroes who had fought valiantly and rallied together as a true team? He felt more like a shadow—a misplaced addition to their ensemble.

Max:'I don't belong...'

As he scooped another spoonful of cereal, half-heartedly watching his show, a voice broke through his fog.

??:Uh, Max?

He looked up and saw who spoke to him.

It was Iroha Nijiue, the Ultimate Painter.

She stood a bit shyly with Gray Fullbuster, who flashed a friendly smile that felt like sunlight piercing through a storm cloud.

Gray:Mind if we join you?

Gray asked, his enthusiasm disarming as Max hesitated, torn between the comfort of solitude and the undeniable warmth of their presence before He shrugged, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.

Max:Sure.

he mumbled, trying to mask his inner turmoil. As they took their seats, the conversation buzzed around him. Gray excitedly recounted a recent mishap in a magical duel, while Iroha listened, her eyes sparkling with inspiration as she sketched absentmindedly on her notepad.

But all Max could think about was how effortlessly they fit together, how seamlessly their talents intertwined, while he felt like an afterthought—a mere audience to their splendor. He barely spoke, simply nodding and smiling, feeling more like an outsider in a bubble of camaraderie.

Iroha:Hey.

Iroha's tone was tentative, searching for the right words. She took a seat, her rapport with him calming the storm of his thoughts, if only slightly.

Iroha:Are You okay? You've seemed off since that...well, you know, the fight.

The ease of her invitation was met with his instinct to retreat.

Max:I'm fine.

he replied automatically, the words tasting stale on his tongue But they weren't convinced. 

Gray:C'mon, don't cut us off like that.

Gray said, leaning forward with genuine concern etched onto his face.

Gray:You can talk to us about anything. We're your friends."

A heat crept up Max's neck.

He felt like a façade, like he dressed his true feelings in layers of bravado, only for them to peel away under scrutiny.

Max:Really, I'm fine.

he insisted, but his own tone lacked conviction, fading into the background noise like an incomplete thought.

Iroha:Please,Max!

Iroha pressed, her voice softer now, more earnest.

Iroha:We want to understand!You're our friend... and our Leader!

She emphasized the word 'leader' with sincerity that struck him like a blow as The title struck a nerve, igniting an ember of frustration and guilt within him. Leader? He was just a bystander, a weakling who couldn't even help when it mattered.

Max:I'm no leader!

he snapped, anger bubbling up through his carefully constructed mask of indifference.

Max:So Just...leave me alone!

Iroha:Max...

Iroha tried again, reaching out with a hand, but he shoved her away in frustration. The impact knocked her back into a chair, and food splattered across her shirt, staining it with remnants of breakfast. Tears welled in her eyes, and Max's heart sank as he realized the distress written all over her face.

The realization of his action crashed over him, but it was too late. Iroha's tear-stricken face, paired with his classmates rushing to her aid, only deepened his despair. It was a profound betrayal—he was the one who had pushed her away, not the other way around.

As he fled the cafeteria, their whispers trailed behind him, a mix of concern and confusion. He needed to get away. The walls closed in on him as emotions coursed through him—shame, self-loathing, and an all-consuming sense of unworthiness.

Katsuragi's voice rang in his head, echoing his dilemma.

Katsuragi:How can we be a team and friends if he won't talk to us?

She was right. But how could he talk? How could he reveal the truth behind the façade he wore? How could he admit he felt like a misfit among the extraordinary?he didn't Belong!