My youth story cannot be a knight war

[——When we met face to face again, it was at this funeral.]

[Until the last period before Hikigaya Hachiman's death, he still failed to fulfill the promise they had made and could not write a story that Hikigaya Hachiman would approve of.]

[When he saw his friend's body lying peacefully in the coffin surrounded by a sea of ​​flowers, Zaimokuza felt not only boundless sorrow, but also endless pain and regret.]

[After that day, a huge hole was opened in his heart, which could never be filled. In countless quiet nights, that hole would always remind Zaimokuza what he had lost and what mistakes he had made.]

[Zaimokuza Yoshiteru once again broke his promise. After his grandmother, he once again broke his promise with his best friend. 】

[And the more I think and recall, the more regret I feel. ]

[This is the real reason why he is so obsessed with keeping his promises, because every time he is about to forget the promises he made to others, the emptiness deep in his heart will continue to hurt him, condemning Zaimokuza's soul, leaving him no chance to breathe.]

[Driven by this emotion, after graduating from university, Zaimokuza embarked on his own adventurous journey. 】

[On one hand, it is to fulfill the old promise with the teacher, on the other hand... it is to atone for the sin. 】

[He has traveled to every famous place in the world, set foot on the land of countless countries, met and parted with countless people during his journey, and brought smiles to countless people, but in essence - Zaimokuza Yoshiki is just imitating. ]

[Zaimokuza longs for the figure who protects everyone in the story he created, and tries his best to become that person, filling the emptiness in his heart, and finding his own satisfaction in people's smiles. At the same time, he also tries to abide by the promise he can no longer fulfill in this alternative way, the promise with his deceased best friend.]

[After Kousaka Kyosuke's mother got into trouble, what Ebina Hime said to Makishima Saori was very correct. He was just making up for it, using other people's smiles to fill the emptiness in his heart.]

[Because only in this way can Zaimokuza's guilt be alleviated a little. ]

[But perhaps it’s just like what Hikigaya Hachiman once said - when the starting point is false, it can’t become a “real thing”. ]

[——This is what Zaimokuza truly forgot.]

[The happy person in everyone's eyes, the hero who protects everyone's smiles, the unstoppable promised superman... In fact, he never existed from the beginning. Under those dazzling surfaces, he is just an ordinary person who wants to make up for his past regrets. 】

[He has never been strong, and in fact, contrary to what he showed to others, the real Zaimokuza Yoshiki is actually a loser who can't even keep his promises to his relatives, can't even protect the smiles of his friends, a complete liar, and a loser who is powerless to do anything about the tragedy that happened to those around him.]

[Hikigaya Hachiman is right. He is so right. It is so correct that I have nothing to say.]

[——Zaimokuza Yoshiki is actually a "fake", a pathetic person who longs to become a "real person".]

【“——”】

【Zaimokuza finally remembered everything and raised his head. He looked at the transparent mirror in front of him that had appeared again without knowing when, and his eyes were filled with tears that were about to overflow.】

[On this mirror, countless fragments of past memories appear at this moment, but there is a figure in each scene. ]

[Hikigaya Hachiman, whether it was the first time we met, the joy when we became friends, the close friends after a series of events, the separation due to the tragedy, or the last time we met at the funeral, his presence was in everything.]

[Every part of the foundation that constitutes "Zaimokuza Yoshiteru", the "hero who protects everyone's smiles", is engraved with his traces. In fact, this story started with Hikigaya Hachiman at the beginning. He is the real source of all this. 】

[Even though he is no longer around, he still guides Zaimokuza here, searching through past memories to find his true heart.]

[Zaimokuza finally found his true self...but where is the person who led him here? ]

【Thinking of this, Zaimokuza trembled and looked around, but he could no longer find the familiar figure that would always appear after each memory and guide him to the next journey. He was left alone here, like a child abandoned by everyone.】

[Because this is the end point, there is no need to give him any more guidance. ]

[Hikigaya Hachiman believed that he could complete the journey now, so he chose to leave without even leaving Zaimokuza with a single trace of his back.]

[He is no longer here, either in reality or in memory. ]

[“Hachiman…”]

【Yoshiki Zaimokuza had never felt this fact so deeply as at any other moment—he had lost his best friend forever.】

【Forever, but also forever goodbye.】

[The pain of not being together for so many years welled up in my heart, and my soul felt like it was torn apart, and I couldn't help but burst into tears.]

【After many years, Zaimokuza finally cried out loudly again. 】

[He held up the mirror in front of him with both hands, and cried bitterly in front of countless memories of Hikigaya Hachiman, his tears blending into the darkness.]

[A teardrop fell from Zaimokuza's eyes, and in the moment before it fell from midair to the ground, it reflected a pair of eyes.]

[Those eyes had a faint golden glow in them, like the rising sun.]

……

【Tokyo, Kanto Medical University Hospital, rooftop terrace. 】

[The young man in white who waved goodbye to Ebina Hina before did not go to visit his old friend in the hospital as he said, but was standing at the edge of the stairs, looking at the tall buildings in Tokyo in the distance with a smile on his face.]

[And the direction he was looking at was exactly where Kousaka Kyousuke and Ginoga started the war. ]

【“——”】

[But at a certain moment, the boy's expression suddenly changed, and his eyes froze in silence.]

[But the next moment, a genuine joy emerged from the depths of his eyes, and the smile on his face became even brighter than before, with unconcealed anticipation and joy in his smile.]

[“This feeling… you’re finally waking up, KUUGA~”]

[“You got it, didn’t you? That power.”]

[“——The power that leads to the ultimate.”]

28. The Final Chapter of Memory: Even if the Dream Will Eventually Collapse (Part )

Chiba Prefecture, Chiba Benbun High School, health room.

"..."

Kyosuke Kousaka looked at "Yoshiki Zaimokuza" who was kneeling in front of the mirror and crying on the light screen, with an indescribably complicated look in his eyes.

The other person's tears stung his eyes, and looking at such a "Yoshiki Zaimokuza", Kyosuke Kousaka suddenly remembered his future self's usually expressionless face.

It was not until now that he realized that these two people were so similar. Beneath their smiling or expressionless appearance, they both hid the painful past of losing important people and similar passionate souls.

But they were not defeated by the past. Instead, they chose to bear the pain and in order to prevent others from suffering the same misfortune as themselves, they joined hands to fight against those unidentified life forms that harmed humanity.

"Yoshiteru Zaimokuza" chose to embark on a journey because he failed to keep his best friend's smile, and to protect the smiles of everyone he met during the journey; "Kousaka Kyosuke" lost his father because of bandits, so he chose to become a policeman, punish crime and protect innocent people.

It is obvious that the paths they took and the reasons for their departure were completely different, and they should not have had any interaction, but in the end, due to a trick of fate, they miraculously intersected and became comrades fighting side by side for the same goal.

Both of them put on a similar mask and chose to become Kamen Riders to fight to protect humanity.

Kyosuke Kousaka felt that the name uttered by "Asahina Mikuru" from the future was very appropriate.

Whether it is "Kousuke Kousaka" or "Yoshiki Zaimokuza", the masks they wear on their faces are not just to protect others, but to protect themselves and the weak ordinary people under the mask.

Chiba Prefecture, Sobu High School, health room.

"——Hachiman! You are so kind to me that you are still guiding me even after your death. I am so touched by you! My spiritual friend!!!"

“It’s so disgusting! How many times have I said that I hate any physical contact with men! And don’t make it sound like I’m dead! I’m still alive—Ughh ...

Zaimokuza was moved to tears by what he saw on the screen. He sniffed back the snot that was streaming down his face, and with wide tears in his eyes, he opened his arms and hugged Hikigaya beside him.

Hikigaya Hachiman had a bad premonition when he saw Zaimokuza crying, but this time, before he could run away, he was hugged tightly by Zaimokuza. The strength was comparable to that of a bear and almost suffocated Hikigaya, and his eyes were almost squeezed out of their sockets.

The chairs the two were sitting on fell down due to the excessive movement, and Hikigaya was held by Zaimokuza and fell directly to the ground. The pressure of nearly 200 kilograms of weight made him let out a shrill scream.

"What the hell? Sure enough, this is the normal state for these two guys. Sure enough, it's best for them to continue to be like this."

Shizuka Hiratsuka looked at the two people playing around and nodded with satisfaction.

"Although Hikigaya-san, who is almost suffocated by the pressure, may disagree with this, I agree with your opinion this time, Mr. Hiratsuka."

A gentle curve quietly appeared at the corner of Yukinoshita Yukino's mouth. She looked at the two people in the present, then turned her head to look at "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" who was kneeling on the light screen and crying in front of the memories of the past, her voice mixed with emotion and relief.

"Although Zaimokuza-san is full of flaws, likes to brag and easily gets carried away, and Hikigaya-san always pursues ideas and logic that are unacceptable to others, and always makes mistakes knowing that he is wrong and never repents, but..."

"At least they are smiling now, that's enough. Only they are like this can be an indispensable member of the service club."

"I know Zaimokuza Yoshiki and Hikigaya Hachiman in the present, not their future selves, no matter how great those people are."

【“!”】

【A warm white light lit up in front of his eyes, and Zaimokuza, who was kneeling in front of the mirror and crying, suddenly shuddered and raised his arms in astonishment.】

[At this moment, a white light spot is floating from his arm. As the light spot passes, Zaimokuza's arm slowly begins to become weaker, but on the contrary, the feeling of weakness in the body is gradually fading. ]

【Not only his arms, but Zaimokuza's entire body began to be enveloped by white light, and the darkness around him was gradually replaced by light, as if the dark night that had come to an end had finally ushered in the light of dawn.】

[A white door appeared out of thin air in the darkness behind Zaimokuza, like a piece of white paper with ink washed off. Many voices came from the other side of the door, attracting Zaimokuza's attention.]

[——Doctor, the patient's heart rate has...wait! Who are you? You can't come in here!]

[——Wake up! Zaimokuza-san! ]

[——You must be kidding! Zaimokuza, wake up!]

[“This voice…Bushi, Yuigahama?”]

【Zaimokuza listened to the familiar voices in his ears, his eyes gradually widened, and he understood what was on the other side of the door - on the other side of the door was a reality that was the opposite of this dream.】

[As long as this door is opened, he may be able to wake up and return to the real world. ]

[“Why at this moment——Hachiman!?”]

[Just as Zaimokuza was staring at the door in astonishment, he suddenly remembered something and quickly turned his gaze back to the front.]

[Then, the scene he saw caused his pupils to shrink violently and tremble uncontrollably.]

[In the brief moment when he turned back, all the fragmented memory fragments in the mirror were reset to zero, re-forming a familiar figure.]

[The same facial features as in my memory, the black Sobu High School uniform, and the pair of dead fish eyes that I will never see again. ]

[Hikigaya Hachiman, who is exactly the same as the image that Zaimokuza remembers most, is standing opposite the mirror, and calmly looks at him as he turns to this side.]

【“…”】

[Hikigaya looked at the warm white light floating on Zaimokuza's body and the door that appeared behind him, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and then he walked towards the boundless darkness in the mirror behind him without hesitation.]

【From Zaimokuza's perspective, the other party walked away so decisively, without any intention of looking back, and his thin back disappeared into the darkness behind the mirror in an instant.】

[His behavior is like saying to himself:]

[——The time has come, you should leave.]

【"etc……"】

[Even though he now knew that all this was just a dream and that Hikigaya Hachiman was just an afterimage in his memory, when he saw him being swallowed by the darkness, Zaimokuza was still moved to a violent degree.]

[“Wait! Hachiman!”]

[Zaimokuza pressed the mirror with both hands and shouted anxiously at the disappearing figure.]

【boom! 】

[He gritted his teeth and punched the mirror hard. If it were in reality, even if he was in human form without transformation, the power of this punch would be enough to easily punch through a wall.]

[But what made Zaimokuza open his eyes in disbelief was that the mirror that received his punch only had ripples like water waves erupt from the impact point, and then the entire plane returned to stillness, without any life.]

[“Damn it, get out of my way!”]

[Eager to attack, Zaimokuza, driven by anger, repeatedly punched at the mirror, hitting the same spot one after another. The ripples that spread out were endless, but he couldn't even create a crack.]

[During this time, Hikigaya's back had completely disappeared into the darkness, and the light from Zaimokuza's body and surroundings was so bright that it blinded the eyes, driving away the original darkness.]

【"--hateful!!!"】

[The fist, which was already covered in blood, hit the center of the ripples for the umpteenth time. The ripples that spread out this time far exceeded those before. One can imagine how heavy the force of this punch was.]

[But this still couldn't shake the mirror at all, Zaimokuza could only watch his best friend's back disappear again, and finally stopped this meaningless action unwillingly and desperately. ]

[At this moment, the white light particles emanating from Zaimokuza's body have almost become a stream, and are so faint that one can see the scene on the other side through his body, but his strength is at an unprecedented peak, comparable to the state before he was injured.]

[At this moment, Zaimokuza knew very well that he was about to wake up in reality, and as a spiritual body, he would also be freed from this dream. ]

[Even if the door behind him is not opened, he will be forced to wake up and return to reality. The only difference is whether it is voluntary or passive.]

[But he did not feel any joy at all, only an extremely strong sense of unwillingness surging from his heart, entwining his limbs like a spreading vine, dragging his heart down to the bottom of the valley bit by bit.]

[Am I going to...watch him leave again? Without being able to say a word, like before?]

[Zaimokuza propped up the seemingly unbreakable mirror with his hands stained with his own blood, lowered his head to face his feet, and bit his teeth so hard that it seemed like he was going to break his molars.]

[I can't keep the promise with my grandmother, I can't protect the smile of my best friend, I can't restore the service club that used to be full of laughter, my life is always repeating such failures... Now, do I have to watch the people I couldn't protect leave before my eyes again, but I can't do anything? ]

[Even if it was just a residual image of memory, he clearly had so many things he wanted to tell Hikigaya. He wanted to tell him that he had fulfilled our promise, that he had found something he should protect, and that he had finally fulfilled their promise... But even such a small wish could not be fulfilled? ]

[Then why did I embark on this journey? Everything I have experienced over the years, all those smiles I have protected, don’t they mean anything? Am I still the same person I used to be, the person who can’t change anything? ]

[If you can't even keep and protect the smiles of those around you, how can you protect everyone's smiles! ]