I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 187 and 189: Sharing the Same Misfortune

"A Kamen Rider suit?"

Although Hero Tosu is not a tokusatsu fan, he has heard of Kamen Rider, a nationally popular IP.

Committing suicide in the Aokigahara Forest is not unusual, but committing suicide while wearing a Kamen Rider 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition outfit is simply too bizarre.

"Amitabha."

The hero of the stilt house clasped his hands together and observed a moment of silence for the stranger who had died.

Then he picked up the shovel from the ground.

The metallic sheen we saw earlier comes from this; it might be useful for self-defense.

"There were other things under the shovel. It was a death letter and... a letter to his daughter."

The hero found two letters wrapped in a transparent waterproof plastic bag under the shovel.

One letter read "Death Note," while the other was addressed to "My Dear Daughter."

Hero Tosu hesitated slightly, but still opened the death letter.

Nothing could be found at the scene to identify the remains, and the deceased left a death note intended for the finder or family members to read.

"Poor thing, so pitiful! Moribe-kun, how could fate be so unfair to you?"

After reading the contents of the letter of death, Tosu's eyes quickly reddened and tears streamed down his face.

Moribe, who chose to end his life in Aokigahara, was an ordinary middle-aged salaryman, just like Tosu Hideo. He was also married and the father of a lovely daughter.

Just like Tosu Hero's interest in reading and writing mystery novels, Moribe-kun has always been passionate about Kamen Rider in his spare time from his busy work.

However, unlike Tosu Hideo, who has a virtuous wife, Moribe is unlucky in love. His wife is having an affair with his boss behind his back, which Moribe accidentally discovers.

Later, Moribe secretly investigated and discovered his wife's shameful past: her father was a sex worker, a porn star, and even had sexual relations with several men besides her boss.

Overwhelmed with grief, Moribe thought about many things, wanting to take up his sword and kill the adulterers, but when he thought of his daughter, he forced himself to hold back, deceiving himself and pretending that nothing had happened.

But in the end, even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle couldn't stand being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. A paternity test result completely defeated him, revealing that his beloved daughter, whom he had raised for over a decade, was not his child after all!

Completely despondent, Moribe finally chose to end his life in Aokigahara.

Before he died, Moribe thought of the Kamen Rider merchandise he had given up due to the immense pressure of mortgage payments and work.

He took the money he had squeezed out from his lunch money and tobacco and alcohol money, which he had originally planned to use to buy his wife a birthday present, and bought the last luxurious and expensive Kamen Rider outfit of his life.

As a final indulgence and extravagance, as his own burial offering.

Hero Tosu glanced at the date on the death letter; it was 2019.

"It was the 31st year of Heisei, which is the first year of Reiwa. Moribe lay there in this place for four years, and nobody knew. It was so pitiful."

A destitute and desperate middle-aged man, betrayed by his wife, came to Aokigahara alone, silently dug a grave for himself, took sleeping pills, lay in the shallow pit, closed his eyes, and waited to die.

The thought of this tragic scene filled Tosu Hero with unbearable sorrow.

"Waaaaah, so pitiful, so pitiful!"

The hero of the roost had tears in his eyes, as if he saw his own reflection in this complete stranger.

They were both ordinary but kind men who did everything they could to protect their families.

Although I'm usually exhausted by the company, the thought of my wife and daughter's smiling faces helps me suppress all my fatigue and cheer myself up for work the next day.

But in the end, even their most prized possessions began to fall apart.

However, Moribe-kun's family is arranged from the inside out, while his own is arranged from the outside in.

Tosu no Hideo couldn't even imagine how heartbroken Reika and her child's mother would be if he died in the Aokigahara Forest.

He wiped away his tears and read the death letter again.

Moribe hopes that whoever finds his remains will give her another letter, addressed to his daughter, on the day she comes of age.

The letter also included an address; Moribe-kun was from Tennoji, Osaka.

The hero's eyes reddened again.

When he mentioned his wife in the letter, he was filled with deep-seated hatred, but for the sake of his daughter, Moribe-kun finally gave up on taking revenge on that vicious woman.

Although he knew she wasn't his biological daughter, his love for her was evident in every word of the letter.

"Mr. Moribe, I have received your last wishes. I will make sure this letter is delivered to your daughter intact."

The hero carefully wrapped the two letters in transparent plastic again and placed them on the ground.

If Moribe were still alive, they would definitely have a lot in common, as they would both share the same name: father.

The aviary hero picked up a shovel and laboriously shoveled up the soil to hastily bury the remains.

That's all we can do for now. We'll wait until he leaves the Aokigahara Forest before calling the police to collect Moribe-kun's remains.

After resting for a while, the Hero Tori was preparing to set off again when his gaze fell on the Kamen Rider suit next to the tomb.

This 10th anniversary Kamen Rider outfit includes a full set of equipment from head to toe, including a mask, boots, and cape.

He walked barefoot through the forest of Aokigahara, his soles were already worn raw, and his clothes were thin. After being soaked by the stream, the cold wind caused his body heat to evaporate.

He doesn't know how far he has to go, or whether he can get out of the Aokigahara Forest today. In that case, Tosu Hideo doesn't know how long he can hold on.

"Moribe-kun, please lend me your power! I am also a father who needs to protect my family."

Hero Tosu knelt on the ground, kowtowed to the tomb, and then unhesitatingly tore open the Kamen Rider packaging.

This Kamen Rider suit is designed for adult men, but it surprisingly fits Tosu Heroes perfectly.

After putting on the black Kamen Rider suit, Tosu Hero's body was completely covered, and the conspicuous stitching marks on his left wrist were also hidden under the glove.

Hero Tosu hesitated for a moment before picking up the Kamen Rider helmet.

After hesitating for a moment, I finally put it on my head.

This helmet has many uses in the wild, and it might come in handy.

Previously, when moving through the bushes, I would often get my cheeks scratched by branches, but with this Kamen Rider helmet, it's much easier.

"Moribe-kun, may your spirit in heaven bless me and help me successfully protect my family."

The hero carefully hid the two letters on his person, kowtowed again, and rallied his spirits to walk out along the stream.

(End of this chapter)