Soft

I don’t know how I was able to drag myself back here. Every so often I hear knocks on my door, people asking to come visit this ‘hero’. Ha! If only they knew what I was truly capable of.

I decide to wallow in bed alone, there’s no point in getting up to do anything. I glance around my room, noticing the rubbish from earlier. Heh, those two pieces of paper have a better love life than me. THAT’S NOT FAIR! A deep sigh erupts from my chest as I lift my hands up to ruffle my hair in frustration. This is the best I could do in my life. Become the laughing stock of the town. "Actually, maybe being a jester could work, I heard they make good coin from the royals. No! I’m thinking too small, I could be one of those travelling groups that perform, I’d be famous!"

I hear a knock on the door again, accompanied by a voice I didn’t expect. “Zero? Are you okay? I heard what happened last night.”

Is that?

“They’re wrong. All of them are wrong, they’re just scared that if I actually tried anything, I’d be proving them right.” They’re right though. I’m a nobody and that’s who I’ll always be.

“It’s okay, I don’t believe them, you know I don’t! You’re the best around!”

My eyes light up and a massive grin grows on my face. I stand up before I could give a response and quickly sprint towards the door and pull it wide open. In front of me was a violet haired girl, a bit shorter than me, blushing as she turned away.

“Ha! You got that right Vivi! See, this is why you’re my only friend! You’re the only one that gets me! I’m so lucky to have a friend like you!”

She turns to face me again with a cute pout. “Hey! Stop calling me that! My name's Vivian, not Vivi!”

I throw up my hands, feigning ignorance. “Vivi, Vivian, same thing."

An idea suddenly pops in my head. "But you know what’s different! You! I know your dad is friends with Jaro! Do you think he could get Jaro to give your dad a high rank mission, maybe A or S rank, but you bring it to me instead?”

She gives me a blank stare before taking a step back in shock. “What?! No, nuh uh, no way! Dad would kill me! I can barely even do a simple E rank mission, why would he give me an A or S rank mission?!”

I groan and grab her by the shoulders in desperation. “Please! I’m begging you! Jaro ran out of jobs last night so I couldn’t get any, I need to get a job to make some coin at least or else the old hag downstairs is gonna get up me again!”

“I heard that Zero!” Mabel screeched from the distance, like the sound of a dying monster.

Vivian and I both flinch equally at the sound of the voice. I quickly pull her into my room and lock the door before facing her with a smirk and slowly approach her.

“W-w-what are you doing? This isn’t funny Zero!” She slowly takes a few steps backwards as I move closer until eventually, she hits the back of the wall.

“I’m gonna do something you’re not gonna like, unless you get the job for me!” I mean I’m not really gonna do anything, but hopefully I can get her to get me that mission, and if it comes down to it, I guess I can tickle her or something.

Vivian glances around the room frantically, is she trying to find a way out? Wait, Is she about to cry, maybe I should stop. No! I’m going to become the hero, I NEED her to get it so I can show everyone what I’m truly capable of! I hold onto my resolve and continue to approach her until I could see the little freckles on her nose.

“OKAY OKAY FINE, I’LL DO IT!” She yells as she finally gives in. “I’ll…see if I can find one of dad’s missions he has laying around.”

My heart stops. This was it, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life. A chance to prove myself. Without thinking I pull Vivian into me and wrap my arms around her tightly in a gentle but firm embrace.

“Thank you! You don't know how much this means to me!” I exclaim.

Vivian gives a soft smile and giggles. “Ehehe, just be glad I’m your friend! I wouldn’t do this for anyone else!”

I nod multiple times in agreement, too excited for my own good. “I know! You’re the only one who would do this for me. Thank you!” If she’s able to pull it off and get it… I really wouldn’t be able to thank her enough.

Sensing that the tense atmosphere has lifted, she gives me a playful poke to the ribs. “It’s getting a bit late, I think I might head back home before my parents ask why I’ve been gone for so long.”

“Oh? You’re leaving already? But you just got here…” I couldn’t help but find myself disappointed at the mention of her leaving.

I’ve always been fine alone, right? But why does my chest tighten when she says she’s leaving? It feels like I can’t breathe.

Vivian notices the sudden change on my face and moves closer to gently caress my cheek. “Zero? Are you okay? What’s wrong? Do you want me to —“

As quickly as I could, I take a step back and make some space. “Ha! I’m fine, I told you! I’m going to be the hero and show everyone that they’re wrong! I’m always okay, I don’t need any —“

“Liar.” Vivian quietly murmurs to herself. She politely bows, then dashes out of my room. I just stare at the space she was just standing in, bewildered, as I’m left lost at what just happened. Huh? What just happened? Why did she run off? Did i do something wrong? I turn as quickly as possible and run towards the door.

“VIVIAN!”

Mabel stands at the far end of the hallway, watching after Vivian as she runs off before turning to face me and shuffling towards my room.

“Ohoho? Looks like the cat’s out of the bag Zero. It seems like your lover ran off crying. My oh my, what did I tell you about treating women right? Already having a lover’s spat at your age.” Mabel says with a sly chuckle.

Oh crap, why did I yell out Vivian’s name. “O-o-oh? I have no idea what you’re talking about. She just was feeling unwell. Yeah. That’s it. She had to…to…OH SHUT UP YOU OLD HAG! YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!” Wait, why am I acting like this? This isn’t like me to get so worked up about her. It's just Vivi.

I try to put up a confident face, but fail as I feel myself crumbling down. I run towards Mabel and wrap my arms around her in a tight, desperate embrace. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

She sighs softly as she hears me break down in tears. She brings her hands up and gently strokes my head. It feels like home. “Silly boy, you’re not alone. She’ll come back. You know she will. Even if she doesn’t, you still have this old hag around to bother you forever, I don’t plan on kicking the bucket anytime soon after all.”

“Really?” I look up towards Mabel, snot running down my nose with my eyes red from crying. “Is…is she really going to come back? Is she going to make my chest stop hurting?”

Mabel gives me a small chuckle and wipes my tears. “I promise, you’ll see her again. If not, I’ll go give her a visit and tell her that you’re crying so much that you want to see her. I’m sure she’ll come then.”

What? No, wait, she can’t know that!

“NO! Please mabel, don’t do that! I don’t want her to know that I’m crying!” I beg her desperately, wrapping my arms even tighter and smothering my face into her.

“I’m just joking, you loud boy. I wouldn’t tarnish your reputation like that, you are supposed to be a hero, isn’t that right?”

I look back up at her with a huge grin. “Y-yeah! That’s right! You believe it too?! You know I’m also a hero right? Heroes don’t cry! They just…RAIN! Rain just falls down when a hero is sad! That’s it!" I pull away from her and walk back into my room. “T-thank you Mabel…for everything. Even if you're an old hag!” I poke out my tongue and slam the door shut, locking it before running towards my bed.

She gives herself another chuckle, before turning and walking away. “I should be the one thanking you, for giving this old lady a reason to continue living on.”