"Do you mind if I help?"
"You are?" Said the head of the JSDF.
"My codename is Haze."
A tall blue masked man talked with such manner and kindness. His chest could be clearly judged as 'muscular', but not to the point where muscles were the size to that of a bodybuilder.
Nevertheless, this figure exuded a strong aura that befitted the title of a Hero.
The Leader of the Special Magus Force looked at him indifferently as he asked him a question.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is your rank?"
To that, the Hero, codenamed Haze, simply replied,
"Silver."
while maintaining a good posture that seemed like it could withstand a Tsunami.
The dark blue-uniformed soldiers of the Special Magus Force looked at Haze with another emotion. Ever since they were dispatched here, they never looked at anyone in particular. Indifference fully shrouded their figure.
But even a glance at the Hero Haze contained a lot of meanings.
Jealousy, discontent and a tinge of hostility.
They all tried to hide them but only the leader excelled in that.
"I saw this big smoke from miles away so I came as fast as I can, assuming that it was only a big fire that occurred it."
Haze approached the three figure one step more as he slightly spoke in a serious tone.
"I think that there is more to it than just a fire. Could you please explain to me the situation?"
No one objected to his demands. The head of the JSDF enlightened Haze with a very detailed explanation of this incident. He understood while calmly reviewing and suggesting a good solution.
The four of them discussed on the rescue plan that the leader of the SMF put forward. Haze did not disagree on the approach they would take.
"Then, if you all don't mind, can I join the rescue squad?"
Haze calmly proposed to be on the team.
All three of them waited for a go-ahead from the official of the SMF.
A simple nod from him made Haze bow slightly towards him. He was very well mannered as he displayed a simple and generous act of proper etiquette.
"We will start this operation in half an hour from now on. Be prepared."
The leader left, leaving the three individual on their own.
"Haze, you are welcomed to rescue those innocent people. Please...Save them all."
Shiraishi gloomily requested, no..., in his opinion, he begged for the safety of the hostages. He could only do this in this helpless situation.
Seeing that he was responsible for the death of one innocent civillian, he had to cling on any hope for the situation to get better. He did not want more casualties to turn up.
The life of that one innocent person weighed heavy on Shiraishi's broad shoulder.
The hero, who seemed to have noticed his intention, reassured him in a confident tone.
"Don't worry Sir, I guarantee you that I will save them all."
Yet to Shiraishi, it seemed soothing which relaxed his mind. He really thought that he could do it. It felt like as if a big burden has been eviscerated from his heavy heart.
He felt really thankful to the hero, to Haze in particular.
...
"aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! That fucking helicopter doesn't fucking shut up!!!!"
The crowd was greatly frightened from the sudden outburst.
The Boss of the terrorist group ruffled his brown hair violently. It showed just how much irritated he was towards the noise the helicopter displayed.
It was hovering over the roof of the mall and passed by to check the site and for sightings of hostages or terrorists.
"Should I do something about it?"
The playful terrorist, who previously found Harue unconscious behind some rubbles, approached his Boss.
"You better do it quickly. Or else I need to calm myself down with one of these pricks!"
"Yes. I'm borrowing one, Boss."
The boss pushed him away as the masked man casually walked near the group. He scanned everyone before his sight fell on someone.
"Well now that I think about it, a female hostage would be more suitable."
He passed off his comment as he travelled through all the sitting hostages. Especially the women were more terrified at this moment.
The masked man stopped in front of a certain girl. The girl looked up, pale and trembling.
"Ojou-chan, would you mind standing up?"
The bespectacled girl did hear him, but she did not heed to his request. Instead, she scampered backwards while in a sitting position.
The ones sitting behind her blocked her route unwillingly as they know that it was pointless to do such action.
"Looks like you do mind."
The man grabbed her hand to lift her up. She fought back but to no avail.
"Let go off me!!"
"Haha Ojou-chan, quite rebellious aren't you?"
He fended off her flailing arms which seemed like a child's tantrum to him.
"Let's go."
"Noooo!!!"
Now, the playfulness he displayed was over. He violently pulled the girl's arm and made her follow him. The tears started to appear as she was being dragged away by one of these savages.
She looked at the crowd for help but as expected, no one stepped up. Obviously, everyone would not thoughtlessly interrupt those dangerous men.
"Stop this!!"
But one man, with a peculiar voice, transcended their expectations.
"Ora? You want to die, young man?"
Young man?
The crowd looked back at the individual who raised his voice against these terrorists. Some who were still a bit calm were observing the fact that the terrorist called that individual a 'young man'.
'That person is definitely a girl!!'
But the majority of the hostages were still anxious in this situation. They did not know what that man was intending to do.
"No Sir. I don't want to die."
"Then what?"
"I volunteer, Sir."
"...You what?"
His curiosity piqued.
"I volunteer to be used as a bargaining chip, instead of that girl."
The girl was shocked. The masked man stayed silent. The Boss was covering his ears and walking in circles, unbeknownst of what was happening in between the hostages.
".....Well that works too."
The masked man released his grip on the girl's arm. The girl could not believe what had happened. She was really thankful to that person but she was not happy.
Definitely not happy, as determined by the pained expression she wore.
"Harue-chan. Come then."
Harue, walked slowly to the terrorist, passing by the bespectacled girl. The masked man grabbed him by the shoulder, but not violently.
He was acting just like an old friend of his as he walked away from the crowd.
"Since you look like a girl from afar, you too are suitable."
"...Yes."
"You!! You better consider yourself lucky to have such a saviour like him."
The terrorist shouted back joyfully to the girl as they further walked away. The girl could not do anything. She was made to sit after being saved by that boy named Harue.
Sniffing noise from crying so much, made other people console her. The two figures that disappeared from their sights looked like 2 old friends but if only that was true.
Through the spacious mall, the terrorist was playing skillfully with his handgun. In front of him was Harue, walking with his head down.
"Say, Harue-chan, was she a relative of yours? Someone you know? Or a complete stranger?"
It was obvious that he was talking about that bespectacled girl he saved.
".....Someone I know..."
"Heee...I thought that you were the type that would save everyone, including people you barely know."
He lifted his head as he glanced backwards for a better understanding of what the masked man thought of him.
"Do you see me as such of a person?"
"Going by your behaviour, I think so."
A small pause in replying to the masked man. The terrorist did not press for more information about himself, but he couldn't wait to see what kind of reaction he would have. After all, he was an intriguing character to him.
"...You are right Sir. There are people like that, who are selfless, ignorant of the consequences that could endanger themselves. There are few of these people in this world."
They arrived at a door that led directly to the roof as they were conversing. The two of them came to a stop before the door. Harue understood that this was the destination
The terrorist grabbed a speaker that was lying on the floor next to the door. He hung it around his shoulder. It was a tool that was used to communicate with the officials so it was evident as to why he took it.
"People that you just described, they are the perfect example of Heroes."
"...I guess."
"What? Don't you want to be a Hero?"
Harue's posture seemed lonely. His face was slightly inclined downwards. On this kind of topic, he was not fond of discussing.
"...No."
"Why?"
The atmosphere between those two was getting a little heavy as the masked man was expecting an answer from Harue.
He did not seem like he was in a hurry to complete the task he accepted from his Boss. For the moment, he was more interested in him. But he does not know why.
Maybe because his first encounter with Harue left a peculiar impression on the masked terrorist. After all, their first meeting was quite unusual.
"These Heroes.....I'm far from meeting all the requirements of being one."
"...You mean that you are not strong enough?"
"Well, that's part of it..."
"Then?"
Harue lightly scratched the back of his head embarrassingly, as he responded to the masked man.
"I...I'm not that generous."
The confusion kept piling up for the terrorist. He could not reach for a certain answer as for why Harue did not want to be a Hero.
"Huh? Even though you saved that girl?"
".....That's because I.....love her."
"Oh? Girlfriend?"
"...Not yet."
"Hooo~"
'Youth is such a good thing.' The terrorist thought as he pulled out his gun
He smirked whilst pointing the gun to Harue's chest as he gestured for him to open the door.
"This was some good conversation I had just now. Well, it's a shame that I must really do my job."
Harue obediently opened the door to the roof. As soon as he did his part, the masked man grabbed him from behind and put the muzzle next to his skull.
"Just endure this boy, then we'll talk longer when we go back."
Harue did not say anything. He did not struggle, not even a bit to escape from his grasp.
The terrorist was finding it difficult to have evaluated this girlish boy differently. Even though he sees him as a brave person who rescued that girl, Harue himself denied such praise.
It was difficult to pinpoint what kind of person was Harue.
It did strongly strike the playful terrorist as somewhat naïve but innocent and honest. Furthermore, calling him 'Sir' even though he is a terrorist was unusual.
Who was he really?
The masked man would want to investigate him but for now, it was time to carry out his tasks.
He brought the loudspeaker near his mouth when he approached the edge of the roof.
"Shiiiiraaaaishiiiiiiii~"
Everyone's attention was focused on two figures standing on top of the roof. Every police officer and the JSDF positioned themselves behind cover and aimed their guns at the terrorist.
"Umm...can you use the loudspeaker a bit away from my ears?"
"Sorry kid. Not a chance."
"Okay..."
The terrorist again opened his mouth which transmitted his words in a louder volume.
"Shiiiiiraaaaaiishiiiiiiiii~ I have a little request."