#ch.43

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Side text: In the midst of tailing a suspect downtown... An emergency occurs!

PSB: The target is currently moving… PSB: it seems like he’s noticed that he’s being tailed…

Kazami: Question him, or do what you have to... Kazami: Just stop him! PSB: Ah, PSB: But he snuck into the crowd…

PSB: We lost him... Kazami: What are you doing?!

Kazami: Furuya-san, what is your position? Kazami: Furuya-san!

Upper Panel: Kamen Yaiba Hero Show Exhibition Lower Panel: Kids Event - Hero Festival

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Left panel: Nationwide gourmet market

Right sign: Kamen Yaiba - makes an appearance in the Beika Department Store Front sign: Beika Department Store

Amuro: In regard to criminal investigation, there are several methods to distinguish individuals… Amuro: Fingerprints, voiceprint, DNA…

Amuro: Among them, the most simple, yet unmistakable method is “facial features”, in other words, the face, Amuro: And in line with facial features, an important feature in identifying individuals is their “Gait”... 

Amuro: Or in other words, the way people walk… Amuro: There are several traits in people’s gaits, beyond what they themselves are aware of...

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Amuro: I found him… Amuro: The target is in the Beika Department Store… Hurry! To the nearest stairway that leads to the roof... SFX: Beep

Hanzawa: Damn! Hanzawa: How is he telling me apart from the crowd?! SFX: Step Step

SFX: Yeaaaah

Upper Panel: Kamen Yaiba Hero Show Exhibition Lower Panel: Kids Event - Hero Festival

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Hostess: Everyone, please cheer Yaiba on! Kid: Do your best, Yaiba! SFX: Yeaaaah

Hanzawa: The way things are going, it’s only a matter of time before I get caught… Left Sign: Baby Castel[la] Right Sign: Tako[yaki] - Takoyaki 500 Yen

Hanzawa: If I reach that low-security staff exit on the opposite side of the stage, Hanzawa: I might lose the cops, but…

Hanzawa: How can I cross the stage…? Sign: Performer’s Waiting Room SFX: Sneak

Kazami: Where did he go… Kazami: Stay aware of your surroundings! Hostess: Waah, it’s terrible! Hostess: Another monster appeared! Amuro: ?! Sign: Kids Event - Hero Festival

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Amuro: That gait!

Amuro: There’s no mistake... The person in the monster costume that appeared just now… Amuro: Is the target that we’ve been chasing after… Kazami: I-Is that true!?

Kazami: Should I interrupt the show? Amuro: No, depending on the situation, the target might get hysterical, Amuro: And harm the actors and the audience…

Cat: I’m taking a break…

Amuro: There… Kazami: ?

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Criminal: All right, if I just cross the stage like this... Yaiba: Wait, monster man! Yaiba: I won't let you pass! SFX: slowly

Criminal: You idiot! I just wanted to get away... Yaiba:*bash*

Kids: Yaiba! Kids: Don't give in! SFX: thud thud

Announcer: Yaiba is in a great pinch! He's gonna be beaten by that mysterious person! Announcer: Was that in the script? This show’s already such a mess... Yaiba: *guah* SFX: thud thud

Announcer: Ah! Everyone! Announcer: Look at that! SFX: whoosh

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Announcer: A... A cat?!

Announcer: Who... Announcer: Who are you?

Nyaiba: *psst psst*

Announcer: Oh my! Kamen Yaiba's partner... Announcer: ...Nyaiba* has come to help him! SFX: Yeaaaah [* TN: "Nya" is the sound for "meow" in Japanese.]

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Announcer: The two heroes are now joining forces... Announcer: ...and they're gonna fight against this powerful and mysterious person!

Monster: *rawwrrr*

Announcer: Yaiba and Nyaiba double... SFX: *whooo* Yaiba: *Huh? Huh?!*

Announcer: ...punch! Monster: *pow*

Criminal: Whaaa?!

Announcer: Now, the finishing blow! Yaiba and Nyaiba! Yaiba: Wha?! Yaiba: Whaa?!

*whoo* SFX: bash

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SFX: bash SFX: roll roll

Announcer: Yaiba and Nyaiba... Announcer: ...double...

Criminal: Wait, stop! Criminal: I surrender already! Criminal: I surren...

Announcer: ...kick! SFX: thud

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SFX: smoke rising

Announcer: Everyone! Right now the two heroes, Yaiba and Nyaiba... Announcer: ...have brought peace to Beika City once again! Announcer: Let’s give them a round of applause! SFX: waaaaah SFX: exhausted

Kazami: Target secured! Kazami: Smoke machine in full operation! Kazami: Carry him out without the spectators seeing you. SFX: slide Crowd: *nyaiba!* Crowd: *so cool!*

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[Some days later...] SFX: ka-chack Azusa: Amuro-san, thank you for your hard work today. Amuro: You too, Azusa-san... Amuro: I'm sorry if lately I haven't been able to come to work.

Amuro: Huh? Amuro: The key to Poirot...

Amuro: Was that kind of keychain attached to it before? Amuro: Oh, the owner bought it!

Azusa: It's apparently called Nyaiba, a helper that suddenly appeared in Kamen Yaiba... Azusa: ...and now it seems it's become very popular because of its charm and strength!

Azusa: But I guess this kind of thing has nothing to do with you, Amuro-san...

Amuro: I absolutely can't tell her that I was the one inside it...

Side Text: Even a cartoon-character costume becomes a hero if this man hides in it.

Link rested his back on the barn, nodded to himself, "Great."

Fado was expecting for Link to get on Epona and leave, but the boy just stared up to the darkening sky, "Something on your mind?"

Link blinked, "No," he frowned, "not at all, don't worry."

Link waved his hand and Fado saw him trotting to the village. Before Fado lost sight of him he put his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Tell Zelda I said hi!"

Link straightened his back and waved his hand again. Fado chuckled, he could see Link's blush even from where he was.

The village had asked few questions and had received Zelda with open arms. It had helped that Mayor Bo had vouched for her, that the popular Rusl had stood behind her in a protective stance and that Link, beloved child, had asked for the people's help. Link, who barely thought before saying yes to those who needed him; Link, who gave away his money for the better of everyone else; Link, who had gone through hell and back to save their children, their future; Link, who had come back gloomy and serious and had laughed every worry off. Link, who looked at Princess Zelda with puppy eyes and whispered in her ear to make her smile.

The village came to an untold agreement to keep quiet, keep outsiders under watch and look out for Zelda in every way they could. It didn't hurt that Zelda exuded charm.

Talo screamed before plunging forward. Beth was doing little to help, as her shouts were cheers for his enemy. Colin held his breath every time the sword got near Zelda.

Zelda twirled with grace and made Talo stumble with her foot. Talo turned and let out an exaggerated sigh, "Not fair!"

Beth started to counter that it was fair, and that he just sucked when Zelda stifled a smile and crouched to Talo's height, "You'll get better, you just have to practice."

Talo looked to the side, mumbled, "Link said the same thing..."

"Well, Link is right."

Talo stomped on the ground, "I don't seem to improve, though."

Zelda touched Talo's arm, "You will have to be patient, Talo. I assure you, if you keep practicing, you will get better."

Beth and Colin smiled at Talo, trying to comfort him.

Talo pouted and then looked at Zelda, "What do you say we practice with the bow, now?"

Beth was jumping up and down, yelling that it was her turn now and that she, too, wanted to be part of that.

Zelda straightened and put away the wooden swords Link always left in Epona's stable for the kids to use, she was putting on the quiver when the kids started to greet somebody.

Illia smiled in return, "Oh, Zelda, we are going back to eat at Uli's now, I'm sure the kids can wait for another of your classes."

Beth ran to Zelda, "But I'm first tomorrow, all right?"

Uli had been clear from the get go, Zelda could and should say and ask everything she wanted, Uli's house was her house and as such she could do as she pleased.

Doing as she pleased, for Zelda, meant shadowing Uli and feeding off her niceness.

Lunches at Uli's were soft and warm, and Zelda could only remember Link's pictures of this place and smile. Being in Ordon felt soft, warm, nostalgic.

Coming to Ordon had been the best decision she had made that month. Link would have breakfast with her and then he would leave to help the village, Zelda was always invited to have lunch with someone and when Link came back they would take a walk around.

Illia passed a plate to Zelda and their fingers touched. Illia had been nothing but niceness to Zelda, polite, eager to help, trying her best to be there. Illia would be the one to show Zelda around when Link was still doing errands.

"You like this, Zelda?"

Zelda eyed the pumpkin stew and gave a polite nod, "It's delicious."

"Everything with pumpkin is Link's favorite."

Illia gave Zelda so much information about Link, Zelda felt she knew him better and better each time. Illia gave these with ease, with trust, with care.

The children would go back to their houses after, tired and sleepy. And then it was only Zelda and Illia.

"Want to come to my house?"

Illia was the nicest of them all. She made sure Zelda was fine, would ask Zelda whenever a choice was to be made.

"Sera brought some fabric the other day and I've been making a dress with it, I want your opinion."

Illia twirled around in her dress, the hem still had pins in it. Illia had become a friend. Zelda had thought Illia's niceness was due to Link, he had asked for help and her best friend had been first in line to back him up. But Illia...

"Illia," Zelda called, and the dress stopped mid-twirl. "I'm going back in a week."

Illia nodded, ironed the front of her dress with her hands.

"I plan on asking Link to come with me."

Illia scrunched her face, "He's going whether you ask him or not," she laughed.

Zelda could feel her face burn up.

Illia smiled and sat next to Zelda, "I'm really glad Link brought you here, you know." Zelda stilled next to her. "Now I know you're not how they say you are."

Zelda hummed, "Great."

"Because, you know, I used to think that you were just using Link, I imagined you with a smirk on your face laughing at the poor sap he was."

Zelda looked at Illia in shock and coughed a little.

Illia smirked, "See? And you're none of those things."

Illia looked at her hands. The reason Zelda had wanted to tell her this... "Thanks for telling me."

"Your dress is really pretty."

Illia brightened and stood, "You think so?"

"Yes, the color really suits you."

Illia moved through her bedroom with exaggerated moves.

"Illia."

"Yes?"

"Are we... have we become friends?"

Illia stopped and looked up, "Of course we are."

"Oh," Zelda hid her face behind her hands, "oh, great," Zelda looked away.

Illia thinned her lips, "Zelda, if you hide your face like that it feels like you're confessing."

"Oh."

"Zelda, loot at me," Illia laughed.

"Just give me a second."

Illia grabbed Zelda's hands, "We are friends, come on, I've been so nice to you because I thought we were!"

Zelda tried to hide her face but started laughing, "I was just making sure, all right!"

"I gave you dirt on Link, Zelda! That practically cemented our friendship!"

Zelda threw her head back and laughed, Illia fell with her on the bed and the door to Illia's room opened.

"Sorry, am I interrupting?" Link's mop of hair got halfway through the door before stopping.

Illia laughed a couple more times before rolling over, "Link!" Illia twirled and ended with a bow.

"Oooh, looks pretty."

Illia smiled and winked at Zelda, "I know."

Link frowned and looked between the girls, "I can come back a little later."

Illia clicked her tongue, "We are done here, Link, you can take Zelda."

Zelda gave a little smile before closing the door.

"Zelda, next time I'll tell you about the time Link almost poisoned us in a festival!"

Link shined red, "Illia!"

Illia's laughs resonated inside her room.

Link was waiting down the stairs. "Link," Zelda said when she caught up.

Link raised his head but everted his look.

"Illia already told me that one."

Link closed his eyes and looked to the ceiling," Illia!"