178: 177 "Haaaaaa." Dane let out a deep sigh, completely exhausted. He didn't know how many rides they had been on. Dragged around by Greyson to get on this and that, when he came down, half the day had already passed. The rides weren't even that impressive. Perhaps because they were family-oriented, after going up and down a few rides that would only scare children, this time Greyson dragged him to watch a parade. Around then, Dane just wanted to go home. What the hell is all this? Dane sat on a bench, blankly watching the many people coming and going. Greyson had excitedly run toward the procession to take pictures with the princesses. It was rather fortunate. At least he could rest during that time. It's not like he's having sex with the princess, what's with the pictures… "Damn." Just as he spat out a low curse, Dane felt a strange sensation and turned his head to meet eyes with a child who happened to be looking at him. What? As he frowned, a man who appeared to be the child's parent approached Dane. "Excuse me, are you by any chance Dane Striker?" The careful question was full of expectation and excitement. Flustered, Dane blinked and answered bewilderedly. "Yes, but why?" "Oh! It is you!" "My goodness, Dane Striker! We're your fans!" "Dane Striker! Dane!" No sooner had the answer fallen than the woman and child standing behind rushed over like lightning and shouted. Jumping up and down in place, not knowing what to do, they looked as if they had met the world's most famous pop star. What's going on here? As he stood bewildered, just blinking, the man who had quickly pulled out his mobile phone shouted in an extremely excited tone. "A picture together, would that be okay? Please, I beg you!" When they asked like that, he couldn't refuse. It was something that had often happened when he took photos for the firefighter calendar, so he obediently nodded. Though he was still dumbfounded by the much more enthusiastic reaction than back then. "Thank you, thank you so much!" After taking photos – one with the whole family, individual ones taking turns, and a separate solo shot of Dane – the family once again expressed their gratitude to him. "What you did was truly great. We respect you." "My child says he wants to become a firefighter when he grows up too. You're an American hero." "A medal for Dane Striker!" He had no use for such a useless medal. Of course, if they gave a pension along with the medal, he wouldn't refuse that. The problem was what came next. People who heard the family's noisy shouting began gathering around them one by one. "What? Dane Striker? That firefighter?" "That hero who defused the bomb? Where? Where?" "Here! This man here!" Soon after, people began pouring in with cheers. Regardless of Dane's reaction as he turned pale in an instant, they competed to chatter. "Line up, line up! I was first!" "My God, he's really handsome. I've never seen such a handsome man!" "With that face and such a big chest and such a good body, and righteous too!" "You're the real Captain America! Please protect the Earth!" "Hero! Hero!" "Dane Striker!" "I love youuuuu! Marry meeeee!" In the ear-numbing shouts and waves of crowds, Dane felt his mind going distant. * * * "Haaaaaaaa…" Dane let out an even deeper sigh than before, resting his arms on his widely spread legs and bending his upper body forward. His face had gone beyond pale to now being blue. He felt like vomiting. He truly thought so. He had endlessly taken photos, shaken hands, shared hugs, and even been kissed. Later, he had given up and just let people do whatever they wanted with his body. Should he be grateful that they at least let him sit on the bench because his physical condition still wasn't good? The sun that had been overhead when he met the first family was already preparing to set. Where was that bastard and what was he doing, leaving me thrown into this chaos? Should I just leave by myself… Just as he was thinking that, suddenly a hot dog appeared in front of him. Not having the energy left to be surprised, when he listlessly raised his head, Greyson was looking down at him, holding out the hot dog. "That was tough, wasn't it? Eat." At the words offered with a grin, Dane took the hot dog without any response and put it in his mouth. Greyson, who sat down next to him, now held out a drink with ice. Dane also took that with his remaining hand. When the cool carbonation entered his mouth, he felt somewhat recharged. Only after regaining some composure did Dane finally ask with a frowning face. "You were watching, weren't you?" "Yeah." Greyson answered naturally. "You were quite popular." "Hah…" Dane let out only an incredulous sigh, at a loss for words. This bastard, why is he so relaxed? "Did you perhaps, from the beginning…" He was about to ask if he had expected this, but Greyson finished the sentence first. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" What's with this bastard? Dane just blinked. At the gaze looking at him as if asking what the hell he was thinking, Greyson still smiled and said. "You're the most famous person in America right now, so this happening is natural. How do you feel?" "I want to kill you." Dane spat out through genuinely gritted teeth. He wanted to at least grab his collar, but it was impossible since he was holding a hot dog in one hand and a drink in the other. This bastard, did he plan this too? In Dane's vision as he seriously contorted his brow, he could see Greyson's face grinning. At his expression that had been irritating him all along, Dane ground his teeth and growled in a low voice. "I told you not to make expressions you don't mean in front of me, didn't I?" Dane snapped grumpily for no reason. Then Greyson said naturally. "I'm sincere." He added with his still smiling face. "I'm genuinely smiling." Dane looked at him without saying anything. Was it really true? He had been suspicious all along, but perhaps this guy was really… Thinking that, anger surged up again. This bastard, then he's genuinely enjoying himself right now? "You throw me among hyenas and go off to have fun? You ungrateful son of a bitch…" "But everyone was happy, weren't they?" Greyson asked with a smile. When Dane hesitated, he continued peacefully. "Everyone wanted to meet you. They wanted to take pictures with you. They'll remember every moment they shared with you for the rest of their lives." Dane couldn't say anything. He wanted to say it wasn't that much, but his mouth wouldn't open. Just watching him scratch the back of his head, Greyson said quietly. "Everyone loves you." Dane blinked in surprise. Meeting his gaze directed at him, Greyson opened his mouth. "There are many different kinds of love in the world. Romantic love or parental love isn't everything." In a calm voice, he advised. "Feel the love of people who care about you, now you can understand it too." The two looked at each other without saying anything. A different kind of silence from before settled between them. Not tense, not awkward, not heavy, but if he had to say, something warm… Then, with a 'whoosh' sound like air escaping from a balloon, followed by an explosion. Simultaneously, both turned their heads toward the sky. "The fireworks have started." Greyson said. In the sky that the setting sun had dyed red, colorful lights spread out. People who had stopped cheered and exclaimed in admiration. Dane still sat on the bench looking up at the sky. With consecutive explosions, new shapes of fireworks continued to embroider the sky. As he blankly looked up at the fireworks that burst themselves while brightly illuminating the gradually darkening sky. He felt something warm and fuzzy in a corner of his chest. Forgetting even to drink his beverage while just looking at the sky, Dane recalled what had happened during the day. …Maybe. He suddenly thought. Perhaps this guy's words might be right… "Dane." Just as he thought that far, Greyson called his name. In the same calm and quiet voice as before, as if he was about to say 'Let's go back now.' "Let's break up here." …He said. Dane's eyes, which had been fixed on the sky, slowly moved to the side. The light of a firework that had just burst brightly colored Greyson's profile, still looking up at the sky, in various hues.