The Story of Zero's Childhood
So it's been a few years since I became an official Ultra warrior. I got to work with my dad and his colleagues. They're pretty cool.
Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce myself.
My name is Ultraman Zero. I'm Ultra Seven's son.
I want to tell you a little about my past. It was the day I became an orphan. I didn't know who my father was then. It was in the spring when I was about 12 years old…
- At the orphanage -
Young Zero walked around his new room in the local orphanage. There was a simple bed in a corner and a closet in the other corner. And there was a small desk in between the bed and the closet. There was a square window above the desk.
Zero looked out the window. Many young Ultramans ran around and played happily… But Zero knew that deep inside, they all had the same pain. It's that feeling that's a mixture of loneliness, anger, anxiousness and only a tiny bit of hope. They were all hoping that maybe one day someone will come and take them in as a part of a family.
But who in the world will ever come and take Zero to a place he can call 'Home'? His mother, who was a researcher, went missing for months. And he doesn't even know who his father is. Or even if his father even cares about him.
'No one loves me.' He thought. 'Even my own parents abandoned me…'
Just then, an Ultraman who was a bit older than Zero came in to the room. He had this heartwarming smile that can melt anyone's heart… Anyone except Zero that is. He's very kind but also a little naïve.
"Hi Zero." He said.
"Hey, Mebius" Zero said quietly.
Mebius is another orphan who lives here. He had been here since he was about 5 or 6 years old. Now he's about 14 or something.
Which made Zero wonder, what if he had to stay here for that long… or even longer? Will he be able to go through all the bullying and all the problems an orphan has to go through?
"So," Mebius looked around the room. "How's your room?"
Zero sat on the bed. "It's fine. I guess."
Mebius sighed sadly. He knew who Zero's father was. And he knows that Zero's father wants to come back and take care of his son. But with all the duty and responsibility, he can't come back here.
'Zero doesn't deserve this pain. He could have had a better life as a normal boy…"
Mebius sat down next to Zero. He glanced at the depressed boy and then looked straight at the wall.
"Life is not easy. I know that." Mebius started. "There are problems, stress, tragedy, difficulty and a lot more bad things. But they come in life because we can bear it. Nothing in life is too much for us to go through. If you feel like it's too much, well, that's where friends and family come in. Even though we orphans may not have a family but we still have friends who can treat us like family." Mebius looked back at Zero and smiled. "So, you know. Whenever you need help, you can just ask for it. And remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. Keep on being kind to others, no matter how many times they may betray our kindness."
Zero thought about what the older Ultraman had said.
"Show kindness no matter how many times they may betray my kindness?" Zero protested. "I can't do that. If they betray my kindness then they don't deserve it."
Mebius looked straight in to the boy's eyes. "Do you want kindness, Zero?"
Zero stayed silent.
"If you want to be treated kindly, then you have to be kind first." Mebius stood up and patted Zero's head. "Trust me. It's hard and all but in the long run, you'll see the results of what you did."
And with that, Mebius went out and left the boy to rethink about life.
Zero sat quietly for a while.
'Treat others the way you want to be treated.'
'Even though we orphans may not have a family but we still have friends who can treat us like family.'
'Do you want kindness, Zero?'
Mebius' words kept running through his mind. It's hard to understand what he's telling. How can he be kind to those who treat him badly? How could he treat others good?
Zero looked out the window again. The sun was setting and the other kids were starting to come back inside. But there was one teen who continued to sit alone on the swing.
Zero got curious and went out to meet him.
"Hey, there" Zero said.
The teen looked up. "Hi."
"Why aren't you going back in?" Zero asked as he sat down on the swing next to him.
The teen sighed. "I have to stay in the same room as one of the bullies. He always plays pranks on me. I'm getting tired of it."
Zero looked at the teen. He had never faced the bullies yet. But he knew that it will happen eventually. This teen was about the same age as Mebius and probably stayed here a bit longer than him. He didn't know what to say but somehow, Mebius' words came into his mind.
"Treat others the way you want to be treated…" Zero mumbled.
"What?" The teen looked confused.
Zero straightened himself. "It's something a friend of mine told me. He said if I want someone to be kind to me then I have to be kind to that person first."
The kid snorted. "That's impossible. How can I treat a bully kindly?"
"You know, I was just thinking the same thing." Zero admitted. "But I just also realized that being kind can make me happy, too." Zero smiled a little to the teen. "Like right now, I'm being kind to you."
The teen stared at Zero. Then they laughed a little.
"Yeah, I think you're right." The teen smiled lightly. "Thanks for talking with me. I really appreciate it, you know."
Zero felt something warm inside.
'So, this is how being kind to someone feels like. It's not bad, not bad at all.'
They both stood up and headed back inside. Before the teen went to his room, he realized something.
"Hey, come to think of it, I don't know your name yet." The teen reached out his hand. "I'm Hikari."
Zero also reached out his hand. "I'm Zero. It's nice to meet you."
"You, too." Hikari smiled.
Then they both went back in to their rooms.
Zero was starting to think that living here may not be as bad as he thought. He has a few friends now. He can probably go through this life.