Fictions Mentioned:

Episode 19

OP Song:

Aoi Kaze No HOPE [HISTORY OF TRUNKS ENDING]

Insert Song: Start

Dies irae - Animation OST: Ewige Wiederkunft

It was very awkward at the moment for George Kurai.

Why was that so?

Well, one would need to start from the very beginning in order to provide context.

It was only a few hours later that all of the Precure and their mascots needed to leave for the moment and head back to their respective homes as it was getting rather late. They all needed respite after being drained both physically in the case of fighting the villains and attempting to change history on both fronts, and mentally in the case of emotional empathy. Nevertheless, all of them will try to visit George Kurai again as they were informed by Commander Ares Mars that many of their classes in their respective schools and throughout the entire nation of Japan would be postponed for the next few days in light of the recent bombing incident of L'Avenir Academy and the recent invasion of Hagukumi City under the directive of the Prime Minister himself.

It was probably a wiser decision in the long run as people may hesitate to even go to school in light of the following circumstances.

"One would also not need to be worried about the property damages of the suburban areas and the other parts of the city that were affected by Ultron as the Bearpenters have been given the clearance to do what is necessary," Commander Ares Mars reassured everyone else, most especially the HUGtto! Precure Team and their love ones since this was their city that had been attacked not too long ago.

And so, everyone went home for the moment. But there was one specific problem that George was now dealing with as he was lying on the bed. And it was Hana Nono who was resting side by side with George in the hospital bed.

He glances at her, located from his right, eyes closed, and breathing softly. Her soft magenta hair was laying near his chest as if to assess his breathing and his palpitating heart that had been worn out through years of hard work and fighting. She was just right near him, her face being quite solemn and smiling softly. Her arms were admittedly a comfort to him, a special type of embrace that was reserved only for him. Both of them are tucked in the blanket, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort.

Of course, he was blushing a little as his cheeks show a hint of red. Who wouldn't be? But embarrassment is the last thing that he's focusing on in his mind and is more concerned about the young woman giving him a hug if anything while sleeping beside him at that.

How did it come to this? He wondered.

After the debriefing bit from Commander Ares Mars regarding the present situation, Hana actually asked if she could have permission to stay for the night, first from the Commander as he was in charge of this military base and second of all to her parents who were there as well as the rest of the families of the Precure. To his surprise, both authorities approved of the decision.

"Of course, you can stay, Hana-chan," Sumire Nono smiled in understanding.

"George-kun needs someone to be there for him and I can't think of anyone better to watch out for him," Shintarou Nono nodded in approval, crossing both of his arms.

He also recalled Tatsuya teasing him about it to no end before he gets ceremoniously dragged out of the room by Kiriya Irizawa.

"Oh come on, Kiriya, why are you just dragging me outside?!" Tatsuya asked in exasperation just as he was getting dragged by the hood of his jacket.

"Because you're the instigator as always so you need to be dealt with extreme prejudice," Kiriya deadpanned.

"Oh come on, you sound like my girlfriend, Kiriya!" Tatsuya complained. If this were an anime, comedic tears would be seen flowing from his eyes.

"Hmmmmmmm," Honoka Yukishiro and the other Precure and mascots were giggling at the sight of their antics.

As for Kiriya, he had already asked Honoka Yukishiro if it were possible that he could stay at her place for the night so that they could at least catch up and for him to explain his side of the story and what he had been doing all this time, to which she accepted as she would be glad to spend time with Kiriya after so very long.

"Well then, I suppose that I should get back to my world for the time being," Misaki Ayuzawa smiled sadly as she rubbed George's head gently before leaving. "See you around, little George," she said, winking at Hana who was looking at her.

"Little?" Yukari Kotozume was amused, hearing the nickname that George had given, interested in the story behind it, putting her right hand to her chin in a pondering and delicate fashion.

"Hmmm," some of the Precure and mascots, and Kotori were giggling while others were amused.

"And if you need me for anything, nephew, know that I won't be far as I too would stay at this base for the time being in order to assist the Bearpenters," Doctor Traum patted George on the shoulder before leaving as well.

And then comes this present situation when everyone else had already left for their homes in order to get a good night's rest.

"...Hana," George spoke softly.

"Hm?" Hana hummed, noticing George calling her as she opened her eyes slightly.

"Why...?" George simply asked. "Why exactly are you sleeping beside me right now?"

"Why you asked?" Hana scrunches her eyebrows, her hands gripping his shirt a little. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I mean, there's plenty of empty hospital beds lying around here for you to use. You didn't need to scoot over to my bed," George pointed out gently, trying to be accommodating in this situation.

"Yada," Hana simply said, concerned.

George simply sighed, surrendering. He didn't have the strength to make a counterargument. Not that he wants to for the sake of accommodating the young woman snuggling close to him.

"Ne..." Hana muttered softly. "Am I the first girl to do this?" she asked, slightly embarrassed as she now realized the position she was in.

George knew what she was asking and simply answered while placing his right hand on her waist. "No, that is if you don't count my mother always doing this whenever my father isn't around because of work."

"?! PffttttttHmmmm," Hana slowly giggled at the answer. "What? Really?"

"Really," George answered seriously. "I don't really count Misaki-neechan as she's always just tucking me to bed and patting my hair when I'm asleep since I was ten," he explained, recalling those times with fondness.

"Oh...I see..." Hana smiled softly. "I'm glad at least...that you weren't alone before we finally met properly."

"Speaking of meeting properly," George turned serious, glancing at Hana who noticed his serious expression. "I'd have to assume that it is in relation to my alternate self from that future that you're probably referring to when it comes to properly meeting me."

"That's right," Hana's face was carrying a saddened expression. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course," George affirmed.

"I was actually...concerned about what you were like. I mean...the George Kurai that I knew had always been this very sad, melancholic person who was always looking at something far away as if it were beyond his reach. He seemed to be gentle, kind, and sophisticated, an overall perfect gentleman. One time, we both talked about our own dreams and he wanted to have everyone keep their smiles."

"By stopping time you mean," George spoke seriously and out of shame.

"Y-Yes," Hana nodded.

"And then the more you got to know him, the more he tried to become close to you in a way that could send the wrong kind of message if you know what I mean as I'd rather not say it out loud," George's self-hatred of himself was seeping through which was noticed by Hana who grew concerned for his mental well being.

"Why do you do that?" Hana asked. "Why do you hate your future self so badly?"

"It's not him specifically that I hate, Hana," George clarified, simplifying as much as he can for Hana. "Rather, I'd hate myself for what I could potentially become. When I compare myself and him together, I realized that we weren't that far off if the circumstances were just right enough. I hated the fact that I'd essentially turn into a person that my parents would never approve of and when I met my future self, I'd ask why. Why would he do this? Had he forgotten that one promise that we had made on our parent's grave? That we could be the best person that they could be proud of. Then he gave me the excuse of me not understanding because I was too young and hadn't experienced the things he'd seen and felt while I'd just call out on his excuses. Call me naïve but I have enough good common sense to know that what he—what I—had done was nothing short of selfishness. I mean the very concept of "stopping time" is already a bad idea when executed in practice. It's just not natural. Preserving smiles for the sake of preventing suffering by the numbers. I'm sorry but I refuse to live in such a world where the moment when time stops, there won't be any genuine smiles left. For me to desire that kind of world just goes to show just how far gone I could potentially become. That George Kurai represents my abyss, my dark side, everything that I loath about myself. That person, the man that I would potentially end up becoming, had hurt people, which cannot be denied. You'd know this better than anyone."

Of course, Hana knew about this. She knew how much the Future George Kurai had done very questionable things, herself being included in said machinations. In fact, she felt both betrayed and afraid of Future George as on the one hand, she had thought that she was a good person at heart. But then, that was one of those flaws that she had which were that she was bad at reading people then. On the other hand, there was that subtle undertone that she lacks context for when it came to Future George and it was that he obviously cared for her well-being and praises her highly.

And then, when she compared the Future George with the Present-Day George, there was a vast difference. They were the same individual but two completely different people who made radically different choices. For Present George was, to her and everyone else's surprise, a Kamen Rider, an actual fictional superhero come to life. Never did she imagine something like that happening. And the more she got to know him, the more she grew more concerned and horrified as she bared witness to a fraction of the life of this Present George. The recent memory is still fresh within her mind. That twisted serenade that was sung by Joker.

She hated every second of it.

"Ne..." Hana softly muttered with a sad smile, looking at George. "You once said that you had been watching out for all of the Precure and that includes me and my friends, right? Because I was just wondering when you first actually saw me before?"

"I was eleven at that time when I first saw you, albeit I was just hiding in the background, and that was the moment when you transformed into a Precure. So technically speaking, I've already met you when you were thirteen but you haven't met me yet in both present and future. Simple time travel logic that may go over your head," George said, his eyes turning in the other direction, his demeanor still carrying a sense of seriousness that mesmerize Hana. "I would have to admit though that when I first saw you, I thought that you were the most beautiful girl that I'd ever seen."

"Eh?!" Hana blushed, surprised and touched at the compliment. "You...You think I'm beautiful?"

"Yes," George spoke with no form of hesitation, honest in delivery. "I was curious at that time. I wanted to find out more about you from what I could get from my future self. There were just hints of you being his sunshine that brightens up his life. That definitely made me curious and so I thought to observe. Over the years, I gradually understood what my other self was talking about. You dreamt of becoming the mature young woman that everyone looks up to and it says a lot from the attempted hairstyle that even looked iconic for you. When people are down, you cheered them on in spite of sometimes being powerless to do anything. Through the many trials that you were given as a Precure, you managed to somehow get back up and fight. Even when your beliefs were challenged, you still managed to pull through and carry on forward. You were strong in spite of your many flaws and you were kind to a fault. It wouldn't be out of place to say that I had a crush on you at that time. You gave me that spark of hope that allowed me to keep moving forward. Yes, I still run away from facing my problems directly from time to time. That is one of my many unfortunate flaws. But when someone is in danger, all bets are off. To hell with my dark future, if someone within my line of sight is in danger, I wouldn't hesitate to lend a helping hand and save them. I cannot just turn a blind eye in spite of my dilemmas. Once I became a Kamen Rider, I knew that I had a lot to live up to the name since I don't just suddenly become a Kamen Rider in spite of being able to transform into one. I promise myself to my parent's grave that I would be the best son that they could definitely be proud of. Now, I doubled my resolve on that promise when I became a Kamen Rider. Being a Kamen Rider means something since being chosen as one, I don't believe it to be some manner of a coincidence since I believe that there is a good reason for that. And since then, I had to live while putting my head held high and keeping my feet on the ground, never looking back and trying to help others as much as I can."

Hana listened. And the more she listened, the more her heart was touched. He didn't hesitate to point out her flaws but he also complimented positively about her. He admired her. He was inspired by her. He wanted to follow her example and hope for the future. That honestly touched her as she begins to look at George in a brand new light. She smiled as she felt a sense of relief that this George wasn't as bad as the one who came before. Since meeting George, she was rather concerned about him as her past experiences with his alternate self were still fresh and replayed in her mind. But then, every single moment that she managed to spend with him proves to her that he is definitely a very different person. And she felt a sense of consolation that she wouldn't have to worry as much as she thought. Plus, it helps at least that he has family, friends, and loved ones by his side.

"I see..." Hana smiled as she laid her head towards George's chest, embracing him gently and tightly as she recalled doing the same thing to Future George in the final moments before the latter had left.

Afterward, much to George's surprise, he felt a gentle kiss on the cheek. He turn to see Hana smiling beautifully at him as she said. "Good night, George." Her eyes closed as she laid her head on George's chest.

"...Good night...Hana," George said a few moments later, his eyes slowly looking straight at the ceiling, pondering what had just happened while of course noting to never mention this experience to anyone. Well, almost anyone that is as it is futile to hide it from those he knew would figure out eventually.

Somewhere in one specific room of the military base, there was a bunker with a bed in place. Tatsuya was sitting on the lower part of the bunk bed, holding his Faizphone X to the side of his right ear.

"And that's pretty much it, Homura-chan. Sorry that I can't come home yet since I'd figure that I need to help my best buddy out for the time being. But then, the benefit of travelling dimensions is that time isn't always synced so I can still head back to the next few hours before I left if you need me for anything," he explained the current situation.

"I see," Homura Akemi, the young woman speaking on the phone, spoke with a cool tone that is characteristically typical of her personality. "Then it can't be helped. Have you at least finished your homework yet?"

"Yes, ma'am," Tatsuya saluted humorously with a smile.

"Have you at least eaten dinner?" Homura asked.

"Yes," Tatsuya said. "I actually had El Chupacabra with the rest of the clones in the cafeteria."

"You didn't drink any beer, did you?" Homura narrowed her eyes a bit.

"No, ma'am," Tatsuya shakes his head. "I'm still physically underage so I don't think I'm ready for that kind of drink yet."

"Good," Homura spoke softly. There was silence on the line for a few moments before Homura continued to speak. "Just stay safe and sound, do you hear me?"

Tatsuya's smile turned to a much solemn expression, recognizing the tone of worry from anywhere. Only two people that he knew that could garner that tone from Homura. His sister and himself.

"Of course, anything for my special lady."

Homura softly smiled from the other side of the phone. "Sweet talker," she said, before hanging up the phone.

After that, the line stopped receiving, having ended the call from several inter-multiversal distances away. Tatsuya begins to deflate a little.

"Awww. I missed Homura-chan already. I'm not really in the mood for sleeping right now. Maybe I should go help Doctor Traum out in the medical bay and see what's happening there."

And so, he begins to stand up and exit the bunker room.

"Are you sure that I should sleep here?" Kiriya asked out of concern and slight embarrassment, sleeping on the floor bed beside Honoka who was smiling at him.

"It's alright," Honoka spoke with a smile as she embraced him. "I trust Kiriya-kun after all. And..." her eyes went teary a little, reminded of times past. "I really did miss you, you know."

They were all in Honoka's room somewhere in the Yukishiro Residence which was more of a traditional style Japanese home for the more wealthy type of individuals. As of now, Honoka Yukishiro was the happiest girl in the world right now.

Why was that so?

Because Kiriya was finally here with her after so very long. She longed for him. She cried for him. She missed him. And now she found him again after so very long. She wanted to relish this moment as long as possible.

"You know, Kiriya-kun," Honoka's eyes turn downwards, smiling sadly. "I never asked this until now but...how?" she asked.

Kiriya knew what she was trying to ask, his expression turning serious. "It's one long story.."

And he started this out by explaining to her in brief summary form of what he had experienced in the last few years. He was somewhat given a second chance in life and retconned into becoming a human being with not a hint or trace of his connection with the Dark King remaining. Now, he was just a human retaining his powers and abilities that developed and trained over time. Professor Paradox, the old man that they already met, advocated for him in the courts of interdimensional law. In light of his sentence that had been ratified, he was sent back in time fourteen years into the past, born as a young baby boy to a very nice couple. And since then, a lot of things had taken place between the lines.

When Kiriya was ten years old, he met up with George and Tatsuya, chosen to be Kamen Rider Woz, and the bonds of friendship only started from there. They have been through many battles, fought against the most dangerous villains, dealt with different kinds of monsters, had fun from the side of the Multiverse, met new people, experienced other worlds, and everything else.

And Honoka listened to every word of it with a smile. Various reactions ranged from curiosity, amazement, giggling, and concern.

"...Wow," Honoka spoke softly with a smile. "You seem to have fun a lot, Kiriya-kun."

"Fun is rather relative, Honoka, especially when you're a Kamen Rider," Kiriya raised his eyes to the ceiling. After a few moments, he simply closed his eyes. "In any case, we should probably get some sleep. Good night, Honoka."

"Umm, good night, Kiriya-kun," Honoka smiled as she also closed her eyes.

Somewhere in the Kaguya Residence, Prime Minister Fuyuki Kaguya was having dinner with his wife and daughter, enjoying the meal.

"Madoka," Fuyuki spoke with concern for his daughter.

"Hm? What is it, otou-sama?" Madoka lowered her utensils, looking at her father and noticing his concern.

"Gather all of your Precure friends, and I mean all of them since they are to come with me by tomorrow morning," Fuyuki spoke politely.

"Why otou-sama? Just what is the occasion?" Madoka asked.

"A gathering of Precure will happen sometime tomorrow. To elaborate, I meant that your senior Precure teams from Futari wa Precure to HUGtto! Precure are to be gathered by tomorrow morning," Fuyuki explained.

"Oh? A gathering of Precure? " Madoka was surprised.

Insert Song: End

Insert Song: Start

[ZAIAE] Kamen Rider 555 OST - Shinichi Ishihara - Dead or alive (RUS\ENG Lyrics)

Nodoka Hanadera, also known as Cure Grace, was simply looking at the night sky. She was right outside her house, both of her arms crossed to her chest, sporting a concerned expression on her face. The breeze coming from the northwest was cooling her skin, her clothes waving in the twilight along with everything else such as the grass.

She looks to the moon and the stars. She seems to be thinking about something. In fact, she was recalling something from long ago.

She recalls a memory once thought forgotten. This was before she became a Precure. This was before she met her wonderful friends and fellow Precure: Chiyu Sawaizumi - Cure Fontaine, Hinata Hiramitsu - Cure Sparkle, and Asumi Fuurin - Cure Earth. This was before she met Rabirin, Pegitan, Nyatoran, and Latte.

The memory was fuzzy at best. A fog suddenly dispersed and made clear. It was a time sometime after leaving the hospital. She could recall little by little how she was lying on the ground after what amounted to a very exhaustive amount of physical exertion. In other words, she was running. And she tripped. All she felt at that time was a sense of fear as she stared at someone that was coming close to her.

What was weird for her was that this someone was a fictional character.

He was wearing a black body suit with yellow lines running along the arms and legs. The torso armor was grey and rounded with shoulder pads attached, with more yellow lines running through it to connect to a belt. The hands had metal fingertips with bands on the wrists and elbows. The helmet was a small silver mouthpiece that had designs that resembled teeth.

Kamen Rider Kaixa.

But why? Why was he here? Why was he in this memory that she had long forgotten but was now suddenly recalling?

"Mari..." he said. "Mari...Mari...Please come with me..."

He seemed to be mistaking her for someone named Mari. She didn't know why this was happening as she was confused at seeing this. Maybe it was just a nightmare. Maybe she can probably wake up. Maybe she can find herself back on that bench and confirm to herself that maybe it was all just a dream.

But this felt real. The terror felt real. She was simply trying to deny the reality that she feels right about now. The cold sense that she was abandoned to this wretched fate. But why? Hasn't she suffered more than enough?

And then, she recalled this armored warrior getting blasted away several meters from her position, seeing multiple sparks fly like fireworks.

Standing right in front of her, jumping into the fray, was a young man, twelve years of age, wearing a blue coat with white lines, a black shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes. He looks back at Nodoka who was lying on the floor, his expression showing a gentle accommodation of her and this messed-up situation that she finds herself in.

"Are you alright?" he asked, wielding what appeared to be a type of weapon that reminded one of those tokusatsu toys relating to Kamen Rider. A Zikan Girade in gun mode.

"Ye...Yes," Nodoka nodded, surprised at the sudden rescue.

"Good," the young man said as he turns back to Kaixa, his right hand no longer carrying the Zikan Girade and holding on to a special type of watch, pressing the crown button.

ZI-O! ZIKU-DRIVER!

A digital hologram of a clock-based helmet appeared from the watch before it dissipated. Suddenly, there was a transformation belt automatically materializing into his waist and wrapping around his entire person. It was white-grey in color, on the front of it had a display screen with two available slots protruding on each side of the belt for inserting the Ridewatches and a crown button on top.

George begins to insert the Ridewatch on the right side of the slot and it begins on standby as a sound of a clock ticking comes from the driver itself. He presses the button on top of the driver with his right hand, making the main driver tilt counterclockwise a little as he raises his arms to his right side before he moved over his head as they eventually landed in position. His left hand raised to the upper right side with his left palm outwards while his right was by the hip with his right palm open. It was similar to the movement of the hands of the clock.

As he was doing that, a giant holographic clock formed behind him with several different gears around it turning and the clock hands spinning counterclockwise. He was ready as he flick his hands and was about to say the word that will shock Nodoka who was watching as they slowly but surely recognize what she was seeing with her own eyes.

"("It can't be...")," she thought back then.

But now...

"George..."

The Present-Day Nodoka muttered softly as she looks at the night sky, recalling the name of a young man that she had met in the past. He was twelve years old, serious in demeanor, and yet kind to a fault.

"Henshin!"

He backhanded the driver as it spins 340° counterclockwise until it went back to its original position while bringing his arms in an X pattern before bringing them back to his sides. The clock hand from the holographic clock spins together at the twelfth before splitting to the sides, the small hand landed on the ten and the big hand landed on the two. The pink katakana word spelled 'Rider' formed under the clock hand. The katakana pulsed outwards, launching them ahead of him as three holographic watch bands circle around him forming his armor. They dissipated a moment later as he was now officially in his armor.

DING! DONG!

RIDER TIME! KAMEN RIDER! ZI-O!

It consists of a jet-black suit with a silver band in the center with silver ornaments on the sides of his shoulder and chest armor with pink highlights, and pink highlights on the hips and forelegs. On his forearms are the Ridewatch holders carrying two blank watches on his right and one on his left, he had a silver Ridewatch that says 'Bike' in Japanese carried on his left holder. His hands are black with pink armor on his fingers and backhand. His helmet looks like a clock with a white clock piece with the symbol that spelled 'Kamen' on the forehead, and a black visor until the Katakana flew back and slammed into his visor as it shines brightly in pink.

Now...

George Kurai has become Kamen Rider Zi-O.

ZIKAN GIRADE! KEN!

He was raising his Zikan Girade, preparing himself for battle.

"Stay here," the young man said, narrowing his eyes.

Nodoka recalled this battle as if it were happening right in front of her. She grew troubled. Why did she forget this incident? This was before everything that had happened to her. This was before she became a Precure. One would think that this memory would have stayed with her. And yet, she forgot. Did something erase her memories of that time? And if so, why?

She asked these questions as she looks to the sky.

"Nodoka."

She looks back to find her fairy partner, Rabirin, floating towards her from her right side, showing a concerned expression.

"What is it, rabi?" she asked.

Nodoka didn't know how to respond to her question. She only glances back at the sky, thinking of the young man that she could now remember, feeling her heart soaring through the heavens as deep pondering thoughts turn to her mind.

"George..." she muttered softly.

Somewhere in the background, there was a man with a white jacket, a black shirt, a silver bling necklace, black pants, and sports shoes. His arms were crossed and he was carrying a smirk that was both a sign of amusement and concern.

"Yare, yare," the man said. "It seems that her memory of that time is returning."

Daiki Kaito, also known as Kamen Rider Diend, was shaking his head as he recalls his student, George Kurai - Kamen Rider Zi-O.

"Well, George, I hope you're ready for that one unexpected reunion besides your Flower, since another Flower decided to blossom at the right moment. This could get interesting," he said.

Insert Song: End

ED Song:

Closing Theme Kamen Rider Black RX

New Characters:

Homura Akemi - VA: Chiwa Saitō

Mitsuka Kaguya - VA: Hekiru Shiina

Madoka Kaguya/Cure Selene - VA: Mikako Komatsu

Nodoka Hanadera/Cure Grace - VA: Aoi Yūki

A.R. Masato Kusaka/A.R. Kamen Rider Kaixa - A: Kōhei Murakami

Daiki Kaito/Kamen Rider Diend - A: Kimito Totani