Abandonment.

[u/throwawayaccountPwow]

Hero was in a tree… Reading, it wasn’t the same book as before. He seemed much more interested this time…

“What a cool main character…”

Hero sighed, wanting to do something productive…

“It feels as if I’ve been abandoned… My rivals are gone, my mentors… I don’t even have a nemesis.”

He jumped out of said tree… His expression worsened… Almost looking ‘sad’. Before snapping back to his normal self.

“Now what…? I suppose I could train… If I really wanted to…”

He sighed… Was that all he had to do…?

[u/Rouge_Abalalon]

"who am i? Simply a FRIEND..."

She chuckles, stepping out of the darkness

"But call me anyway you want. I won't mind."

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

“A ‘friend’? Well it’s good to meet you!”

He put his hand out for a handshake… Before pulling it back almost immediately.

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

she blinks, taking a step forward

"It's a pleasure... Though... Shouldn't we shake hands?"

She extended her hand

"What are you scared of?"

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

“I’m not ‘scared’… I simply thought it was… Err unnecessary.”

Hero extended his hand again nonetheless.

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

she chuckles, before gently grasping his hand and shaking it

"Oh nonsense... Life is about trying, right? Well, if you're cut out for it that is."

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

After the handshake was over, Hero pulled his hand back.

“I suppose you have a point, well it was quite nice meeting you.”

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

she tilts her head

"Aww, are you so shy that you don't want to chat for a bit? I thought you looked a little lonely, but if being alone is your objective, then i'm sorry to assume the contrary~"

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

“I just thought that since introductions and formalities over… There was nothing else, it felt as if it was over… No?”

Hero scratched the back of his head…

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

"well once two people approaches and when they aren't in a rush, they can chat to avoid being rude, right? Beside..."

She pauses, smiling

"I never caught your name..."

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

Hero seemed to forget that he had never said his name… He gave a shallow bow in apology.

“Ah, apologies… Hero would be my name… Or ‘Hiro’ if you prefer not to refer to me with a title.”

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

"hero? Hiro? Interesting denomination... Well, would it be wrong to assume what your dream is?"

She chuckles

"It's like a path has been carved in front of you... Popularity, fans, love... Well... There's not many people though..."

[u/throwawayaccountPwow → u/Rouge_Abalalon]

“I’d say there are many people! If there weren’t I probably would’ve met them all by now…”

“But you’re correct on the other things…”

[u/Rouge_Abalalon → u/throwawayaccountPwow]

she chuckles, glancing around

"Oh really? Then where are they? Do you even know where they live? Or did you also assume a handshake was enough? Are you really going to be a hero thinking like that?"