"What? Wait, really!? How did it end up like that!?"
Greatly surprised by this completely unexpected turn of events, Yugo demanded an explanation. However, Fee shook his head slightly, as he didn't seem to know the full details himself.
"I’m not entirely sure... but it sounds like Zenon decided to go on a journey to find himself again. Claire-san apparently went with him."
"Whoa...! For the daughter of a prestigious noble house to pull a stunt like that... I'm shocked, honestly."
"The House of Rouge is reportedly in an uproar right now. Well, even so, I doubt they'll try to drag her back by force."
"Zenon... I see, so he..."
Ryuga, who likely felt a sense of gratitude toward him because of the incident at the Insect Museum, muttered to himself as he heard about Zenon's current situation from Fee.
Seeing his partner's reaction, Yugo spoke with a smile.
"I hope he's doing well. When he comes back, we'll have to make him tell us all about it."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sure he had a lot to think about, too."
Whatever the catalyst had been, Ryuga seemed to feel a sense of sympathy regarding the idea of self-reflection.
Noticing this, Jinba suddenly remembered something and turned to the group.
"More importantly, are you lot going to be all right? Given the situation, isn't there a possibility of Forcible Repatriation back to Yamato...?"
"There is no need to worry about that. Our Three Great Houses have been pulling various strings behind the scenes."
"Yamato is currently in a state of chaos due to Koumaru's betrayal and the ongoing search for him. Even if we returned, it would only fuel the confusion... and there might be people who try to take advantage of the situation to plot something sinister."
"Anyway, it means Setsuna and the others are staying here at Luminous Academy! We did it!!"
"Well, that's how it is. And that goes for Ryuga and the others as well."
Setsuna smiled and affirmed Melt’s cheerful summary while turning her gaze toward Ryuga.
Ryuga, whose gaze toward them still held a hint of tension, spoke in a voice that revealed a bit more of his true self.
"...Is that really okay? Yui aside, surely I must be a tremendous source of concern for all of you?"
"To be honest, I am worried. But Sakura and Raiha insisted."
At Setsuna's answer, Ryuga turned his gaze toward the two of them.
Sakura let out a small huff through her nose and met his gaze, explaining her reasoning.
"As a samurai, it is only natural to repay one's debts! Besides, Lord Ryuga, if you truly desired nothing but revenge, there is no way you would have come to rescue Raiha!"
"...It just happened to turn out that way this time. There's no telling when I might have a change of heart, you know?"
"If that time comes... I believe I would be fine with that."
Raiha, who hadn't uttered a single word until now, finally replied to Ryuga.
As a faint tension filled the hospital room, Yugo turned to his comrades.
"Let's step outside for a bit. There are probably things that'll be hard to talk about if we're all standing here."
"Brother, but...!"
"It's okay, Fee... So, that's that. We're going to step out for a moment, partner."
"...Yeah, I understand."
Having spoken to Ryuga, Yugo took the lead and left the hospital room.
While Ryuga, left behind in the room with Raiha, stared at her, she finally spoke with a heavy heart.
"...To be honest, I do not know what I should say to you. Whether it be gratitude for saving me, or an apology for taking your father's life... No matter what I say, it feels as though it won't be right."
"..."
"Even if the mastermind is the root of everything, it does not change the fact that I killed your father and stole the light from Yui-san. I do not know how I should atone for that sin... Ryuga-san, if you so desire, I would even offer my own life—"
"Be quiet."
"...!"
Ryuga cut off Raiha as she tried to ask if he wanted her life as atonement.
As she gasped slightly and fell silent, Ryuga began to speak in a voice thick with suppressed emotion.
"...I certainly hate you. There's no way I could forgive my father's nemesis so easily. And... I still haven't forgiven you for approaching us while hiding such a massive secret."
"..."
"However... I have no intention of killing you. At least, not right now."
"!!"
Raiha turned a startled gaze toward Ryuga as he spoke in a voice that seemed to crush his simmering rage.
Her eyes wide, she threw a question back at him.
"Why...? Because I—!!"
"Yes, you are the one who ruined my family's lives. But... your life does not belong to you alone. Yugo and Marcos, Melt and the Warrior Shrine Maidens, even Fee and Yui... so many people reached out their hands to save it. How could I take that away on my own whim!?"
"...!"
The anger and hatred hadn't vanished.
Even so, Ryuga looked down, clenching the bedsheets tightly, as he told her that Raiha's life was not something she could simply throw away.
"So don't ever... ask me that question again. If you wish to atone for your sins, then live and atone. I will stay by your side and watch over you. To see for myself if those words and feelings are genuine."
"Yes...!"
She hadn't been completely forgiven. It wasn't that his hatred had vanished.
However, Raiha, feeling a complex mix of joy, relief, and deep regret at being told to live by Ryuga, responded to him with a trembling voice.
"...See? I told you, didn't I? It's fine."
"I was a bit on edge, I'll admit. Well, I figured we didn't need to worry about the Ryuga we know now."
The group, who had been secretly peeking at the two from outside the hospital room, whispered among themselves.
None of them truly thought Ryuga would be driven by fury to kill Raiha, but they all seemed relieved that the cycle of fate between the two had reached a temporary resolution.
"But why did you do this? If it was just a talk, we could have been there with them, right?"
"...The two of them need time to face each other alone right now. If we were there, we'd just be a distraction."
"You're right... It's not just Ryuga. I think Raiha, too, can finally take a step toward the future now."
Ryuga wasn't the only one whose time had been frozen by the incident five years ago. Raiha had also been trapped by her own sins, staring at the past and unable to move forward.
By Ryuga forgiving her and declaring he would watch over her atonement, Raiha had finally begun to look toward the future... At Setsuna's words, Yugo smiled, stopped stroking his brother's head, and spoke quietly.
"With this, the mission is complete. The time that was stopped by sorrow is moving again."
The scars of the calamity carved by Koumaru and the Mad Dragon hadn't vanished completely.
However, that didn't mean they wouldn't eventually heal.
Yugo, who rejoiced that his partner and friend were able to move past the past and look toward the future, nodded, certain that the path they would take would be a bright one.
"Mmm, as expected of My Hero! Just as I imagined—no, you showed me the greatest drama, exceeding even my wildest dreams!!"
In the darkness, Lost gave a grand standing ovation, sincerely praising Yugo and his companions for seizing victory and the future.
Delighted by the performance of Ryuga, who moved past betrayal and revenge, and Yugo, whose friendship changed his heart, he spun around... and spoke with an eerie smile.
"No, I know. This ending isn't bad; in fact, I think it's the best. But... you're still curious, aren't you? About what that stupid protagonist is doing... or the fate of Egos, who tried to attack My Hero. That's what you lot really want to see, isn't it? I know."
As he spoke, Lost spread his arms wide, looking somewhat pretentious as he continued with a loud laugh.
"There's no way I would betray your expectations, right? I've got that part perfectly covered. I was a bit 'put out' myself when someone laid a hand on My Hero... I've already delivered a fitting punishment to the scum who almost ruined this magnificent drama."
Lost grinned, his mouth twisting into a smirk.
While giving a small round of applause, the bracelet on his wrist, embedded with a green gemstone, began to glow as he spoke.
"Now then, after the greatest drama, let us enjoy the greatest karmic retribution. I shall show you another epilogue... Kirio Egoshi's Most Unfortunate Ending."