But he quickly let go of his frustration, mockingly addressing the still-stunned Ace Ukiyo: "Geats, now you know what failure tastes like, huh? Hahaha..."
As he spoke, his form dissolved into data and vanished.
[Eliminated!]
Only his Driver and ID Core clattered onto the ground.
"So this is... what failure feels like." Ace let out a long sigh. He never expected his undefeated record, maintained through countless participation attempts in the Desire Grand Prix over a thousand years under different identities, to be broken today.
"I'll win it all back next time," he said, echoing a phrase Michinaga often said to him.
After giving a deep look toward Raven in the distance, Ace's figure also disappeared.
[Eliminated!]
Next, Keiwa on the other side showed a flicker of regret but quickly accepted the outcome.
"Raven-san, I don't want to forget you..." Only Neon suddenly rushed over and hugged Raven tightly, unable to part with him.
She knew that once eliminated, all memories related to the Desire Grand Prix would be erased. This naturally included everything she had experienced with Raven.
"It's alright. We'll meet again soon." Raven affectionately stroked Neon's hair.
The next second, she dissolved into data in his arms and vanished.
[Eliminated!]
....
In the Desire Grand Prix's VIP area, Kousei Kurama's face was ashen. He took a sip of tea and left. He never expected his own daughter to fall for Raven. This was not how he had planned things.
Elsewhere, Ziin, Geats's supporter, looked thoroughly disappointed, seemingly more upset than Ace Ukiyo himself.
"I can't feel moved by this."
At the same time, the audience from the future erupted in unprecedented cheers. They were thrilled that this iteration of the Desire Grand Prix would finally crown a new Dezashin! Raven's support ratings soared.
....
At the game site, Tsumuri held Raven's Wish Card, her face a mask of conflict and reluctance.
"What's wrong? The world has been saved, but you don't look very happy." In his hidden room, Girori, the Game Master, spoke to Tsumuri through a screen.
"It's because of Raven's wish, of course," Tsumuri complained. "Such an ideal world shouldn't be fulfilled!"
However, Girori immediately countered, "It is only right that we honor the hero who saved the world."
"But this wish is too..." Tsumuri still couldn't accept it. She couldn't accept becoming Raven's woman.
"These are the rules of the Desire Grand Prix. If we can't grant even this desire, our program will lose all credibility."
"But, is this really okay?"
"Yes. Now, the world Raven wished for will begin." Girori concluded.
With the Dezashin's power taking effect, a bell chimed. The destroyed streets began to revert to data and reform. Everything returned to its original state. All those who had been sacrificed by the Jyamato were resurrected.
Raven stood quietly on a rooftop, watching the city slowly recover. This power came from the Goddess of Genesis. Raven sensed her presence and knew that the true identity of the so-called Goddess of Genesis was Ace Ukiyo's mother, Mitsume.
However, having been turned into a statue, she was being used by the people behind the DGP as a mere tool to consume her divine power and grant wishes—a truly pitiable existence. At that moment, Raven wondered if he should find an opportunity to free her.
Just then, Raven's system notification appeared, signaling his mission was complete.
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the system mission!]
[Reward has been sent.]
A peculiar ability swiftly manifested within Raven. It was the Dimensional Travel Ability. Like Kamen Rider Decade, this power included the ability to travel through different parallel universes and traverse time.
Raven smiled faintly. His harvest this time was substantial. He not only had his wish granted but also gained Decade's Dimensional Travel ability.
As the world was reconstructed, Keiwa Sakurai returned to his unemployed status, having lost all memory related to the Desire Grand Prix.
However, his sister, Sara Sakurai, still remembered Raven and continued her part-time job at his café. This was because their initial interaction had no direct relation to the Desire Grand Prix. However, they had both lost some memories—specifically, the memories concerning Neon Kurama's acquaintance with Raven.
Currently, on the second floor of Raven's home.
Tsumuri sat on the tatami mat, an expression of utter helplessness aimed at the person opposite her. Her attire was not the usual black and white work uniform, but a maid outfit.
The person sitting across from her was, naturally, Raven.
"Tsumuri, what should you call me now?" Raven prompted her.
"Hu... husband."
"This is too much... to wish for a world like this!" Tsumuri complained, though she was powerless. Now that the wish had been granted, she was forced to return here with Raven after work at the Desire Grand Prix to act as his wife.
While she couldn't defy the wish, she still possessed her own will; she hadn't been brainwashed.
"Tsumuri, it's almost time to rest. What are you supposed to do now?" Raven asked with a smile.
"Hmph." Tsumuri pouted, glaring at him with her beautiful eyes.
But she still rose, walked over to Raven, closed her eyes, and leaned in to kiss him. She intended to make it a simple, quick touch, but Raven wouldn't let her off that easily.
"Mmm...!" Tsumuri quickly regained her composure and frantically pounded Raven's shoulder with her small fists.
The kiss finally ended after a long moment. Raven looked at Tsumuri with a smile.
"Waaah... is that enough now?" Tsumuri looked miserable and moved to leave.
"Where are you going to sleep?" Raven called her back.
In the end, Tsumuri, nearly in tears, lay down on the same bed as Raven... She was terrified of what grand actions Raven might take next.
Fortunately, Raven was not in a hurry to press any further. Sometimes, a fine delicacy must be savored slowly to fully appreciate its flavor.
"Honestly, when will this kind of world finally end..." Tsumuri murmured as she rested her head next to Raven's, staring at the ceiling.
"Do the wishes the DGP grants to the contestants have a time limit?"
"Of course not."
"So, that means as long as I'm alive, this wish will continue to be in effect, right?" Raven asked, a deadly serious edge to his voice.
"No way..." Tsumuri was aghast.
The thought of Raven being so young and likely having at least sixty more years to live made her feel like breaking down. However, as a person from the future, the longevity issue wasn't a constraint for her. Maybe I just have to endure it until he's gone.
Several days passed under this arrangement. Tsumuri gradually came to accept the cruel reality. She was less resistant than she had been at first and slowly slipped into the role of a wife, handling daily chores, laundry, and cooking for Raven. She truly acted like a virtuous wife.
Then, a new mission order came down from the DGP's Game Master, Girori.
She immediately changed back into her black and white work uniform and began handing out Drivers and ID Cores to the new contestants one by one. Her first target was Ace Ukiyo.
Having lost all memories related to the Desire Grand Prix, Ace Ukiyo had been confused over the past few days. He felt like he had forgotten something important but couldn't place it. However, he eventually managed to figure out a few things using the notes he had previously left for himself. The forgotten memories could only be recovered by touching an ID Core imprinted with an animal icon. But he had turned his house upside down and couldn't find any ID Core with an animal icon. He eventually gave up.
He decided to go to work for the first time in a while, heading to the beach for a photoshoot. Even though he had lost his memories, his identity as a celebrity in this world remained unchanged.
"Who are you two?" After the shoot was done, Ace Ukiyo, walking alone on the beach, looked at the two figures approaching him.
"Congratulations. From today on, you are a Kamen Rider." Tsumuri walked up to Ace Ukiyo, her emotions complex, and handed him the box.
This man before her was the one who had been the Dezashin for countless rounds. Now, he was a defeated contestant once more.
Raven, disregarding Tsumuri's protests, accompanied her and watched the current Ace Ukiyo with interest.
"The Fox-marked Core!" Ace's eyes lit up when he saw the Geats ID Core inside the box. He subconsciously reached out and touched it.
Instantly, a massive rush of memories flooded his mind. His look of surprise quickly returned to his usual confident smile.
———————
Happy New Year everyone!
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