Chapter 7: The One Who Still Remembers

A week passed since the Rat-Man incident shook Tokyo.
Black Sentinel and Yellow Sentinel had become the most talked-about figures on every digital platform, and yet—

Saiga Noburu lived quietly.

His identity remained unknown to the world.
He still biked to work.
Still mopped supermarket floors.
Still went home to his grandmother and adopted little sister.

He finally tasted peace.

Perhaps a fragile one… but peace nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Natsumi Kanzaki stood before representatives of the Global Threat Bureau and the United Nations, calmly presenting her report:

“Rat-Man is not invincible. Their weaknesses are identifiable, and more importantly— they can be captured.”

The world regained hope.

But Saiga had other concerns that day.

On his way home from work, Saiga spotted something trembling under a wooden crate near the riverbank.

Two small cats.
One pure white.
One pitch black.
Both injured, shivering, and barely breathing.

“Hey… it’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Saiga wrapped them gently in his jacket and ran straight to the nearest veterinary clinic.

The bell above the door chimed.

A familiar voice greeted him.

“Welcome— oh?”

Saiga froze.

Pink hair tied loosely behind her neck.
Amber eyes soft as sunlight.
A white coat over a nurse uniform.

Yumesaki Chisa.

His friend from high school.
Arakawa Minato’s friend.
The girl who once dreamed of becoming a Sentai.

“C-Chisa…?”

She blinked—then smiled in disbelief.

“Saiga… Noburu? It’s really you.”

Chisa took the cats from his arms.

“I’ll treat them now. Wait here, okay?”

Minutes passed.

Then she returned with a relieved smile.

“They’re safe. Vaccinated, cleaned up, and resting.”

Saiga let out a long breath.

“Thank goodness…”

“But they’ll need a few days before they can be taken home.”

Saiga nodded.
Chisa motioned him toward a small waiting bench.

“It’s been years, Noburu. Sit. Talk with me?”

He hesitated—then sat down beside her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Chisa broke the silence first.

“Remember when you, Minato, and I dreamed of becoming Sentai together?”

Saiga’s smile faltered.

“…Yeah.”

“He believed in you, you know.”

Saiga looked down.

“I wasn’t chosen. Didn’t have an Astral Core. I thought… maybe that dream wasn’t mine after all.”

Chisa shook her head.

“It was still your dream. Even if the world said no.”

Saiga stayed quiet.

Then Chisa continued, voice trembling slightly.

“After we graduated… Minato confessed to me.”

Saiga’s eyes widened.

Chisa smiled faintly—fragile, beautiful, broken.

“He said, ‘When I become a Sentai… I’ll marry you.’”

A tear fell, though she tried to hide it.

“But after he died… that promise died with him.”

Saiga’s heart tightened.

He whispered—

“…If I didn’t pass by that alley that day… maybe he wouldn’t have—”

Chisa immediately grabbed his hand.

“Don’t.”

Her voice shook.

“Don’t blame yourself for fate.”

He looked at her.

Her amber eyes glistened.

“Minato chose his path as a hero. And you… you survived. That’s not something to apologize for.”

Saiga swallowed hard.

Chisa… you’re stronger than I remember.

Chisa wiped her tears and asked gently:

“So… how have you been living, Noburu?”

He leaned back slightly.

“Working at a supermarket. Living with my grandmother and adopted sister after my father passed away. Trying to save for university.”

Chisa’s eyes softened.

“Tokyo University?”

He nodded once.

“I hope you get in. Truly.”

He smiled faintly.

Then she tilted her head, asking with playful curiosity:

“And… are you happy now? With someone in your life?”

Saiga blinked.

“I mean… I’m happy living with my sister and grandma. They’re the ones keeping me moving forward.”

Chisa hid her smile behind her hand.

“I see. That’s… good.”

A soft blush colored her cheeks—though she quickly looked away.

Chisa handed him a small card.

“Here’s my number. I’ll message you when the cats are ready to go home.”

Saiga accepted.

“Thank you, Chisa. Really.”

She nodded warmly.

“Take care, Noburu.”

He stepped out of the clinic, the evening breeze brushing his face.

For the first time in years—
his heart felt lighter.

Inside the clinic, the two cats slowly opened their eyes.

The white cat sighed.

“He saved us again.”

The black cat nodded.

“As expected of him. The boy carries the Spark.”

The white cat smiled.

“Do you think he’s finally ready?”

“He is worthy. And soon, he will awaken the strength even the Sentai fear.”

They curled together, glowing faintly.

Gods disguised as strays—
watching Saiga’s destiny unfold.

At the International Department of Sentai Oversight, a new regulation was announced:

“Any Sentai operating without government direction shall be considered unauthorized and illegal.”

Investigators began reviewing Black Sentinel and Yellow Sentinel footage.

Officials whispered:

“Whoever he is… we’ll find him.”

“No rogue Sentai will be tolerated.”

A storm was forming.

And Saiga—unaware—walked home under the quiet twilight, believing the world was finally calm.

For now.