The man’s name is Ittetsu Morikuni.

As the leader of Japan’s first anti-mysterious being organization, the Justice Five, he is the man who shouldered the future of Japan. Together with his four friends, he is the oldest hero who had protected Japan during its post war period of rapid economic growth from all kinds of mysterious being threats.

In a hero team, as a general rule, “red” is the leader, and it is a tradition that was started with this man.

『Do you hear me, Morikuni!　The fate of Hero Headquarters depends on you!　Do whatever you can to defeat the mysterious beings and get Kirika back!』

「……Geez, that bastard Tanba, as usual, saying unreasonable things」

30 years of being a hero, and 20 years since he retired from the front lines.

Now sixty-eight years old, Morikuni is once again on the front lines.

As the area around Haneda was scorched to the ground, the battle between the oldest hero and the strongest mysterious being was reaching its climax.

Morikuni’s deadly aka-punch was blocked by the hard shell, and Kirika’s deadly energy cannon was narrowly dodged. Without being able to strike a decisive blow, the only sound was the clash of their fists.

「It’s been a long time since anyone has stood up to my aka punches like this.」

「That’s an honor… isn’t it, Director Morikuni…!」

「But those at your level, I was been able to sweep them up and throw them away during my active career.」

Morikuni, spat this out, swung his red fist in the air. Kirika, too, responded with a fist wrapped in black armor.

When their fists collided head-on, the air shook thunderously.

The power of the two is completely equal… not. The blown black body rolls down the edge of the runway.

「Uaaaaaaaah!!!」

「Looks like you’re still lacking in experience, chick.」

「Ugu…… Gugugu……」

In terms of physical performance, the dark mysterious being Drakirika outperformed Aka Justice. However, considering the difference in performance, Morikuni still outclassed Kirika.

It could be a minor tactic or a slight shift in the center of gravity. The difference in their abilities was due to the difference in experience and know-how accumulated over the past 50 years.

「Come on, let me give you guidance… Funh!」

「…………!」

Morikuni grabbed the long tail coming up behind him without even a glance. This was despite the fact that the attack came from his blind spot.

「Hmm. After being shown such a difference in power, are you still playing with your little tricks?」

Kirika’s face is filled with astonishment as he saw through her secret plan so easily.

Morikuni just swung Kirika’s body around with force while holding on to her tail. The body, thrown in the manner of a giant swing, slammed into the wall of the airport terminal.

Kirika was buried in the rubble, struggling to catch her breath.

「Because you learn only superficial tricks and neglect basic training, you couldn’t stand your ground when the time comes.」

「Goho……At this late stage, are you preaching again? You are really getting old…….」

「You’re in for a rude awakening, girl.」

Morikuni pulled his thick arm like the firing pin of a gun toward the fully wounded Kirika. Every cell in her body screamed, and Kirika intuitively knew that the next fist would be unavoidable. Morikuni was right, the curtain was coming down.

「I promised Senpai that I would do it……」

「Hoo, you can still stand up.」

In the back of her mind were the days of rigorous training at the Hero School. The hands-on training at Victor Ranger, where she was burning with a vengeance. The bitter defeat that made her realize how small she was.

The first snow that fell with tears in his warm embrace. The beating of his heart that she could surely feel when they were skin to skin.

In all of them, there was always one man at the center. Kirika stood up on her unsteady feet, stepping on the rubble.

「It must be a very important promise. I’m sorry, miss, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to make that happen.」

「I will make it come true, my precious promise, my dream……」

「Then, blow me away and show me how you overcome this situation, Mayuzumi Kirikaaa!!」

「From now on, I’m going to have a lot of children with my senpai!!!!」

A flash of red and a bolt of black lightning collide.

The impact causes a crack in the earth, splitting the runway in half.

Kirika’s fist, carrying her whole heart, made Morikuni’s body sizzle and retreat.

But just as Kirika bears her feelings for Rintaro. Morikuni, too, bears the burden of the Hero Headquarters and, by extension, the nation of Japan.

「Nuuuuuuoooooooooooooooooohhh!!!!!」

Morikuni’s fist flared bright red and pushed Kirika back at once. The black shell covering Kirika’s arm cracked in the face of the out-of-the-standard power.

「Sen…… pai……!」

Is this the man who has been defending his country for 50 years? Kirika’s face contorted in pain, and immediately afterward a red shockwave enveloped her body.

A soft floating sensation enveloped Kirika’s body as she closed her eyes. It was as if an angel was taking her beyond the sky, and she was embraced by this sensation.

There is no pain, is this what death is like?

「Wake up Mayuzumi, or I’ll scribble on your forehead again.」

When Kirika slowly opened her eyes -.

-the green mask was shining in the sunlight.

The man gently holds Kirika’s body and flutters down to the roof of the airport terminal.

「Hooh, so there is another “impertinent” one……」

「No, Hahaha, nothing will come out of praising me, Chief Morikuni. If you praise the receptionist at the orthopedic clinic, you may be able to get a lot of medicine.」

「You’re a soft-spoken man… Are the mysterious beings these days as gullible as you?」

「Ahh, that’s bad. If the world is full of good men like me, it will become a battle for good women.」

Rintaro gently lowered the wounded Kirika and gently took her hand. This was not only a sign of appreciation for her efforts, but also a confirmation of his intention to continue the battle.

「Hey Mayuzumi, sorry to break this to you, but can you still shoot the laser that brought down King Victory in Antarctica?」

「……I think I can shoot it one more time.」

「Well done. I don’t have enough cards to silence that old man. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you to take a good rest」

「I don’t mind. I’m used to your reckless behavior.」

Kirika grabbed Rintaro’s hand and put her weight on his arm and stood up. The two mysterious beings are tightly bound by a thread of trust and faced off against the oldest hero.

「I think I can assume that you have made up your mind. Let’s get serious, mysterious beings!」

「Well then, I think it’s time for the old man to retire.」

The bell rang for the second round between the Hero Headquarters and the mysterious beings.

---

<79: Tokyo Bay Ragnarok
81: Director of Hero Headquarters, Ittetsu Morikuni>