I Feel My Scalp Go Numb, Homie

[That mother, please do not cry anymore.]

Three minutes later, the internet exploded.

At that same moment, across global social media, communication platforms, and every app capable of exchange, the headline "That mother, please do not cry anymore" and its related content began to dominate all traffic channels.

Homelander's popularity in the The Boys universe was just that overbearing.

As Homelander's son, Ryan naturally inherited a massive portion of that immense popularity and heat.

Coupled with the buildup before the interview—#HomelanderSuspectedOfHavingASon and Homelander's accidental killing of a civilian—the massive amount of goodwill Ryan garnered upon his debut, and this final, heart-wrenching, sincere apology.

As expected, Ryan went viral.

Public favorability soared as if it were strapped to a rocket.

Regardless of whether you liked Homelander or were indifferent to him, everyone who watched this live interview inevitably developed a certain mindset.

"Hughie, what's wrong?"

Inside an anonymous restaurant, Starlight turned her head to see her boyfriend already streaming with tears.

Hughie didn't seem to hear her concern, remaining immersed in his own emotions as he murmured, "...To say sorry to that brother and his mother, please, please do not cry anymore..."

"Hughie..."

Hearing Hughie's murmurs, Starlight quickly understood what he was thinking.

She held his hand, her heart aching for him.

Hughie looked at her with red-rimmed eyes: "Annie, if I were that mother, I would definitely forgive Homelander, you know?"

Starlight nodded.

Hughie continued to dissect his inner thoughts: "What I wanted back then was nothing more than an 'I'm sorry' from A-Train. No, no, I still feel the same way now."

"Even if you are a superhero, you did something wrong; you can't just act like nothing happened."

"That isn't right!"

"If every superhero were like that, I don't even dare to imagine how terrible our world would become."

"And now..."

Unable to control his emotions, Hughie pointed at Ryan, who was still bowing on the television screen, and said word by word:

"In you, in this child, I see—hope!!"

Hope?

What kind of thing was that?

Homelander felt as if ants were crawling all over his Steel Body, an indescribable, itchy sensation.

He couldn't help but shift his body, trying to rub away that uncomfortable feeling against his suit, but he failed.

Then, he saw his Ryan bowing to the entire world on his behalf.

Plop—

The sound of a tear hitting the floor was minuscule, but in Azu's auditory system, it echoed like a thunderclap.

I, what should I do?

For Ryan's sake.

I am Homelander, I, I...

Azu's feet shifted forward, his hand raised slightly before pausing, his mouth opening, yet he stopped himself from speaking.

I can't do that!

Everything is perfect right now; Ryan did a great job, and everyone will understand me.

Yes! Yes!

Just like Ryan said, I am Homelander, after all; I can never be wrong!

Azu pulled back his foot and dropped his arm.

Suddenly, his son's words flashed through his mind again, but this time, the focus landed on a term Ryan had mentioned several times.

"They said..."

They = employees = Walter = Edgar?

Azu's eyes brightened slightly.

At this moment, his clever brain finally returned to where it belonged.

That was it. Homelander couldn't be wrong, but Edgar could be.

I did make a mistake, killing a commoner in a moment of carelessness, but it was truly unintentional. I am very sorry, aren't I? I also wanted to say "I'm sorry" to that mother.

Therefore, it was all Edgar's fault!

Azu quickly straightened out this line of reasoning, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt his idea was absolutely brilliant.

As it happened, Ryan's bow of apology had already reached the three-minute mark.

In the silence that gripped the entire venue, the host, Cameron, also had tears in her eyes as she choked out a plea: "Child, please stand up."

"I believe that if that mother could see your actions, she would surely choose to forgive you."

"Friends, I see a heart that shines like gold; our little angel, he..."

"He shouldn't have to do this!"

The sudden shout that exploded across the stage instantly drew the eyes of the entire world like a tornado.

The cameras focused as Azu stood beside Ryan, looking solemn, grief-stricken, and filled with remorse.

Then, with his acting skills fully engaged, he met his son's surprised expression. With a voice that held just the right amount of hoarseness, he spoke to the world: "My son, you shouldn't have to do this!"

"Because the one who did something wrong is not you!"

"Could it be you, then, Homelander?"

Cameron, stunned by the sudden turn of events, instinctively blurted out the question.

The moment the thoughtless, professional reflex left her lips, she wanted to slap herself hard across the face.

At the same time, another person who wanted to slap her was Ashley, who was sitting in the audience below the stage, having just pulled out another handful of her own hair.

Ashley's expression was twisted, a bizarre mix of crying and laughing that was truly spectacular to behold.

She watched as Homelander turned his gaze toward the camera, ready to utter some earth-shattering statement, and collapsed back into her seat.

Forget it, she was tired; let it all burn.

Whatever happens, happens. I'm done serving this pair of psycho father and son.

One after another, none of you follow the script, do you?

I prepared so thoroughly; couldn't you two have just played your roles obediently? Why must you insist on acting on your own, being self-righteous, being...

Goddammit, you're both insane!

Just as Ashley was wallowing in despair, feeling that life was meaningless, Azu finally delivered the earth-shattering statement he had come up with on the fly.

"Yes, I was wrong!"

Azu admitted his fault candidly, then added with deep remorse: "I was wrong to listen to them, to follow the 'crisis PR strategy' suggested by a certain executive at the company."

A certain executive—who could that be?

"I was wrong to let my son, Ryan, be caught in the middle of my indecision..."

He placed a hand on his son's tender shoulder: "...an eight-year-old boy forced to stand under the scrutiny of the entire world, bearing burdens that should never have been his to carry."

"So, yes, I ask that mother to please stop crying."

Having said this, Azu closed his eyes.

He seemed prepared to face the public's criticism.

And he was also prepared to receive their praise.

That's it, Homelander, your performance is perfect.

A short sentence flashed through Azu's mind.

But with his eyes closed, Azu did not see Ryan, who stood beside him, looking up with a sense of gratification that mirrored an old father's gaze.

Nor did he see that faint, heartfelt glimmer of joy in the boy's eyes.

Homie, you did it.

You didn't let me down, even if you really did find a scapegoat and avoided the mistake you should have admitted to most.

Well, I suppose I was the one who subtly hinted at the scapegoat for you.

But regardless, you proved yourself. You can be changed by me, and you are willing to change for me.

I am very gratified.