I tried coming alone to our usual park.
It's a feeling I've never felt.
Like a child, frightened by the sound of the wind
I ran back along the path home.
The sky outside the window is too vast. Where are you now?
Please, may this reach you...
Dear Lord, if you ever grant wishes,
grant my wish right now, please!
I want to hear your voice, I miss you! I want to see you now!
Why must you already be looking toward tomorrow?
Don't just brush it off, saying the time has slipped by.
Once more...
I love you, and yet it's been too late since long ago.
Even if I give up, it can't be like the past.
Don't just decide so simply there's no way, no choice.
Smile once more.
My Mom used to tell me all the time...
About the Hero of Center City...
There was a fire in that coal mine 13 years ago... A terrible accident.
A great number of people working inside became trapped with no way out.
When the people caught up in the fire started giving up and losing the will to live,
a single coal miner stood up.
He said, "Don't give up!"
He took the other miners and ran into an old passage.
But their final hope of escape was blocked by piles of rubble.
With the flames bearing down on them, the coal miners didn't give up.
Even so...
Hey!
That coal miner gave everything he had to save everyone.
That was...
...my father.
Man, way to be all gloomy right in the morning.
I couldn't protect him.
I couldn't protect him like Dad did.
If I was a hero like Dad...
Psy wouldn't have been injured like that...
What the hell are you talking about?
That guy ain't no hero in the first place!
Dad is a hero who protected everyone in Center City!
That worthless idiot is no hero!
He's a hero!
Then tell me.
What is a hero?
Listen, Heroman...
Even before I met you, I always admired heroes...
Because I was weak, and a coward...
And Dad was a great man, strong and reliable... Everyone could count on him.
I wanted to be a hero like him.
But I don't remember much about Dad.
A hero... huh?
What's the matter, Joey? Did you get picked on again?
You Dad was a hero, and he'd never cry, no matter what.
So you shouldn't cry so easily, Joey.
See?
Don't worry about it, Joey.
I'll all healed up. They said I'll be discharged tomorrow.
Really?
Yeah!
And besides, I got hurt because of my own weakness.
It's not your fault.
But...
I wanted to protect you.
Yeah, that's it! That's what's important.
That's exactly why you're my hero!
Hero... huh?
A hero, you ask?
You should know a lot about heroes, right?
M-Me?
Yeah, obviously.
H-How did you know?
About Heroma-
What are talking about?
Brian Jones! He's the hero of Center City!
Brian?
Oh, that name brings back memories.
You knew him?
Of course! Ain't no one that doesn't who worked in the coal mines.
I'm his son, Joseph!
Amazing! You're Brian and Catherine's kid?
I see... My, you've grown.
That guy was always thinking about helping his friends over himself.
And that's the reason it happened...
He had a habit of tapping his head...
"I'm gonna protect them," he'd say...
There's no doubting it! He's our hero!
Thank you!
See you tomorrow!
Dad was a hero! For real!
Joey!
Lina!
Why are you here?
Um, it's just...
I want to ask...
Hey, listen!
My dad really was a hero!
The stories Mom used to tell me were true!
Oh, I see...
Good for you, then...
I've got to hurry and tell my sister!
Later!
Wait, Joey...
Sis! Hey, Sis!
What?
Dad really was a hero!
That's what everyone said!
So what?
It doesn't matter what other people say.
Why are you saying things like that?
Why do you say that about Dad?
Oh yeah... You don't remember much about him, do you?
Why?
Why do you say such mean things about Dad?
Will you shut up? I've told you already.
That guy ain't no hero!
He's just a good-for-nothing!
Sis...
You don't understand, Sis!
What's the matter?
It's nothing.
I know more about him than anyone...
Who is it?
Will?
Stay there.
I don't want you to see me like this.
Don't go away anywhere again!
How are mother and father?
They're always worrying about you!
Isn't that obvious?
And not just our parents... Everyone at school, too!
It didn't seem that way to me.
I met Joey.
Joey?
He didn't say anything?
True... There's no way he could tell you that we clashed...
No way...
Don't involve yourself with him anymore.
Do you understand?
Will...
Lina.
What is it?
I came today to say goodbye.
I do not think we will see each other again.
Will!
Take care of our parents.
Wait, Will!
Lina!
Father...
What's the matter, Lina?
Did something happen at school?
It's about my brother...
I thought I told you not to concern yourself with Will any longer.
But, Father...
Understand, Lina?
Will is dead!
No!
He's dead!
No!
My brother is not dead!
Hey, Lina!
Where do you think you're going?
I'm hungry...
Hey, Heroman... Why do you think my sister says such mean things about Dad?
Everyone sings his praises... Everyone except her...
What is a hero, anyway?
A true hero...
Maybe I'll try asking.
I knew you'd be here.
Sis...
You never change.
Every time anything happens you come here to tell them.
How about actually moving on, for a change?
So, you found the answer?
About what a hero really is?
Before that... Tell me about Dad.
Why is it that you say Dad isn't a hero?
Because he did something I just can't forgive.
He lied to me.
On that day, he left the house like he always did.
He promised that he'd be back by 6.
That was the last time I ever saw him.
After who knows how many days, I finally figured it out.
He was never coming back.
He forgot the promise he made me.
Yeah, he may be a hero that saved a bunch of people's lives...
Everyone was thankful to him, and praised him...
But who cares about that?
What about the family he left behind?
Mom was proud of Dad.
She never said anything bad about him like you.
Did you ever see Mom cry?
She never showed her tears to anyone.
No matter how sad she was... No matter how much in pain she was...
She was always smiling.
But...
But I know she must have been crying in secret...
All alone, so that we wouldn't see...
Crying out, "If only he was still here..."
She pushed herself for us... She forced herself...
And before we knew it, she died...
Sis...
You see...
Even if everyone around the world looks up to him, and praised what he did...
I'd rather...
...he'd stayed by our side.
He acted all cool and tried too hard to be a hero... That's why he died.
It's funny, you know?
All that's left for his family is that little dirty helmet.
He'd tap his head, and say "I'm gonna protect them..."
Hey, what's wrong?
Just come!
I heard that Dad had a habit of tapping his head.
He never did anything like that at home...
I bet Dad thought about his family a lot more than you think, Sis.
"I'm gonna protect them."
In other words...
That's what it was.
You're the reason I get up everyday!
We were always with him.
See?
Dad... You idiot...
Will you tell me where Lina is?
I've already searched everywhere around here!
But, I can't find her anywhere!
Lina?
Hello?
Lina, are you okay?
Honestly... No, I'm not really okay.
Where are you now?
Everyone's worried about you!
What do mean, everyone?
Hey Lina, where are you? Come home imme-
Lina! Hey, Lina!
Oh, my... This is trouble.
Um...
I'll go look for her.
Joey...
How did you know I was here?
I heard the sound of waves over the phone, so I figured...
Did you have a fight with your father?
I had a fight with my sister about Dad.
With your sister?
Dad died when I was still little.
So, I don't remember very much about him at all.
And, well...
But, thanks to that, my sister and I feel closer to him now than we did before.
Sorry... I didn't mean to bother you...
No, no!
That's not what I was trying to say.
It's...
How should I put this?
I understand.
I'm...
I'm not going to waver anymore.
I can do this!
Joey?
This is...
I bet that a new ability has awakened in Heroman.
So, what about you, Lina?
Didn't you have something you wanted to talk with me about?
Yeah...
I did...
Don't involve yourself with him any longer.
Lina?
Joey!
Um...
Professor Denton?
Hello?
Yes.
Okay...
Yes.
Professor Denton wanted to know if you were here with me.
Hello?
I want to get to know you better,
to go at each other with our true feelings.
Your tears and smile are both here.
No matter how hard it is, I won't be scared any more.
With both of us, we can go anywhere.
Since you're the one who taught me that I'm not alone.
Every time I mutter the words "I was born to meet you"
my unease disappears, and my heart burns stronger.
Thank you. We'll go on together with a sign only we understand.
Carve out this irreplaceable time!
I can't move away from here.
Because I live feeling the same heartbeat.
I want to protect you to the very last,
to protect the promise built up.
Thank you. We'll go on together with a sign only we understand.
We are carving out this irreplaceable time!
On the next Heroman:
I won't waver any longer!
That's why I'm going to go, and finish this!
"Everything is connected."
That's what Hughes said in a hushed voice...
The series of events that seemed isolated at first glance...
When Joey begins to home in on the core of all the incidents,
communications are cut off from the White House...
Next time on Heroman #23: Sortie!
Heroman... Attack!