Evening air in Tokyo felt heavier than usual — like the city was suffocating under its own crimes. Lights flickered on skyscrapers, but none reached the streets below.
Kento walked home slowly, replaying today's news alert in his head:
> Local teenage girl missing — Sakura Street.
Hamari's school was nearby.
Her route home crossed that area.
His heart twisted as he remembered her bright grin from dinner.
> Please… not her.
Please let her be safe forever.
He needed to see her again — just to breathe properly.
---
When he reached his apartment complex, he glanced toward Hamari's door.
Lights on.
A small hand-painted nameplate: HAMA ♡ HOME.
Relief washed over him.
He exhaled, and his shoulders finally relaxed.
Inside his own apartment, he tried to distract himself — but his thoughts were a raging storm.
Cases. Victims. Fear.
He opened his laptop again.
Names and files spilled across the screen.
Too many.
> If evil grows faster than justice…
Maybe evil needs a new enemy.
He grabbed the small notebook where he had started listing criminals who escaped conviction.
Name after name of those who hurt others and walked free.
His pencil hovered over a new name — the most recent case:
> Sho Kameda
Crime: Assault & Robbery
Verdict: Acquitted — "insufficient evidence"
Kento grimaced.
He remembered reading the report:
Kameda had attacked a boy after school.
Beat him until his ribs cracked.
Laughed while doing it.
The boy's mother begged for justice.
Courts shrugged.
Kento whispered:
"Unforgivable."
As he traced the name, something in him changed.
Quietly. Sharply. Like a knife taking shape in the dark.
He looked at his tools… pliers, a screwdriver, scrap metal…
> Maybe I can't be Light Yagami.
But I can still be justice.
His stomach churned with a mix of fear and resolve.
That's when his phone buzzed.
—Haruto calling.
Kento answered. "What's up?"
"Bro, are you home?" Haruto's voice was tired. "I got overtime. Can you make sure Hamari gets back safely tonight? Her mom messaged me. She's still studying at the library."
Kento stood immediately.
"She's out? At this hour?"
"Yeah. And the streets are dangerous. Especially for kids."
Haruto paused. "You're the only one she trusts like family."
Kento didn't hesitate.
"I'll go."
He grabbed his jacket and rushed out.
---
The walk to the public library wasn't far, but every shadow felt like a threat.
Kento's eyes scanned constantly, hands clenched.
He imagined Hamari lost or terrified.
His pace quickened.
Finally — he saw the library.
Warm lights inside.
Children still studying under adult supervision.
Kento's breath hitched.
She was there.
Hamari, sitting at a table, tongue poking out a little as she scribbled notes.
She noticed him through the glass and waved with both hands — a huge smile spilling onto her face.
Kento smiled back, tension melting.
She rushed outside the moment her supervisor dismissed her.
"Kento-nii! Did Haruto tattletale again?" she huffed.
"He's just worried," Kento replied, ruffling her hair. "So am I."
Hamari looked up at him, eyes warm.
"I know. Thanks for coming."
He felt something unfamiliar —
a sense of purpose.
She started walking beside him, swinging her bag like always.
"You know," she said suddenly, "I think heroes don't have to be strong. They just… don't ignore people who need help."
Kento absorbed that like a punch to the heart.
Hamari.
This child understood justice deeper than most adults.
---
When they reached a narrow alley shortcut, Hamari stopped.
"Kento-nii… there's something I wanna say."
She fiddled with the strap of her backpack, cheeks coloring red.
"You're like… the safest place in the world to me."
Kento froze.
Words caught in his throat.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"You're safe with me," he promised. "Always."
She smiled — small but bright.
---
Suddenly— a scream cut the air.
Not far.
Just around the corner.
A girl's voice. Sharp. Terrified.
Hamari gasped.
Kento spun toward the alley's darkness — heart slamming.
> Someone's in danger.
He turned back to Hamari.
"Go straight home. Don't look back," he ordered firmly.
Hamari nodded fast — but fear swirled in her eyes.
"I'll lock the door," she whispered. "Be safe, Kento-nii…"
Then she ran.
Kento sprinted toward the scream.
Every instinct in him burned for action.
When he reached the alley — his legs froze.
A young woman lay on the ground, clutching her purse.
A man with a knife towered over her — Smash logo hoodie, shaking hands, but dangerous.
"GIVE IT!"
She trembled, unable to even scream again.
Kento stared.
His feet wouldn't move.
His heart was raging — but his body collapsed under fear.
He should rush in.
Tackle the man.
Save her.
But memories flooded him —
every time he failed in life, every weakness.
The criminal turned, glaring.
"What the hell you lookin' at?! Move along if you don't wanna die!"
Kento stepped back instinctively.
Coward.
Pathetic.
The mugger snatched the purse and bolted the other direction.
The woman stared after him, eyes wide with shock.
Kento approached her slowly.
"Are... are you hurt?" he asked weakly.
She shook her head, crying silently.
And Kento felt nothing but guilt eating his insides alive.
> I did nothing.
I could have helped… but I didn't.
Police sirens wailed in the distance — late, as always.
He should feel relief…
Instead — shame burned every nerve.
He walked away in silence, hands trembling uncontrollably.
---
Back in his apartment, he stared at his shaking reflection.
Coward.
Waste of a dream.
A man pretending to be a hero.
Hamari's words echoed:
> "Heroes don't ignore people who need help."
He had done exactly that.
He buried his face into his palms.
> If I don't change… more innocent people will suffer.
What if next time… it's Hamari?
His lungs tightened painfully.
He stood — slowly but with new steel replacing fear.
Kento opened his drawer and took out metal scraps, ropes, and a small welding kit.
Hands steady now.
No hesitation.
He whispered into the silence:
"I will never freeze again."
Under dim light…
a weapon began to take shape.