It was 5:30 PM on September 11. Shindou was inside his room. He looked around and saw a poster on the wall . It covered most of the space and said, 'VOTE SHINDOU SEIJI FOR SENATOR' in blue letters. Shindou sighed. Here it was again. Election time. The time when corrupt officials peek out.

He shook his head, trying to get the image of his father out of it. "Election time. My father would do anything to get a position." he sighed. "One of the corrupt politicians... even though I have him to thank for our status, if he continues to do the things he's doing, eventually he'll get exposed and our name will be tainted. People might even think I'll grow up to be just like him. If only he'd stop..."

He sat on the bed, hoping that one day, someday, his father would stop being corrupt and start walking the right way. He looked at the poster again. It reminded him of when he was a kid, before his father became a politician...

*flashback*

A little boy and his father were playing hide-and-seek. "Wherever you are, I'll find you!" said the father. "You can't find me!" said child as he hid behind a tree. His father was searching for him throughout the playground, all the while saying that he'll find his son. "Aha, there you are!" he said as he spotted his son behind a tree. "Haha, that was fun, dad!" said the son as his father knelt down and patted him on the head. "It truly is fun to play with you, Takuto. I hope everyday would be a day like this. I promise you, you'll never be alone!"

*end*

"'You'll never be alone' ... he promised. If there was something I'd like to bring back, it's that moment, that last time we were able to play together... If only... if only he kept that promise, the time we used to share together... life won't be like this. If only he didn't change, if only..."

"Shindou come for dinner NOW!" his mother said while going up the stairs. She entered and said, "We're having dinner earlier because your father's going for a campaign tonight. Hurry, he's waiting."

"Why couldn't he just eat early? Why do we have to eat together if it's only for political reasons?" he thought while following his mom. "Is there a time that he won't talk about politics?"

When they reached the dining room, he saw his father sitting there, arms crossed. "Why are you late? You know punctuality matters for success!" he asked. "Politics is all that's on his mind now, doesn't even have time for family..." Shindou thought as they began to eat.

After dinner, he heard his phone ring. It was Tenma. "Konnichiwa, Shindou-senpai. I'm sorry I wasn't able to go to school today. How're you?"

"I'm fine. I just had dinner."

"Really? It's still early. Why'd you have dinner early, by the way?"

"My dad has to campaign."

"Campaign? He's running for senator?"

"Yes."

"Is he... a corrupt person?" silence. "H-how did you know?"

"... In my prefecture, he's suspected extorting money from the locals. Was he always like that?"

"He wasn't." He told Tenma about his father's promise. "And he said, 'You'll never be alone'. but now, it doesn't seem like he meant it at all." A soft laugh was heard from the other end.

"It's true - you have friends, right? No matter what we go through, we'll never leave our friends. So what he said is true - you'll never be alone." Shindou said thanks. When he hung up, he was already crying. But these weren't tears of sadness - they were tears of joy. "Thank you, Tenma. Thanks, everyone."

Do you, dear reader, have friends like them? Friends... that'll never leave you? Congratulations if you do. But I have another question for you - are you a friend that'll never leave your friends?