"He’s gone... Tomorrow's going to feel a bit lonely."
"It’s only for a little while. He said he’d definitely be back. Until then, I have to make sure I do what needs to be done, too!"
"You're right! You have to master your newly manifested Blaster form, and we need to do some special training to deepen our coordination! We have a mountain of work ahead of us, Yugo!"
After seeing Marcos off, Yugo and his companions spoke of their own next steps.
In this city—no, in this world—a darkness existed that far exceeded Yugo’s imagination. The mastermind who had manipulated Rush would surely continue to lurk in the shadows.
Yugo had to grow strong enough to protect people by the time he eventually confronted that darkness. To achieve that, he needed to increase his own power, gather more allies, and learn much more about the inner workings of this world.
Both Fee and Melt were eager to prepare for the battles to come. They turned toward Yugo, ready to move forward alongside their hero, only to find—
"Huh? Brother? Brother!?"
"He’s gone!? Wait, where? Where did he disappear to!?"
Startled to find that Yugo had vanished from between them in the span of a few seconds, the two frantically searched the area. They spotted him a short distance away, crouching down to speak with a sobbing little girl.
It appeared the girl was lost. Fee and Melt shared a wry smile; it was so like Yugo to hear a cry for help before anyone else. As they ran toward him, they heard his gentle voice comforting the child.
"What's wrong, young lady? Did you get separated from your mom and dad?"
"Sniff... hic... Yes...!"
"All right! Then Big Brother will help you find them! As you can see, I’ve got stand-out hair and a big build. If you stay with me, your parents will spot you in no time!"
"Okay... Thank you, Big Brother!"
"Don’t mention it! Helping someone in need is just what a hero does! ...So, sorry about this, guys, but I’m on parent-finding duty now. Lend me a hand, will you?"
Fee and Melt looked at each other and laughed. Yugo had roped them into his pace as naturally as breathing.
Walking on either side of him as he set off with the girl perched on his shoulders, the two chimed in.
"Honestly, Brother, you’re hopeless! Let's find her parents quickly so we can get back to the academy. We have plenty to do, including those Blaster adjustments!"
"I’m in, too! Excuse me! Are the parents of this little girl around? We have a lost child over here!"
The trio walked down the city's main thoroughfare, calling out at the top of their lungs as they searched for the girl’s family.
The essence of a hero wasn't just about defeating enemies or crushing evil. It was about helping those in trouble—about being a meddling, intrusive helper. This was a noble deed and the true work of a hero. Being able to turn a crying girl’s tears into a smile was something to be proud of.
After several minutes of searching, Yugo finally located the girl’s parents. As he handed her over to them, he turned to say goodbye.
The girl thanked him, then looked up with a curious tilt of her head.
"Thank you, Big Brother. Um, Big Brother... who are you, anyway?"
"Hmm? Me? I’m..."
Yugo flashed a brilliant, cheerful smile. It was a grin full of friendliness and charm, set upon a stern face that, in the original story, belonged to a villain destined for a miserable downfall. Giving her his signature thumbs-up, he gave his answer.
"I’m a passing-by hero, remember that!"
No matter what happened, and no matter the world he lived in, Yugo’s heart remained unchanged. He would continue to help others, fueled by the hero’s soul he had inherited from the Nichiasa shows he loved.
Watching the girl walk away with her parents, Yugo looked up at the clear, blue sky. A beaming smile spread across his face, his resolve to live as a hero in this world surging within him, and he shouted at the heavens.
"Case complete! Luminous Academy is clear today! ...Or something like that!!"