David was waiting for the kiss. He was nervous thinking, 'I can't believe I'm about to kiss my best friend!'

What he got instead of a kiss was something splattering against his face.

'Huh?'

David opened his eyes. Keimi is nowhere to be seen. Instead there were around 7 people brandishing balloons. He wipes the paint off his face.

David angrily yelled, “What are you doing here? Where's Keimi? Why did you throw a paint balloon at me?”

A girl answers him. “We're Keimi's friends. Nothing against you guy, but she asked us for a favor.”

“She just told us to come here and keep pelting you with these balloons.” A boy bluntly tells him.

“Wha? Stop!” David pleads, but if falls on death ears. They keep throwing balloons at him until they run out. Someone then took pictures.

“I got the pics!”

“Good job.”

David starts to get mad. “I don't care what you do to me, but I won't allow you to talk bad about my best friend! She is the only light in my world! She treats me with kindness even though she doesn't have to, so shut up!”

“I've never seen him get angry like this before. She must be really important to him.” Another girl said astonished.

“David just give it a rest already.” Keimi walks in.

“Keimi, stay away from them! They're saying you set this up! They're trying to frame you!”

“That's because I did set it up.”

“...Are they forcing you to say this? We can get-”

“Enough David! Just stop it already. You look pathetic. I did this because I want you to get lost. Stay away from me from now on. I was afraid you wouldn't get the hint unless I did something this extreme. You were always dense when it comes to human interactions.”

David was silent. He then suddenly drops to his knees and cries.

“UWAAAAAA!”

He slams his fist into the ground repeatedly.

A girl chuckles saying, “Keimi I think you broke him.”

“Whatever, that's not my problem. Let's go.”

They start heading out the gym.

“WAIT!”

They stop in their tracks.

“Why? What made you do this? Was it something I did? Did I hurt you in any way?”

“*sigh* There is a guy that I always liked, but he's really popular with the girls. His name is Rory Pierce. I never thought I had a shot at him, so imagine my surprise when in one of my classes he decides to team up with me for a school project. We got along fine, so I decided to ask Rory out. You know what he said? He said that since I'm your only friend he wouldn't feel right just going in between us like that. You ruined my chances with him!”

“...That's it? You threw away our friendship over some guy?”

“Save it. The only reason I even hung around you was because your siblings were famous. I thought you would eventually become famous too, but you're too much of a loser to ever do that.”

“...I. Won't. Forgive. You.”

“Whatever. Everyone we've wasted enough time.”

They leave. David was crying but then he suddenly stopped. He had something akin to an epiphany.

'So even she is just like them. These people. This humanity. Why did I ever believe in them? Why did I ever want to become friends with them even though they humiliated me? Why did I always want to help them even though they took advantage of me? It was because of her. She was the symbol I always had of humanities' kindness. Even that was a lie. I now know the truth. I have to thank you Keimi. I always racked my brain thinking about this.

Why are humans so damn malicious? It's because it's their nature. Why do big countries take advantage of little countries just so they can swindle their resources? It's because it's their nature. It's human nature for the strong to bully the weak. The answer is now clear to me. I must become the strong. When I become the strong, should I bully the weak? Should I bully the former strong? Should I show them the same pain they showed me? No!

I refuse to become like them. Humanity disgusts me. I would never forgive myself if I become something disgusting like them. I don't want anything to do with them. From now on and forever, I will become a loner. I will surpass my yesterday self so no one will ever become a threat to me again.'

He makes his way home. There are people laughing at him.

“Did you decide to eat paint and the paint got mad at you?”

“Now now guy, paint is for your paper, not for your stomach.” David was different. If it were before, he would've ran home to save himself from embarrassment, but now David has a look of indifference on his face. He's walking like its a leisurely stroll in the park. He goes to the place where Keimi showed him. Man has yet to claim it. It's one of the few places that nature can be seen in the city.

David stays there for a while, and the sun starts to set.

'I always loved the sunset, and now I know why. It represents the end of the day, a day that will never come back again, but that's okay. If the sun never set, one side would be turned into a scorching desert, another side a frozen wasteland. Stagnation is death. New species evolve when the environment changes. Those that can't change perish. The only sure thing in this universe is change. This is why I love the sunset. It represents change. Like the sunset, I must change as well.'

David makes it home. He still has paint on him and its getting on the floor, but he doesn't care. He makes his way to the room.

His sister yells out, “Mom! David is getting paint on the floor!”

His mom walks in “Oh god, you're getting it everywhere! What's wrong with you? Clean this up!”

David ignores them both and heads to his room locking the door behind him. His mother and sister are in a daze.

“Mom, does something seem... off about David?”

“I wouldn't know, I've never paid enough attention to him to answer that question.”

David was looking through his bookshelf. He found what he was looking for. Pictures of him and Keimi, philosophy of the goodness of human nature, and books teaching someone on how to make friends. He took a trash bag and threw it all away. This took up a big chunk of his space. All that were left were math and science books.

'Hmmm... Come to think of it, I've always enjoyed math and science. It's because of the people who happened to be blood related to me that I didn't enjoy it. It was because I was always trying to compete with those jackass siblings of mine, even though I never stood a chance. Well no more of that. From now on I will learn for me. I wonder, now that I'm not being held back by trying to impress anyone, how far will I be able to learn? My only goal is to surpass the person that I was yesterday.'

David cleans himself up. He is reading his math book trying to solve all the problems when he hears a knock on the door. He ignores it.

“David me and your mother want to talk to you! Open up now!”

David sighs. He's not going to get any reading done at this rate.

'Might as well see what they want so they can leave.' He opens the door.

“What do you want?”

“You have gotten paint all over the floor!”

They went on a tirade about how he's not like his siblings and that he should clean the mess up.

“I'm not going to do it.”

“Pardon?”

“We have an advanced robot that can clean those stains far better than I can. I told you. I'm not going to clean it.”

“To talk back to your own parents! Who do you think you are?”

“I'm no one important, but that doesn't matter. I still stand by my statement. We done here?”

“...” David has never once talked back to them.

“Well since you're here, I need a favor. I'm planning on being the championship junior MMA fighter. Their gym is the best in the city. I want the money for it.”

David's father scoffs saying, “What do you think you can do?”

“I told you. I'm going to become champion.”

“...Well your attitude may have changed, but it sounds like something you need to be a junior MMA fighter. Fine. I'll give you the money. Go be the best like your siblings. It's good that you finally stopped being lazy.”

In reality, David has no plans to be the best. He has no plans to ever even enter a tournament. He's just using them as a means to an end.

The next day at school, people are still making fun of him for what happened. He pays it no mind. Everyone is doing their best to try to get a reaction out of him but he's not doing anything. He's just reading.

'It's foolish to get angry or upset at snakes that bite you when you touch them, or at birds that fly away when you approach them. These things are in their nature. Humans are naturally disgusting creatures. This is their nature.'

The bullies are getting frustrated. Try as they might, he just keeps ignoring them.

“I thought he would be a wreck after Keimi abandoned him.”

“It's not fun messing with someone who doesn't react. Let's just fight him instead!”

After school he's on his way home. He sees some people blocking his way. He tries to go around but they just keep going to him.

“Tch.” David says annoyed.

He doesn't run. He knows what's coming. Every time they hit him David just gave them a defiant look.

“This isn't as fun as I thought it would be.”

“I give up.”

They walk away.

A week passes. David goes to the MMA gym. Here you can learn a lot of styles to see which style best suits you. When David enters, he is very impressed. People doing tai kwondo, boxing, there's even muay thai mixed in there. He's getting excited.

He goes up to the register. A huge man is sitting there.

He asks, “Hello. Can I help you?”

“I would like to register for this gym.”

“I'm sorry, but we do not have sumo wrestling as an option here.”

“...I'm not here for sumo wrestling.”

“Well kid, I have to warn ya, this gym is a lot more intense than most. Even the beginner class is tough.”

“That's fine.”

“Okay. If you're really sure, we will need you to read and sign this waiver and pay a $50.00 fee per month. Before you begin to participate in the classes you will be evaluated for fitness.”

“Okay.”

“I'll ask again kid, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Positive.”

He reads the waiver. He gets a little spooked, but he reminds himself that if he were to quit, he would stagnate, and nothing would change. After signing it, he goes to the changing room to change into the gym clothes he just bought. He then goes into a room to get his fitness evaluated. It went about as well as you expected. A different guy had evaluated him.

“You have the physical fitness of a 50 year old quadriplegic. Just so you know, this isn't hyperbole. I've literally seen a 50 year old quadriplegic move the same distance as you are able to run. You should quit.”

“I told you. I won't quit. Give me everything you teach to everyone else. I'll manage.”

“Your body may be in terrible, terrible condition, but you do have heart, even if it is filled with burger grease. Alright kid. Starting tomorrow we'll start your pre-class training. As you are now, you wouldn't last a second in the beginner class. Come here at 7pm sharp. Make sure you eat before 5.”

He nods and heads home. 'This is going to be the first step. In order for me to become a good loner, I have to be 3x stronger and 3x smarter than everyone else. A loner cannot last very long being weak.'

After school he goes into the store.

“Hey kid. The usual 3 double cheese burgers and chilly fries?”

“No. Today give me chicken strips and a salad to go with it.”

“...How hard are they bullying you to force you to eat a salad?”

“I'm doing this of my own free will.” David says annoyed.

After he eats, he takes a bus and goes to a sports store to get more gym clothes. He heard snickers from people inside the store but he paid them no mind.

David makes it to the gym.

He sees people training and thinks, 'There is no way I could do that now. Well that's more motivation to try harder.'

A student from the beginner class approaches him. “Good you're here. Let's get started.”

They both walk to a room in the back.

The beginner class student says, “First we'll start with warm ups. Do exactly as I do. First, stick your right leg out.” He does.

“Now bend your right leg while keeping your upper body upright.” He does.

“Bend down more!”

He's struggling but he manages to do it.

“Now stay in this position until I say stop.”

He stayed in that position for about 2 seconds before he collapsed.

“Terrible! Every time you fail you have to start all over. You can't even get through this simple warm up? Again!”

Later on, “You failed again! 10 laps around the gym. You got 10 minutes or you will be standing with your arms out for half an hour!”

Later on, “Pitiful! Give me as many push ups as you can muster!”

Later on, “At least do 1 push up! Why are you even here!?”

He stayed until it was 9:30 when the main class ended. He didn't even finish his first exercise.

“How do you think you'll survive this gym if you can't even get through the first exercise? I'll seriously consider dropping if I were you.” The beginner class student leaves.

'*sigh* I didn't even get through the first exercise. This means that if I were to complete it, I would have surpassed my previous self.'

There are some people still here even after classes stopped. Some are sparring while others are practicing moves. David finds an open spot and starts practicing the right bent leg exercise. He still only lasts about 2 seconds before collapsing. The people in the gym with him are snickering. He keeps practicing even after everyone leaves. The building is set up so that you could leave at any time and the building automatically locks. With facial recognition software in the security cameras, you won't get far trying to steal something, so they never worry too much about thieves. He leaves at 11:30 and heads home.

'Okay. I'm going to start working out at the gym on the weekends. This isn't gonna cut it.'

He returns 2 days later.

The beginner students says, “Oh. I'm actually surprised you showed up again today.”

“I told you already, I'm not going to quit.”

“Good answer. Now lets see if you can do better. Stick your right leg out and bend it just like last time.” David does that. This time he lasted 3 seconds before collapsing.

“Yes. My personal best. 3 seconds.”

“...That's not something to be proud of.”

David however is still satisfied. He has successfully beaten his old self. That means he's improving. After class ended. He practiced like last time, and stayed until midnight. That day's routine continued on Friday.

On Saturday, the classes are early. On this day, the advanced class and beginner class get together so that they can give the beginners demonstrations. The head instructor decided to give David a break since it would be good to show him an example of what the advanced class can do. Who David saw in the advanced class surprised him. It was Rory Pierce, the guy who Keimi stabbed David in the back for. The beginner student who is teaching him notices that David is looking at him.

“You probably recognize him don't you? That person is famous in this city. He's our top fighter. It's him that's usually winning the tournaments for us.”

“...I see.”

'Not only is he the top fighter, but I hear that he has 3 girlfriends at the same time, and they all agreed to it! You were born with everything while I have to eek out my existence. You even managed to bring that bitches' true colors out. Well, I personally have nothing against you. You have never done me wrong. I can see why Keimi would go so far though. He is quite handsome. Are those sparkles in the background!? DAMMIT! I'M NOT GAY I'M NOT GAY I'M NOT GAY I'M NOT GAY-!'

When the combined classes were over, he headed for the back of the gym. That's where the gym equipment is held. He hears the snickers, but he doesn't care, as he's here to exercise. They're not bothering him, so he doesn't care about them. He jogs on the treadmill for 3 seconds before he has to stop, repeatedly, for an hour. Curls and bench pressing follow that and went just as terrible. He leaves after 2 hours.

After he left, he heard full blown laughter coming from inside. 'They're a lot nicer than I expected. They're polite enough to wait till I leave before they make fun of me. Anyway that doesn't matter. This was the first week. I'm stronger than the me who started. Next week will be the same.' He goes into his home worn out. The rest of the day he spends reading until he falls asleep.

***************

2 months later. The people in the gym were surprised at David's rapid improvement. He had started joining the beginner classes around 3 weeks ago. There is a problem though. David refuses to throw a punch in spars. When it comes to blocking, the beginners have a fairly difficult time trying to hit him. This is why whenever someone fights David, it usually ends in a draw.

“David. Your next opponent is me.”

“Huh?”

Everyone, including David, says dumbfounded. The instructor,Heraclio Maes Hinojosa, doesn't give him the time to react.

“Ugh.”

Even when he blocks, the force is just too much for him. It's starting to look sad.

“Wait instructor, time out!”

“There are no time outs in life!”

The instructor keeps pummeling David. In the middle of his beating, David has another epiphany. 'Even if I'm hesitating to hurt someone, they'll never show me the same kind of mercy. That's the way humans are. If I don't protect me who will?'

Something snaps inside his mind. His look changes from hesitation to total apathy. Finally, the last traces of his old self had died. When Heraclio was about to throw another punch, he actually steps into it with his left foot, blocks with his left arm so that the blow only grazes his arm, then steps with his right foot and punches with his right arm. Heraclio is presently surprised. Something like that required precise timing. He never knew David had that kind of talent.

Heraclio was proud, but if he knew what thought processes had just occurred inside David's mind, he would have regretted it. David sees humans as cockroaches. He gets the same disgusting feeling around humans as he does with mice and other vermin. Now usually, you're not going to go into a forest or a sewer to specifically hunt down cockroaches. It's only when they enter your territory that you begin to act. Starting from that day, anyone who attacks David outside the gym gets crippled in some way.

When David crippled them, he felt, nothing. Just like how you don't feel anything but disgust when you step on a cockroach, or feel relief when a dangerous predator is no longer a threat, David no longer saw humans as humans. It's not that he sees other people as beneath him, as David's self confidence is lower than ever. He just doesn't consider himself as part of their group. If Keimi was the one that unlocked this new mode of thought, then the instructor was the one that opened the door.