"Thank you, Daigo. Thank you, Yuzhou. Thank you, Masaki."
Captain Megumi walked over with a warm smile, her voice carrying relief as she addressed the three.
Daigo gently released Rena from his arms, then reached into his jacket. He pulled out the petrified Spark Lens and placed it carefully into her hands.
The wind stirred. Before her eyes, the Spark Lens dissolved into drifting motes of dust, scattering into nothingness.
"You can't transform anymore, can you?" Rena whispered, her voice trembling.
Daigo smiled softly, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "It doesn't matter. Everyone has the power to become light in their own way."
Nearby, Masaki suddenly stiffened. He felt something pressing against his chest. Curious, he fumbled inside his jacket—and froze.
"This is…!"
He withdrew a crystal transformation device. Transparent like glass, it gleamed faintly, with two red streaks running along its ends.
"I… I've been recognized by the light." Masaki's voice trembled with disbelief and joy.
Yuzhou blinked at the sight. "So you even got your own Spark Lens, huh? Didn't expect that."
He patted Masaki firmly on the shoulder. "Masaki, this world is in your hands now."
Masaki looked at him, startled. "Me? But Daigo may not be able to transform, sure—but you're still here."
Yuzhou shook his head. His smile was gentle, yet carried the weight of inevitability. "I won't be staying. I think it's almost time for me to leave."
"What?!"
The Victory Team fell silent, stunned. Somewhere along the way, Yuzhou had stopped being a guest and become family. He had been the one to identify monsters' weaknesses, the one who always had a plan when despair loomed. Without him, how many crises would have turned into tragedy?
"Advisor Yuzhou… where will you go?" Megumi asked softly, her eyes betraying more emotion than she usually allowed.
"I have to return to my own world."
His words landed like a stone in still water.
"Your… own world?" Rena repeated in confusion.
Daigo, however, only lowered his head. He had known this day would come. Yuzhou wasn't of this Earth.
"Yes," Yuzhou said plainly. "I come from a parallel world. My home is… alongside yours, but different."
The team stood in silence, processing. Even after all they had seen, this revelation stunned them.
"And when will you return?" Daigo asked, voice low, unwilling to part yet knowing he had no choice.
Yuzhou gave a small shrug. "I don't know. I came here by chance, and I'll leave the same way. My guess? Soon."
"…I see." Daigo nodded slowly, resignation in his eyes.
He clapped his hands suddenly. "In that case, before you go, let's take a photo. A keepsake."
"Good idea," Yuzhou agreed.
They all brightened. After all, they had survived the end of the world together—surely that deserved to be remembered.
They gathered on the deck of the Artdesis, arranging themselves into a group. Smiles bloomed naturally on their faces, the shadow of farewell unable to blot out the warmth they felt.
"Hey, maybe Norri should take it. That way everyone's in the picture," New City suggested with a grin.
"Wait, wait. I'll handle it." Yuzhou darted into the ship and dragged out a bewildered crew member. "There. Now nobody's missing."
The shutter clicked. A single frame captured them forever: Captain Megumi, Munakata, Daigo and Rena, Horii, New City, Norri, Masaki… and Yuzhou.
"By the way, Captain," Yuzhou said suddenly, turning to Megumi with a sheepish grin. "Could I trouble you for a Victory Hyper Gun?"
Megumi raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? Your frying pan finally not good enough?"
Yuzhou chuckled. "A frying pan can't outshoot a gun, can it?"
She smiled, unholstering her sidearm. "All right. This one's yours. Ammunition's in storage—I'll make sure you get some."
Yuzhou accepted the weapon reverently, then pulled out his trusty pan and set it down. "Then I'll leave this behind, as a souvenir."
Laughter rippled across the deck.
For a while, they talked and joked, unwilling to let the moment end. But soon enough, space itself trembled. A vortex spiraled open above the ship.
"It's time."
Yuzhou waved to them all one last time before the pull seized him. Light swallowed his figure—and he was gone.
Sunlight spilled across the shabby little apartment. Yuzhou blinked at the clock.
Only an hour had passed.
No matter how long he spent in other worlds, here it was always the same. An hour, no more.
He picked up his ordinary phone—no new messages. The one he carried in battle, tucked inside the dimensional bracelet, was for crossing worlds. This one tied him to his own mundane life.
"…I hope I can see them again someday."
He sighed. Maybe in the Great Final War. Maybe in Dyna's world. Both followed Tiga, both could reunite him with the Victory Team.
But if it was only a parallel version… then they'd never remember him. That thought weighed heavy.
Still, reality pressed on. He had class. And despite his wanderings, Yuzhou remained a diligent student.
Morning streets bustled.
"Boss, give me your most expensive buns."
"Sure. Two?"
"Yeah, wrap 'em up."
"That'll be six-fifty. Want soy milk with that?"
"No thanks!"
He walked off chewing a steaming meat bun, already tallying expenses in his head. A frying pan, a tent, rations… shopping list endless, wallet empty.
In Tiga's world, he'd drawn a salary as an advisor. Here, he was broke again.
"Next time I travel, I really need to bring something valuable back. Or I'll starve."
He bit into the bun with determination.
Later, in his Japanese elective, the midterm test began. After so long immersed in Tiga's world, the language flowed from his pen like water. His paper was finished before most had even started.
His classmate, a certain Miss Li, peeked at him in disbelief.
"When did your Japanese get this good?" she whispered after the exam.
"I lived abroad for a while," Yuzhou replied lazily.
She narrowed her eyes. "…I don't believe you."
Yuzhou only smirked, his thoughts drifting between two worlds.