Reincarnated Into a Shounen Anime-Chapter 45: A Hero

​"Hey! Do you really have no Bloodline!?"

​"How does it feel to have no Bloodline!?"

​"How long will you live since you have no Bloodline!?"

​These types of questions would be thrown at Carico every now and then since the day he came to the orphanage. At first, he felt good. With all the attention and ’admiration’ from his peers.

​He felt superior. Unique.

​But most of the time, Father Itsuki will barge in and shoo away the kids. Carico didn’t understand at the time. But as days went on, he slowly understood. They didn’t admire him. Nor did they mock him.

​They were just curious to lay their eyes upon an anomalous existence that never even in their wildest dream, had they thought was possible.

​Like a newly discovered specimen.

​He slowly started to feel uncomfortable with how people looked at him. Even though no one openly called him out anymore because of Father Itsuki. But he was still aware of the gaze that followed him. The gaze that took validation from his existence.

​Even if they are worse, someone is worse than them.

​Carico knew. But what could he do when their gaze made him uncomfortable? Tell them to not look at him?

​People don’t care about what he feels. Nor does time. As both go about in their own rhythm.

​Carico slowly grew. Made friends. The past wounds healed. But one question was always at the back of his mind.

​Why did his parents leave him?

​Carico wasn’t delusional enough to think that they will come back. He has been disillusioned long ago.

​Those days were harsh, where he would have nightmares. And hope everyday that his parents will come back. Or better yet, someone will answer why was he abandoned in the first place.

​He had asked Father Itsuki many times. He dodged it every time. And Carico gave up over time. Because he got his answer in the most unexpected way.

​"Hey, did you know that he got abandoned by his parents because he has no Bloodline?"

​"Hehehe~ I know right? He is so pitiful~."

​He didn’t want to believe it at first. He knew something else was going on. He still remembered his parents’ expression. Their pained expression. He was sure they were forced somehow. But he had no way to prove it.

​Carico didn’t let the hate comments get to him. He had another, greater goal than arguing with some brats.

​He started going to school. A few blocks away from the orphanage. And there, he learned about the wider world and the common knowledge the older orphans flexed in front of him.

​He got to know why he was an anomaly. Not just because of him having no Bloodline but also contradicting everything the world believed up until now.

​Everyone had a Bloodline. So how could in this day and age, someone be born with no Bloodline at all? This is not the Mythical Era. Where the Concept of Bloodline barely existed. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

​That’s why his existence is so anomalous to people. And that invites curiosity. In a world where the average lifespan is 1000 years because of the immense Vitality of Bloodlines, how long can a person with no Bloodline survive?

​Carico had met many researchers. All asking the same questions wrapped in different words. Father Itsuki did his best to stop as many of them as possible. But even his hands get tied sometimes.

​But all these didn’t hinder Carico. He silently worked towards the goal he has set for himself.

​"I want to be a Hero!!"

​He announced one day in class when the teacher asked what he wanted to become. Everyone said their part. Most of them had the same dream as him. But only he got laughed at.

​He came back to the orphanage with a sad expression. Feeling humiliated and wrong just for dreaming something he may never achieve.

​He knows that without a proper Bloodline, it is impossible to become a hero. Father Itsuki noticed his sad expression and had asked what was wrong. Carico told him everything. Through all the sad days, Father Itsuki was his rock and soft place to land.

​Father Itsuki listened intently. Never interrupting once. But sitting on a bench outside the orphanage under the moonlight.

​"... Maybe I should should just give up being a hero..."

​Father Itsuki turned to Carico with his usual warm smile.

​"Little Champ. Do you know what a hero is?"

​Carico looked up to Father Itsuki. His face full of confusion. As if asking ’why are you asking such an obvious question?’.

​"A hero is a person that saves people from villains?"

​But he answered nonetheless.

​"Haha~. Yes and no. A hero isn’t just a brute. But a person with a pure heart. A brave person. That thinks of the betterment of people. Just going to the front line to fight doesn’t make you a hero. The countless people doing the jobs behind the scenes are also heroes. You don’t always need great power to help someone Carico. You need the will to stand up against evil. That’s what a hero is."

​Carico stared at Father Itsuki’s face with wide eyes. He never heard such a definition of a hero before. And hearing it from the person that has become his second parent, it gave him the hope that he can actually be a hero.

​"Can I really become a hero?"

​"Yes. Of course you can."

​"Hehe~ Then watch me become the greatest hero father!!"

​"But you need to grow up first. And to grow up, you need to sleep first! Let’s go to sleep little champ!"

​"Hehe~. Yeaa."

​Father Itsuki and Carico walked under the moonlight hand in hand. They chatted and walked towards the orphanage.

​From that day, Carico worked even harder. No matter what anyone said. His dream of becoming a hero became unwavering. Because, even if no one believed him, one person did. And that was enough for Carico to give his everything. Even if his dream was unrealistic by standard.

​Everyday was a grind for Carico. Wake up, go to school, study and sleep, then repeat. But everything doesn’t always go as planned...