"...Huh?"
Subaru's expression froze. "Kamen Rider"? What was that? A medicinal herb? A person's name? Or a place name? Although it sounded like the special effects show called [Kamen Rider] from her previous world... And what did "update" mean? Before coming to this world? That couldn't be right, could it? It sounded like he was asking... right?
Carlisle watched Subaru's frozen expression, and he leaned in slightly.
"Hmm... Didn't hear me clearly? It's that special effects show. You mentioned Masaki Suda(1)... I thought you followed it."
Subaru's breathing suddenly became erratic, her chest heaving violently: "You... you... you you..." Countless overlooked details flashed through her mind-
Memories replayed like a rapidly spinning lantern.
"Wait... those words I casually said before... RPG games, movies, taking a break from school... You never once asked what they meant... I thought..." Her throat suddenly tightened, "I thought you just weren't interested..."
Carlisle's eyes narrowed slightly, a secret smile that Subaru had never noticed before. "Subaru finally understands?"
Subaru stared intently at the face she saw every day and night. Sunlight filtered through his blue hair, outlining a profile she had never truly seen clearly.
"Yeah... How could I only realize it now!" She suddenly shrieked, grabbing Carlisle's collar. "That protective magic! The incantation you always chant... English doesn't even exist in this world!"
— — — — — —
Subaru and Carlisle leaned side-by-side against the stone wall. Rem stood quietly to the side, and although she didn't understand any of the unfamiliar words in their conversation, seeing Subaru regain her spirits, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
"How many years have you been here?" Subaru asked softly, leaning against the wall.
"Nineteen years," Carlisle replied, looking up at the sky. Sunlight shimmered in his azure eyes.
"Huh?" Subaru suddenly turned her head, her black hair brushing Carlisle's shoulder. "Then Carlisle, it's more like reincarnation than transmigration, isn't it? Nineteen years ago..." Her eyes widened. "I wasn't even born yet!"
"Kamen Rider..." Subaru suddenly frowned. "Wait, that's not right!"
"What's not right?" Carlisle turned his face.
"You just mentioned Masaki Suda, which means you've seen 'W(2)'?"
"Of course," Carlisle answered without hesitation. "Shotaro and Philip's partnership is the best."
"This is even more wrong!" Subaru suddenly straightened up, gesticulating excitedly with her fingers. "If you reincarnated nineteen years ago, that would have been 1997, and 'Kuuga(3)' hadn't even aired yet!"
Carlisle's body suddenly stiffened, and he slowly turned to look at Subaru. "Subaru... what year was it when you crossed over?"
"2016," Subaru blinked. "What's wrong? You're suddenly so serious..."
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.
"2025," Carlisle's voice was as dry as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. "I came from that time."
A strange silence spread between the two. The chirping of birds in the trees suddenly became exceptionally piercing.
"2025?!" Subaru suddenly grabbed Carlisle's collar. "Nine years later?! Wait... when Carlisle was over there, how old were you in 2016?"
"nine years old," Carlisle replied softly.
"That young?!" Subaru's voice suddenly rose. She suddenly realized something and took half a step back. "Which means... when 'I' crossed over, 'you' were still a..."
Carlisle nodded thoughtfully, the sunlight dancing in his blue hair. "It seems the flow of time in our two worlds isn't the same."
He suddenly noticed Subaru's unusual behavior. The girl was covering her face tightly with both hands, her ear tips so red they looked like they were bleeding, and muffled sounds escaped through her fingers.
Carlisle sighed helplessly, reaching out to pull away her hands covering her face. "Actually, if you count by psychological age, I've long since..."
"That's not it!" Subaru suddenly dropped her hands, interrupting him, her golden eyes sparkling with indignation. "You don't look like an old man at all in your current state!" She poked Carlisle's chest indignantly. "And! I really want to know how you developed this kind of personality! How can a normal person..."
Carlisle suddenly laughed, a nostalgic smile that Subaru couldn't understand. "That's a truly nostalgic question."
"Huh?" Subaru was stunned.
"In my original world... almost every day someone would ask me that..." His voice gradually lowered. "Is my personality... really that strange?"
"Strange?!" Subaru waved her arms exaggeratedly. "This personality is a miracle, okay! Why would a double buff of modern and Another World cultivate a saint-like personality?!"
"A saint, you say..." Carlisle turned his face away, embarrassed.
Subaru suddenly pounced and covered his mouth. "No false modesty! Isn't this kind of modesty just a tacit admission?!"
When Subaru finally finished her antics, Carlisle gazed at the panting girl in front of him. Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy color, and her golden eyes sparkled anew; the previous gloom and despair had long vanished without a trace. The sunlight gently enveloped the three of them, casting overlapping shadows on the ground.
For the rest of the time, they chatted about trivial topics like two ordinary college students.
"What did you say?! 'One Piece' still hasn't ended?!"
"Yeah, the anime has already surpassed the 1000-episode mark..."
"You're lying! Then... what about 'Detective Conan'?"
...Conan-kun is still bravely attending elementary school."
...That, at least, is completely expected..."
"Oh, right, right! What about the Kamen Rider series? What's the first Rider of the Reiwa era? Tell me quickly!"
"...I think it's better if we change the subject."
"Eh~ Why? Is it a really bad work?"
"Speaking of which... Subaru, do you know who the most popular virtual streamer in Japan is right now?"
"Wait! You were clearly avoiding the question just now! How bad is the first Rider of Reiwa really? Is it worse than 'Ghost'?"
"..."
"Why aren't you answering me! At least... at least tell me how many times Masaki Suda returned later! I was... I was really looking forward to him playing Philip again..."
"Well... I'll tell you once you successfully don't pick at your food for a week."
— — — — — —
Subaru looked up, watching the sun gradually setting in the sky, casting her shadow long on the ground. She could clearly hear her heart beating faster.
"It's... time."
She took a deep breath and turned to the knight beside her. The sunlight outlined Carlisle's profile with a soft glow, and his azure eyes reflected the approaching twilight.
"Carlisle..." Subaru slowly extended her right hand, palm facing upwards. Her Fingers trembled slightly, but remained steadfast in mid-air. "Let's go."
A breeze swept by, lifting the wisps of hair from her forehead. The outstretched hand appeared exceptionally slender in the setting sun.
"I don't want to..." Her voice suddenly choked, but quickly became firm again. "See any tragedy repeat itself. So this time... I will definitely succeed!"
The flame of determination burned in her golden eyes.
"Therefore..." Her fingers gently curled and then unfurled, "Lend me your strength, Carlisle."
Carlisle gazed at the hand before him, under Rem's bated breath, Carlisle slowly knelt on one knee. He gently cupped Subaru's hand with his palm.
He lowered his head, his lips lightly touching the back of Subaru's hand.
The moment he looked up, the sky was perfectly reflected in his eyes.
"My sword is forever yours to command."
Subaru felt a warm liquid slide down her cheek. They were not tears of fear, but the reassurance of finally finding a place. She firmly squeezed his hand, pulling Carlisle to his feet.
"It's a deal, then." Her smile sparkled in the sunset. "This time... we will definitely create our own ending."
T/N- (1) Masaki suda- Japanese actor and singer, he played main role in movie 'Kamen Rider W' as Philip.
(2) W- Short for movie 'Kamen Rider W'
(3) Kuuga- Kamen rider drama series.