Volume 13 Chapter 368 Yamada Maruo, Heaven’s Sword New Year’s Eve Special
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Today was the day—the Heaven’s Sword¹ broadcast.
I had cleared my entire schedule, finishing every chore before the opening credits rolled. Now, I sat glued to the TV, waiting.
Ever since I had tried my hand at playing a “Driver”² myself, I had realized something was missing. There was a gap between my performance and the one given by Aqua-san. It wasn’t just the acting, the physicality, or the stunts—though I was lacking in all of those. It was something deeper, something fundamental to the soul of a hero.
I was determined to find out exactly what that was.
The screen flickered to life. The iconic shot of waves crashing against jagged rocks filled the frame.
[Masked Driver: Heaven’s Sword – Beautiful Days]
Beautiful Days. A title like that had “Hakuryuu-sensei” written all over it. But despite the optimistic words, the opening imagery was suffocatingly heavy. I felt a chill. Right—this was a collaboration between Hakuryuu-sensei and the infamous Tsukasa-sensei. The mere thought of the trauma they had put us through in Yuu-Oni made it hard to breathe.
’Phew…’
On screen, Tachibana Tsukiko, played by Awashima-san, sat on her sofa looking utterly drained. Tachibana Zanki, played by Mayuzumi-san, approached her, clutching two mugs of coffee.
”Tsukiko… you should really take a break. You look pale,” Zanki said.
”Ah… yeah. I’m okay. Just a little worn out, I guess,” Tsukiko replied.
Zanki set the mugs down and gently pulled her into his arms. Tsukiko gave a shy, happy little smile, her eyes darting away as she unconsciously rubbed her stomach. Was it… a stomachache?
”This is pregnancy. It’s definitely not a stomachache,” Kujaku noted.
”I-I didn’t say anything! I mean, Kujaku, you, since when were you here!!” I snapped. I glared at Kujaku, who had materialized on the sofa beside me, then turned back to the screen. Pregnant, huh? Not a stomachache. I totally would have missed that…
The scene jumped to the following day. Tsukiko was having tea with Officer Kagami Natsuki—played by my buddy, Toa-san.
”Ho… the fact that the person she consults here isn’t Night Shadow Misa or Kohina Yukari of Bocchi the World who are fellow women, but Kagami who seems to understand a maiden’s heart the most, is deep,” Kujaku mused.
How is that “deep”? Misa-san is probably just busy, right? I couldn’t wrap my head around Kujaku’s logic.
’Eh? Tsukiko-san, you haven’t told Zanki-kun about the pregnancy yet?’ Kagami asked.
’U-um. I never thought I’d get pregnant, so I didn’t know how to say it…’ Tsukiko answered.
I guess I could see that. If a girl suddenly told me I was going to be a father, I’d probably short-circuit.
It reminded me of the time I was stuck in bed with that nasty cold.
”Cough, cough… Kai-san, sorry. You’re a lifesaver,” I said.
”It’s fine-ssu! Yamada-san is to stay asleep!” Kai-san replied.
I felt like such a burden. Kai-san was supposed to be at a mixer that night, but he was stuck taking care of me. I tried to force myself up, feeling guilty.
”Ah, Yamada-san. It’s no good if you try to force yourself up-ssu!” Kai-san cried.
My legs gave out immediately. Kai-san lunged to catch me, and—it was a total accident—for a split second, our lips touched.
Did… did I just kiss Kai-san?
I froze, looking at him. Kai-san’s face was beet red, his eyes glazed over in shock.
”S-sorry!” I blurted out.
”N-no! It was an accident! Total accident!” Kai-san shouted.
We scrambled to opposite corners of the room, sitting in stiff, formal seiza³. My fingers traced my lips. It wasn’t a dream. I looked over and saw Kai-san doing the exact same thing, stealing glances at me.
””I AM SO SORRY!!””
We both slammed our heads against the floor in a synchronized dogeza⁴.
”A-um, if anything happens, I will properly take responsibility!!” I shouted.
”R-responsibility… a-as I thought, if you kiss, a baby is made,” Kai-san muttered.
I turned bright red. Kai-san… she looks like such a wild “gal” type, but she’s pure enough to not even know how children are made…
Damn! A sense of guilt wells up that I kissed such a kid, even if it was an accident.
I also used to think that if you kissed a girl you’d have a child, but thanks to the mysterious advice from Aqua-buddy who said with a serious face, “Listen, Maruo. Just make sure to listen seriously during Health and PE class. You might get lucky⁵ with the cute girls in class or the beautiful teachers,” it was good that I listened to the lessons properly and seriously.
I still have no idea what he meant by “getting lucky”.
”Maruo… I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but you can’t get someone pregnant just by kissing,” Kujaku said.
”I know that! Shut up!” I barked.
Dammit. Is my face really that easy to read?
Back on screen, the conversation continued.
’By the way, is the new life going smoothly for both of you?’ Kagami asked.
’Yeah, thanks to that I was able to return to society as a librarian, and it seems Zanki-kun is also working hard as a lawyer specializing in domestic disputes. He seems happy, but… I think he misses the belt. He looks lonely sometimes,’ Tsukiko explained.
Wait, what?! Tachibana gave up the Lightning Hopper?!
Kujaku and I traded shocked looks.
’Kagami-kun and Kamishiro-kun also gave up the Butterfly Mask and Poison Chalice, right?’ Tsukiko asked.
’Yeah. Kamishiro is working at the cafe with his dad and uncles, and I’m helping the former Chijo girls reintegrate into society now. I don’t want to scare the former Chijo girls either. Ah, besides, look, lately incidents involving Chijo⁶ have disappeared too,’ Kagami said.
Kagami seemed so much more dependable now. Toa-san’s acting had really evolved.
’Besides, SYUKUJYO merged with OJYO and Commander Tajima came back, and since Misa-san is there, it’s perfectly fine even without me,’ Kagami added.
Tsukiko looked down at her cup, a shadow of loneliness crossing her face.
The scene shifted to the agency headquarters. Abe Akiko-san, playing Commander Tajima, and Kobayakawa Yuki-san, playing Night Shadow Misa, were staring at a monitor. Night Shadow was still armed.
’The third case this month… the numbers are climbing,’ Tajima noted.
’Yes. It’s been quiet for half a year, but something is changing,’ Misa-san replied.
The tension was palpable. It was hard to believe this sharp, professional woman was played by the normally spacey Kobayakawa-san.
’Any word from Kenzaki?’ Tajima asked.
’Yes. He says the Chijo are acting strange. People who were cured months ago are suddenly “relapsing,” as if they’ve remembered something they were supposed to forget,’ Misa-san reported.
’But, there’s no change in the former Evil Gods we’re keeping, or in Saint Midara Seijo who is with Kenzaki, right?’ Tajima inquired.
A quick cut showed an Evil God, played by Oto Rurika-san, resting her head on Sumeragi Kukuri-san’s lap at a shrine. They looked so peaceful, so warm—a far cry from the terrifyingly cold aura those two actresses usually projected. The fan forums must be losing their minds over this.
’I hope it’s nothing…’ Misa-san whispered.
As Night Shadow looked at the sky, rain began to fall.
Suddenly, a motorcycle roared onto the screen, tires slicing through the puddles like a scalpel.
I-it’s here! I leaned forward, my heart racing. Even Kujaku was on the edge of his seat.
’Sniff, sniff! I smell ’em! 100 meters ahead, no doubt about it!’ Kunka Kunker shouted.
At the appearance of Kunka Kunker, Kujaku and I almost tumbled over.
’We’ll handle civilian support! Go, Kenzaki!’ Ro-Schutz-Marr yelled. She gave a thumbs-up toward the motorcycle.
No! Not them! Give us Kenzaki! Give us Heaven’s Sword!
’Ah, I got it. The rest… leave it to me!’ Kenzaki said.
Kenzakiiiiii!!
I stood up from the sofa at the same time Aqua-san grabbed the beetle-type robot Heaven’s Sword.
’HEN… SHIN!’⁷
The bike transformed as he changed.
”Uooooooooh! Is that a new model?!” I yelled.
The bike had gone from a two-seater to a massive three-wheeled trike. Kenzaki was at the helm with the Saint and Ro-Schutz-Marr in the back… while Kunka Kunker just had to run alongside on foot. Poor girl.
The scene shifted to a hijacked bus.
’I-I-I-wa-wa-wa-me-me…’ the Chijo stammered.
The Chijo holding the passengers was… off. Even for a monster, she looked broken.
’Stay… quiet… won’t… h-h-hurt… anyone…’ she muttered.
She still had some humanity left. She looked out the window as Kenzaki’s bike roared up behind them. Aqua-san was doing all his own stunts—the bike work was incredible. I couldn’t even imagine trying that.
’I need to get inside!’ Kenzaki shouted.
The hijacked bus swerved, causing a nearby car to spin out of control.
’Kunka Kunker! Ro-Schutz-Marr!’ Kenzaki called out.
’On it! Go, Kenzaki!!’ Kunka Kunker replied.
’Kenzaki, please take care of the bus!!’ Ro-Schutz-Marr added.
Kenzaki avoided the spun car with the bike, then Kunka Kunker caught the spun car as if to stop it and gets sandwiched between the highway wall. This girl, she absorbed the impact by using herself as a cushion… Incredible.
’Phew, I was saved because my body is flexible,’ Kunka Kunker sighed.
A flash of light hit, and she transformed back into a human.
Wait, she can do that?! Horiguchi Mio-san, the actress, was exactly the kind of big-sister type Aqua-san liked. She adjusted her collar and smiled at the driver and the child in the back.
’Are you okay?’ she asked.
The contrast was insane—from a sniffing monster to a graceful lady in seconds. Women are terrifying. Kujaku and I both shuddered.
Meanwhile, Ro-Schutz-Marr flew into the sky, using her glowing coat to signal traffic to slow down.
”No way,” Kujaku deadpanned. “If she can fly, she should’ve let Kunka Kunker ride the bike while she handled the air.”
I just nodded. He had a point.
Back at the bus, the speedometer was redlining. The vehicle was covered in grotesque Chijo tentacles.
’Kenzaki! We’re going too fast! We won’t make the turn!’ the Saint cried.
’I’ve got this!’ Kenzaki shouted.
Kenzaki fired an anchor wire from the bike into the bus, his AI trying to override the bus’s controls. But the curve was too sharp. The bus slammed into the barrier, the tentacles reinforcing the frame so much that the highway wall itself gave way.
The back half of the bus swung out over the abyss. Passengers screamed.
Kenzaki fired another anchor—this one into a support pillar. He initiated a high-speed drift, the wire tensioning until the pillar began to crack.
’An anchor drift⁸?! The wire won’t hold!’ the Saint yelled.
Kenzaki jumped from his bike, grabbing the wire with his bare hands and bracing his feet against the asphalt.
’UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!’
It was impossible. Pure fiction. But because it was Aqua-san, you almost believed it. He pulled. With sheer strength, he dragged the bus back onto the road.
’Aa-aa-wa-wa-I-I…’ the Chijo groaned.
The hijacker collapsed, clutching her head in agony.
’Now! Everyone out!’ the Saint commanded, ushering the passengers to safety.
Kenzaki ran to the fallen Chijo.
’Hey! Are you okay?’ Kenzaki asked.
’A-Akio-kun… head… I, why…’ she fainted.
The monster’s form melted away, leaving a terrified girl in Kenzaki’s arms.
Someone was watching from a distance—a girl in Gothic Lolita lace, her face hidden by a veil. Is that… Kato Iria-san?
’Why interfere? I’m only erasing the memories that hurt…’ she whispered, reaching out.
’I’ll erase it all. Just like I’m erasing my own dark past. Anyone in my way… just… disappear.’
The world flickered into monochrome for a heartbeat.
Kenzaki carried the girl to safety as the police and fire crews arrived.
’Good timing,’ he started.
’HANDS IN THE AIR!’ a voice shouted.
What? The officers didn’t hesitate. They leveled their rifles at Kenzaki.
’Suspicious individual identified on the highway! Likely the hijacker! Send all units!’ an officer barked.
’Drop the girl! Now!’ another commanded.
’Don’t move! You’re surrounded!’
Wait… what is happening? Isn’t he the hero? Doesn’t the whole world know the Driver saved them?
Kujaku and I stared at each other in total confusion.
The scene cut to Tsukiko, walking home and humming a tune.
’Thanks, Kagami-kun. I’m glad I talked to you. I’m going to gather my courage and tell Zanki-kun that I’m pregnant,’ she said.
’Yeah. You should,’ Kagami-san replied.
I nodded along, but my heart was sinking. This felt wrong. Very wrong.
’I’m glad I talked to… to…’ Tsukiko stopped. The color drained from her face.
My spine felt like it had been dipped in ice.
’Who… was I talking to? That’s strange…’ she whispered.
No. No way.
This wasn’t Hakuryuu-sensei’s writing anymore. This was the unmistakable, cruel touch of Tsukasa-sensei.
’And this baby… whose baby is it?’ she asked.
Kujaku and I buried our faces in our hands. We were ruined.
One minute we were cheering for a hero, and the next, the world had been hollowed out.
On that day, from the world of Heaven’s Sword, the memories of the Drivers were completely erased.
—
Summary:
Maruo watches the New Year special of ‘Heaven’s Sword’ with Kujaku. The episode begins with a domestic scene showing the heroes have retired, but it quickly takes a dark turn as a new villain erases the world’s memories of the Drivers. The chapter concludes on a psychological horror cliffhanger where the heroine forgets her allies and the father of her child.
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Character Insight:
Maruo’s professionalism as an actor allows him to notice subtle differences in ‘Driver’ performances, while his pure nature is highlighted by a comedic flashback involving an accidental kiss with Kai-san. Kujaku remains the voice of genre-savvy commentary, pinpointing the shift from a ‘happy end’ to a ‘Tsukasa-sensei tragedy’.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Tsukasa-sensei’ mentioned refers to a specific writer known for ‘traumatizing’ plot twists, a common meta-trope in Japanese web novels where authors reference specific writing styles to signal a shift in genre.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Ken – Male. A rehabilitated man working in the mine. The fiancé of Akiyama Sachiko, the organizer of the party or one of the protagonist’s (Aqua’s) mother’s students (ikebana) appeared in Volume 2 Chapter 12. However, their engagement is not yet officially recognized, as the necessary documents have not been signed by all parties involved. Ken-kun behaves inappropriately during the event, attempting to flirt with Kanon and later becoming aggressive, even wielding a replica sword. His actions cause a disturbance, and he is eventually subdued and removed by the security team.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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