The story we started

Miura Yumiko also smiled very slyly, lowered her head and looked at Yuigahama Yui, looking at the pair of panicked eyes with a playful look.

"Hey~ Hikigaya, what do you think about this?"

Shizuya Hiratsuka rubbed his chin and smiled like an uncle who was enjoying a show, then turned to look at Hikigaya who was standing next to him and asked.

"..."

How can I watch it? Can I not watch it?

Hikigaya just felt very embarrassed, so embarrassed that he wanted to use his feet to dig out a three-bedroom apartment here, and then live in it forever and never come out.

He, who was usually calm, blushed rarely. He turned his gaze away and didn't dare look at Yuigahama Yui who was being harassed by two female hooligans, to avoid making both parties more embarrassed at this moment.

At this moment, he somewhat understood what Zaimokuza was thinking when he knew that he and Ebina would become boyfriend and girlfriend in the future, and he couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic in his heart -

Wait! Isn't it my future self who is the culprit for my embarrassment? Why am I so touched!

Hikigaya Hachiman reacted and immediately turned his head to give Zaimokuza, who was still unconscious on the bed, a death stare. However, Zaimokuza, who was in a coma, naturally could not feel the malicious gaze from his best friend. In his coma, he frowned, as if he had dreamed about something bad.

[“I look like… Hachiman now?”]

【"Um."】

【Zaimokuza pointed at himself, his face full of uncertainty, and Yuigahama Yui nodded slightly in response to his question.】

[“When I say you and Xiaoqi are very similar, I’m not referring to your personalities or work styles, but that you two are the same people deep down.”]

[“Perhaps you won’t believe this, Zaimokuza, but actually when we were in high school, I felt that you two were very similar in some ways, such as—”]

[“You two are actually people who will lend a helping hand and wipe away other people’s tears without hesitation when they are in trouble.”]

[“Hey, hey? Yuigahama, you suddenly praised me like this. I feel a little embarrassed…”]

[Zaimokuza, who is always fearless and has a thick skin that can go to Kousaka Kyosuke for a meal with a smile on his face, blushed because of Yuigahama Yui's praise, and rubbed his head with an embarrassed and shy look. ]

[“I’m not praising you. I’m just stating the truth.”]

[Yuigahama Yui smiled and shook her head, speaking softly, but she didn't know what she was thinking about, her clear eyes became a little dim.]

[“…But that’s why I’m worried.”]

【"?"】

[The hand that was rubbing his hair stopped, Zaimokuza's lips opened and closed, looking at Yuigahama Yui in confusion. ]

【"Why……?"】

[“…Because Xiao Qi would never stand by and watch people in trouble die. He would always try to save them in his own way, and he would always succeed.”]

[“But many times, small businesses are too stubborn. Not only are they stubborn, but the methods they use are also extreme, which is often unacceptable to others.”]

[“When he did those things, he not only hurt others, but also hurt himself and those who cared about him.”]

[“…You should be very clear about this, right? Zaimokuza.”]

[When Zaimokuza heard her say this, some scenes from the distant past immediately emerged in his mind.]

[The dark night, the woods, the children who were surrounded, the adults who forced them to make their own choices, the panicked eyes of all the children, and the expressions of disbelief and anger of the chosen children...]

[Even though many years have passed, Zaimokuza still can't forget what happened that day. It was the first time that he and his best friend had a disagreement on something. ]

【“…”】

[His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.]

[“It seems you’ve remembered it too… and that’s why I’m worried.”]

[“Now you are just like Xiaoqi, always thinking about others but ignoring yourself and the people around you who care about you.”]

[Yuigahama Yui walked up to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. The familiar touch on his shoulders reminded Zaimokuza of Kousaka Kyousuke who had counseled him before. He also placed his hands on his shoulders and talked to him.]

[For some reason, at this moment, the images of Yuigahama Yui and Kousaka Kyosuke overlapped in Zaimokuza's eyes, and their voices rang in his ears at the same time. ]

[Whether it's the voice, the expression, or the eyes, everything overlaps.]

[“Zaimokuza, the reason you fight is to protect everyone’s smiles, right?”]

[——The reason why I became a policeman is that I want to protect the citizens. I don’t want them to suffer the reality of what I fear. This was Kyosuke Kosaka’s original wish and the source of his journey.]

[“I don’t expect you to stop fighting those unidentified life forms. I understand that you will not agree to this, but——”]

[“I hope you can remember this and keep it in mind every time you fight.”]

[——Every time I feel scared and confused, I will remember the origin of my journey, and every time I can overcome the confusion and move forward.]

[“Zaimokuza, since you are fighting to protect everyone’s smiles, I hope you understand that you have to protect not only the smiles of those you protect, but also your own smile, and the smiles of all the people around you who care about you.”]

【——But we can at least do our best, overcome our confusion and fear, step over the stones that block our way, continue to move forward into the future, and fight for the things we believe in. 】

【“Zaimokuzu.”】

【——Wooden seat. 】

[The two people's voices completely overlapped at this moment, as if one person in a different time and space asked Zaimokuza Yoshiki why he was fighting.]

[Zaimokuza stared blankly at Yuigahama Yui, whose face overlapped with Kousaka Kyousuke's. Her pink eyes were as gentle as jade, and her voice was like a breeze that gently brushed away the last bit of haze in his heart.]

[“Never forget your original intention, and please don’t forget those who care about you. Don’t let us be sad and cry, because we are also in those smiles you want to protect - aren’t we?”]

[——If you still feel confused and afraid, then think more about why you are fighting and recall what your starting point is. ]

【“…”】

[Zaimokuza's hands slowly clenched into fists, and a light gradually appeared in the depths of his eyes, just like the first star that lights up in the dark sky in the black night.]

[I see. I remember now...]

[The remaining fear in his heart about the powerful force of No. 21 gradually disappeared, just like reaching out to remove the last layer of curtain covering his soul, and it could no longer prevent him from seeing his own heart.]

[My origin, the reason why I fight is...]

【Buzz——————】

[At the moment when he realized it, Zaimokuza seemed to "hear" the humming sound of the belt buried deep in his body, and also "see" the light of the dull spiritual stone in the center of the belt gradually brighten.]

[In a trance, the spirit stone that had been feeling somewhat "weak" since his defeat to No. 21 slowly regained its strength at this moment. A powerful force that was somewhat similar to the previous one, but completely different in nature, filled his limbs from the lit spirit stone, and the wounds on his body also recovered faster.]

[He “saw” the brand new light that the spirit stone in his body shone with this time.]

[It was like a bright purple galaxy that flickered and lingered in the night sky, filling the entire sky, illuminating the dark world with its warm glow.]

53.Sincere smile in

【Tokyo, along the Sumida River. w61p.com】

[While Zaimokuza and Yuigahama Yui were talking, a killing was quietly happening in another corner of the city. ]

「Uaaaaa——!」

【boom! ! ! 】

[In the bursting flames, the victim's body was devoured in the blink of an eye, and the screams of despair and fear came to an abrupt end.]

[“The 161st prey, solved.”]

[Giga stretched out his left hand with the bracelet on it and swiped one of the first row of magatama to the left.]

[Just after it put down its hand, the silver-white monster had restored itself to the strangely dressed man, and its surroundings were covered with holes burning with flames, each of which represented a human being killed by it.]

【Beep, beep, beep, beep.】

【"Um?"】

[Giga looked up in the direction of the sound and saw a row of police cars approaching quickly with sirens blaring. Her thick lips painted with purple lip gloss couldn't help but curl up when she saw this.]

[“You are too late, warriors, but you are lucky.”]

[“…Next, there is only one last target left. Clean your neck and wait for me.”]

[“Kuuga.”]

【Tokyo City, sewer. 】

【The sewers in Tokyo, Japan have long been known as the "Tokyo Underground City". The height alone is as high as 18 meters, which is comparable to a six-story building.】

[The structure is well connected, leading to various areas in Tokyo. The drainage system is one of the best in the world. It is completely a real-life super maze temple. The space is so large that it is more than enough to hide a few people, even if there are dozens or hundreds of times more people living inside.]

[The Gurongi who escaped from the warehouse area are now hiding in a large hall, sitting, standing, or walking around idly, waiting for the result of this game and then choosing the next player to play the game.]

[“I’m back~”]

[The sound of footsteps on the stairs was heard in this silent hall. All the Gurongi who heard the sound looked up and saw Giiga walking down the stairs slowly from the top.]

[“It seems you completed the game well.”]

[Baruba looked up at its figure walking down and said calmly, judging from its slow and brisk pace, giiga was obviously in a very good mood.]

[“Hey!”]

[Because the winding staircase was too long, Giiga, who was getting impatient, jumped down from the five-story staircase, landing on the ground with his knees slightly bent. His feet made a dull sound, and then he walked towards Baruba with a smile on his face.]

[“Ah, one hundred and sixty-one of the one hundred and sixty-two targets have been solved. Now there is only the last one left.”]

[“Kuuga?”]

[After hearing this, Baruba took a stone recording board decorated with solemn beauty from a table that Gooma had brought in from outside. After looking at the game rules and time limits written in mysterious words on the recording board, he raised his eyebrows slightly.]

[“You are very fast. Within the three-day time limit, you have completed 99% of the goal in just one day.”]

[“From the perspective of efficiency alone, you have even surpassed the vast majority of “go” players. You may even be the first “me” player to be promoted to “go.”]

[“But the prerequisite is that you have to solve the last game goal. Are you sure you really want to make Kuuga the last goal?”]

[“You can still change your mind now, right? Just go out and find another target to kill.”]

[“There’s no need for that. I’ve already fought this current Kuuga today. He’s no match for the previous one. He’s a complete waste.”]

[Giiga shrugged his shoulders lightly, reached out to take the baruba and drew strange patterns on it with a pen, with a smile full of arrogance and disdain on his face.]

[“Not only do I want to be the first “me” to be promoted to “go”, but I also want to use the name of go-giiga-gi to tell those old guys who have been stuck in this position for thousands or tens of thousands of years that times have changed! “Kikiru” is no longer their world. ”]

[“I will complete the “Dark Game” before them, advance to the “White and Dark Game”, and finally—”]

[Speaking of this, giiga's tone suddenly became excited and high-pitched, and he spoke with fanatical eyes.]

[“I will defeat ‘Him’ in the ‘Game of White and Darkness’ and become the one who brings about the ‘Ultimate Darkness’!”]

[As soon as it finished speaking, a sinister voice came from the corner.]

“Can you do it?”

[Gooma, who was leaning against a pillar, looked at Giiga's back and said something malicious.]

[“I remember there were many players who said something similar before, but none of them came back. It seems that they were all dealt with by Kuuga?”]

[“I don’t think you’re the next player to advance to “go”, but the next player to die at the hands of Kuuga, hehehehe…”]

【“——”】

[Giga, who had just made a loud declaration, paused at this sentence and did not move for a long time.]

[After a long while, it silently put down the recording board with the game information in its hand, and the traffic road sign above its head pressed down its bangs, letting its hair cover giiga's eyes, and turned around and walked towards the stairs behind it that led to the outside world.]

[“Jie jie jie jie…jie jie jie…jie jie jie…mmmm…”]

[But when Giiga walked to Gooma, who was looking at it with an evil smile, he stopped. Gooma's smile gradually froze because of the sudden stop of the other party, and an extremely ominous premonition gradually surged from his heart. ]

[“Woooooo!”]

[The next moment, Giiga stretched out his hand without turning his head, and grabbed Gooma's neck again like last time, and lifted it up as its eyes widened with fear.]

[“…It seems like you really want to die, right? You idiot zu.”]

[Giiga twisted his neck gently, and the friction between his neck bones made a crisp "crunching" sound. He slowly turned his head and looked at Gooma, whose eyes were gradually widening.]

[Its face was expressionless, but countless green meridians were climbing and undulating on its forehead, like a group of green snakes twisting their slender bodies.]

[“Since you want to die so much, I will grant your wish.”]

【"wait--"】

【Recalling the last time he was burned by fire, Gooma suddenly contracted in pain, and a look of fear appeared on his face.】

[But before Gooma could beg for mercy, a fire far more fierce and hotter than last time suddenly erupted from Giiga's palm that was pinching its neck, and this time it completely submerged its body.]

[“Hmmmm hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!”]