In the end, everything could only be decided when the time came.
Yu Zhou didn't dwell on it further. Anyway, it wasn't his problem — the burden was all on the Ultra King.
After all, Ultra Capsules weren't limited to just a few. Yu Zhou remembered from the original storyline that there was a chubby guy and a couple of kids who had them too. Maybe their light just hadn't awakened yet, so they hadn't been found.
Still, Yu Zhou decided to try his luck searching around town. In truth, it was mostly because he was bored of staying cooped up at home all day — he just wanted to stretch his legs.
Grabbing a cup of milk tea from a street stall, he strolled along while sipping leisurely.
The warm sunlight spilled across his shoulders. Yu Zhou exhaled in comfort. This… this is the kind of life I like best.
Free, unrestrained. Do whatever you want. No burdens. No endless studying—
…Well, okay, studying was still necessary. After all, Yu Zhou prided himself on being a model young man.
Just as he was relaxing, a sharp slap! cracked through the air up ahead.
"Scumbag!"
Yu Zhou looked over and saw a woman strike the man beside her, yelling furiously.
Not far from them, he spotted Asakura Moa chasing after a girl who looked a few years younger. The girl was cute, wearing a black T-shirt, darting around playfully.
"Wow, handsome guy!"
The girl suddenly pointed in Yu Zhou's direction, shouting to Moa. Then, without hesitation, she dashed straight toward him.
"Eh?" Yu Zhou blinked. Did my handsomeness finally get recognized in public?
"That's…" Moa froze when she saw where the girl was pointing. Isn't that Yu Zhou? Riku's friend… and Ultraman Tiga?!
Before she could react further, the girl had already bounded up to Yu Zhou.
"Handsome guy, tell me — do you have a girlfriend?"
"…Huh? No." Yu Zhou was stunned but shook his head.
"Really? Then… will you be my boyfriend?" The girl fired the question without the slightest hesitation.
Yu Zhou: "???"
What's wrong with this girl's brain? Who confesses straight out of nowhere like this?
Did she think she could do whatever she wanted just because she was pretty?
"Sorry, you're cute, but I refuse." Yu Zhou tossed his empty milk tea into a trash can, waved her off, and walked past.
"Eh???"
The girl's smile froze. She had asked so many boys before, and every single one had fallen for her looks instantly. But this guy — not only was he unmoved, he outright rejected her?
"I said no," Yu Zhou repeated, exasperated. "What, are your ears broken too?"
"I don't believe it!"
The girl puffed her cheeks in disbelief, then suddenly puckered her lips and blew him a kiss.
A glowing orange sphere shot out of her mouth, drifting toward Yu Zhou.
"…What the hell?" Yu Zhou blinked, staring at the floating light.
Before he could think further—
"Yu Zhou! What a coincidence!"
Moa hurried over, greeting him warmly.
"Eh? Moa, you know this handsome guy?" the girl asked in surprise.
At the same time, the orange light touched Yu Zhou and sank into him.
The girl froze again, then sighed. "So it's true… you really don't want to be my boyfriend."
Yu Zhou suddenly remembered. Right — this girl was a Zobetaian. Her race could read minds by sending out those "light-kiss" orbs.
AIB had brought her from Planet Zobeta to read the thoughts of a rampaging monster. But instead, she'd adopted the name Tomoko, declaring that she wanted to stay on Earth to find a boyfriend. Apparently, it was "trendy" among aliens these days to date humans.
What is this, "My Love from the Star" in real life? Yu Zhou thought wryly.
"Moa, who's this?" he asked, though he already knew.
"Oh, her name's Tomoko," Moa introduced, smiling. Honestly, she thought Tomoko's obsession with finding a boyfriend was pretty ridiculous. But Yu Zhou was single… and good-looking… maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea if the two hit it off?
"Nice to meet you, Yu Zhou! I'm Tomoko!" the girl beamed.
"Mm." Yu Zhou nodded curtly. "If there's nothing else, I'll get going."
With that, he turned and started walking toward Galaxy Mart. Might as well — if he was bored, sitting around there was fine too.
Tomoko stared at his retreating back, stunned. Then she turned to Moa with a baffled face.
"Moa… he's not into men, is he?"
"…Maybe?" Moa said helplessly, not sure what else to say.
The truth was, Tomoko really was stunning. Moa had already seen several guys on the street fall under her spell. Some even had girlfriends standing right there — one poor guy got slapped and called a scumbag just moments ago.
But Yu Zhou? He'd flat-out rejected her. It was unreal.
"M-Maybe Yu Zhou's just… special," Moa offered gently.
"Special?" Tomoko tilted her head. Did that mean he was Moa's crush, so he was off-limits?
"You mean he's your love interest?"
"Ehh?!" Moa's face went crimson. "No, I—"
Before she could finish, Tomoko blew another kiss — the glowing sphere smacked right into Moa's face.
In an instant, Tomoko grinned knowingly.
"Ohhh, I get it now. Moa's crush is actually Yu Zhou's friend. So it's unrequited love, huh?"
Moa froze, then covered her face in embarrassment.
"And Yu Zhou himself—he's Ultraman Tiga?! That's amazing!"
"Shhh!" Moa panicked, clapping her hands over Tomoko's mouth. "Don't say that out loud!"
"Okay, okay!" Tomoko giggled, eyes sparkling. "Then let's go to Galaxy Mart and meet your crush!"
"Wait—what?!" Moa's jaw dropped.
Meanwhile, at Galaxy Mart—
Yu Zhou was sitting back, snacking on chips and watching the manager lug a heavy box with some difficulty.
"Need a hand, manager?" Yu Zhou asked casually.
"No, no, I've got it," the man puffed, setting the box down before catching his breath.
"…Moa actually likes that type?!"
Not far away, Tomoko peeked inside and immediately mistook the manager as the friend Moa secretly admired.
She couldn't resist. Time to test him.
"Hey, uncle?" she called, striding up to the manager and staring at him intently.
"Hm? Little girl?" The manager blinked, confused.
"Do you like Moa?" Tomoko asked bluntly — then fired a glowing kiss-orb at him.
Yu Zhou just sat back in his chair, expression deadpan, as if enjoying a free stage play.
The manager couldn't see the orb, but at the question, he smiled gently. "Of course I like her."
Tomoko's eyes lit up as the orb relayed his true feelings.
Amazing! Moa's crush liked her back!