POV: Yabuta Junzo

Everyone abandons their kids in an empty place, but the place I was abandoned in was one roaming with people.

I was abandoned in a park during midday, people were walking, kids were playing, dogs were barking, and I was sitting on a bench staring at the world moving forward.

My muddy clasped hand trembled with unknown feeling as I was staring at the loud kids who seemed to be my age playing in the park. My confused naïve mind didn't know what expression to put on my face that was covered with dirt, so it surfaced a blank expression.

Everyone suddenly shifted their heads and stared at one place as a scream resounded in the park, "thief!" A woman was sitting on the ground with her knee scratched and bleeding pointing at a man running at an abnormally high speed away from her.

What does a thief mean? Is he a bad guy?

I stood up from the bench I was sitting on, and without much thoughts going for my actions, I jumped head first at that man hitting his stomach with my head and making both of us collapse on the ground.

"What the hell are you doing, you dirty brat!?" the man yelled at me as he swayed a big punch at me, that moved my weakened body from on top of him and slammed me against the bench I was sitting on.

My vision started blurring as I realized that the pain is far worse than I expected, despite it I moved toward the man who is standing up and grabbed his right foot and prevented him from walking, I warned him, "if you do this, you will be a bad guy, mister!"

Triggered by me, the man started kicking my stomach with his left foot trying to free his other one and kept cursing at me with voice filled with anger, "let go, stinky brat, I don't have time for you!"

A kick after another after another, loosened my grip and he was able to free his leg but as soon as he freed it, he fell backward on the ground.

I lift my head to see another man wearing casual clothes that seemed as dirty as the ones I was wearing, whom seemed to be the cause of that man's fall, even though our clothes were not that different but unlike me who was gleaming with darkness that man seemed to be glowing with a bright light like a hero.

"A hero?" I asked the glowing man with excitement in my tired voice, the man took out two iron bracelets which were connected by a chain from his pocket and put one on the man lying on the ground hand and another on his own and said with an annoyed voice squirting his eyes that had black bags under them, "I can't believe I'm already seeing you again, Sakamichi, you are under arrest for attempting to steal and assaulting a kid, keep this up and committing a murder won't be that far off for you."

The shining man reached out his other hand toward me and asked me in a worried tone, "are you alright kid? Where are your parents?"

I quickly grabbed his hand and asked again, "are you a hero!?" but I was answered with a burst of laughter and a kind smile then the man crouched down to meet my eyes saying, "a detective is a hero but the real hero today was you, for enduring this pain and holding this bad guy till I came, you are the one who is worthy of being called a hero today."

"What is a detective?" I asked with curious eyes inspecting him for answers, the man looked puzzled at me not knowing then he answered with a grin, "a detective is a hero that uncovers the truth and protects the citizens faster than anyone, with his sharp mind and unwavering strong will he assert the situation and help people! He's the greatest and strongest human being on earth!"

"Cool! So cool!!" I yelled with excitement in my voice and the man smiled again and said, "isn't it!?"

I asked the hero with doubt in my voice "do you think I can also be ... one?" and the smile got wider, and he answered, "of course!"

The smile on the man's face started fading and he got serious looking at me, I followed the path of his eyes to see that his eyes focused on the burning scar on my arm, I quickly tried to cover it up with my dirt covered clothes and hid it behind my back.

"Where did you get that from?" the man asked with the serious expression not leaving his face, I looked puzzled and confused as I didn't seem to remember where I got it from, so I shook my head sideways.

"Where are your parents?" the man asked the same question again, but I only shook my head sideways as a respond again and the man looked deep in thoughts for a bit before mumbling, "I see..."

The man stood up and extended his hand toward me again and told me with a voice that was filled with warmth, "do you want to be my son?"

These kind words that I didn't deserve, these warm words that reeked of pity, these words which were followed by a hug from the hero who took me in, Yabuta Sakurato.

----

Five years have passed, and I have finally reached my 20th birthday and today like all my previous birthdays I will celebrate it with Saku-san.

"Saku-san, don't forget to come home early today, I'll buy the cake so just try your best to be here before midnight!" I reminded him as he was wearing his shoes getting ready to leave the house for work.

"How can I let the birthday boy buy his own cake! Unacceptable! I'll buy it so just wait for me. Junzo, I always tell you call me father! Not Saku-san!" he said with a pouting face.

"Impossible, I got used to calling you Saku-san switching is uncomfortable." I answered refusing his request, and I continued, "plus, it's not like it's my real birthday so it's fine."

"What are you talking about!? This is the day we met! It is a special day, well, I'll be going now." He said as he rushed out of the front door, I looked at his back as he was running to see that the hero that glowed when I was little is now just an unreliable adult.

"If only he washes his clothes, he would look more like a grownup. Who wears the same clothes for three weeks straight?" I mumbled as I let out a sigh closing the door.

As I finished cleaning the living room preparing for the small party we will have tonight, I turned the television on trying to pass time,

"Today on sports news, the team that reached nationals was as expected team Light who was lead by their ace pitcher and captain, Himura Shota, it really is hard to think that he is only 14 years old, he is truly what we call a baseball genius. And we were able to get an exclusive interview with him that we will air in a bit, keep tune!"

"Heh, so the seniors actually made it before he moved to high school, how impressive," I mumbled as I drank a can of soda while continuing to watch,

"Breaking news, a woman was taken a hostage by an armed man in the YX mall and is currently being rescued by a brave man who seem to be in the police force, to Kimura Hanakichi who is currently at the scene- This is Kimura Hanakichi live from the scene, it seems like the man chose the hostage randomly and is demanding the police force to tell the current president of Juwan City to resign or he will start shooting spree, the police started evading the people from the scene to secure their safety and a brave policeman is trying to switch places with the hostage, and it seems the armed man got convinced and the exchange of hostages is now taking place- this is getting out of control! it seems like there was an exchange of fire instead and the man started shooting the policeman as he started heading toward him, it seems that he didn't plan to go through with the exchange from the start, going back to the station-"

"Eh!? What the hell is wrong with people nowadays, taking the life of someone else that easily, so messed up" I complained as I continued to sip from the can and listen to the news,

"We're here to bring you a sorrowful news, it seems that the death of the heroic police officer was confirmed, taking three shots in his stomach and two in his head he died instantly on the spot, thanks to this brave soul, the armed man had used up all the bullets in his gun and he was arrested immediately and the president of Juwan City announced that he is planning on funding the funeral of this hero and offer his apologizes."

"If he just announced his resignation as fast, that man wouldn't have died in the first place. How ridiculous!" I mocked as I got up to get another can of soda from the fridge as the television continued to run,

"Let's all remember the heroic actions of Yabuta Sakurato and shall all our prayers filled with sadness and thankfulness reach him."

The can fell from my hand and my eyes widened and my whole body started shaking as the reality hit me.

And that is how the night that we were supposedly to spend it together laughing and joking ended up a night where the light of my life died in.

----

The funeral started, and people started coming in and going out, wearing all black from head to toe, showering tears and showing thanks, and there I stood looking blankly.

Even though everyone abandons their kids in an empty place, but the place I was abandoned in was one roaming with people yet again.

Men in suits started one after another talking, "the man we are seeing off today is a man that never gave up his way of living and even died while protecting his justice never making a mistake, I am sure that he is in a better place now." And another, "he was a man who always done the right thing he was the hero we will always be proud of." And another "He selflessly stood up for others and never gave up his grounds" and another, "he was truly an up righted man."

"Go eat something, you won't last if you look that weak," a man with a belly sticking out said when he came closer to me and sat next to me.

"Maco-san..." I said while looking at the floor and continued, "what is this feeling I am feeling now... hearing all these people talk about Saku-san like that... makes it hard to breathe. Was Saku-san really a man that never done a mistake? Did he always do the right thing? Did he always give up stuff for others? If so, who was the clumsy man I knew of? Who was the man that never washed his clothes? Who was the man that never gave up his pudding to anyone? Saku-san... was not some hero... he was my one and only hero... the world didn't just lose a brave soul... it was me who lost the only father I had... just who am I supposed to direct these feelings against? The man who shot him? The president that didn't want to resign? The woman that was held a hostage? The police for not protecting him? Myself for not being with him? Just who am I supposed to hate... tell me, Saku-san...tell me, father."

"'Hate the sin, not the sinner and aim to be the one who help the sinner realize his sin, become a hero everyone is capable of being, don't waste your life on revenge and hatred, live a life you won't regret but if you still can't do that, then leave it to me, I'll bear your hatred and take it with me and lift it off your shoulders, that is what a father is for after all,' He would probably say something like that with a grin mile wide on his face, Junzo-kun" Maco-san said without moving his head toward me, as if to tell me that it is okay to be pathetic, pitiful and cry today, but raise up and become a man tomorrow.

"He came with the breeze and left faster, I still haven't thanked him... haven't repaid his kindness... I wanted to eat that cake with him, laugh at his old-fashioned jokes and see him pouting again for not calling him 'father', I wanted... to do so much more with him...Why did he go and leave me... I miss his naïve smile, his carefree character, I miss the silly fights we had, I miss him... I miss him so much. Why... Why did he leave me behind?" I said as I broke out in tears of regret.

The death took my hero's life so easily, but it wasn't some kind of cursed fate that caused it, it was the lack of ability a 20-year-old man had.

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...Saku-san.

------

And so, ten years have passed on that tragedy, and I became the detective I always dreamed of.

My only regret till this day is my lack of knowledge about my ability which was capable of saving Saku-san.

-End of Chapter 17-