Senso no Yosai

It felt almost like they were kids again.

In just a few years, everything had ended. They’d never dreamed in a thousand years they’d be walking by his side like this again, on the way to some ride they’d seen a hundred times before.

“This one?” After the silent walk, the group’s new member spoke up upon seeing their destination. “I hope you didn’t bring me here to get me killed…”

“Scared of a little ride?” Teasing the boy, Tala could finally feel those old days coming back. Frankie pulled them all along to get a place in like as the estranged salaryman rolled his eyes, pretending not to have fun.

“More so of the ruffians polluting it…” He spoke under his breath, careful not to alert the cyborgs ahead of him in line.

“Relax.” Tara chuckled, putting their metal-handed arm on his shoulder. “If anything happens, I’ll protect you.”

“On a second thought, maybe dying would be better…” The businessman joked.

The large capacity of the ride’s multiple “plates” made for a quick line for how long the ride was. Based on the residence of the Die Ranger’s evil nemesis, it was an impressive construction, at least from the outside- the towering fortress had a skull carved into it and multiple holographic torches littering the outside. Nate would’ve felt threatened if he hadn’t already been on it so many times before. He knew the only thing waiting in there for him was a good time. At least, he hoped.

Tala found themselves staring at the front-facing Gen again and again as the line moved forward… he looked like he really was on a job assignment, that cold glare of his never changing. But… behind it, they could still make out something more- the same boy they knew all those years ago.

Tara found themselves smiling, and realized they still loved him.

<Next!> An employee called. The gang was herded onto a giant flat plate with a fence around it, alongside five others, seemingly all locals.