Air Hero

Ten years later

The sun is shining brightly on the sky without any clouds or whatsoever to give shade for the people. Many people are wearing short-sleeved shirts and even open up umbrellas above their heads. As sweat runs down their forehead, the people are looking for a stall selling cold drinks to alleviate their thirst.

However, there's a person different than the rest. While the masses are trying to reduce the hotness, this person is wearing a black jacket with the hood pulled over his head. Not to mention that the color black absorbs the heat, the jacket's material is also absolutely the worst for today's weather.

On his hand, there's a stalk of African daisies that usually grows at the side of the road unnoticed. Although some people may ignore it, the person is holding it carefully as if it was something precious. On his other hand, there's a worn-out baseball. As the person walked through the crowd, glimpses of a teenage face can be seen from the window's reflection.

It was a young boy in his teen, with a pale white complexion and skinny face. Moving quietly through the people, he finally arrived in front of the memorial that is full of people. Today is the tenth anniversary of the United Heroes headquarters bombing incident. Many families lost a lot of its member on this day, ten years ago. They lose their loved ones in an unforeseen event that wakes up the whole world.

Some refer it to villain's revolution day, and some call it the United Heroes headquarters bombing incident. However, for the boy with the presents on both hands, it is the day he died. He lost way too much for him to be considered alive; he wished that he is dead instead. Every time he wanted to say goodbye to the world, the scenes that he had with his mother and father flashed by once again.

"If I'm dead, no one in the world will remember my mom and dad anymore. At least, I need to stay alive until I couldn't remember them anymore."

He is still a young boy when he thinks of that, and the nurse that is taking care of him feels amazed at his words. Either it was because he is immature, or God is helping him to keep him alive. Nonetheless, he managed to survive for ten years without any relatives.

At the place where the United Heroes headquarters of B city used to be, there's now a tall monument engraved with the names of people that are lost in the incident. Although it was scorching right now, it didn't hinder the people from visiting the memorial.

The boy finds a corner where it is less cramped and puts down the purple and white flower along with the worn-out baseball.

"Mom, how are you doing? Although I rarely come here, you don't have to worry about me. I'm eating well every day and make sure to stay healthy. I brought a flower with me today. I remember that you liked this flower, not to mention it's your favorite purple color. As for dad, I won't forget you either. Here's a baseball; you said that you want to play catch with me when I'm older. I don't really have money to buy a baseball since the orphanage didn't give me any pocket money. I managed to find this ball after roaming around near a baseball park for almost two months. Although it is a little worn out, this makes it more realistic right? It was as if this is the ball that we use to play catch every day."

The boy who put the two items on the ground is Max. The cheerful boy's trace that he used to be is nowhere to be seen as he is now emanating a gloomy aura around him. However, in front of what could be considered as his parent's grave, he tried to put up his best smile.

Loneliness, sadness, although he is smiling, one would want to cry when looking at him. Everyone would like to hug him and pat him on the back. Despite the sun that is located directly above him, Max didn't even flinch for a bit. Only after the sun sets and there are fewer people near the memorial did he moves.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to go back now. I'll come to revisit you soon. Don't worry about me."

Max is going to go back, but as he increases his pace, he stumbled into someone.

"Ah, sorry."

"It’s okay. Don’t mind it.”

Max apologizes for his action just now and walked away. However, suddenly he feels that something isn’t right. It was as if he had seen the person from earlier. He tried so hard to remember where did he get such feelings.

*******

“Lindt, what is it?”

“Ah, it’s just that I stumbled into someone earlier. I remember that ten years ago, something similar happened too. It was just a young child back then, but now if the boy has grown up, it would probably just like the teenager that stumbled upon me just now.”

“Eh, why are you spouting nonsense now?”

“I wonder, maybe because visiting the same place again after ten years makes me feel emotional. After all, this is where our resistance journey started. Today, it will be another opening for a new chapter too.”

“Yes, let us proceed so nothing will go wrong.”

The two people didn’t dally for long and disappeared in the distance.

After the accident ten years ago, the world has undergone significant changes. Previously, the heroes are thinking lightly about the villain. Because they didn’t usually show up and hidden in the dark, they believe that the villains are hiding in fear. However, the bombing accident was like a wake-up call. The heroes are made to realize again that the villains' existence is something that they need to be wary of and be on guard. The number of victims on the accidents reached a little bit more than a thousand. It was enough to give a hard slap on the hero’s face to be awake that the villain is their archenemy.

Ever since that day, the world has also feared the word villain. Whenever they appeared, the people will run in panic. The heroes come running as fast as they can to the scene whenever a villain appeared. All in all, it has become more chaotic. The most important factors are that the people who are hesitating to join the dark side have now made their choice due to that accident. Previously there are more heroes than villains, but now it is the complete opposite. More people have joined the villain’s side ever since that accident.