The sound of a gunshot echoed inside the abandoned house.
Akiro's 65 years old body froze.
His hands, trembling, held onto the blood-soaked body of his comrade. Warm… but fading. The metallic scent filled the air, suffocating him.
"…Why…?"
His voice was weak. Not from fear.
From disbelief.
Behind him, footsteps.
Slow. Calm.
Familiar.
Akiro didn't turn immediately. His grip tightened.
"…I gave you everything…"
His voice cracked, but he forced the words out.
"I gave you food… clothes… money… I taught you how to survive…"
Silence.
Then—
A laugh.
Low. Mocking.
"That's exactly why, boss."
Akiro slowly turned his head.
There they were.
His own people.
The ones he fed.
The ones he protected.
The ones he called… family.
"They paid us more."
A grin stretched across the man's face.
"And you taught us that too, didn't you? That this world runs on business."
Another voice joined in.
"Don't take it personally. This is just how things work."
Akiro stared at them.
No anger.
No rage.
Just… emptiness.
"…I see…"
His body swayed slightly.
His vision blurred.
So this is how it ends.
Not in a fight.
Not protecting someone.
But like this…
Betrayed.
His knees weakened, but he didn't fall yet.
Instead—
He smiled.
A small, tired smile.
"…Then… I have one last request…"
They looked at him, confused.
"Take care of the kids…"
His voice grew softer with each word.
"The ones… abandoned… like us…"
No one spoke.
"Don't let other gangs take that place…"
"Don't let them destroy more families…"
His grip loosened.
The warmth in his hands… gone.
"That's all I ask…"
His body finally gave in.
As he fell—
Memories flooded his mind.
A life with no family.
No one to rely on.
Just fists… and survival.
Until one day—
Someone accepted him.
A place to belong.
He climbed.
Fought.
Bled.
Until he became the leader.
Not to rule.
But to protect.
To reduce crime.
To give people like him… a place.
Food.
Shelter.
A chance.
But in the end—
"…That's all I could do…"
Darkness swallowed his vision.
And with his final breath—
A single thought echoed.
I wish… I could be a hero…