A white wall, ceiling and curtains. A clean room that should've been the most comfortable place to live in. If not for the countless machines lying inside the room.

An ironic place so to speak. Despite how clean and comfortable looking place this is, who knows how many people have lost their lives in this place. A room with its outer appearance that looks beautiful and heavenly looking but the truth is, inside was a place gods of death lingers.

"Hero..."

I softly muttered. I can feel my tears slowly fell down from my face. This always happen whenever I saw the boy peacefully sleeping amidst this countless machines.

I extended my finger, tracing a line on his soft little cheek. During these past few weeks, Hero's muscles began to wane, his pale skin was now starting to exceed any women's gloomy skin. His originally irritable, mature and unrestrained persona was now like an illusion after seeing his current condition.

"...please....wake up...I'm begging you..."

I silently called out to him, pleading him with choked throat.

"Didn't you promised me, you'll accompany me when I'll go to the bookstore before? Then why are you just sleeping there? You liar....I,I'll forgive you if you wake up...so please show me that cheeky smile of yours....I missed you..."

Truthfully, I held affection towards him. He was my first love so to speak......No, no don't misunderstand okay!

Well, even if you call it first love, it's only just a one-sided crush. That cheeky and mischievous brat who; even though he looks so feminine, weak and small, always gives other people a strange impression like he can do anything. He was very mysterious and weird but he always emit some kind of unknown feeling of security if you stay beside him.

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

We first met in a very cliché situation. I was 16 years old back then. That time, because of spending my night watching a movie, I was overslept and woke up late.

I ran desperately because I was afraid of getting late. I was scared what that grumpy teacher will make me do for the punishment. So I ran, when something unexpected happened.

I crashed into something when I was turning left. I felt like I rammed into a telephone pole because I actually step back a few steps before falling down.

Although it should've been a start of a wonderful and fateful meeting with a prince charming just like every stories foretell, however....

"Aunte! Did you eat steel bars for breakfast? How can you be so hard?"

It seems like I've read too much books!

Sitting there in daze, I look at the man, no boy I bumped into. Although he was still a boy, however you can see that after a few years he will become someone that can be plastered in women's magazine.

".....Well, it's not like I hate receiving some blessing from the heavens, so I'll just need to accept it gratefully and print it on my innocent mind. However, please take my advice, stripe panties doesn't suit you. It should be black laced panties, that would've been better......oh well, see you later~"

Saying it with nonchalant attitude, he shrugged his shoulders while picking the things scattered in the ground. He then took a handkerchief, wipe my face for a moment and then gave it to me and ran.

All I could do was stare at him in daze as his small figure slowly vanish.

Did I just suffered from sexual harassment? By a little child?

When I came to, he's shadow was nowhere to be seen and all I could do was grit my teeth as my face became dyed red with anger and embarrassment.

He didn't apologize, instead he insulted me, sexual harassed me and even gave his own opinion about my underwear? How gutsy can a child be!?

"That perverted brat!!!"

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

I finally arrived in the school, but I was already too late. The teacher scolds me for a few minutes and made me stand at the back of the class. This is the fault of that perverted brat!

I silently vowed to myself that when I find him, I'll make sure he wished he didn't met me, huhuhu~

As I was thinking about the things I want to do when I find him, the door of the classroom suddenly opened and a seemingly nine years old boy walked confidently inside the classroom. When he arrived at the podium, he started looking around while ignoring the dumbfounded instructor and students. Then his gaze stopped at me and my mind suddenly froze.

This boy, this brat is the brat I've met just a while ago! What is he doing here?

When he looked at me, a smile formed in his face and then it vanished in an instant.

"Who are you kid? Are you lost?"

As I was about to speak, the instructor managed to regain his senses as he asked him.

The boy looked at me for a second and then turned around to face the instructor.

"Good morning kind sir. I'm looking for someone with the name.......alicia, Alicia Retes"

So polite! I was stunned seeing him bow like a gentleman in some movies, and his way of speaking is very strange. His tone is like those nobles or aristocrats I've heard about. Like me, the teacher was also stunned and then when he heard the name being said, he looked towards me. The same with the rest of the students as I became the center of attention.

Just what is going on here? And why did that brat know my name? Wait...that thing, why did he have that? Isn't that my ID? Did he took it when we bumped each other a while ago?

"Alicia? What do you need from her?" The instructor asked.

"Yes kind sir. There is just something I really want to convey....If I'm not mistaken, isn't she the girl standing at the back? However, why is she standing there alone? "

It's your fault! You perverted brat! I wanted to shout but held it because I don't want to be misunderstand.

"Ahem...that's because of her tardiness. She was late in the class so I need to punish her in order for her to reflect in her actions."

"Kind sir, That is unacceptable!"

The brat, no the boy suddenly flared up. The instructor as well as the rest of the students, including me was stunned hearing his loud voice, but he was unperturbed and ignore us.

"Miss Alicia wasn't tardy at all. I presume that I was related to her reason being late attending the class."

That's right! You're the reason! As I was nodding my head unconsciously I was again left dumbfounded from hearing his next words...

"....My pregnant mother was sent to the hospital. She wouldn't be able to make it if not for the beautiful sister that help her. Because of that reason, I came here to convey my utmost gratitude. I think because she went to help my mother that she came late, that is why please take back such a harsh punishment. She doesn't deserve it, a beautiful and kind sister like her deserved to be praised...isn't that so, kind sir?"

"I,Is that so?....y-yes that's right. Alicia, why didn't you told me the reason why you're late? Come sit down. I apologize for what I've done..."

No, no, no This is also the first time I heard about it! Who the heck is that beautiful and kind girl? Just what the heck is going on here?

Looking around, I noticed that everyone inside the classroom was looking at me with fervent gazes. Turning at the boy standing at the in front of the podium, smiling while waving my ID.

"S,sir can I excuse myself for now? I want to talk to that boy....uum r,regarding about the condition of her mother..."

"Of course!"

The instructor immediately agreed. I took my bag and rushed towards the smiling boy and left.

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

"Hey, You better thank me!"

"Thank you for what, you perverted brat!?"

After leaving the classroom, We left the school and stop at the next intersection where no people can be sighted.

"Hey! Who are you calling a perverted brat? I maybe a brat but that only adds on my good points, but I'm not perverted!....Ah! Are you talking about your stripe panties? Then you don't need to thank me, I only just gave my honest opinion after all~......Wait a moment, you, is this how you thank someone? If not for me, you would still have to stand there like an idiot, you know!....you should be grateful aunte!"

"Who are you calling aunte! In the first place, aren't you the one who caused me to be late? If not for you, I would have entered on time!"

"Hey, hold your horses for a little while! Let me replay what happened...see that, according to my incredible memory, you are the one who bumped me. I was walking when you suddenly crashed into me like a truck illegally turning left!"

T,this brat!....Phew~ endure, endure~ you're an adult, alicia an adult!

"Haa~ So why are you here? Why are you looking for me? And what's the deal with that pregnant mother issue?"

"Obviously I came here to return this...."

While saying so, he took the ID from his pocket and hand it to me while smiling wryly.

"I know your name and school from it. When I was looking at you by inspecting all the classrooms I passed by. I thought it would be difficult but then, I saw you standing there like an idiot. So I laugh for a bit while making fun of you~"

This brat! endure, endure....Just how can a brat like him existed? Must be the end of the world. His parents must have been suffering deeply because of him...I just hope they are still okay and didn't went crazy....

".....Then a question floated in my mind 'Why are you standing in the back of the class this early in the morning?'. After thinking for a while, the pieces slowly fits together and I thought, it must be because you're late and was punished~ If that's the case then I'm also responsible, so I construct a story to help you out...look, you're standing in that class would change from now on, aren't you glad?"

Revealing a mischievous smile that seemed to suit him, his innocent yet naughty looks shake my insides to turmoil. Then I realized how monstrous he is...with just simple observation, he managed to deduced all that? And to create a story as believable as that and lie without blinking.....can a mere kid do that?

"Are you really a kid? Who the hell are you?"

Hearing my surprised voice, he looked at me pleased.

"Nah~ Just a mere ordinary cute boy, that's all. Well if you're surprised with just this then you really lived your life in solitude~ how pitiable."

"Calling yourself cute?! I wonder, just where does that confidence came from? More like, being a con-man suits you the most! You monster..."

Without realizing, I seemed to forget that he's only a child.

"Why are you cursing an innocent child!? You should not say that in front of a child! This aunte...."

As if he felt he was wronged, he shake his head in resignation and then look at me as if I was a very sorry child...

Seeing him like this really ticks me off.....

"Who are you calling an aunte! I'm still a fresh fourteen year old beautiful girl!"

"........nevermind~ I still need to do something, I only came here to return that ID. I need to go back now..."

He turned around and reveal a dazzling smile more suited from his real age. An innocent child filled with playfulness. He waved his arm and started walking away from me.

"Wait!.....your name..."

"hm?....Hero, Hero stein...another advice aunte, I know that I'm charming and cute but you better not fall for me, that's a crime! Hahahahahahaha"

He said that and then started running away with his back facing me. He waved his arm back as his laughter echoed from the surrounding leaving me in daze.

I still don't know at the time that a very small bud was starting to bloom inside of me. A small bud that change my life forever.

Ever since that day, we stopped and talk whenever we saw each other. His smile, playful acts, naughty thoughts, mature demeanor and his strange yet unique antics became an irreplaceable things in my life. Seeing him, playing with him and talking to him became my natural routine.

I felt sad when I learned that he was an orphan, no family and grew on an orphanage. I wanted to adapt him but my parents said I couldn't as well as I'm still a student at that time. So all I could do was spend my free time with him inside the orphanage.

As time pass by, I realized how different he was from the other children. He was bright, monstrously smart, and has this mysterious aura that can make anyone around him feel secure. A strange disposition that makes other people like him. There's also times when the orphanage faced a dire problem, he would go and tried to solve it alone without anyone knowing it. Although I only accidentally learn it, when I ask Mother Superior about it she would just forbid me from telling anyone about it. I realized that she too was so sad that she couldn't do anything but although she knew what Hero sometimes do to help her, He would just pretend he didn't do anything so Mother Superior couldn't help but just let him.

After I graduated from school, I volunteered to work at the orphanage. Although my family objected it, they couldn't do it because I insisted on it. No matter what happens, I need to take care of that brat! I thought. A wonderful life filled with happiness beside that forever so reliable small back.

However this freaking game was threatening to end that dream, that life! If I ever known, I would have stopped him from playing that game! Even if he'll hate me, as long as he's always stay safe I don't care. I just want him to be safe and come back to us, no to me!

"Please, be safe....come back to me....you perverted brat..."

Grabbing his pale white hand that lacks any nutrition, I took a deep breath as tears once again silently falling from my eyes. I raised my head and looked at the headgear covering his head.

Right now on the other side of that world, what are you doing? Are you fighting a strong monster? Maybe you're wandering alone in that place. Or maybe you're buying something on some store or completing a dungeon?

But whatever you are doing right now, be sure to stay alive okay? Do everything you can so that you can return to us. No matter how long it will take, I will always here waiting for you....

So you better do everything you can, you perverted brat!

I know that you will become stronger, stronger than anyone else in that world.

But be sure to come back to us alive because we are waiting.

Gently caressing his withered pale hand, I lightly kissed it while praying for his safety.