“I came from a different world. A completely different world from this one.”

“Huh?”

Even the two girls who loved Kenya couldn’t believe that one sentence from him.

“Kenya? What are you talking about?”

“I know it’s hard to believe. Hell, I still can’t fully wrap my head around whether it’s real myself. But…”

And with that, Kenya gripped Kaguya’s shoulder tightly, then Reina’s.

“I want you to believe me. I came from another world, and my purpose is… Kaguya, Reina. To get all lovey-dovey with both of you… Sorry, I mean, to save you two.”

“Did you just say ‘lovey-dovey’— ‘Ngh! *Cough cough!* I came here to save you both. It’s important, so I’ll say it again: I came here to save you both.”

Kenya drowned out Kaguya’s voice with a loud throat-clearing.

“Got it. I believe you.”

Reina accepted his words with surprising ease.

“Reina? You’re serious?”

Kenya stared at her in disbelief.

But she wasn’t the only one.

“Honestly, I don’t get it. But your past, your strength—none of it makes sense anyway. So… I’ll believe it. Not that, though. I’ll believe in you. Because I know, deep down, that you’ll never betray me.”

“Kaguya… You’ll really believe me?”

“No reason to lie, and even if it was, you’d come up with something more believable. Besides… I trust you. Even though you just betrayed me a minute ago.”

“Ugh. About that…”

“So, Kenya. Why us?”

“I was alone in my old world. But you two… Kaguya and Reina… you saved me. You probably don’t remember it, but it was real salvation. And I loved you both so much.”

“Kenya…”

“Kenya…”

“It’s a weird reason, I know. But in my old world, I saw a future where you two fought and one of you died. I came here to change that. So please, don’t fight each other. And believe me when I say I genuinely love you both.”

Kenya stood up and bowed his head deeply.

Then he extended both hands, as if proposing to them both, offering them to his two heroines.

“I can’t choose just one. But I won’t abandon either of you. So… I’ll protect you both with my life. I’ll protect you both! Let me be the one who shields you!”

“…”

The two of them stared silently at his outstretched hands.

“Kaguya… what do you think of that?”

“Yeah, it’s ridiculous.”

Hearing that, Kenya deflated, his energy draining away.

But right after, soft hands grasped his—both of them.

“Protect us? We’re not that fragile, you know.”

“Exactly, Kenya. I made a vow, remember? Not to be protected by you, but to fight alongside you.”

“Kaguya… Reina…”

“Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes, Kenya. You really think you can make us both happy? If your love for me ever falls short, even a little, I’ll punch you.”

“Ah! Even if you say you don’t want it, I’ll pour it on—these overflowing feelings of mine.”

“Ugh, so convenient. But… I’m looking forward to it.”

Kaguya wrapped both her hands around one of Kenya’s, squeezing firmly yet tenderly.

“My heart’s already made up. Even if you love someone else, even if you come to hate me, even if the whole world turns against us… my heart is yours. And also…”

Reina wrapped both her hands around his other one, leaning in close to his ear.

“My body too ♥”

“Fwah!?”

The sudden whisper in his ear made Kenya let out a weird yelp.

It was too much stimulation for a virgin like him—and now that her emotions were back, Reina was way too forward.

Nice job raising such a wild daughter, Zeke.

He looked up at the sky and saw Zeke giving him a thumbs-up.

Wait, no—that’s the middle finger.

“H-Hey, Reina! No cutting in line! We have to talk about stuff like that first!”

“Isn’t it first come, first served? The hesitant one can sit there sucking her thumb. I’ve decided—no more holding back or hesitating. In this world where we don’t know when it all ends… you’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Wha!?”

And with that, Reina and Kaguya started bickering.

It was so heartwarming—compared to their serious fight earlier, Kenya just laughed at how cute it was.

“Heh, life with you two is never boring. I’d rather you didn’t fight, though. Anyway… it’s about time.”

Kenya suggested heading home.

The sun was setting, and it’d be a pain to leave late at night. More importantly…

“I need to talk to Road. What about you, Kaguya?”

“I’ll check in with Byakuren. Things are uncertain from here, but… Kenya, you’ve still got that old Earthguard military device, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then use that to stay in touch. It should work between Japan and Earthguard.”

Communications didn’t reach from the Asia Union, but the 13th District was an Earthguard special zone with full infrastructure, so the signal would get through.

“Got it. I’ll reach out soon. Let’s go, Reina.”

Kenya and Reina started walking home together.

Watching them go, Kaguya remembered.

Throb.

The long-forgotten pain squeezed her chest.

So she grabbed his hem.

Back then, she hadn’t been honest.

But now…

“Hm? Kaguya, what—!?”

Now she could say she loved him from the heart.

And Kaguya kissed him, her face beet red.

Clumsy, rough, passionate.

“R-Reserved! This is reserved for later! Don’t you dare do whatever you want, Reina!!”

Her face still flushed, Kaguya jabbed a finger at Kenya—nailing Reina with a glare.

“Who knows? Can’t promise anything. Right, Kenya?”

Reina dodged gracefully, seductively sucking on her finger as she eyed Kenya.

Kaguya clenched her fists, glaring daggers at her in frustration.

“Grr… Fine, I’ll hold back… for now.”

“It’s okay, Kaguya. I’ll hold back too. Trust me.”

“…Alright. I trust you. See you, Kenya. Message me when you get home! Promise!”

“Yeah, I promise. Then… Kaguya… one last thing.”

“Kyaa!”

Kenya pulled her into a tight embrace.

This wasn’t a farewell for life—he vowed they’d meet again.

And so Kenya and Kaguya parted ways for now, promising reunion.

The parting words weren’t the ones left unsaid before.

“See you later, Kaguya!”

“Y-Yes!”

Kaguya’s legs gave out from the tight hug, and she replied in a funny voice.

Kenya laughed, waved, and took off for Earthguard.

What the world would become next… who knew.

But surely these three, bound by unbreakable ties, could save it.

The same time—World Union Headquarters, Chūbu.

“Never thought you’d make such an offer. Are things that desperate on your end?”

“Feel free to refuse. In that case, we’ll start by wiping out your side first.”

Xuanwu conversed with a single envoy.

The boy—blond hair, glasses, looking every bit the class president—was negotiating in Kamui, the capital of Chūbu, the Asia Union’s representative nation.

“Typical of you. No different from a threat.”

“It should be all gain, no loss for you, no? So, what’s your answer?”

“Our goal is the liberation of all colonies. If you’re willing to accept that, we might consider it.”

“We can negotiate that after the goal’s met.”

“So you just want us to lend our strength?”

“Exactly. Though you’re mistaken—it’s a temporary alliance. Just to defeat the common enemy.”

Irritated by the high-handed attitude, Xuanwu still pondered.

(All upside, no downside… huh.)

The proposal seemed brazen at first glance.

But in truth, the World Union suffered no losses whatsoever.

On the contrary…

“…Very well. Temporarily. We’ll accept you as allies for now.”

“Allies? Don’t get the wrong idea—this is just a joint front. It’ll dissolve the moment our goals align and are achieved.”

“…Fair enough. Our goals match, so just for now.”

“Then we have a deal.”

The boy stood up.

His glasses glinted as he ended the talks—the blond emissary sent on his master’s orders.

“Lord Odin will be pleased.”

As the negotiator forging an alliance between the World Union and Odin.