“I know! But that’s not what he would’ve wanted! And Raiha is a victim too!”
“So what? She still killed our father.”
Ryuuga said coldly in response to his sister’s appeals.
Sakura turned pale as she heard him, and pleaded with him.
“P-please wait…!! We need loong power if we are to stop Zaraki, but Koumaru took mine and Setsuna’s magic items. Our only remaining hope is your katana!”
“…So I should go save her? And I should listen to the wishes of ones who casually hung around me while hiding such a big secret?”
“Please…! Without you, we’ll lose our chance to save Raiha. Then she…!!”
“What about me? I probably won’t have another chance to avenge my father. And I should throw it away for the one who killed him!?”
Ryuuga’s mind was occupied with revenge. He struck down Sakura and Setsuna’s pleas, and Yui spoke while shaking her head.
“Are you serious? Do you know what will happen to Raiha if they take her? And you still choose revenge…?”
“…It’s karma. I don’t care what happens to her.”
“Raiha saved me. She protected me when I guarded the Loong King Fang. And in the hospital, if she ignored me, you wouldn’t have known what she really is. You’re just going to abandon someone who saved my life?”
“Yes, I will. She killed our father. You don’t owe her anything.”
Ryuuga said coldly to his core to his sister Yui.
Yui gulped and went silent for a moment, before raising her voice.
“…Would you say that to Yuugo? Tell me, big brother!?”
“…!”
Ryuuga’s expression twisted a little when Yuugo’s name was brought up.
He turned away and looked down, and Yui continued yelling with tears streaming down her face.
“It’s thanks to him that you’re here and you’re okay! Yuugo risked his life because he believed you would save Raiha!”
“Be quiet, Yui…!!”
“It’s not just him! Our father who gave you the Loong King Fang, our mother who gave so much of herself to raise us, both believed you’d become a swordsman who would save a lot of people! And you’re picking revenge?”
“Be quiet…! Don’t say any more…!!”
“You’re the worst right now! Is it that important to have revenge!? You want to cut Koumaru down so badly that you’ll betray people who trusted you!? And you’d still face… Yuugo and our father!? Can you really say with pride that you’re doing the right thing!? Tell me, big brother!!”
“Quiet!!”
Ryuuga could not bear it anymore, and yelled with a rough tone.
He clenched his fists and turned around, but before he could say anything to Yui… Marcos’ fist hit his cheek.
“Guh…!?”
“Marcos…!”
“…I wasn’t the one who hit you, it was Yuugo. That’s what he would do if he was here.”
Ryuuga glared at Marcos as the punch made him take a few steps back.
Marcos was not angry, rather, his expression was filled with sadness.
“Ryuuga… you’re strong. On the same league as Yuugo. It’s frustrating, but I know why he asked you to handle the rest. That’s why… Think Ryuuga. Why did Yuugo do that?”
“…”
Ryuuga touched his cheek, and then the chest where Yuugo tapped him with his fist.
He remembered Yuugo saying it was all right, as if saying he could squeeze out a victory, and his hand trembled.
“…It’s not just Yuugo. Me, and everyone here. We believe in you. So please don’t betray them…!!”
“…It doesn’t matter what you say, I’m going after Koumaru. I’m cutting him down and avenging our father.”
“You understand it too, don’t you? What you should do and how you really feel…!?”
Ryuuga could say nothing more to his sister, but he turned around.
Just before he moved out, he said his catchphrase… The saddest one yet.
“Don’t… ask me questions…!!”
He said before he left.
Setsuna watched him do what he said he would, go after Koumaru, in a daze, and she groaned with despair on her face.
“There’s nothing we can do… We don’t have Yuugo or Ryuuga. There’s no way to save Raiha…!!”
The hero who could turn this desperate situation around had fallen. And their one hope would not help them.
There was no way to save Raiha… Lamented Setsuna, but Melt grabbed her hand and spoke with a strong light in her eyes.
“It’s too soon to give up. There’s something we can do. There has to be a way to save Raiha!”
“But our magic items…”
“Still! You’re just going to give up? Isn’t Raiha your friend? Then we have to do all we can!”
Melt grabbed Setsuna’s hand with both of hers strongly.
Setsuna gulped, and Melt continued with a wink.
“Did you know? Hero condition number one… Never give up. So I won’t. I believe there’s nothing we can’t do if we work together!!”
“Melt…!”
Melt nodded strongly with a gentle smile.
Setsuna nodded back, and wiped tears from her face.
“Yes, it’s too soon to give up… If there’s something we can do, we have to do our best to do it.”
“That’s right! Let’s go together! And fight together for Raiha!!”
“We can’t always rely on Yuugo. It’s time for us to show what we’re all about too!”
Said Angel.
“Everyone…! Thank you so much! I will never forget this…!!”
Setsuna also grabbed Melt’s hands strongly, having gotten the strength to pull herself together thanks to her encouragement.
Angel and Sakura also joined this circle, strengthening its unity.
It was not over yet… There had to be something they could do.
They believed this as they rushed out to chase Zaraki and save their friend.
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Like Ryu Terui, Ryuuga has a lot of inner demons to work through