Chapter Sixty-Six: Heart

As he finished speaking, the boy’s face shone with even greater pride.

“Well? Isn’t my name pleasant to hear!”

“Uh, yes! It’s quite nice!” Yue Longze stared blankly at the fourteen-year-old boy before him; his features seemed to resemble Faith Tsubasa, the human host of Dyna after he’d grown up.

“Could it really be such a coincidence...” Yue Longze muttered inwardly.

“Could you tell me... your father’s name?” Yue Longze was a little afraid he might stir up painful memories for this boy named Faith Tsubasa, but to confirm whether he was indeed the future human host of Dyna, he had no choice but to ask.

“Hm? If you want to know, then I’ll tell you! My father’s name is Kazuma Tsubasa!”

Fortunately, the boy’s sad memories weren’t triggered.

“So it really is him...” Yue Longze hadn’t expected to meet the future host of Ultraman Dyna here today.

If Ultraman Tiga’s story was about the power and brilliance of the human spirit, then Ultraman Dyna’s tale was one of youthful passion and perseverance!

From the boy before him, Yue Longze sensed that very persistence and fervor. No wonder Faith would one day be chosen by Dyna’s light. It seemed his destiny was written from childhood.

While they talked, the two of them had already reached the van.

The van's headlights were on, casting a soft yellow glow that drove away the night’s darkness. White smoke from the barbecue drifted upward into the night sky, mingling with the falling snowflakes, appearing especially vivid under the streetlight at the roadside.

As the eldest brother, Hideki Minami took the initiative to grill food for everyone. The others gathered beneath a large red umbrella shielding them from the snow, happily skewering meat and sipping the strong rice wine they’d brought along, making for a lively scene!

The rice wine was stronger than the sake typically served on formal occasions, and Yoshida, the chubby one, seemed drunk. He babbled all sorts of nonsense, even telling crude jokes, which made the only two girls, Sonoko Aoki and Masako Haneda, blush deeply.

“Hey, hey! Aren’t you ashamed? How can you tell girls such things?”

Yue Longze, who’d just walked over, happened to hear Yoshida’s vulgar story. To show his noble character before the girls, Yue Longze put on a serious face and sternly criticized Yoshida, giving him a lesson in propriety.

In response, he received a look of disdain from Koichi Masano nearby.

That look seemed to say, “Don’t I know what kind of person you are?”

“Come, sit down and eat with us.”

After educating Yoshida, Yue Longze grabbed a few more skewers and called over the future hero who would one day save all humanity—Faith Tsubasa.

Everyone was a little tipsy. Even Hideki Minami, responsible for grilling, was drinking rice wine alone. Only then did people notice the refined boy standing quietly nearby.

“Coach Azawa, your son’s already grown so big!” Yoshida gulped down another mouthful of fiery rice wine, grinning as he wobbled and stared at Faith.

“What are you saying!” Yue Longze playfully slapped Yoshida’s head. “Just treat him as our new friend!”

“Welcome, new friend!” Sonoko Aoki, always cheerful, couldn’t resist ruffling Faith’s soft hair, reluctant to let go.

“Let go, big sister!” Faith protested, unable to bear Sonoko’s enthusiasm, pouting in defiance.

Seeing Faith’s pout, Yue Longze suddenly wanted to laugh. When he’d watched Ultraman Dyna before, he’d always thought Faith’s mouth was rather comical, reminiscent of a sausage.

“Sonoko, could it be you have unusual tastes and want an older woman to take a younger man?” Yue Longze casually placed his hand on Faith’s shoulder, then exaggeratedly smiled mischievously at Sonoko.

“Coach Azawa!” Sonoko stomped her slender, delicate foot in anger, then swiftly turned and sat down to continue eating her skewer.

Yue Longze chuckled, picked up a grilled fish skewer, and began to eat with gusto...

...

“Coach Azawa!”

“Hm?”

Just as Yue Longze was tearing into grilled fish, Hideki Minami—wearing a black apron and holding a cup of wine in each hand—smiled and stood before him.

“In the past... I wasn’t good. I was too narrow-minded, and held some prejudice against you...” Hideki Minami paused, embarrassment showing on his face.

“So today... I hope you can forgive the old me!” Hideki Minami lowered his head, speaking sincerely.

“So that’s what this is about...” Yue Longze stood up, took the rice wine from Hideki’s left hand.

“Once we drink this, we’ll be good friends from now on!”

After saying this, Yue Longze felt something was off, thought for a few seconds, and continued, “No, we’ve always been good friends!”

He immediately downed the wine in his hand.

“Coach Azawa...” Hideki stared blankly at the gentle smile on Yue Longze’s face. “Alright, we’re brothers!” He too drained his cup in one gulp.

“But this wine really is strong...”

...

Laughter and conversation filled the air, with nothing off-limits.

Yue Longze suddenly wanted a cigarette. Not wanting to bother anyone with the smoke, he excused himself, walked to the van that Hideki had driven, and leaned against it, staring blankly into the black night, letting snowflakes fall onto his body.

He deftly pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket, lit it, took a deep drag, held the smoke in his mouth, then pushed his tongue forward to inhale it further.

The smoke traveled down his throat, slowly passing through his windpipe. When his lungs were fully filled, he leisurely blew out a white ring.

“I really can’t bear to leave...” Yue Longze turned to watch his friends enjoying themselves, and the feeling of reluctance reignited in his heart.

In truth, Yue Longze could leave at any time if he wanted. He could contact Daigu and Masaki to help him depart, holding ninety-nine percent certainty of leaving this space-time.

Was the only reason he hadn’t left yet really to catch the hidden mastermind behind TPC?

Perhaps that was just a reason he gave himself—a grand, noble excuse.

The real reason he couldn’t bear to leave was his friends.

Of course, the TPC mastermind was a factor, but it weighed very little.

What truly kept him here was the friendship with his companions... and the familial bond with Grandma.

“If only I had the ability to travel through time and space like that guy Zero, I wouldn’t have such worries.”

Yue Longze smiled bitterly and shook his head. The ability to traverse time and space wasn’t so easily obtained.

“But...” Yue Longze’s gaze lingered on Faith, who was laughing and playing with everyone.

“If nothing unexpected happens, that guy will have the ability to cross time and space in the future.”

In Yue Longze’s memory, only Zero and Dyna possessed the power to freely traverse time and space.

Of course, beings like Ultraman Noah were exceptions.