Chapter Text
Nirei had been exhausted for the past week, not because he worked hard on his matrial art training with Suo, since that guy had always been gentle with him. Nirei is pretty sure it was just because he is an omega, that even a little pressure could push him over the edge.
No matter how far he goes to the same point where all of his friends could achieve, their physical strength are still different, their stamina and energy are different from him, because they are all alpha, some of them are even beta. Only him, Momose, and Kusumi are the only omega in Furin, but the certain two omegas are perform much better than him at the field. Both of them are useful and strong, they could even broke a bunch of alpha's bones if they wanted to. Nobody dare to mess with them.
Nirei is the weakest among them, he knows that about himself better than anyone.
The thought that he will actually getting stronger when he joined Furin was long forgotten, he might already learned a lot from Suo, but he is still a weakling, he is far from useful, his friends will still kept him away from the field in every fight they encountered. Nirei has always be the shadow, his friends are not believed in him, he couldn't even help his friends when they were at the lowest stage during a fight, he feel useless, every time.
Today is no exception...
The books he carries on his hands feels heavier than usual, his legs are sore, not to mention that the muscle on his shoulder getting tighter. The library is still two floor above, he couldn't make sure he won't collapse on the second staircase.
This feeling of being weak is what he hates the most, the discourage and vulnerability, he doesn't want to be the burden, he wants to burries his omega instinct and weakness deep inside his soul. He didn't need help... no,
BRAK
"Ugh.."
,not even getting to the second stairs.
The books that once in his arms are scattered around him, his legs sprawled on the floor, hands trembling with a short of pain on the wrist.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
It was Kaji, one of the upper classman he adore. Nirei looked up to see how Kaji crouched down in front of him and gathered all the books into a pile.
Nirei clenched his fist on both sides of his body, he is being a burden again, he hates this situation where he always be the one getting saved.
"Sorry for the bother, Kaji-san."
"Nah, it's nothing. Let me help you."
Kaji lifted the books with too much ease and stands up like he got nothing in his hands, Nirei sighed at the sight, if only he could be able to do the same.
"Why would you bring these books by yourself, anyway? You are the omega boy from class one, right?"
Nirei flinched at that, "Oh? This is my routine to bring the books back to the library after the subject finished. It was just, I feel a little bit unwell today."
Kaji and Nirei started walking side by side to the library upstairs. Kaji glanced at the omega beside him, he rarely paid attention to any omega other than Kusumi, it was kinda strange for him to sense Nirei's uneasy scent, and his pallor is a bit concerning.
"Why don't you asked for help? I'm pretty sure your friends wouldn't mind."
"They'd be worried and overreacting, I-I don't like to be treated that way."
Kaji squinted his eyes, he can see the dull and tired sign under Nirei's eyes, that boy must've been through a lot.
"Okay, but just tell them if your condition is getting worse."
Nirei opened the door to the library and let Kaji going inside before him.
"I will, thank you so much Kaji-san. I really appreciate it."
Kaji puts all the books on the nearest table, Nirei directly takes the book one by one and put them neatly on the bookshelves.
"Nirei, isn't it?"
Nirei stopped from what he was doing and turned his head to face Kaji, whose still standing in the middle of the room.
"Yes, Kaji-san."
Kaji approaches him with a slow step while opening a lollipop he takes out from his pocket.
"Don't worry too much, and stay hydrated. Omegas are meant to be well treated, you don't have to feel like a burden."
Kaji takes Nirei's right hand and put the strawberry lollipop on his palm, Nirei gripped the stick tightly, his face tinted with pink, Kaji smiled to see the reaction.
It was the same words Kaji will say to Kusumi whenever the omega having a mental breakdown and stressed over his pre-heat. Omega hormones are something else, but Kaji tried his best to keep up with that since he is close with Kusumi.
In the other hand, Nirei feels like crying. He was holding back until now, but an alpha's affection is all it takes for him to finally crumble.
"Thank you." Nirei looked down, doesn't want Kaji to look at his face, and Kaji seems to undersrand that. He patted Nirei's shoulder before he leaves.
"Take care of yourself"
And it was then, he cries.
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Later on that same day, Nirei glanced at his phone and sighed deeply, he got the same message again. The same message from the same person, it had been continously happening for the past one week since his accidental encounter with the sender of these messages.
Nirei took his phone harshly from the table and put it inside his pant's pocket abruptly, clearly doesn't want to give a chance over what he just saw.
"Nirei, let's walk home together."
Sakura was already standing in front of him, hands on both pocket of his pants, eyes scaning Nirei who look starltled by his presence.
Sakura smells heavenly, his woody scent mixed with citrus, never fail to makes Nirei fell for him even more.
The omega inside him screamed with joy. After a long and rough day, the alpha he's longing for is finally near him.
"Oh, yeah. Let's go."
Sakura noticed the nervous on Nirei's voice when he speak, he lowered his body to be the same eyes level with Nirei, making the omega blushed hard at the sudden proximity.
"You okay?'"
Nirei beamed at the little attention Sakura showed to him, his sweet and warm honeysuckle scent filling the air between them, lettig Sakura knows that he feels content with the alpha beside him. A faint of blush creeped his cheeks when he realizes the omega's intention.
"I'm totally fine, Sakura-san"
Sakura shrugged, "Tell me if something bothered you." then he walked out first, Nirei trailed behind him, his fingers fidgeting with one another, and there he goes say...
"Uhm, only if I can't handle it by myself."
Sakura looks unimpressed by the answer, he stopped mid track and grabbed Nirei's elbow to make him stop walking.
"What was that?"
Sakura knitted his eyebrows, his hold is firm on Nirei's hand, the blonde seems to be fazed with the action.
"A-ah, that's...I mean, I don't have anything to share to you for now. I will let you know if I got some important information about any trouble makers."
Sakura tightened his grip, "I am talking about you."
Nirei gulped hard, the omega inside him really wanted to submit right here and there when he sense the protectiveness coming out from Sakura, the alpha he wants.
"Well, I am fine. I will tell you even the smallest thing that happened to me, don't you worry too much."
Sakura finally let go of his hand but his eyes are still on him, Nirei chuckles nervousely as he continue walking ahead, Sakura followed him from behind, like he is watching Nirei out and protect him from danger.
Nirei could never be any happier to get protected by the alpha he loves, but there is this ugly feeling inside his heart, the part where he doesn't want to look weak and always need protection, he wants to be the strong omega, the one who will help Sakura reach the top.
Even though he might not the omega Sakura wanted to be his mate, Nirei will never leave his side, he probably can deal with the heartbreak when Sakura could finally find his own mate, but he can't handle seeing Sakura feeling left out, like how he was when the boy fight Endo.
But, how could he prove that to Sakura, and his friends? Can he became stronger and useful for him?
"We are here"
When they're arrive in front of Nirei's house, the blonde turns around and smiled brightly to Sakura who returned the smile sheepishly. Nirei giggles at the view, Sakura is such a cute alpha.
"Don't skip your dinner, Sakura-san. Take care when you walk home."
"You too."
Nirei opened the gate to his house and waved at Sakura before he gets in, Sakura waited there for a while, and walked home when he already make sure that Nirei is safe inside the house.
.
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.
.
This is a stupid and reckless choice, but Nirei already make the decision. Despite how scared he is, he tried his best to look cool, he doesn't want to show his pressured demeanor.
The boy in front of him was one of his previous bully in middle school, he dyed his hair dark blue now, a glimpse of piercing on his tongue showed up everytime the guy talked. Nirei's body tremble, the aura from that guy is too demanding, he is clearly presented as an alpha.
"So, long time not see, Nirei"
Nirei shivered from only hearing the alpha's voice, even when they are standing too far from each other, Nirei still could smell the musky scent from that guy, he feels like vomiting.
"W-well, yeah. Long time not see, Ren"
The alpha smirks as he walking closer to Nirei, they are setting a meet up in the dark alley far away from the neighborhood in Makochi, and it was Ren's idea.
"So, whats make you agreed into this?"
Nirei gulped hard, his lips quivered, this must be the most stupid thing he ever did in his life.
Ren had always asked them to meet up somewhere since last week, he spammed Nirei with the same message over and over, but Nirei kept on ignored him. But tonight, Nirei suddenly agreed on his meet up plan, something must be happened to the omega, he thought.
Nirei finally looks up, eyes glistening with tears and fear, Ren backed up a little when he sees the omega's face, the honeysuckle scent turned sour, signaling that the omega is in distress.
"I- I want to fight you, since you asked me how a-am I became after I go to Furin."
Ren shrugged, he sure is curious by Nirei's fighting skill after the omega went to Furin High, did he change from the weak and mushy omega he knew in middle school? He actually got no hatred toward the boy, he just simply wants to test him.
"Okay then, fight me!"
Ren is getting on position, his stance ready for the attack.
"B-but, I have one condition" Nirei whinned when he speak. He is terrified, he want to run away, but he also want to prove his worth, might as well this fight will make him useful for his friends.
"What is it?"
"Please don't hit my face. I don't want my friends to worry over me and started a fight with you."
Ren smirked at that, "Easy. Anything else?"
"No."
"Good, prepare yourself now, Nirei!"
Nirei flinched as he focusing his eyes to the guy in front of him, trying his best not to close his eyes like how Suo always told him. His fists are up in the air, ready to throw a punch, then he runs really fast while screaming, Ren laughed at that.
When Nirei's punch almost hit his face, Ren crouched down with a really good , similar to Sakura. Nirei surged forward, but before his body fell to the ground, Ren already punched him on the stomach, hard enough to make Nirei throw up water.
"Ugh"
Ren standing back up while Nirei is kneeling on the ground, his breath raged along with a few cough.
"Is that all?"
Nirei turned his head and staring at Ren angrily, he tried to stand up from his place and moves again to throw another attack which Ren dodged easily, and now the alpha is attacking his back and shin. Nirei stumbled when Ren kicked his shin, his back throbbing painfully, his vision blurred.
Ren crouched down in front of him and grabbed a handful of his blonde hair, Nirei shut his eyes as he feels like Ren is going to rips some of his hair forcefully, it hurts.
"You are still weak."
Ren chuckles mockingly, "Know your place, Nirei. A pathetic person like you could never be do something useful for the people around you."
Those words hurt more than the several pain in his body, Ren really rubbed it on his face, like he is putting the salt into a fresh wound. The omega inside him hiding somewhere, he lets the words sink deeper into his soul, which is actually bad for him.
"I'm done with you, go being miserable somewhere else. I feel sorry for Bofurin to let a weakling like you became the part of them, really."
Nirei is long gone, his senses are not working. Those words affected him too much, his scent getting more stenchy, he could not even recognize his smell anymore.
"I'm off."
Ren stood up from his position and leaves Nirei alone in the dark alley. Once the alpha is gone, Nirei collpased to the ground, his breath hitched, a cough escaped his mouth every second.
Every words Ren spitted about him was all true, it's eating his brain and played at his head like a broken record, making him difficult to control his self esteem. He was already bad at it, today's event is only making it worse.
Weak.
A burden.
Miserable.
True, he just want to disappear.
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When Nirei stepped his feet inside the class, everyone are busy discussing about some of the kids in Makochi that got missing for two days. He can hears Suo stated that they might be getting kidnapped, but the police still couldn't put a track into it until today.
Nirei walks closer to the group of his friends with a slow steps since his shin is still swollen from last night, his body also got a few bruises beneath those Furin uniform he wears. His scent must be smell awful, but Nirei is trying to neutrlizes it as best as he can. He hopes that his friends won't notice anything.
"What happened?"
Suo sighed when he realizes that Nirei is already settle himself among them, he smiles then.
"We are going to rescue the missing children that we assume are being kidnapped by a vicious gang, Nirei-kun."
Nirei widened his eyes, he glanced at Sakura, only to see how angry he is right now. The inside of this classroom filled with Sakura's anger pheromone, his usual fresh and calming scent is now furious, too strong to inhale, Nirei lost his balance while inhaling the air, he can't help it.
Alpha's rage and their dominance will only puts the omega to submit, like they are demanding the omega to do nothing but serve them. And Nirei is affected by how Sakura's aura and pheromones, he might lost control and submit to Sakura right in front of everyone.
That's the prove of how weak he is.
When Nirei almost stumble and hit the floor, Suo was already beside him and hold his side.
"Nirei-kun, are you okay?"
Nirei shakes his head, "The .. the air, it's too overwhelming"
Sakura stood up from the chair and standing in front of the omega, Nirei is getting paler as he tried his best not to push Sakura away from him.
"U..uhh, I need a space, please."
Suo hesitately letting go of his hands that supported Nirei's body. But once he lets go, Nirei directly collapsed to the floor and hit his head on the nearest table. Every body in the room screamed his name, but Nirei only could hear whispers.
His view is getting hazy, he can't tell who is talking to him or who grounded his body. But Nirei is pretty sure that Sakura is the one who kneeling beside him and cradle his cheeks.
He didn't remember anything after he saw Sakura's worried expression and how the alpha carried him on his arms, taking him somewhere safe and warm.
His body already bear too much, if he push his body further, he probably will lose himself.
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The light is too bright when he opened his eyes, his body felt light, he was lying on the soft mattress and the first thing he saw was Sakura's face that leaning too close above him, he could smell a shooting scent coming out from the alpha, very different from what he smell before he fell into this state.
"Nirei, thank God you finally awake."
Sakura sighed out of relief, he brushed some strands out of Nirei's eyes and smiled warily.
"What happened, Sakura-san?"
"You are in the in the infimary room, the nurse told me that you were attacked by the alpha's pheromone which pressured you into submission but your body rejected it", Sakura inhaling deeply before he continue, "It was because of me. I'm sorry, Nirei."
No,
Sakura didn't need to apologize, it's not his fault to poured his pheromones in any situation he likes, it was just because Nirei is an omega, he shouldn't be here, in Furin, around the alphas and strong people.
"I promise it won't happen again when you are around, Nirei."
Nirei shake his head, "Please don't force yourself to do something you know you can't control, Sakura-san. I'm sorry that you have omega friend like me, you don't need to blame yourself for what happened."
"What are you saying?" Sakura frowned, deep, his scent turned sad, Nirei could feel the air getting more gloomy because of the alpha.
"O-oh, I just feel sorry to you because you got to be around omega every day. It must be hard for you to always keep it together whenever I did something that triggered your inner alpha."
Sakura straightened his posture now, tsked in disbelief. "You are seriousely a pain in the ass, you know?"
Nirei huffed out a chuckle "I'm sorry."
"What about you, then? Surrounded by alpha and beta, you are the only omega in our class, how could you worry about my discomfort while you are the one struggling between us?"
Sakura's breath caught up in his throat when he sees Nirei's lips quivered, his jaw clenched, he doesn't like the way Nirei's sadneas affected him and his inner alpha, like he really wants to burn the world for him to make it better.
"Nirei, I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay, not that you are wrong."
"You should consider your worth more than anyone else, Nirei."
Sakura stepped closer to the bed again, reached his hand to gently stroking Nirei's head, making the omega purrs and closes his eyes in return, a clear sign that he feels content with the affection. Sakura's heart skipped a beat as he witnessed how the omega looks pliant against his touch.
"Thank you, Sakura-san."
"I will make sure you are safe, everytime."
Nirei opened his eyes only to looks up at the alpha and smiles brightly, "I believe in you."
Sakura could feel his face heating up, it's looked like he is doting on Nirei, and Nirei is happy to be doted by him. Well, their relationship was never been 'like that' before.
Nirei really want to confess his feeling right here in front of Sakura when the alpha is giving him comfort, but he knows better not to break the mood.
.
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The class 1-1 are making a really dangerous and reckless plan without their upper classman's permission, again. It was their ideas, and Sakura is too soft to reject their request.
"Are we going today?"
"Isn't it too fast, Sugi-chan?" Kiryu sighed out.
Sugishita clenched his fist, "Those children must've been suffering, we can not wait any longer."
Anzai bites in, with his usual loud voice "That's right! I don't want to wait for the fucking polices and let the kids dying! Let's get going now or else!"
"Easy, there." Suo smiles softly, he glanced at Sakura whose sitting in the middle of their circled chairs. "What do you think, Sakura-kun?"
Sakura sighed deeply, he could never reject the majority in this class, or even when only a few of them agreed, he will still fight for them. Especially when he also gained a good amount of grudge against those kidnappers. He wants to destroy them in the most painful way possible.
"Alright, get ready."
The class cheered in joy, they might be reckless but they are one. They are family, they can be beyond strong and expand their power to protect each other.
Sakura could agreed easily into this plan was simply because Nirei is not in the mission, the omega is staying home for today because of what happened yesterday. Sakura doesn't want to put Nirei together with danger and hurt the omega.
The class dismissed around twelve in the afternoon and they were directly gathered around the school gate to accomplish the mission they've been planed. Suo was the one in charge of tracking the location based on what he heard from people around the shopping market in Makochi.
"That place is not too far" Tsugeura commented when he saw the location someone shared to Suo's phone.
"This is not the exact location, it was the last location of this person to witnessed the children's last position."
"Well, we can work on that." Sakura shrugged.
The rest nodded in unison and continue to make their way, it seems easy for them, but deep inside, they are all nervous, not because they're terrified by the enemies, they're rather worried about the children.
It was just then, when they're taking a turn into a simply small alley, someone was running fast from afar, Sakura squinted his eyes and widened them instantly when he could clearly seen who was running toward them.
"Nirei." he whispered, voice low and deep with madness.
The person was Nirei, running for dear life with his beaten up face, bruises and some track of dry bloods everywhere.
"Everyone! I- I found them."
Nirei cheered proudly as he bend down to control his breathing. His face looks awful, some cuts and deep purple bruises were scattered all over his feature.
Sakura clenched his fists, his pheromone turns more bold, thick, and filled with threat. Like he seems ready to break anyone's neck if they were dare to be near him.
"Nirei-kun, wh.. why?"
Suo was the first one to snaps out of his shock and approaches Nirei who still planted a brief smile on his wounded lips.
"Suo-san, I found the kidnapper's location, it's not too far from here. I was about to go to school and inform you guys, thank God we meet here instead."
Nirei explained without even a slightest pained expression, he looks brave and excited, little did he know, it hurts his friends feeling to see him like that.
"Finally I can help, I can be useful. I know everyone will actually making a move."
Suo gritted his teeth, his jaw tightened with the promise of anger outburst. Why would Nirei put himself in danger only to be seen by them? He is too precious for this.
"Nirei, you don't have to do this. But thank you for your hard work, you did a great job. However, please do not ever do something like this again, I'm begging you."
Nirei fowns, "Why? I'm happy to help."
Suo sighs while stepping closer to put both of his hands on Nirei's shoulders, "But we are not happy to see you like this." then he swiped some dirts from Nirei's right cheek, the omega mewled at the contact. He wasn't aware of his injuries until Suo touched him.
Nirei looked up only to see everyone are looking at him with their sad eyes, they look disappointed in him, like what he was doing was bad.
No,
It's not actually like that, they are all just worried about him, they cared about him. But those ugly feeling eating on his guts again, he can't help but feel small under those pitiful eyes his classmates throw over him. It can't be helped, they don't need him.
"Nirei-chan, why don't you just stay at home?"
"Yeah, you might hurt yourself more than this Nirei"
Nirei wandered his eyes among his friends and they are talking about how he should just keep himself locked up from the world, it sounds the same to him no matter how much they sugarcoat what they said.
"I-I just tried to be useful for you guys and.." he glances at Sakura a little "..to our captain."
Suo backed up when he sense the sour and pained smell of Nirei's pheromones, it hits him right in the guts and all he wanted was to cover Nirei up inside a nest, protect him with his life. But he knows he can't, the omega doesn't want him.
Instead,
"Do you think I need this?"
Sakura growled as he speak, everyone around him are casually moved away just when they breath in the bold scent of anger.
Suo sensing the discomfort as he looks at Nirei who is trembling and lose focus now as Sakura walking closer towards him.
"Sakura-san, please tone down your pheromones."
Suo trying to interfere but Sakura seems to not care, he pushed Suo aside as he looming over the trembling Nirei.
"I need to speak with this omega."
this omega,
That was such a poor title.
Sakura was never refer to him like that before,
and it hurts.
"What do you think you are doing?"
If the pheromones Sakura shower him wasn't too much, Nirei would probably talk back and defend himself. But the alpha aura and the strong pheromones already put him in a chokehold. This is too much, too suffocating.
I can't breath.
"Answer me!"
Sakura shakes Nirei by the shoulders only to gained a whimper out of the omega's dry mouth. His hold is firm, but the touch feels like fire to Nirei.
"Sakura-kun, would it be better for Nirei-kun to go home? I will walk him."
"Shut up, Suo!" Sakura glared at Suo, his fangs showing up along with a growl, Suo flinches in his place, aware of the danger in front of him and took a few step back.
Nirei is even worse, the dominance aura of territory that coming out from Sakura is eating him whole, he might fainted if the omega inside him wasn't trying to actually fight back, maintain his dignity and self defense.
Everyone in there are just standing still, nobody trying to stop Sakura. They really think that Nirei needed some kind of understadning shit to put through his head.
"You could've died" Sakura said finally, voice low and shaking. "You didn't even think, did you? You just ran straight to the danger by yourself? Not so weak now, huh?"
"I did think, Sakura-san!" Nirei snapped, surprised at his own courage, his heart flipped as he speak in turn. "I thought, maybe for once I can be helpful to everyone"
Sakura gritted his teeth, the protectiveness boiled up inside his head but it turns into a more anger pheromone instead.
"And your solution is to throw yourself into a tiger den? What? Hoping someone would care enough to stop you?"
What is it he is trying to say?
"You are always like this, Nirei. Reckless and so damn fragile. Did you expect everyone to just chase after you everytime you got trouble? Why don't you think first before dragging other people into your shit?!"
"What did you get from it? Some stupid information and you wrote them in your stupid little book? You did all of that with the cost of your life, don't you?"
"Remember your place, Nirei. You are enough of a burden."
The words rang out louder than intended, and for a secons, the silence swallowed the two of them whole. Like a void just dragged in between them, falling them apart.
Nirei's mouth opened, but no words came out. His eyes widened together with more distressed pheromones he lets out. Like something inside him had cracked open without permission, he never felt this way before.
Strangely, he didn't cry.
"I get it now" he whispers instead "Next time, I will make sure you won't get into a trouble because of me. I'm sorry for being a burden."
Nirei walks away after that, body swaying left and right like he has no balancing system, he wasn't sure where to go, he just want to be alone and embrace the numbing feeling that had reached every part of his senses.
Sakura was stood there, watching, don't know exactly what to do. But he knew, he did a terible thing. A very terible thing to Nirei, and he must be pay a really huge price to make it right.
"You are saying too much, Sakura-kun."
Suo was right, he did say too much.
"I didn't mean that." his anger draining into horror, but Nirei was already out of his sight.
.
.
.
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The cold air bit into his skin as Nirei walked aimlessly, his limbs heavy, his breath shallow. He didn't know where he was going, only that he had to go. Had to leave.
The words played on repeat in his mind, over and over, like a cruel lullaby. He never thought that someday, the alpha he wished to be his future mate, would actually break him like this, he can handle other people's insult but Sakura, it was just... agonizing.
"Remember your place, Nirei. You are enough of a burden."
"Know your place!"
"You are miserable!"
He stumbled into the shadows of the quiet alley, his legs giving up beneath him, knees already on the ground, his hands trembling, his heartbeat slowing to a thud that felt miles away, his vision blurred, lips quievered as he collapsed forward.
The feeling he held for Sakura that once warm and grounding, now like it was fraying at the edges. Dimming, like a star suffocating in space.
His scent dulled, his instinct went into silent. And then, everything else followed. Nirei was panicked for a while, he tried to fight back the omega inside him to stay awake and composed, but he already bear too much. Too heavy.
The thought that he will fell into this state had never crossed his mind, guess he was too comfortable in his dream life.
The pain was too quiet and deep, it wasn't loud as a heartbreak. It was emptiness, a hollowing of the soul, like someone had scooped the center of him out and left behind nothing but skin and bones.
and then his thought keep speaking, like a prayer with no end.
'I'm just a bother. I always have been. Why would anyone want to stay? Even Sakura is tired of me."
He curled into himself against the freezing ground as the Omega Drop took hikm, a biological retreat into silence, into shutting down. The world faded at the edge, blurred and dim as his eyes closed, and Nirei didn't fight it now, he no longer panic.
'Maybe if I dsappear, things would be easier for everyone'
He will die like this, he hopes nobody will save him.