"It seems the fighter you found from another world is very strong."
The match had entered its final stage. Erina leaned against Jaden's shoulder, watching Baki exchange blows with Gensai Kuroki, and spoke with a faint smile.
"I originally thought Gensai Kuroki would definitely take the Demon Spear title, but now it looks like Baki will probably win."
"Yeah..."
Watching Baki grow stronger with every exchange, Jaden also smiled lightly.
He had anticipated this result, yet he still felt genuinely pleased.
"Baki's state before entering the tournament was very similar to mine back when I participated in the Kengan Annihilation Tournament. Our reasons were different, but I was the same back then-unable to find a clear reason to fight. I felt like I could quit at any time and do something else, but if I truly let go, it would feel empty. Seeing others burning with passion made me want to fight too, even though I didn't know why..."
"It was in that state that I truly made the Demon Spear title famous."
"I was like that back then. And now, handing this title to Baki, who's in a similar place... it's also my way of formally saying goodbye to the Kengan arena."
Jaden had no intention of continuing as an active fighter in Kengan after getting married.
That was something he and Erina had already agreed on.
Part of it was because he needed more time to think about their future together. The other part was simple-this arena could no longer contain him.
Occasional guest appearances in the future wouldn't be a problem.
But Jaden would no longer be a full-time fighter.
In that sense, he was much like Erina herself. Though she still nominally worked at Totsuki, most of her responsibilities had already been handed over to Alice and the others. Jaden was in a similar position.
"Baki's going to win."
Erina spoke suddenly, and Jaden nodded.
Almost as soon as their conversation ended, the result was decided.
The victor was-Baki Hanma.
And the Demon Spear title, once belonging to Jaden, was now officially his.
Afterward, Erina went to announce the results and handle the follow-up matters in her role as Chairman of the Kengan Association.
Jaden, meanwhile, escorted Baki to the cross-world transport gate invented by Old Man Kaiba.
"It looks like you've found your path," Jaden said at last, breaking the silence.
Baki turned back and nodded.
"Yeah... But Yuki, are you really done fighting?"
His expression was unusually serious.
Jaden didn't need Observation Haki to understand what he was thinking. He smiled and patted Baki on the shoulder.
"You're still a long way from challenging me. As for whether I'll fight again, don't worry. I may not fight often, but if you can keep up with my growth... I might jump out again someday, just like I did in that underground tournament, and teach you guys a lesson."
The pat nearly knocked Baki off balance. He adjusted his breathing, then smiled.
"In that case, I'm relieved."
He stepped toward the portal. As the light flared, he spoke without turning back.
"Yuki-when I get back, I'll challenge the people you defeated. I'll also make time to fight that bastard of a father of mine. And finally-"
The portal's light reached its peak. His voice was swallowed, and whatever he meant to say was lost.
Only then did he turn around, looking at Jaden with complete seriousness.
Jaden nodded.
And Baki returned to his own world.
"That brat..."
Jaden smiled, shook his head, and turned to look for Erina.
...
Sending Baki off felt like sending away his own past.
On the way back to the Totsuki building, he felt an unexpected emptiness.
Ever since arriving here, he had been doing things like this-moving forward, fighting, finishing one goal after another. And today, he had finally said goodbye to all of it. For a brief moment, he genuinely didn't know what to do next.
He felt aimless.
Carrying that feeling, he walked out of the city and onto a quiet suburban road. Fields stretched out on both sides, bathed in the cleanest, warmest afternoon sunlight just past noon.
There was none of the city's bustle.
No towering steel buildings.
Only openness.
And emptiness.
Just like how he felt.
But when he reached the entrance of the Totsuki building, he saw a car waiting there-no one knew how long it had been waiting. Erina stood beside it, wearing a sun hat and a white dress, directing waiters as they loaded luggage into the trunk.
Jaden smiled.
At that moment, the clouds overhead were blown away by the wind, and the already-bright sunlight became even purer.
He walked over to her.
"My business here... is finished."
After a moment of thought, that was what he said.
"So is mine," Erina replied.
They looked at each other.
With just a glance, they understood-they had both felt the same thing moments earlier.
A sudden freedom after long, intense busyness.
And a brief sense of being lost.
But as soon as they met each other's eyes, they also realized something else.
They weren't truly free at all.
They had already decided to travel through Great Xia. The tickets were bought. The Totsuki resort had prepared their accommodations.
Yet they still hadn't figured out where to go first, or how to plan the journey.
After that, there was the marital home.
The wedding.
When to have children.
How many.
Their education.
Their future.
Undoubtedly-
They had said goodbye to their past selves.
Having been freed from the life of a single person endlessly chasing a goal, the next stage was about two people finding new goals together-and moving toward them together.
That was life.
So-
"Erina, please take care of me from now on."
"Jaden, please take care of me."
They greeted each other as formally as they had when they first met-no, even more formally than that.
Then they smiled.
Got into the car together.
And let the driver carry them away from the past, onto a brand-new road.
It could be called a farewell.
But life only ever has beginnings.
Stories end.
Life goes on.
Their story ends here-
But their life together is just beginning.
THE END