"Zenna, you're really cunning—tricking me into confessing like that." Yu Zhou sighed as he sat back down on the sofa.
Zenna, lips unmoving as always, answered calmly:
"In truth, my suspicion wasn't based on just one thing. It came from your behavior that day… and what the Pit Star alien told us."
Yu Zhou blinked. "Oh? And what exactly did she say?"
"She has joined AIB now," Zenna explained. "She told us about the Little Star. More importantly, she said you caught up to her with speed no ordinary human could possess."
"So that's where it came from." Yu Zhou nodded slowly. "But that alone doesn't prove anything, does it?"
Zenna's voice stayed steady. "There's also how, the moment you arrived, you asked her if she wanted Eleking to be freed. You seemed to know far too much."
Yu Zhou took a sip of tea before replying, calm as ever:
"Even so, that hardly proves I'm Ultraman Tiga."
But Moa leaned forward with a playful smile. "It doesn't have to—because you just admitted it yourself."
"…Fine." Yu Zhou spread his hands helplessly. "So you know the truth now. What's your plan?"
"Nothing drastic," Zenna replied, his face impassive. "I only want to confirm one thing: was it you who defeated Belial in the Land of Light?"
Yu Zhou frowned. "Why ask that? What difference does it make whether it was me?"
"Because," Zenna said, fixing his gaze on him, "we all know there are many Tigas across the multiverse. I need to know if you are the Tiga who once struck down Belial."
Yu Zhou narrowed his eyes. "And if I am?"
"Then I ask for your help," Zenna said gravely. "Because it's very possible Belial is not truly dead."
Yu Zhou nearly spat out his tea. What?! So now the whole universe knows I once hammered Belial? And they've come here to ask me to do it again?
He coughed twice, trying to compose himself. "It's not that I don't want to help… but the truth is, the circumstances back then were unique. I won because of that. If I fought him now… I'd probably be the one getting smashed."
Zenna fell silent, his face unreadable.
Yu Zhou softened his tone. "Look, if you really need me, I'll do what I can. That's the best I can promise."
"…Understood." Zenna gave a short nod of thanks.
Before long, Zenna and Moa left, agreeing to keep Yu Zhou's identity a secret.
But Yu Zhou couldn't shake off one nagging thought—
If Belial finds out, he might just come knocking on my door himself.
A few days later, the Galaxy Supermarket reopened.
This time, the "supermarket" was nothing more than a van turned into a roadside stall. The store manager manned the stand while Riku returned to work there.
"Hey, Yu Zhou, why don't you join us too?" the manager said brightly, flashing his big grin.
"Working a job? Impossible. Absolutely impossible for me," Yu Zhou replied flatly. "I don't know business, I can't sell a thing. Better not drag you down."
He refused politely, but in truth he could see the manager wasn't making much money from this little stall. Bringing Riku back was just an excuse to give the boy a stable income again.
Yu Zhou was genuinely touched. "Manager, you really are a good man."
It was rare for him to hand someone a "good person card," but in this case it was deserved. Even with little to spare, the man still thought about others.
After a moment of thought, Yu Zhou said:
"Tell you what, Manager. I have more than enough funds right now. I could invest in you—help you rent or buy a proper shop."
The manager's eyes went wide. "You… you want to invest in me?!"
"That's right." Yu Zhou smiled.
"That's fantastic!" The manager beamed, while Riku, sitting nearby with Moa and sipping a ramune soda, cheered in delight.
With Yu Zhou's support, the Galaxy Supermarket could finally rise again.
"Come on, Laiha!" Riku called out to the quiet girl nearby. "Join us for soda!"
Laiha shook her head. "No thanks. I can't stand noisy places." She sat alone on a bench.
Moa tilted her head curiously. "Who's that girl?" she asked Riku while sipping her drink.
"She's Laiha. We live together now," Riku said simply.
"PFFFFFT!!!"
Moa spat out her soda in shock.
"Whoa, cohabiting already, huh?" The manager gave Riku a teasing grin.
Moa nearly exploded. "When did this happen?!"
Laiha frowned. "You're misunderstanding. It's just your wording, Riku."
"Hmph!" Moa forced a smile and strode right up to her. "Don't get too smug. I used to bathe with Riku when we were kids!"
"Riku, stay away from her." Laiha muttered as if Moa were some dangerous creature. "I can't stand her."
Yu Zhou's lips twitched. Great. The harem's on fire again… Riku's really living the dream, huh.
Riku, flustered, tried to mediate. "Moa's just as energetic as always, right?"
That only made things worse. Moa shoved him aside, her face trembling with the sting of jealousy.
"Why are you siding with her?!" she cried, eyes brimming. "My heart hurts so much!"
While the drama unfolded, Yu Zhou's gaze drifted. A man in glasses stood by the telephone pole, watching them discreetly.
He recognized him immediately—Leito, the human host of Ultraman Zero.
Yu Zhou approached with a polite smile. "Hello there. Interested in buying something?"
Leito waved him off kindly. "No, thank you." Then he walked straight over to Riku.
"Here—my business card," he said respectfully, handing it over. "May we talk somewhere private?"
Riku blinked, baffled, but nodded and followed him to a quieter spot.
Yu Zhou trailed discreetly behind, curious.
Leito straightened his posture, removed his glasses, and his entire demeanor shifted. His eyes grew sharp, his voice firm.
"I've been looking for you for a long time."
"Eh???" Riku stared, dumbfounded.
"Ultraman Geed."
Riku's eyes widened in shock. "Who… who are you really?"
"I am Zero. Ultraman Zero," the man declared. "I have many things I wish to ask you. But…"
His gaze flicked toward Laiha and the others watching nearby.
"…Not today. That will have to wait." Zero clapped Riku on the shoulder with a smile. "Keep it up."
Riku, overwhelmed, could only grin awkwardly. Ultraman Zero himself… came to see me? At least it didn't seem like he knew about Belial being his father.
Then, just as suddenly, Leito slid his glasses back on. His posture shrank, his smile turned obsequious. "Well then, until next time."
The stark contrast between "ordinary salaryman" and "proud Ultra warrior" was so jarring it nearly gave Riku whiplash. Anyone who didn't know better would think the man had a split personality.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhou quietly slipped away, circling around to tail Leito from the shadows.
If Zero is here already… things are about to get complicated.