“Kenya…”

Kenya sat crying in the corner of the room alone.

Reina approached, trying to comfort him.

“Reina… not now.”

But Kaguya grabbed her shoulder and shook her head.

Kaguya knew it. Reina knew it too.

He needed time to sort things out right now. Losing someone precious was that agonizing—a pitch-black darkness with no end in sight.

When you truly lost something irreplaceable, no words could reach you.

You had to stand up on your own.

“…When you’ve calmed down… okay?”

“…Yeah.”

And with that, the two left Kenya behind.

Today was Road’s execution day.

Kenya could do nothing but stare at the ceiling with red, swollen eyes.

He understood what Road had said, and maybe the world could only forgive Earthguard with Road’s death.

He didn’t understand the complicated stuff, but it was probably true.

Isshin, Xuanwu, the World Alliance—they all affirmed that decision. Even the Earthguard Empire could only hold back tears at Road’s command.

“Hey, Road. How did it come to this for us?”

Kenya thought back to the days they’d laughed together.

Road had shown up at the worst time, ruining his flirty moments with Reina.

When he’d helped the Resistance, Road had taken the blame, given him grapes, and shared his past.

And there were so many other things besides that.

They’d started as enemies, but before he knew it, Road had become Kenya’s best friend.

“My first friend—for me too.”

And for Road as well.

At some point, Kenya and Road’s paths had diverged.

No, they’d been different from the start.

Road had always intended to start this war.

So for Kenya, who wanted to stop the world war, Road had been an enemy from the beginning.

Even so.

“The time we spent together wasn’t a lie.”

He wouldn’t let anyone say those laughing moments, that smile, were fake.

“Hey, what should I do now? I can’t hold a sword anymore—the one that killed you.”

Kenya felt no strength in his body.

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t find a reason to save Road.

The world probably wanted it.

The death of the vile emperor Road Earthguard.

Kenya couldn’t think of any justification for saving him.

He couldn’t imagine any righteousness in aiding the man who’d massacred people worldwide.

So.

*knock knock*

“…Yes?”

“Pardon the intrusion, Kenya.”

“…Mr. Tanaka.”

“I wanted to talk for a bit.”

And Tanaka turned his back to Kenya as he took something out and placed it on the desk.

Then, speaking over his shoulder to Kenya.

“Kenya, what is justice, I wonder?”

“Huh?”

“Justice. You’ve heard the word countless times. Yet no one’s found the answer. Not even me. I’ve lived for the goal of recapturing Japan. But do you remember what I told you back then? Help Zeke, help Reina.”

“…Yeah.”

“In the end, I realized people are selfish. Let me say it plainly. More than billions of lives, I don’t want you to die. Not just you—anyone close to me. And the lives of those who aren’t weigh less than theirs. It’s taboo to say it, but that’s what makes us human, and I think that’s love.”

Tanaka had wished that day, alongside Japan’s recapture, for Zeke not to die.

It was selfish, willful.

Yet Tanaka declared that was love.

“So what I’m about to say is my selfish opinion. But it might be the truth. Kenya… loving someone, truly loving them, means prioritizing their life over others’. And I don’t deny that—I think that’s what real love is. Prioritizing friends and lovers over strangers. What’s wrong with that?”

“Mr. Tanaka…”

“I believe this: If there’s one universal justice for everyone in this world, it’s… love. Not just romantic, of course. Love isn’t only sexual—friendship counts too. The love you feel for someone, that’s your personal love, your personal justice. …Haha, too cheesy?”

“…My own justice.”

And Tanaka gripped what he’d taken out again.

“So, Kenya. I’m going to say something awful, cruel even. But I have to tell you, I have to ask.”

Tanaka held out the KOG card key he’d been gripping right in front of Kenya.

“What is your justice—yours alone?”

Staring straight at the boy through his glasses.

…

“Any last words?”

In front of the General Command Headquarters, in the massive plaza.

Road, still handcuffed, slowly ascended the gallows.

Tens of thousands around him hurled insults at Road.

“Take care of Earthguard’s people.”

“…Understood.”

Xuanwu, Camille, and many from the World Alliance watched, with security KOGs added as Road’s execution began.

“So this is my end. Fitting. Bearing the world’s hatred alone, achieving nothing, dying as the vile emperor. A righteous finale.”

He looked down from the gallows at the faces below.

They’d probably lost loved ones in the war; their rage toward Road reached him even from there.

Die, enemy of the world, burn in hell—every curse imaginable flew at him.

!

Stones came too, scratching Road’s cheek.

A dull pain, but irrelevant now that he was about to die.

Then Xuanwu stepped forward.

“The Earthguard Empire was manipulated entirely by this one man. The Empire was controlled solely by the Emperor.”

“Orgord! Why! Why aren’t you going?!”

“Because of Lord Road’s orders.”

“Lamia!!”

“…You won’t look away. Watch until the end.”

At the same time, all of Earthguard watched the feed in despair.

Road’s final orders had frozen the military completely. Some acted personally, of course.

But individuals couldn’t overcome the World Alliance.

“The world’s wars were all this man’s doing, all sins his alone! And today! With this man’s execution, the World Alliance declares victory!!”

Xuanwu pinned all evil on Road alone and declared.

The World Alliance’s victory on this day.

Over a hundred KOGs watched as Road’s sentence was about to be carried out.

Bathed in the world’s jeers, Road climbed the final steps.

“…Farewell, Kenya. I wished my end had come by your hand…”

The boy’s execution began, having abandoned all hope, even life itself.

“No, no… Lord Road!! Lord Road!!!”

Sophie emerged from the crowd.

Slipping through the encirclement, disguised and alone.

But she couldn’t break security and was caught easily.

“Sophie… sorry. Lord Xuanwu, please, send her safely back home.”

“…I promise.”

“No, no!! Lord Road, don’t die, don’t die!!”

And Sophie was swiftly captured and dragged away.

As Sophie screamed, the noose neared Road’s neck.

“Lord Sword!! Hurry!! Why won’t you come?! You promised, why!!”

(He won’t come. I betrayed him, tried to kill him. Our paths split for good.)

Road nobly exposed his neck, looking to the sky as the rope prepared to tighten.

“I’ll die alone…”

The rope looped his neck, and he stood solitary on the gallows.

Eyes closed, awaiting his end, accepting it as the world’s justice.

The whole world watched, desiring Road’s death.

Not even Road himself could stop it now.

No one could halt that death.

“No one was ever there to save me…”

Except one.

“I’ve got you.”

“Huh?”

Road saw it.

The whole world gaped in shock.

A deafening boom shattered the air.

White lightning struck from the sky, landing right beside Road.

That white knight severed the noose about to claim Road with a single stroke, saving him.

“Wh-what!?”

The soldier roping him staggered back.

Everyone froze at the sight.

Because everyone knew that KOG.

The machine bearing a god’s name, pure white and beautiful.

The World Alliance saw it, Earthguard saw it, Sophie saw it, and.

“Kenya…”

Road stared at the KOG, his face beyond words.

“Wh-what are you doing, Kenya!! Stop! Get out of there!!”

Xuanwu shouted.

The entire World Alliance looked at Kenya in disbelief.

“I can’t. This spot… I won’t yield it.”

“Wh?! Y-you’re the world’s hero!! Do you know what you’re doing?!!”

“Kenya… what are you doing!! Do as I say!! Don’t do something stupid!! I’m dying here!”

“…I’m not moving from here. Not even if ten thousand enemies come. Not until you tell me to save you.”

Kenya poured out his heart.

His sole desire to save Road.

“What are you… saying? If you do that! You’ll become the world’s enemy too! Please, Kenya! Let me die!!”

“No.”

“Wha!?”

“I won’t move until you ask for help, and I won’t listen to anything else!”

“Y-you!! Are you an idiot?! Why won’t you ever just do what I want?!!”

But Kenya didn’t answer.

World Alliance KOGs gathered there.

“Kenya, could you step aside? Fleeting emotions can lead to mistakes. I know about you and Road, but this is unforgivable. If it’s now, I can somehow manage it, so.”

Byakuren approached on Seiryu, spear at the ready, willing to use force.

But.

“Nngh!?”

Kenya struck.

A godlike sword flash, too swift for eyes to follow.

Dismissing Asia’s strongest warrior like she was nothing.

Byakuren’s spear—and her arm with it—severed clean in two.

“I’ll say it as many times as needed. I’m not yielding this spot. No matter what anyone says, even if—”

“A-all hands! B-battle stations!! Shut down that KOG!!”

“—I have to make the whole world my enemy.”

…

“Why, Kenya…”

She watched him cut down every KOG before her eyes.

No one remained around Road now.

Kenya had swept them all away; only Road stood on the gallows.

The crowd had fled far back; the General Command HQ was now a battlefield.

“Why save me? I tried to kill you…”

Road watched his back, tears pooling in her eyes.

That white, beautiful machine deflecting a hail of bullets, slicing through—Takemikazuchi.

Any KOG entering its domain froze instantly, immobilized.

The white domain was complete; no one could touch Kenya now.

“Kenya!”

“Kenya!!”

Kaguya and Reina arrived in their KOGs too.

But Kenya didn’t stop.

“Both of you, stay back. I don’t have the luxury right now. If you try to force me, I’ll cut you down too.”

That pressure kept even Reina and Kaguya at bay.

His words rejected them firmly.

He couldn’t drag them into his selfishness, his personal justice.

In the resolved white domain, no one could exist.

Except one.

“Why… save me, Kenya?”

Aside from the one he protected.

Before the eyes of the World Alliance, Earthguard, the whole world, Kenya fought to save Road.

The reason was simple.

“Because we’re friends.”

“Huh?”

Kenya, silent for so long, finally spoke.

“Because you’re my friend.”

“What are you saying? I tried to kill you…”

“I don’t care! You’re my friend. No matter what you think, even if it’s one-sided, that’s how I see it!”

“Wha?! Y-your goal is those two over there, right?! I’m irrelevant!”

“Yeah, you’re right. I just wanted a world where we could laugh together. A world where Reina and Kaguya could laugh together—that’s why I came here, and that hasn’t changed! But!”

Kenya unleashed all his feelings.

“Living in this world, meeting the people here, getting helped so much—I gained so many treasures! Some I couldn’t save in time, some we fought to the death but helped me in the end! Some I couldn’t even exchange final words with, just protected me!”

So many died, so many he killed.

He’d lost enough precious people here to truly understand death.

“That’s why I’ll change it. Change it to a world where everyone can laugh! That world isn’t just for Reina and Kaguya! You’ll be there too… you’ll be there, Road!!”

“I’ll… be there?”

“I want you to smile too! Road!! Enemy of the world? Fine. Even if the whole world turns against you, I’ll be your ally. Your knight, me alone!”

Tears mixed in Kenya’s voice.

Road trembled with emotion, tears unstoppable.

Big drops soaked the gallows.

From then on, Road kept her head down.

Kenya kept fighting, waiting for Road’s answer.

Even Kenya couldn’t fully defend while rooted, guarding Road; bullets gradually wounded him one by one.

Road remembered.

The future she’d wished for—holding hands with Kenya—then abandoned.

Paths different, she’d given up.

But maybe their paths could converge.

A new route might have opened.

“You’ll… forgive me? Me, who tried to kill you?”

“I forgive you!”

“I tried to destroy the world…”

“I stopped you!”

“I… I must die to be forgiven!”

“Idiot!!”

“Guh!?”

Kenya poked her.

With one finger of the KOG, to her cheek.

The dull pain made Road’s eyes widen in surprise.

“That’s right, I never punched you! Road! I won’t let you end it with death! Even if the world screams for you to die… live! Live on, and truly change the world! That’s the only way you’re forgiven! For that, I’ll do it again!”

Kenya turned, extending that massive hand toward Road once more.

This time gently, offering it.

“I’ll hold your hand again, Road. No matter how bloodied, how filthy, what anyone says… I’ll hold it. That’s my justice—mine alone.”

Kenya recalled the day he and Road first joined hands. Road did too.

“You’ll judge that someday. Though it’s certainly a bloodied hand.”

“You and I… again. Why would you…”

“…Of course. I’m your sword… can’t start without the wielder. You and me together—that’s the strongest. Nothing impossible. Ah, but no massacres, please. I can’t think of any, but you’re smart… so figure out a way to bring peace without killing anyone, without you dying.”

“…That’s… so reckless.”

“Figuring it out is your job. What I can do!”

Kenya reached for Road.

Slicing down the KOGs appearing behind without even looking.

“Is carve the path. Ours.”

Kenya remembered too.

Osiris’s words, and the vow in the throne room.

He was a sword forever.

Road’s knight, Road’s sword.

And.

“One more time. No schemes, no gains or losses. Real… simple… friends, Road.”

A boy’s friend.

Tears and smiles mixed, honest to his heart.

Road stared at that hand.

Straightforward to the end, no guile, true to his heart.

(You really…)

And Road turned a tear-streaked smile too.

“You’re such an idiot. Really.”

“…That’s why you’re here.”

Road shed tears, yet smiled a little.

This straightforward boy’s passion had changed everyone, probably.

Osiris, Jin, Reina, Kaguya—everyone.

His blazing heat had reignited their flames.

That’s why she felt this now.

Ready to die, having abandoned all—yet so alive.

“Got it, Kenya.”

That burning passion scorched her chest, filling her with strength to rise again.

“Road!”

“No words move you, that iron will unyielding even to force. I know it best. You won’t yield, right? Even in death, you’d save me to the end?”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

“So.”

And Road stood.

Offering her handcuffs to Kenya; he understood, slicing them with one stroke.

She placed her small hand atop the white giant’s extended one.

This time from the heart, pure emotion— the two boys’ hands joined.

“So, let’s find a new path together this time, Kenya. No whining. You’ll work like a horse.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll fight the world if needed.”

Road resolved herself.

Not to discard, but to walk together.

For the Kenya who picked up her discarded self.

Kenya had waited.

Saving a Road who still sought death wouldn’t stick.

She had to move herself.

So he waited.

Just the two, facing those words, tears flowing, nodding.

“Remember? The throne room words.”

“Of course!”

“Those were made by an emperor the world turned against. A wish for one knight alone to stay his ally. Now I get it. One is enough. An ally becomes great power. But it was a false name then, Kenya. So let’s redo it—right here, before the world again! From now!!”

“Yeah!!”

And Road declared.

Loudly, to Kenya, to the world.

“Kenya Mikazuki, do you swear here the knight’s oath, to fight as my knight?”

“I swear!”

“Do you swear eternal loyalty, to be my sword and shield for great justice?”

“I swear!!”

That pure response spread Kenya’s passion.

To Road’s eyes, her heart.

“Then! By the name of the 100th Emperor, Road Earthguard, I recognize you as my knight. And I command!”

Road declared loudly to the entire world.

“Save me! My knight, Kenya Mikazuki! To change the world together!!”

And Kenya grinned, declaring.

“Yes, Your Majesty!!”