"What… is he doing here?"

"Is he famous?"

"They should just leave us alone."

"Did the government send him…?"

"Don't look him in the eye."

The crowd that gathered around Adam was a mix of emotions and opinions. Some whispered excitedly about meeting their first Hero; others were… well, skeptical. A few stepped back, uncertain whether to approach or keep their distance.

Adam ignored the murmurs completely, however. When the salesman and the people back at the dealership all recognized him, Adam realized just how quickly his name and face spread through the internet.

He only wanted to expose the Hospital's existence to the public, and he was ready to gain some exposure then. In fact, he steeled himself for it because that was the purpose in the first place—with that stunt, the Hospital was no longer the only eyes that would be watching him.

If he disappeared or if anything weird happened around him, the people would know. In a way, divulging his secret to the world made him safer… and more unsafe at the same time.

Eitherway, the Hospital shouldn't be as brazen in trying to capture him now. Well, at least that was his plan. He wasn't sure if it was going to work or not because he wasn't some sort of master strategist, anyway.

At the very least, he made the Hospital nervous. Hopefully, they'll lay low and—

Stupid, Adam. What about the other people they are experimenting on? The ones Bjorn mentioned? Do you think they won't try to get rid of them? To get rid of evidence?

But then again, they're as desperate as you are—would they really kill the other test subjects? If everything came to light, it would stain their image more. And also… the doctor. If she's really alive, then that means you're not the only witness, Adam.

"Hm…"

Adam shook his head. This wasn't the time to be overthinking this. Right now, he was here to help clean up the city, nothing more.

He scanned the area and walked toward a section with fewer people, where there were a lot of large concrete chunks and metals that needed to be carried out by machines.

And without a word, he bent down and lifted a massive piece of debris that would have required three men and perhaps a dozer to move. He carefully lifted it over his head, careful not to hit anything else and add to the damage.

"Jesus Christ..."

"Did you see that?"

"He just... picked it up."

People stopped their own work to stare at what he just did. The fact was, most had never seen a Hero up close, let alone watched one demonstrate their strength so casually. They've only been seeing them on TV and during the Game, and now, they were watching Adam carry the debris to a designated pile and return for another piece.

Still, of course, no one dared to approach him. The volunteers kept working, stealing glances, but maintaining their distance. Adam continued quietly clearing rubble, almost blending in with the rest of them if not for the tons of rubble over his head.

Several minutes passed by just like this. But then… Adam spotted something that made him completely freeze.

A car. Crushed and mangled, but unmistakably the same vehicle that had pinned him against the wall during the Game. The same car whose... deranged driver had tried to run him down while Grace and Samantha watched in horror.

Adam looked around, really seeing the space for the first time since arriving. This corner. This exact spot. He remembered the screams, the panic, the way people had been forced to turn on each other just to survive. The blood that had soaked into the pavement beneath his feet.

If he remembered correctly, the Heroes who were fighting here were Dr. Syrio and Paik. He remembered Syrio killing the one who drove off with the car, and the Paik almost flattening the car along with Dr. Syrio.

…Bizarre. Remembering it now, the way the people were looking at him made sense.

For them, a car was something you walked around. Pavement was something you stood on. Walls were something you stopped at.

For Heroes, they were just… in the way.

He sighed deeply, then walked over to the car. He had to shake it a little, but still lifted it with ease as it came free from the rubble.

Adam carried the entire vehicle to the recycling area near the tent, setting it down gently among the other salvaged materials. He was deliberating on whether he should flatten the car or not, he also wanted to test if he could actually do that, too.

But that was when someone finally approached him.

An old man shuffled forward, his face weathered and eyes… exhausted. Beside him, several other volunteers gestured frantically, trying to stop him, but the man pushed past them.

Adam turned, confused and curious about the commotion.

The old man pulled a glass bottle from his jacket and threw it at Adam. It shattered right at his face, causing him to blink.

"Did… he just hit a Hero?!"

"Fuck, why didn't anyone stop him?!"

"What are we going to do now?!"

Most of the people gasped at this, and some even started stepping back in fear as Adam moved. Contrary to most of their expectations, however, the only thing Adam did was crouch to pick up the shards of glass.

"Is it true…?" the old man pointed at Adam, his voice cracking. Soon, however, his whispering voice turned into screams. "Is it true what I'm hearing?! That you were in this Game?! This Dome…? That you were on the losing team?!"

Adam slowly stood up, focusing his gaze on the old man.

"If so…" the old man's voice began cracking again. "How…? Why... why are you alive?!"

Adam stayed quiet, but more and more volunteers gathered around them, drawn by the shouting. They all looked tired; some looked even more exhausted than the old man.

"I asked you a question!" The old man's tone became more aggressive.

"Why are you alive instead of my wife and son?!"

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