"Of course." Whether his companions responded with excitement or mockery, the man still greeted them with that same unserious manner. "Weren't you the ones who called me back? Come to think of it, it's really been a long time, Yusuke. And seeing that Natsumikan is still as lively as ever puts me at ease... Hey, what are you doing? Hahahahahaha—"
"That's because Tsukasa just left like that and made everyone worry!"
"So this is Decade..." As Tsukasa hit his funny bone and rolled around on the ground in uncontrollable laughter, Ash also noticed Kaguya trying to laugh while forcing himself to stay calm, clenching his fists out of nervousness before loosening them again in a feigned attempt at ease. "Well, that's only natural..."
So, while he secretly wavered in his heart, Ash quietly placed a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him toward Kadoya Tsukasa.
"Huh?"
By the time Kaguya realized he had staggered forward several steps, he found himself already standing beside his idol. "...Why?"
"It's nothing. I was just as excited the first time I saw a hero I'd only ever seen on TV."
So Ash couldn't stand seeing someone with something to say but refusing to say it properly, so he gave him a push.
"Go on. You probably have a lot to say to him, right?"
Now that was a happy ending~
Seeing companions who had once traveled together finally reunite after so long made Ash nod again and again, as though some missing part of his heart had finally been filled. A deeply satisfied expression appeared on his face.
The me who once ran away from home had also thought I was a traveler like Tsukasa, someone who would never be accepted by any world. Only later did I learn that there were worlds