"Hero...."

Uugh~ this is my fault! It's my fault that Hero was suffering inside this terrible game! I should've not given him this cursed game!

"Hero....I, I'm sorry...I'm a failure of a mother....I'm sorry..."

I've already forgotten how many times I've already said this while holding his hand.

Every day I saw him like this, lying in this white cotton bed in a never awakening sleep, I felt my heart was being torn into tiny pieces.

Although I already vow to myself not to show any weaknesses in front of my children, not to show tears, for them not to worry but whenever I'm alone in this quiet and solitary room, my heart ached as I can't stop the tears from falling any longer.

You know what, hero....I did something very, very unforgivable thing to you. If you know what I did, will you still love me and care for me just like before?

I know you wanted a family...you wanted some people to adopt you, right? But I'm sorry; I took that dream of yours away.

I....I just don't want you to fall to some people whose attitude and personality I don't know.

What will happen if you were to go to some family and they mistreated you? I know that you'll just accept it and won't talk about it...right?

That's why I can't let you go to those places, even if it meant you hating me.

In fact many families and couples wanted to adopt you. With your good attitude and smart mind, your future prospects are immeasurable.

But because of that, I'm afraid that they will use you for their own good, and I can't let that happen!

I did everything I could do to hide you from them. I took your papers and hide them in a safe place.

Whenever they saw you and ask for your name, I always lie to them and told them you're not an orphan and only a kid from the neighborhood.

...........All I did is to protect you.

But in the end, I was the one who harm you. The one who made you enter this terrible game.

I'm sorry, really sorry. Forgive me....Hero...please forgive me...

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"Ungaaa...ungaaa...."

As I was leaving the Holy Mother Orphanage, I heard a baby's cry in a distance. However, I thought I could be wrong. It was snowing very badly so there's no chance a baby could be here outside.

Despite thinking this, I walked towards the place where the sound came from. There, in front of the famous angel statue was a baby wrapped in a bluish colored cloth.

I immediately held it in my hands as I wanted to transmit even a little bit of warmth to him because the temperature was too cold for a baby.

Just why is a baby like this here in the middle of a cold snowy night? I thought.

Thinking for a little bit while surveying the place, a realization struck me. Gritting my teeth in anger, I stumped my feet in the snowy ground like a madman.

He was abandoned!

A poor baby like this was abandoned in a cold night! Just how can people do such terrible thing like this? What would happen if this baby died because of the cold?

I fumed in anger because of the thought that there is really some people, some parents that have the heart to abandon their baby in such a cold way.

Holding him tightly in my arms, I noticed that he fell asleep in my embrace. However, what I didn't expect was that I would be charmed by his cute innocent face.

He was just tooooooooo cute!!!

Pinching his cute soft cheeks, he cutely moved in his sleep and grabbed my finger.

"Kyaaaaa! He's too cute! Oh my god!!"

When I was playing with his soft cheeks, I saw a word engraved in the cloth that wrapped his body. 'Hero' I thought it would just be a brand name but then I noticed how complicated it was done.

Obviously enough, it was likely someone stitch it there....maybe his name? is what I thought. Without so much care, I followed it and called him Hero.

Can I adapt him, I wonder? But I'm still a student so; I don't think I can afford to take care of him. I can't even ask my parents because they would likely refuse....

Ah, dammit! I want to hug him every night when I sleep! He's just too cute!

Without so much choice, I decided to give him in the Holy Mother Orphanage.

After school finished, I would rushed towards the orphanage to take care of him.

Every day, seeing him growing gave me extreme satisfaction and happiness. He's innocent and dazzling smile that encompasses the world, he's cute movements and playful laughter give color to my boring life.

It went to the point that I already saw him as my own child, although it's a pity that I still can't produce any breast milk for him to drink....oh well~

Every day for me was filled with happiness by taking care of him, because of this, countless rumors were flying around saying Hero was my real child or how they pitied me because I was a single mother.

Well, because I find it very funny I ignore it. Me, who don't even have any experiences in relationship in my entire life, have a baby? Laughable!

The time I spent with Hero was the happiest moments in my life.

However, as time pass by I realized some things. Hero was very different compared to the other children in his age.

He learned so quickly, very smart, and even his pranks are very creative. Sometimes, he also talks like an adult. The other children really paled in comparison to him.

Time passes by and I finally graduated. Because I like taking care of children, I took up the offer of being the next Mother Superior of the orphanage.

At first, my parent's disagree with my decision but because I was firm with it they let me.

One day, I brought Hero with me to buy some necessities when three men obstruct our way.

They keep saying some old pick up lines to talk to me, because of this I was instantly furious and gotten mad. They even said some sexual harassment words that made me even angrier that I unconsciously shouted "How Shameless!"

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One man grabbed my arm while the other was on my other arm. I tried to break away but failed because of their moronic strength.

Why don't they use this strength for good instead of harassing other people!

Pak! Pak! Pak!

As I was struggling to break away from their hands, a stone came flying and hit their heads.

"Bald head, fish face and stink breath. Why don't you look at yourselves at the mirror instead of causing trouble to other people?....um what does society calls people like you...hm...Yeah Trash!"

A soft voice resounded in the place.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

When I heard this little voice, my heart was crazily beating.

Turning my head, I saw Hero wearing a wry smile while looking at the three men provokingly.

"You brat! You looking to die!?"

"That hurts, you brat!"

"Who are you calling bald head? This is what you call Mohawk, idiot!"

No, no Hero...run! Run away from here...please run!

As if mocking my pleading thoughts, his little voice resounded again.

"Heee~ so you're not denying you're trash!? Hahahaha......."

Hero glances towards me and wink while smiling.

"....catch me, idiot trio!"

As if it was the beginning of a race, Hero turned around and started to run. The three men started chasing him while shouting and cursing at him.

"""Come back here you brat!!!"""

Seeing their disappearing back, my heart beats faster than usual. My eyes started to moist as my choked voice only managed to say 'w...ait'

My whole body trembling! What should I do? What should I do?

My thoughts have become a mess as fear surged through my body.

"T, that's right! I, I need to call someone for help!"

----------------------------------------

When I finally found Hero, he was being carried by a strange old man. He was unconscious and wounds littered in every part of his body.

Seeing him like this, my heart; as if being stabbed by millions of knives, hurt as tears fell from my face like a waterfall.

It took a whole week before he finally woke up. During the time he was unconscious, I took care of him without break.

I sacrificed my sleep in order for me to be awake whenever something happened to him. I couldn't leave his side, fearing something wrong might happened.

I cried and cried from happiness and relief as I hugged him tightly when he finally woke up. He then began learning martial arts from the old man who saves him that day.

However I couldn't bring myself to like this weird old man because he was too strict and severe.

Rather than learning, it was more of a punishment. I couldn't stand seeing him suffering so I tried forbidding him to continue but he was too stubborn. He always says that he wants to become stronger to protect me, to protect the people he wants to protect.

As a woman, as a mother who wouldn't be moved? Because I can't stop him, I let out my anger to the one who caused his suffering...this hateful old man!

----------------------------------

Once again, Hero found another child from the street and brought them in the orphanage. This time it was two girls and one boy, it looks like they're siblings.

"They're just here because I want some servants" is what he said but for all the times he brought children one after another to the orphanage, this is what he always says.

Although he didn't even treat them as servants more like he always treat them with utmost care....sigh~ this child is really too kind.

He already brought fifteen children from the streets. Nine girls and six boys. One time when I asked him why he was always bringing them in the orphanage, he just said "I found them and thought they're pitiful so...." while staring at me with his puppy eyes that is very hard to resist.

'What are they, stray cats?' is what I want to say but if you saying it like that is too unfair!

Because of the financial problem the orphanage is facing right now, I tried to warn him not to do it again. Although I too want to help but if we help all the orphans in the world, we would be the one suffering.

He understood my point so he nodded. After that he stopped bringing children in the orphanage until a few months later. "This is the last time!" and then "This is really the last time!" and then "This is really, really the last time!" and.......seeing his sorry and innocent face, I couldn't stop him and just let him do anything he wants.

I'll just watch him with smile like a proud parent to his son. No matter what happens, even if I faced the devil himself I'll do anything to protect that smile.

-----------------------

Drowned from the memories I treasured in my life, I watched his pale face as he slept on the bed.

The curtain swayed as a sunset draft entered the room, wafting the aroma of the cosmos faintly through the air, calming my tired heart. Wiping my falling tears, I kissed the back of his hand, holding it towards my face.

He was my son.

Even if we're not blood related but my feelings towards him wouldn't be inferior compared to other mothers.

He was my treasured son, a son that I'm very proud of. I love him more than anything in this world.

"You...must come back....okay?"

I muttered with trembling voice.

As always, his bony right hand was still soft and beautiful---as I prayed for his safety earnestly in silence, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Is this Hero Stein's Room? The player with the name of Hein?"

Surprised, I hastily turned my head. There standing in the door was the man.....the man from the TV, known as the owner of [ Griphix Inc. ]

"Y, you....why are you here!?"