History of bonds are more like simple recollections. Each recollection played from the beginning with a music. Then one recollection began with a melody; a melody that is so true, so perfect, so inspiring as it touches the hearts of, what we call, love. But like the chain, the melody would soon cease. Never played for a thousand years and was gone forever. Without the melody, the recollection is just a sad song.
Sad Song by We the Kings Ft. Elena Coats plays in the background
Hiro held up his game controller.
"This is what you use to play." He gestured while explaining to his mother, Haruka.
You and I,
we're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky
Ever since they stopped Mizel from controlling the world, Haruka planned on living for a long while back home with her son. Hiro was so delighted at this and it have been so long since they were together as mother and son.
He couldn't help his happiness as he began showing his games and his favorite show Senshiman to her. He even mentioned to her about how well he was in school, especially assuring her that he wasn't failing.
With you, I'm alive
Like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide
He didn't find himself being so talkative as he kept on going. Not noticing Haruka who had her fake glasses off, her eyes filled with tears as she smiled.
"And there was this-" He was cut off when he was wrapped by none other than the arms of his mother.
It took him by surprise as he heard her sob. He never heard her cry, not since childhood.
Haruka felt as if she wanted to say something but she couldn't make out of the words. Where was she when she was needed the most? Why did she leave him? She felt guilty for leaving him, all by himself, while she was away for her selfish desires. Now she knew, her departure broke his heart. She cried while holding Hiro, her own son, so dearly and firmly.
So stop time right here in the moonlight
Hiro was speechless. He didn't react at this until a second later, he returned the same gesture by hugging her back and smiled.
"It's okay, mom." He soothed her. "You don't need to say anything. I get what's in your mind."
'Cause I don't ever want to close my eyes
Hiro smiled as he walked down at the empty halls.
Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
What would she think when she realized that her son went off to die just to save her? Would she be sad? Would she be angry for doing something dangerous such as this?
He kept asking these questions as he walked and took a turn. The red lights blaring him, casting a shadow of himself onto the walls wherever he passes by with a swift.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
The doors he came by were left open by fellows who worked hard upon building this tower. Hiro didn't understand; why did they build Mellontekos with a nuclear system? Surely he was informed it would successfully make the tower work, but for what purpose? Would this tower that just became the world's biggest nuclear bomb be the final piece of their plan? He wished he knew, and at the same time he wished he knew nothing.
Without you, I'm just a sad song
And as for that, he wished he hadn't done it in front of Ban. He knew how hurt he would be. Watching a friend of whom he truly trust slowly fading, their own dust dissolving into the air until there was nothing left. That was what the brunette experienced when he saw Lex falling along with Saturn and died.
He closed his eyes and remembered that day.
I'm just a sad song.
Hiro nervously walked up to the brunette.
Ban turned and was surprised to see him with a bouquet of white flowers.
"I hope he didn't mind." He said.
Ban smiled. "Oh he won't mind. Neither his dad would."
With you, I fall
This was after they stopped Mami, Lex's sister, on killing President Claudia and Director Kaios with Paradise being the weapon in outer space. It took a little while for Ban to visit his grave after the video message made by Adam and Eve.
It's like I'm leaving all my past and
Silhouettes up on the wall
Hiro smiled and nodded. He marched to a stone tablet stood on the grass as he laid the flowers in front of it and proceed to kneel and prayed.
Afte the long moments of praying, he stood up and back away a little as he stood right next to Ban.
Ban then asked when he gestured the flowers, "What are they?"
With you, I'm a beautiful mess
"Chrysanthemum." He politely answered, at least pronouncing it correctly.
Ban blinked in surprise. "You know what flowers do mean?"
The blunette scratched his head, his lips grinning nervously. "I was being told to read about flowers in school."
"Oh." Ban turned back to the grave. "I see."
They stood there quietly. None of them said anything. Silence was impossible due to the wind blowing, its pressure made out of a whisper to their peers as it soon faded.
It's like we're standing hand in hand
With all our fears up on the edge
Suddenly, Ban spoke, "Do you ever thought of having a sibling?"
Hiro glanced to him, surprised at the question. Instead of answering, he asked, "Why?"
Ban shrugged. "Don't know. Sorry if the question was sudden. It just came to me."
Hiro then thought. Come to think of it, they've been acting like brothers, real brothers, ever since they met. He smiled.
"Ban," the brunette turned when he called and saw a hand.
Hiro grinned as he held his hand out to him. "Let me be your brother."
Ban was shock. He never realized he would ask him to be his brother. Though this made him very much happy.
So stop time right here in the moonlight
He smiled as he grapsed his hand with his and shook.
"Thank you, Hiro."
'Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes
No. He thought. Thank you, Ban.
If it weren't for him, Hiro would have not become a hero he wanted to be and wouldn't get the chance to make friends. He had no one else to be friends with, but that was when he was little. He was not the boy who was made fun by bullies during kindergarten. No longer the boy who was left by his mother. That boy was much more but a hero.
Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
He stopped in front of a huge metal door. It stood tall and didn't collapse. But Hiro could tell it would, with the banging and the thunderous sounds behind it, echoing as his mind processed it.
The sound though, only made his heart beating fast. 'So this is how it feels,' he thought, his legs somewhat shaking. 'To face death.'
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Come to think of it, Senshiman never mentioned something about death. Would a hero die, if it were to save the world? That was the same as the incidents with Detector and Mizel but this; it was more than that, it was far more different.
Would a hero die, he thought. If it were to save his love ones?
His love ones...
Without you, I'm just a sad song
My love one. He closed his eyes.
Hiro sped through the crowd and scanned his surroundings.
As he looked at one person to another, he spotted a certain red head standing in the middle where no crowd couldn't swarm.
You're the perfect melody
He raced for her and called. "Ran!"
The karate girl turned and saw him running towards her.
She smiled. "You're pretty early."
The only harmony I wanna hear
Hiro panted and laugh at the same time. "You said this was important, right?"
She looked somewhat disappointed but covered it up with a smile. "Yeah."
Then she grabbed his arm as the Otaku fan found himself being dragged away.
You're my favorite part of me
He couldn't remember what happen after that but he knew he was riding on a roller coster with her. If it were embarrassing to him, it definitely was because he was screaming and holding the dear life out of him. Don't give him the wrong idea, it was sudden.
After the ride, Ran laughed while Hiro pouted. "Not funny."
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it." Ran said as she continued laughing. "You sounded like a girl."
With you standing next to me,
Hiro crossed his arms, his head turning away with his cheeks tainted in the same color as her hair.
"Shut up." He murmured.
Ran glanced around and saw an ice cream stan nearby. She turned back to the blunette.
"You want some ice cream?" She asked while pointing at the stan.
He shrugged. "Sure."
I've got nothing to fear
His legs stopped shaking as one make a step while the other followed. He stopped at the door lock and tap the four digits to open the door. As he pressed enter, he received an 'ACESS GRANTED' and the door opened.
"So you're at the amusement park?" Ban asked through his CCM. "With Ran?"
Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
Hiro scratched his head. "Yeah, she should've at least told me that we are just hanging out."
There was a pause until Ban said, "You're really oblivious, Hiro."
"Nani!?"
"You should realize that you and Ran are now dating."
"What's that suppose to-" He stopped himself and repeated what his brotherly friend told him in his mind. Me and Ran? Dating? He thought. Then he realized his mistake.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Hiro deadpan, he brought up his hand to smack his forehead. "Oh no."
This caught the brunette's attention when he asked. "Did something happen between you and Ran?"
Hiro didn't heard him asking, and said. "Sorry Ban, I have to hung up for now."
"Hiro wait-" He already ended the call and began looking for the red head.
Without you, I feel torn
He felt the pressure of the atmosphere going tense and there was a sting from the electricity around the wires. But he ignored them and surprisingly didn't flinch as if it was nothing at all. With no hesitation; he walked towards the core, meeting his fate which it stood before him.
Like a sail in a storm
"Ran!" He called after finding her sitting alone on a bench.
Without you, I'm just a sad song
She shot her head up, tear marks trailing down on her cheeks and her eyes were swollen. The sight of her being this way made him feel more guilty.
His sprinting turned into a slow walk as he approached her.
Without you, I feel broke
Like I'm half of a whole
She turned away from him, didn't want to make an eye contact with him.
"Go away, Hiro." Her voice sounded soar.
It only pained his heart upon hearing it, he made the damage quite big than he thought.
"Ran..." Before he could make another step, Ran hissed while she turned her back on him.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
"Dare to make a step and you'll get it Oozora." Ran threatened, her fist clenched tightly.
Even if it was a threat, Hiro didn't seem to take a step back as he slowly proceeded his motive.
Ran was shaken up when she heard his footsteps coming close as Hiro stopped and sat beside her. Neither of them respond. Everyone who visited the amusement park already left, leaving the only two people with a problem that was not resolved.
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in the storm
Their lamppost beside the bench they sat flickered like a candle nearly blown in the dark as silence continued roaming around the night.
It have been long and the other did not respond. That is until Hiro brought up his hand, not hesitating to touch her.
Ran snapped when she still felt his presence. She finally turn, only to shout at him furiously, "Why can't you leave me alone!?"
Without you
She slapped his hand away and did the most unthinkable thing. She brought up her clenched fist and sent it right through Hiro's cheek, causing his head to turn away and him losing balance.
But he managed to stay in his position before he could even fall on the ground as he sat there quietly, not looking back at the red head and felt the stinging pain on his cheek.
I'm just a sad song
For a moment, Ran was annoyed that he was still there. When she saw his cheek almost swollen in red, her expression changed into a shock.
Hiro then turn to her, but his expression was unknown as his bangs covered his eyes while he tilted his head down.
This only made her scared after realizing what she had done.
I'm just a sad song
"Hiro, I..." she stuttered to apologize but was cut off when Hiro suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
Her eyes widen, shock at his actions as she heard him whisper, "I should be the one saying sorry," he said, "it was unlikely me to break your heart, I just didn't know. I'm sorry."
I'm just a sad song
Ran couldn't help but have her tears falling from her eyes. Not that she was crying, she was glad at the fact that he still cared even after she punched him.
"Please don't cry." He said but she assured him that she wasn't crying at all as she quietly sob on his shirt while being held in his warm arms.
Tears were coming out of his eyes. He wished he shouldn't do this. He wished someone or himself could put a stop to what his was doing. He wished he could see Ran one last time before walking into the door of death. He wished to atleast see her cheery, hyperactive smile.
Future Diary's soundtrack; Here with you now plays in the background after the song ended.
"Where are we going?" Ran asked curiously.
After she stopped crying, she decided to go back since it was very late but Hiro insisted to continue the date, which surprised the red head entirely. It have been 30 minutes as Hiro lead her some parts of Tokiosia.
Hiro glanced back to her and grinned. "You'll see."
Ran wanted to make him spill the beans but she was caught by surprise when she felt his hand slipping into hers.
She blushed as Hiro winked. "Trust me. This will be the best date in your life."
She smiled in amuse. "You sure?"
"50/50." He answered as he smiled. "You'll like it."
As Hiro and Ran walked hand in hand, the blunette suddenly broke into a run. Gasping, Ran tried to run as she can to keep up with him. She wanted to brag him about running so sudden but she didn't when she heard him laugh. His laughter sounded so childish and Ran couldn't help but laugh as well. This, however, made Hiro totally surprise but he resumed his laughter afterwards.
Hiro felt he was being pushed back as he crashed into a wall after a force around the core made an impact.
He grunted as he got up and resumed to move on. The force made contact with his body as he almost gone through the same thing again. Luckily, he barely had his feet sticking deep onto the ground as he pushed himself forward.
Their laughter didn't seem to reach the peers of this sleepy town. Although, it seemed to got louder as it echoed in the streets, the sound of them running followed as an additional piece to the music. But their sleepers didn't find it annoying for they all sleep well while listening to the melody the two had created.
As he was now close to the core, he reached out for it with his two hands. When both of his hands touched it, the core instantly reacted as Hiro felt the force and electricity coursing through every part of his body, including his heart as he screamed in pain.
Finally, Hiro slowed his tracks down as Ran did the same.
They now stood on top of a building that was recently reported to be off limits. Ran didn't know how they got there but when she looked at the sky, she thought she was seeing heaven.
Without the city lights litting Tokiosia, a caravan of new colorful lights glowed within the night sky. Within those glittering lights and the dark, the moon itself glowed brightly in white in its full appearance.
The two sat as they gazed at the colorful sky.
Ran whispered. "It's beautiful."
"Ah." Hiro nodded. "As always."
Ran glanced to him in surprise. "You've seen this before?"
He scratched his head nervously, "When I was young, Mom used to tell me about how the stars would look like heaven if you have someone by your side." His face was tainted in crimson red as he continued. "She even said there is a reason why this turn out this way."
Ran looked at him and asked, "And that reason is?"
"You and that someone are in love." He bluntly responded, his face was fully red as a tomato.
There wasn't a response from the red head, which it was not pleasing the blunette as his mind was swarmed with negative thoughts. Would she be mad, now that he just told her his feelings right after he hurt her?
Hiro couldn't help but have these negative thoughts invading his mind while he looked at his hands fidgeting with his fingers.
He snapped back to reality when she said, "Hiro, put your head up and look at me."
Hesitantly, he did as he was told and when he turned his head to her, a pair of soft lips were pressed against his. Hiro's eyes were wide as saucers and his heart just skipped a beat for two reasons. One, he was scared of what happens next, and secondly, Ran kissed him!
'Oh god.' He thought. 'Is this real?'
For a moment, Hiro couldn't be so sure as his eyes set on Ran whose eyes were closed, and their lips didn't seem to depart. Not wanting to make her wait any longer, he finally closed his eyes and kissed her back. Ran, on the other hand, smiled through the kiss as she have her arms wrapped around his neck as they kissed deeply.
Tears endlessly trailed down on his cheeks as he screamed. The nuclear energy from the core began to enter his body as he felt hot in the inside and his heart seemed failing him because of the heat.
For the first time in his life he never thought of someone loving him as he loved that person back. Ever since he met her with the events of Detector and the defeat of Mizel afterwards, he immediately fell in love because of who she really is to him. Brave, tough, hyperactive, cheerful, and best of all, her smile. He was relaxed and his heart was engulfed in warmth when those three words escaped from Ran's lips while she wore that smile that he so dearly love.
"I love you."
Confessing didn't seem to be difficult to him anymore as he smiled back warmfully.
"I love you too."
Hiro have gained his energy back as he tried to pull himself together, telling himself not to let go of the core as he remembered what that professor told him.
"There is a way to prevent the end of Earth," he said. "And that is to have a human contact with the severe core." He shook his head in disappointment. "Oh what am I saying? No one would ever muster up to save this world by sacrificing their life."
Heck he was wrong. He thought as he smiled grimly.
The core that glows in red now shone in various colors with a ray of light which it had swallowed both him and the core.
Before he could leave this world, a flashback of his friends and his mother flashed into his mind.
First was a picture of his mother, Haruka, smiling warmly at him. Then it was Ota-X doing his Ota pose along with his Ota Rangers. Then there was Cobra grinning, giving him a thumbs up. Takuya gave him a nod while as Yagami just smiled. All were followed with Gouda who had his arm around Sendou and grinned while the Fortune Teller just rolled his eyes but smiled in the latter. Asuka had her usual tomboy personality up as she waved at him. Then it was Jessica who made a gun posing, and beside her was Jin smiling and Yuuya doing the Senshiman posture to him. He saw Kazu had his arm around the waist of a smiling Amy as the pair gave him a thumbs up. Next it was Arata grinning wide, Ban smiling brotherly, and finally, the last image he wanted to see, Ran gave him the smile that he wanted; but to his opinion it was the purest above all.
He could not stop the tears flowing as he closed his eyes and smiled.
'If it weren't for them,' he thought, 'I wouldn't make this far without them.'
"Again," He whispered. "Arigatou, sayonara."
With that being said, his whole being was dissolved into the light as it swallowed everything that surrounds it.
At the far coast of the Atlantic Ocean,
The LBXs that were brainjacked by the unknown group suddenly stop, making the NICS' LBX players wonder in envy.
"What the..."
"Everyone," Yuuya called while pointing at the Atlantic Ocean, "look over there!"
They all turned to where he was pointing at and was shocked to see a giant ray of light appeared out there in the wide vast part of the ocean. When the light blinked, the water was suddenly being forced to push back as a powerful wind went upon them.
It blew harder than they thought it would be as if there was a bomb being dropped and exploded. The brainjacked LBXs were flown away by the wind, includingly their own LBXs. Everyone barely held their guard up as they tried to stay into their positions.
A few seconds later, the force of the wind stopped, it's howling gales fading as it turned into silence.
No one dared to break the silence until a sound of whirring did. They all looked up and saw a helicopter that Ban, Jin, Arata and Yagami were in.
"It's them!" Amy said, seeing Ban with Jin in it.
All of them were smiling, except Ran. She had her gut telling that something was wrong as she looked back to where that ray of light appeared.
"What was that?"
In the helicopter, Ban, Jin and Arata saw the light just recently before they reached the coast.
Jin glanced worriedly at Ban as he witnessed his pained expression.
"T-that light," Ban stuttered. "Hiro was in it."
Jin put his hand on the brunette's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ban."
"W-what am I suppose to say to Haruka?" He turned to Jin, his eyes were nearly close to tears. "To Ran?"
This only made him gripped on his shoulder more than firmly. Ran. Jin thought. Knowing her, she loves Hiro very much.
He looked through the window and saw the coast. Above all of his friends and NICS, he saw Ran standing there, staring at where the light just appeared.
She would not take the news willingly.
Once the helicopter landed, the LBX players, except Ran, sped for it. Kazu and Ami were the first ones to come up and embraced their best friend.
When they released him, they noticed a grim look on his face. The LBX players noticed this too as they glanced at Jin and Arata, who were having the same expressions as him. Even the Personal Intelligence who was trying to hide the truth.
"Ban?" They all turned and Ban shot his head up and saw the karate girl standing there.
"Where's Hiro?"
That question struck them like lightning. They quickly scanned Ban's group; Ban, Jin, and Arata are here, especially Yagami, and the only person who should be here was...
Hiro. It snapped them.
"Ban?" Ran walked over to the brunette and asked again. "Ban, where's Hiro?"
Ban didn't have the will to say it so he turned his head away instead, tears finally trailed down from his eyes.
Everyone was shock, including Ran who bought what he was trying to say but was disbeleaved at the fact.
"No. No it can't be." Ran shook her head as she grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently. "Ban, where is Hiro? Tell me where he is!"
"Ran..." Before Ami could even step forward, Ban suddenly put up his index finger while he turned away.
They all followed and to their pained hearts, it was pointing at where the light appeared.
Ran's eyes were wide in shock. "H-He," she stuttered and glanced at the crying Yamano who did not make eye contact with her as she finished, "he was there?"
Waiting for a response, Ban hesitantly nodded.
It had stabbed most of them but Ran took the worst stab. Her heart took it as if it was a knife to end her misery. She couldn't believe it. Hiro.. Her hero was dead?
In disbelief, she furiously crashed into Ban and punched several times, harder and harder as she can until she broke into a loud cry.
"I thought you can save him!" She shouted.
Ban couldn't help but broke down along with her. "I thought we did but instead he.." He sobbed. "He.."
Not taking it anymore, Ami turned to Kazu and cried on his chest while he held her, he too cried as well. Gouda was never a cry baby but he had to, for a good friend like the Otaku fan he finally broke in tears as he punched a pole, not caring if it were painful to his hand.
"Dammit!" He cursed.
Sendou never saw him cry, in fact, he never cried before either as he let a tear fell down to his chin.
Yuuya clenched both of his teeth and fist and turned away as he tried to hold his tears. Asuka did the same as him but she couldn't find to muster up her tomboyishness as she finally sobbed.
Jessica never experienced this. The experience of loosing a friend in battle. She had became a part of a squad of NICS but she never imagined loosing someone such as Hiro. She looked at her red head friend, pained to see both her and the brunette crying as she cried as well.
Jin walked over to her and gave her a hug as she accepted his offer. He looked at all of his friends. They are all crying, over the boy who they know as their friend and brother, over the boy who would often cheer their spirits up and wished he was still here to do so, over the boy who had what they saw in him was hope, over the boy who they would call a hero.
Now they're wishing. Wishing that he is here with them as they mourned over his passing.
GenesX: If you feel like crying here's a tissue. If you feel like complaining that this chapter is too long, heck I don't know what's wrong with you. This is the longest chapter I made since this one is a one-shot, and also a song-fic (first one ever!) Anyway, I'll be back to what I'm doing. *Tries to do the best things but cries in the end.* I made that story too sad! QwQ