The police arrived just in time, taking the remaining guards into custody, but I knew they didn't fully understand what had happened. To them, we were just victims, unaware of the monsters we'd faced.
I saw her—the girl from the auction. She was free now, standing with officers, her wide eyes full of gratitude. She was safe.
My gaze shifted to the detective, a little further off, wiping blood from his hands. He wasn't phased—his mind was already on the next step.
Harumi and I stood there, watching. It had been a long fight, but in a way, it was just the beginning. We owed him everything.
"Detective," I called, my voice quieter now, "you saved us."
He turned, eyes sharp but tired. "You saved yourselves," he said.
But I could see it in his eyes—he wasn't done. He couldn't be.
Then, unexpectedly, he knelt in front of us. "Hiromu. Harumi. I want to adopt you."
I blinked, unsure if I'd heard him right. After everything, he wanted to take us in?
"The world isn't safe for kids with powers like yours," he continued, standing again. "But with me, you'll learn how to use them. I'll train you. And you'll be safe."
Harumi smiled faintly. For the first time, I felt the weight of uncertainty lift. We weren't orphans anymore. We had a home.
"We're a team now," the detective said.
And just like that, we were no longer alone.