Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

Page 129

"If I could, I'd like to help these people more, but since they don't need my help, I'll pass."

"That's already quite nosy, you little brat."

For some reason, Masato Kusaka felt that many of the people he had met recently resembled the guy from his memory.

For example, even though you were trying your best to reject the other person, they kept trying to see you as a true partner and even tried to interfere in your affairs in a well-meaning way.

Whether it was the man named Yan Ming or the Dian Si before him, both reminded Kusaka Masato of each other.

"Mr. Soka?"

Dian Si's voice then called him back.

"Are you alright? You seem a bit distracted..."

"I was just thinking about something random."

Masato Kusaka crossed his arms and leaned against the window.

"Compared to this, it's amazing you dared to accept that madman's proposal."

"Does it mean...Mr. Yan Ming?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

The thought that Yan Ming would actually go to the enemy's headquarters for such an unrealistic wish as "saving the world" made Kusaka Masato chuckle.

"But Mr. Kusa, didn't you also agree with Mr. Yan Ming's idea?"

"...I had other reasons."

"Could you tell me about it? I'm quite curious."

"You don't understand me, and you wouldn't understand even if I told you."

"No, no, you can't understand if you don't tell me! And how do you know I can't understand your thoughts if you don't tell me once?"

Dian Si waved his hand and then continued.

“Mr. Yan Ming mentioned it to me, Mr. Cao Jia, it seems that you chose to follow them because of those thirty-eight children.”

"That big mouth..."

Kusaka Masato clicked his tongue in surprise, then realized that Denji was still staring intently at him.

It seems this guy is determined to keep pestering me.

Kusaka Masato usually dislikes people like that man named Inui Takumi, who has this kind of so-called kind heart that makes people feel uncomfortable.

He thinks he's very helpful to others, and he wants to meddle in every little thing, thinking he knows everything? Normally, he would have already cursed this kind of person out.

But... the current Kusaka Masato doesn't have that kind of thought.

He even did things that he would never have done in the past.

“When I was very young, I always stayed with my friends in a place called Meteor Academy.”

"Ryuuseijuku?"

"It was a place that took in all kinds of orphans."

He leaned against the wall, his consciousness gradually returning to that time in the past.

“At that time, my companions and I spent almost all of our childhood there. We were all orphans without any relatives around us.”

"The lives of a group of children have always been miserable, but... in that Meteor Academy, my companions and I also had our own lives and fun."

That could be considered finding joy in hardship.

Looking back now, it is precisely because of this kind of life that I have become who I am today.

Kusaka Masato couldn't help but reveal an expression full of memories.

"Is it because...seeing those children reminded you of your own past, Mr. Soga...?"

"They should not be orphans, but due to the circumstances of this era, all their relatives died in the war... so they had to wander in various places."

This is the life of the thirty-eight children. To them, each other is their last family. Lloyd, Joel, and Anya are also like family to them.

However... such a life in this world is destined to be filled with unrest.

"If no one helps them, they won't even have a life of homelessness."

“At least I had my own life as an orphan before, which at least counted as a childhood, but… the world these kids live in doesn’t even want them to enjoy that kind of life.”

At this point, Dian Si saw it.

Masato Kusaka clenched his fists tightly.

"I can't stand it."

"Eh...?"

"This kind of shitty life, this kind of fate that makes me nauseous, this kind of era that even takes away the homeless life of children... it's really an eyesore."

A fierce and cunning glint appeared in Kusaka Masato's eyes, but it was not directed at anyone.

Rather, it's the look in one's eyes that conveys a sense of injustice and unfairness in this world.

“Mr. Soga, I don’t think you’re such a bad person.”

"Who told you that about me?"

“Uh—this…is Mr. Woz…”

"Tsk, that sycophant with the book... never mind."

Kusaka Masato pursed his lips, then looked at Denji.

"And what about you?"

"what?"

"Didn't you say that your world was destroyed and everyone around you died... So what do you plan to do? Do you want to take revenge on those demons?"

Dian Si seemed slightly taken aback, as if he hadn't expected to be brought up in the conversation.

Then he spoke with a serious look in his eyes.

"I've thought about revenge... but right now I'm more interested in figuring out what's going on with those guys."

"Oh?"

"Because, even if we kill all those demons, what then? My dead loved ones and the world will never come back, but... they will continue to attack different worlds."

A burning conviction appeared in Dian Si's eyes.

“I want to stop them. Now that I have the power to do so, I want to learn more about these demons.”

"And then...stop them from continuing their persecution of other worlds, and stop more tragedies like mine from happening in countless other worlds!"

It would be a lie to say there was no hatred, but for Dian Si, revenge was definitely not his primary motivation.

"So, can you stop it? There are so many worlds, and you might not even visit a few before you die."

"Even so, I still have to do it. This is what I want to do most right now. I want to protect more people!"

"I see... I didn't realize there were so many idiots in the world."

Huh? Denji didn't quite understand what Kusaka Masato was saying, but Kusaka Masato chuckled as if he had been relieved.

"Well... that's not a bad idea. Do as you please."

"Yes…"

"However, just like that guy Yan Ming said, you don't have enough experience yet, and there are many things you need to learn from scratch."

"For example?"

"As for combat techniques, even someone like me can teach you a lot... So, want to learn?"

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer!"

Seeing Denji's extremely sincere expression, Kusaka Masato shook his head, realizing he had actually done something so foolish.

Then—

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Screams came from outside the door.

"This is…!"

The two exchanged a glance and immediately rushed out of the room.

————————————————————————

"Ania! Come play games with us!"

While Lloyd and his wife were cooking, the thirty-eight children went about their own games.

The same applies to Anya, who possesses the ability to read minds.

Upon hearing her friends calling her, she happily ran over to them.

"What? You want to play together!"

"Yes! We're planning to play hide-and-seek!"

"Waaah, but Anya wants to go play by the stream!"

"It's dangerous, Anya-chan... There might be a big bad wolf over there that could kidnap you."

"No way! In this day and age, even rabbits are rare, how could there be such a big animal..."

Once the children gathered together, their playtime began.

"Then, Anya will be the ghost!"

"Then we'll take the lead in hiding, shall we?"

"I remember last time I was the one who was ghosted. Okay, Anya, you'd better come looking for us properly!"

"Hehe, I'll catch you guys soon~~"

Anya felt a tickle of excitement; she couldn't wait to use her mind-reading ability to cheat her way to these children and see their surprised expressions.

"Now let's start the countdown! Ten, nine..."

"Okay! Let's go hide first!"

The children ran one after another to the surrounding areas, to places like bushes and grass.

"Three, two, one! Anya is coming!!"

After Anya finished counting the numbers, she walked out directly.

So...where is everyone hiding?

She looked ahead with a smile.

The forest was not far away, and with a little use of her abilities, she sensed many thoughts in the vicinity.

Looks like everyone's hiding there!

So Anya was convinced she had won and ran straight to the bushes on the right.

There really is someone here!

"We caught them!!"