Blade Epilogue

I’m now 20 years old.

It’s been 7 years since Kenzaki departed. 

On that day humanity returned to Earth, Kenzaki and Hajime silently disappeared from our lives. Why? I thought to myself. Everyone was surprised, confused, and hurt. But I feel like I understand how those two felt. Where are they right now? I don’t know. But the memories I have of fighting alongside them will never go away, and I’m sure the same goes for everyone else.  

  

“SOS received! SOS received!” 

Rikiya’s voice brought Tougo back to reality. 

“Got it! Full speed ahead! Let’s rescue them!” 

The island would sink if they didn’t hurry. They had to rescue the remaining inhabitants before that happened. 

They had managed to return to Earth, but it was still a decaying planet on the verge of death.  

But Tougo and everyone else was determined. It was the humans who pushed the planet to this horrible state after the Riders fought to protect it three hundred years ago. Now it was their turn to do something about it. 

Tougo and his crew managed to build a new Ark, and their job was to sail the seas in search of any remaining islands so they could bring their inhabitants to the New Domed City.  

Tougo was assigned as their leader. 

Rikiya was Tougo’s right-hand man, and Takuho took a step back and acted as an observer. 

Ren focused on raising Dai and Mei, as well as serving as the astute right-hand woman of the South Pole’s leader, Azumi. She had the same level of pluck as those old women from the Hole.  

Satsuki served as a backup observer as well. 

Tachihara once again made his debut as a pirate of justice, fighting the evil pirates that sailed the sea. Sometimes he would pass by Tougo’s Ark, and they would always hold up their fists at each other with a smile. 

As for Kojirou, instead of writing a story or a legend, he was determined to continue recording the battles Tougo and the rest went through, and had already written several new books.  

Instead of some other unknown realm, they were now on Earth, and in order to keep surviving on that planet, they had to fight against their own fate. They had to keep fighting. 

That’s what Tougo swore to himself. 

 

---

 

The night smiled, and the sea grew calm. 

Hajime looked at the back of the man crouching at the beach. 

Once per year, the two of them would meet here to confirm the safety of both each other and the planet. 

They would simply silently relax in each other’s company until the sun rose, and that was more than enough for them. 

And then they would once again depart, believing that they were heading towards not despair, but rather hope. 

The man turned around. Kenzaki’s face beamed with his usual friendly and childlike smile. 

The break of dawn was soon upon them. 

  

THE END 

<- Previous Chapter