"Tell me, what do you like most about our city?"
"Oh... O-of course… safety. When you know that someone is always watching over you and will never abandon you in a difficult situation... L-life becomes easier."
Hearing this, Mr. Nobody and Marcel, standing aside, exchanged glances and couldn't help but laugh.
As far as they understood, something like a live report or social survey was taking place right now.
A blonde woman with model looks stood with a microphone, while the man behind her filmed the whole process. They had picked out a couple of a young mother and her son, who looked about 8 years old.
While the mother was huffing and puffing and trying to give coherent answers, the boy was peacefully licking a lollipop.
"What a great answer! Next question... How do you feel about Dirty Baals?"
"Oh, I wish you hadn't said that, I think my son is going to have indigestion now... Of course, it's disgusting! I wish that filth had never been born!" the woman exclaimed indignantly.
It was unclear whether she was being sincere or just playing the part better.
"I completely agree! My apologies, that was inappropriate... We have one last question. If you don't mind, may I speak with your son?"
"Um... s-sure," the woman agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you." The reporter bent down to the boy's level and smiled warmly. "Hi, kid, what's your name?"
"...Tony," he said, without looking up from his lollipop.
"Nice to meet you... Tony, please tell me, what is your dream?"
The reporter gave a signal, and the man focused the camera on the boy with the lollipop.
"My... dream?"
"Yes."
The boy stopped licking the lollipop and looked the girl in the eyes.
"To get out of here. That's my dream."
"…"
No one said anything for a while. During that time, the boy's mother's face turned almost completely pale… An emotion completely unlike embarrassment or shame.
It's just a silly phrase from an innocent child, right? It was enough to just laugh or play it off as a joke, right?
From the outside, it could have seemed funny, right?
It's supposed to be funny, isn't it?
It's funny… right?
Then why is no one laughing?
"Oh, he was just joking." The woman began to stutter and quickly made excuses to the reporter. "T-Tony, hurry up and say you were joking."
"..." Without waiting for the boy's reply, the reporter got to her feet and began to slowly walk away from the pair.
"C-come on, T-Tony..." The mother tugged intensely at the boy's shoulder.
"Mom, it's true!" the boy exclaimed.
Noticing something was wrong, the reporter and cameraman quickened their pace and walked away silently. Their eyes were wide open, as if they had seen or heard something shocking...
Or perhaps it was what would follow these words that was shocking.
The boy wasn't speaking very loudly, but within seconds, the street was empty.
"D-damn..." the woman whispered fearfully.
Her eyes darted frantically around the empty street, as if she was genuinely afraid of seeing something there.
She grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and quickly walked away.
"..."
Mr. Nobody witnessed this process from beginning to end. An uneasy feeling arose in his heart, and a chill ran down his spine.
Marcel, standing next to him, didn't seem to fully understand what was happening. He kept looking around, trying to catch sight of something.
Given his kind nature, perhaps he was trying to find something that would help the mother and her son... Or perhaps he was instinctively trying to find shelter that would save him from the fear that had been seared into his soul.
"Damn it," Mr. Nobody spat discontentedly and shoved the flyer into the old man's hands. "Wait!"
He shouted. Surely the whole street heard him.
"..." However, the mother continued to rush forward, barely looking back.
Her eyes and lips were trembling. She seemed to be muttering something, but it was impossible to hear. Most likely, because of the fear that had overcome her, she didn't even hear someone calling her from behind.
"Wait!"
He shouted again and quickly followed the couple.
Just a minute ago, the street had been full of people, but now only he and the couple remained.
"WAIT!!!"
He yelled and started running.
The woman still didn't hear him, but...
"..." The boy turned around and looked at him.
Their eyes met.
The boy's face was pale and streaked with tears… Tony was overcome with fear.
"STOP!!!" He screamed.
It seemed that he would remember that face for the rest of his life.
Although they were about ten meters apart, he still reached out his hand, not even knowing what he was hoping for.
"..."
At that moment, the woman turned sharply into an alley and pulled the boy after her.
He lost sight of them for just a few seconds, turned the corner, and then...
He rushed into the alley after them.
"..." A moment later, he collapsed to his knees.