“Hey Yuugo.”
“Oh, if it isn’t Jinba? What’s up?”
“I was around here anyway, so I thought I’d thank you again. Thanks for your help that time.”
Meanwhile, Yuugo was celebrating Ryuuga’s hospital discharge with their friends, and greeted Jinba with a smile when he suddenly showed himself.
After seeing Yuugo’s reaction and his rowdy friends in turn, Jinba continued with a small nod.
“That Regen and his underlings were all caught. The birdcages were destroyed. Our business with them is over.”
“…That’s nice. You got revenge for your partner.”
“Yes, and it’s thanks to your cooperation. You really helped me out.”
“You don’t need to thank us. Helping a friend and protecting people are both what a hero should do.”
Yuugo puffed out his chest, and Jinba turned away with a smile on his face.
After a moment of silence, he faced Yuugo again, and spoke while taking something from his pocket.
“Another thing… Take this.”
“Eh!? J-Jinba, this…!?”
Yuugo caught what was thrown to him, and was surprised when he saw what it was.
It was the bowgun that was a memento of Jinba’s partner Thomas.
“It’s yours. If you ask An, she should rework it into a nice weapon, right? Use it as you please.”
“I can’t do that! Isn’t this important to you!?”
“It’s fine, Regen has been caught, so that ended the case we were pursuing. I don’t need it anymore.”
“But…!!”
“Just take it. A ball of fire like you that charges ahead first and thinks later needs someone to watch over him.”
Yuugo tried to give the bowgun back, but Jinba stubbornly pushed his partner’s memento back.
Yuugo heard him and looked at his face, and spoke with a serious expression.
“…All right. I’ll take good care of it. Thank you, Jinba.”
“Heh…!
Yuugo bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude, but Jinba waved it away.
Jinba watched Yuugo as he went to show the bowgun to Angel, and spoke quietly as he watched them all gather.
“It’s not the end for me either. There’s going to be more causing a mess… It’s true, Regen. But the same goes for us. Just like how there’s no end to the darkness attacking this city… The light protecting it won’t go out.”
Capturing me won’t end it, crime won’t end… Said Regen to Jinba just before he was apprehended.
He was right. Capturing Regen would only give rise to another evil.
But… The fact that the light fighting to clear the darkness that wanted to cover the city would not disappear was also true.
Much like how Thomas gave his life to save children, Jinba carried on his will. And Jinba watched the new generation of heroes… The right feelings were also passed down.
Evil would not run rampant on that world as long as that light was there. Jinba believed it from the bottom of his heart.
“Thomas, I’m all right now. I won’t waste the life you gave me… I’ll watch over them and the new light that will appear. That is my reason to live.”
When Jinba was about to release an arrow, ready to take out Regen at the cost of himself, he heard Thomas’ voice.
He was always worried about him, and warned him with a tone that was the same as before. Jinba thanked his partner, and continued.
“I’m all right. But there’s an idiot being even riskier than me… Watch over him. I can only ask you.”
Saving children without thinking of the danger. Jinba whispered as he looked at Yuugo, who did the same thing he once did.
A still young and overly straightforward fireball newcomer that did not see the reckless as such needed someone to watch over him.
He was also going to do it, but it would be good to have someone closer to stop him.
Only Thomas could do that, he thought as he watched the one he entrusted with the bowgun he inherited from his partner, that carried his feelings, and exhaled quietly.
“…Goodbye, partner.”
It was time to say goodbye, but they would not be estranged. The important feelings would always be the same.
The days when they ran together, fought, and clashed while smiling, as well as their bond, would never disappear… He looked at Yuugo and the others, and saw himself and Thomas from a long time ago. Jinba closed his eyes and smiled.
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