“I understand everything, Kenya. With that in mind, won’t you trust me?”

Reina’s explanation hadn’t been very clear.

But she was heading this way right now.

She wanted them to hear her out without turning hostile.

“I see… Sorry. I’ve been keeping quiet because I’ve been operating as part of the Resistance.”

“No, that’s fine. But we were enemies, weren’t we? I never imagined we’d end up fighting for real, not just in the simulator—you and me.”

“…Sorry.”

“There’s someone who wants to talk to you. My dad and I are coming your way—three of us in total.”

“……”

“Mikazuki? It’s me. Zeke.”

“Zeke… I’m sorry. It must feel like I betrayed you.”

“…I see. I’m relieved. You’re still you. I was worried they’d even faked your personality… But no need to apologize. You had your own reasons. So let’s talk. We have no intention of fighting. If you can’t trust us, you can stay inside that machine—it’s fine.”

Appearing at the negotiations in a KOG was a huge concession, and even Kenya could see that.

If Kenya harbored any ill intent, he could slaughter unarmed humans in seconds without breaking a sweat.

“Tanaka…”

“Zeke… He’s trustworthy. He’s an Earthguard Empire citizen, but he’s an ally to us Japanese too.”

“Is that so… I think the same.”

Tanaka nodded.

He knew Zeke well and believed his words.

Kenya didn’t know why Zeke was so kind to Japanese people.

But he’d experienced the man’s character many times over.

Zeke showed no discrimination and would never stoop to anything underhanded. Kenya could say that with certainty.

That’s why.

“Got it. Sorry to be rude, but I’ll wait inside Takemikazuchi.”

“Yeah! Thank you, Mikazuki!”

Still, blindly trusting everything would be foolish.

That’s why he’d wait inside Takemikazuchi.

From there, he was confident he could break through any trap they might spring, by force if needed.

Kenya and Tanaka waited inside Takemikazuchi.

It was cramped, but there was still plenty of room for two.

Then, a military vehicle approached from the distance.

Kenya had no idea what kind of talk they had in mind.

The vehicle pulled up right in front of him.

Zeke appeared to be driving.

Reina stepped out alone from the stopped car.

(Reina…)

What kind of face should he make when they met?

Even if his goal had been to disarm her without lethal force, he’d still pointed his blade at her.

Not in a simulator—in a real weapon that could take her life.

“Kenya… you’re in there, right?”

Reina walked slowly over and touched Takemikazuchi.

“That was incredible. Really. I’ve never seen fighting like that. You’re amazing, Kenya. Even when I fought you seriously, I still lost. Even with my dedicated machine.”

She was trembling as she spoke.

“It was terrifying. I really felt like I was going to die. Impressive as always.”

Seeing her like that, Kenya stood up.

He saw her fallen expression, her sad voice.

“Tanaka, sorry!”

“Heh. Yeah, go ahead.”

Kenya opened the cockpit and climbed down from Takemikazuchi.

He was an idiot, probably. But seeing her like this, he couldn’t believe she’d come to kill him.

He couldn’t bear to leave that sad-looking girl alone.

His emotions drove him forward.

(He really looks like just a kind boy from up close.)

Tanaka watched his back as he descended from the cockpit.

That back didn’t look like the boy who’d ripped victory from the world’s strongest empire.

“Kenya!?”

“Reina, sorry. I pointed my blade at you. I wasn’t trying to kill you, but I was serious. I figured some minor injuries were unavoidable.”

Kenya climbed down using the ladder from the cockpit.

Reina hadn’t expected him to come out and was stunned.

He appeared before her eyes and bowed his head.

“I-If we’re talking about that, then I— I was serious about you too.”

“No, you didn’t know. I knew it was you, Reina. For a split second, I even considered taking your life. That’s why I wanted to apologize.”

“I see… You came down just to apologize? Even though you might get killed!?”

“Yeah… Sorry, Reina.”

He looked at her with the eyes of a child afraid of being scolded.

Reina was even more shocked.

The strongest pilot who’d cut down a hundred foes seemed scared of her wrath—even though she was far weaker than him.

And right then, that icy expression of his melted away.

“Hehe. Really…”

It was the first smile Kenya had ever seen from her—and one she herself hadn’t shown in ages.

She couldn’t help but smile back at him innocently.

“You’re such a weird guy.”

“……”

Kenya was speechless.

Seeing Reina’s smile for the first time, his mouth hung open and wouldn’t close.

He’d never seen that smile even in his previous world—a pure, untroubled grin.

“Fine, I forgive you. For your sincerity.”

“Th-thank you! Reina.”

Then, just as their conversation wrapped up, Zeke approached.

“Mikazuki, we’ve talked plenty before, but…”

“Zeke.”

“There’s something you need to hear first—from this person.”

Zeke opened the back seat of the car.

A single boy emerged from inside.

“Y-You… Why are you here!?”

“Hey, Kenya. Or should I call you that for now?”

Golden hair, a bit on the long side.

A small build, yet radiating a definite presence.

“A member of the Resistance ‘Amaterasu’—and the first one to make me taste defeat.”

The enemy general he’d been locked in a deathmatch with moments ago. The ruler of the world.

“Japan’s samurai.”

Road Earthguard stood there.