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"Ace... do we really have to fight with Keiwa after this?"
"Well, there's no other way to go with this. After all, the management would have done all they can to make sure that Tycoon have no choice but to kill me."
"Really! But why did things have to come to this point?"
Neon let out a long sigh as she slowly dragged her feet to head to her apartment. But the talk she had with Ace earlier just made her feel a bit depressed.
Not that she wasn't happy that she was able to fight as a Kamen Rider again, but a part of her also wished... that perhaps she could've gained this power before all of the bad things have happened. If only she had this power earlier... perhaps Sara-san won't—!
And perhaps Keiwa also... would still be on their side—
"Heh... why so glum? I thought you'd be so happy today since you're a Kamen Rider again..."
Neon let out a surprised gasp as she turned around to see Keiwa leaning on a pillar nearby.
"Keiwa—!" exclaimed Neon as Keiwa stepped out from the shadows.
Keiwa let out a snicker. "I heard you really did Beroba-san quite a number—Did Ace give you that power?"
Neon bit her lips and she tried to speak out, "Yes, Ace did help but it's not just him—!"
"Heh!" Keiwa let out a bitter snort. "So he can just lend you a hand just like that. But when I asked for help before—!"
"Keiwa! It's not like that—!", Neon started to say. "Please come back to us! It doesn't have to come to this—we don't really have to fight each other like this!"
"Oh yeah, we do! I have to take down Ace so that the second Goddess would be completed! And then, I can get back my family the way it should be!"
"By sacrificing Tsumuri-san? Keiwa, this is not like the usual you! You used to be such a kind person!"
She thought that she could try to remind Keiwa of the kind of person he used to be. Then perhaps she could try to change his mind! Because she still thought of Keiwa as her friend! And Sara-san... Sara-san wouldn't have wanted him to do all this just to bring her back. And Ace... She was sure that Ace would figure out a way—!
Keiwa just laughed at her bitterly.
"This is not like the usual me? What kind of person did you think I used to be before?"
Neon started to open her mouth to say something but Keiwa cut her off right away.
"Being nice... and acting kind doesn't always help," he said suddenly as Keiwa glared at Neon. "Isn't that what you used to say, Neon-SAN?"
Keiwa gritted his teeth at her. "And how did being kind benefit me now? How did being kind do any good to me when almost constantly that very kindness had been used against me? When my being earnest to help ended up allowing people to manipulate me to do what they wanted so that they can have the bigger advantage? When my being nice made people assume that they can just pile everything on me—because sure Sakurai Keiwa was a really nice person he can take all the shit you can give him, yes HE'S SUCH A BLEEDING HEART HE CAN TAKE IN EVERY ABUSE YOU'D GIVE HIM BUT I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
Keiwa gave Neon an almost maniacal look she had never seen on his face.
"Back then... during that Zombie game, I helped you out by letting you use the Boost buckle I got and helped you overturn your situation. But what happened afterwards? When I asked for us to help each other to save my sister from the final boss, you guys refused outright to help me. Because your own wishes were more important than helping a friend. And back then, I had to rely on myself to get things done! This time is the same as well! I'll get my family if it's the last thing I'd do!"
"Keiwa!" Neon cried again, as tears started to fall freely from her eyes. "I—fine, I was wrong back then! And so many things had changed between us since then. And Keiwa, this time should be different. Ace will—Ace should make things right again! He really wanted to create a world where everyone could be happy! And that includes you too, Keiwa! Surely Ace will—!"
Keiwa's body just shook in anger as Neon finished talking. "My sister... died inside that world he created before!" He shook his head vehemently at her. "Because someone didn't think that there would be people who would make use of the existence of the remaining Jyamato for their own selfish purposes and cause so much hurt towards other people! Because someone thought that EVERYONE deserved to regain all of their memories and try to fulfil their dreams without considering that there are people whose 'dreams' are to CAUSE HURT AND SUFFERING TO SOMEONE ELSE!"
Tears started to well inside Keiwa's eyes as he spoke out with repressed anger and sorrow to the point that Neon couldn't even form a proper sentence to try to counter what Keiwa had just said to her. Because she realised that what Keiwa said had some truth in it and she couldn't even deny any of it to be false or incorrect!
Keiwa shook his head violently.
"No more! I will not trust anyone else to get the world that I want to take back! I'll fight for my own happiness myself even if it meant someone else had to suffer! That'll be my vengeance!"
With that, Keiwa disappeared back into the shadows leaving Neon alone to cry by herself.
But really...
Must they really fight with Keiwa? She didn't want that at all!
All she wanted was for the four of them to fight on the same side again. Was that such a hard thing to ask for?