Then the dream started.
It was the same dream he'd had every night since he'd been time, though,Kotetsu did something different. He didn't save the boy. He grabbed the boy's shoulder and let the flames crawl up his arm. For the first time, Kotetsu got a good look at the true face under the flames. All this time it had been his own. Every night he had the dream, he had the chance to save himself, and he had just let himself burn. Tomoe had been trying to save him. No, Kotetsu! He knew he hadn't made the "right" choice. The choice to save the boy. He had chosen to die with him, instead. But he also knew that this was the last time he'd ever have this dream. In the morning, he'd call Barnaby and explain everything. He'd spend time with Alice and Kaede. Tease his brother. Give his mom a hug. And then he'd find Ouroboros... And burn them to the ground.
*Author's Note: I didn't use this ending because it seemed out of character for Kotetsu to choose to become either a vigilante or a villain. At least with all of his loved ones still alive. I didn't really delve too much into his interactions with his team, but that was mostly because this is set after Kotetsu has lost his powers. The stories more about the effects of what the last story did to him and how he's going to move forward from there. Therefore, despite the longer story, no action happens. For now, Kotetsu's going to focus on being a good father to Kaede and Alice, before he reconnects with the hero world by becoming a teacher. As for Barnaby... I kind of sent him into a corner didn't I?