Weak
dark heroNezu ran toward the kitten.
Ironically, what he had tried and failed to do for days, he now accomplished in one swift movement. He scooped the frightened kitten into his arms and immediately distracted it with the toy, gently petting its head until it began to calm down.
Meanwhile, Segu moved beside the girl, shielding her together with her brother.
“Take him and get out of here, Gu.”
Nezu passed the kitten to his sister.
Segu didn’t argue. She took the kitten and ran toward Steve, leaving the rest to her brother.
Steve remained where he was.
Diana had specifically warned him not to interfere whenever the children got themselves into trouble unless things became truly dangerous. She wanted them to learn how to solve their own problems instead of growing up like flowers protected inside a garden.
So, for now, all he could do was watch.
The girl visibly relaxed. A small smile appeared on her face as she slipped whatever she had been holding into her pocket.
“Thank you for saving Kuro. I see there are still gentlemen in this world.”
“Kuro? Black?” Nezu looked at the kitten. “Simple, but nice.”
He couldn’t exactly criticize her naming sense. It fit his own perfectly.
“No problem! It’s the job and duty of a hero.”
Nezu proudly puffed out his chest.
Then he turned toward the other children.
“Now… us.”
Another stone came flying.
Nezu saw it.
With his perception, avoiding something like that wasn’t particularly difficult.
But the girl was behind him.
So he didn’t move.
The stone struck him.
Then another.
And another.
Some missed, slicing through the air beside him. Others grazed his arms and legs, tearing through his clothes and cutting the skin underneath.
Nezu gritted his teeth.
He could dodge them.
That wasn’t the problem.
But if he dodged…
Wouldn’t they hit the person he was supposed to protect?
For the first time, Nezu understood something that deeply frustrated him.
He was weak.
His eyes might be able to follow the stones. His body might be fast enough to avoid them.
But what good was that?
Would a hero dodge and let someone behind him get hurt?
I need to do something about this weakness.
Nezu glanced over his shoulder.
“Hey, you! Run while I keep them here. Go to that tall guy.”
The girl hesitated for only a moment before obeying, retreating toward Segu and Steve.
Once she was safely away, Nezu adjusted his stance.
The leader of the group clicked his tongue.
“Let’s leave. We can’t get her anymore, so there’s nothing else we can do. Split up and run!”
At his command, the children scattered into the forest, each disappearing in a different direction.
Nezu watched until the last one vanished between the trees.
Then
Thud.
His body finally gave up.
The pain from all the injuries he had ignored came rushing back at once, and Nezu had a very close encounter with the forest floor.
“Zu!!”
Segu rushed toward him.
“Are you okay?!”
Nezu lifted his face slightly from the dirt and stared at her.
“Do I look okay? Come help me, Gu…”
Segu hurriedly pulled him up, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulders.
“Let’s go home and get you treated.”
“Yeah…”
Nezu looked toward the petite girl.
“Want to come with us?”
She smiled.
“Of course. I need to properly show my gratitude to my knight in shining armor.”
And so the quartet left the forest and headed toward the siblings’ home.
Somewhere near one of the forest entrances, the group of children reunited.
Someone was already waiting for them.
A sturdy man stood beneath the trees, wearing what appeared to be some kind of strange, futuristic military uniform. A hood concealed most of his features.
“Here.”
He shoved a small bundle of banknotes into the leader’s hands.
“Take it and get out of my sight! That kid ruined everything.”
The children didn’t need to be told twice.
They grabbed the money and hurried away. None of them particularly wanted to remain anywhere near the man. If money hadn’t been involved, they probably wouldn’t have approached him in the first place.
Once they were gone, the hooded man pulled out a cigarette.
He lit it and took a long drag.
“Fucking treaty…”
Smoke escaped from his mouth as he stared in the direction the girl had disappeared.
“Just you wait. I’ll get it one way or another…”
His expression twisted.
“…fake princess.”
He took another drag from the cigarette.
Then, as though performing a magic trick, the man vanished into thin air.
They eventually reached the mansion.
The three children went to the living room while Steve left to report everything that had happened to Madam Diana.
Segu received some cotton and alcohol from one of the maids.
The maid didn’t think much of the situation.
Ever since the two mischievous siblings had been put together, they seemed to possess an almost supernatural ability to attract trouble. Seeing one of them return with a few cuts and bruises had become surprisingly normal.
Diana called it growing up rough.
According to her, a few scrapes and difficult situations would help them build stronger characters and prepare them for real adversity later in life.
Segu carefully began cleaning Nezu’s wounds.
The mysterious girl sat nearby.
Nezu glanced at her.
“You’ve been quiet this whole time. Can you finally tell us who you are?”
The girl stood.
Then, with perfect posture, she gave Nezu an elegant curtsy.
“Nice to meet you, Nezu. My name is Akane Mary Kurogane.”
She raised her head.
“Once again, allow me to thank you for saving both me and Kuro.”
Nezu blinked.
Something about that name felt strange.
Akane Mary Kurogane?
The combination of her first names and surname was certainly… unusual.
Then again, who was he to judge?
Neither Nezu nor Segu were exactly common names.
So he decided to let it pass.
“You don’t need to thank me. It’s what heroes do.”
Nezu made an OK sign with his hand.
“If you really want to thank us, just let us share Kuro as—OUCH!”
Nezu nearly jumped from his seat when Segu pressed directly against one of his sore wounds.
“More gentle, Gu!”
Akane stared at him for a second.
Then her refined expression finally cracked.
“Haha! My savior is so funny! Trying so hard to act tough while being so frail!”
Segu slowly turned her head toward Akane.
The look in her eyes could have murdered someone.
“Do you want a mirror?”
Akane’s laughter immediately stopped.
“So what if he’s frail? He saved you and Kuro, didn’t he?”
Segu rubbed the scar on her hand.
She would never allow anyone to look down on Nezu’s dream.
“Well said, Segu.”
Everyone turned toward the doorway.
Diana entered the room with Steve following behind her.
“We Browns should always defend ourselves and fight tooth and nail.”
Her attention shifted toward Akane.
“So, Miss Akane…”
Diana smiled pleasantly.
“Do you think that was something you should have said to your savior?”
Akane froze.
Until now, her sheltered life had rarely put her in situations where an adult genuinely reprimanded her.
Her shoulders dropped.
She couldn’t even bring herself to look Diana in the eyes.
“I’m sorry, Madam…”
Then she looked toward Nezu.
“I’m sorry, Nezu.”
Diana gave a small, satisfied smile.
“That’s a good girl. It’s important to know how to apologize when we’re wrong.”
She walked over to Nezu and examined his injuries.
“I heard what happened from Steve.”
Diana gently rubbed his head before pulling him against her.
“You did well.”
Nezu remained silent.
“But…” Diana continued, “did you learn anything today?”
Nezu looked down at his injured arms.
The stones hadn’t been particularly fast.
He had seen them.
He could have avoided them.
And yet…
“Yes, Mother.”
His hands tightened.
“I learned something important.”
He hesitated before finally forcing himself to say the word he hated.
“I can’t protect anyone if I don’t have the power to do it.”
Nezu lowered his head.
“I’m weak.”
Diana said nothing.
There was no mockery in her expression.
No disappointment.
Nezu looked toward Steve.
“Steve.”
The man raised an eyebrow.
“Teach me how to defend myself.”
Steve glanced toward Diana.
She gave him a small approving nod.
He sighed.
“Fine, kiddo. But only after you’ve recovered.”
“Deal.”
“Deal!” Segu immediately added.
Steve looked at her.
“You weren’t part of the deal.”
“I am now.”
Nezu couldn’t help but grin.
Diana shook her head before turning her attention back to Akane.
“Now, Miss Akane, I’ve already contacted your home. Since it’s getting late, they’ve agreed to let you stay here tonight.”
She looked toward Segu.
“Segu, lend her some clothes.”
Segu nodded.
Akane gave another small curtsy.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Nezu leaned back against the sofa, wincing slightly as his wounds protested.
Today he had protected someone.
That should have made him happy.
Instead, one thought refused to leave his mind.
I’m weak.
And if he truly wanted to become a hero…
That would have to change.
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