'Dinah...'

It's lunch break, and the classroom is bustling.

In the seats near the window, there was a crowd of passing students, who were celebrating their school's man of the year because he had once again honored their class.

It's just that Hasegawa, who is being held by the stars, has no joy on his face.

Ever since he heard the unknown voice, he no longer had a smile on his face.

'He's really doing it for me... For us... Struggling? ’

After hesitating for a long time, Hasegawa decided to turn on his attention to the outside world.

What caught his eye was raging artillery fire, magnificent crystal colossias and... Weak giants.

That's Dinah.

Hasegawa has seen him countless times on TV and in magazines, and has seen him with his own eyes.

Like many of his peers, he was the object of Hasegawa's longings.

However, unlike others, Hasegawa longs for Ultraman Dyna...

Because he can do many things that humans can't.

For Hasegawa, who has long been excluded and has low self-esteem, there is nothing more worthy of hope than the giant who only needs to appear to attract everyone's attention.

But now, the unknown voice actually said that he should help Dinah, to help the giant who could do almost anything.

It's just because the giant is fighting for his life, and for this reason, he does not hesitate to use his body as a mirror puppet to resist the fire of humans.

Is it to save fallen humanity at the hands of humanity?

I... Can it really help him?

Looking at the classmates who were all around him, Hasegawa suddenly felt that their faces were a little unfamiliar.

'Aren't we friends?' Why...'

Hasegawa, who had been enjoying the attention of his classmates, suddenly felt bored for no reason as he looked at the strange faces around him who were gathering more and more around him as usual.

'This is not the friend I crave...'

Hasegawa, who had already woken up from his empty fantasies, suddenly felt that what he had done during this time had become a little boring.

Can I help him?' ’

The thought that popped into his head startled Hasegawa.

But when I was quiet and listened to what the voice was saying, it seemed... He can really help the giant, help the hero who has always been out of reach in his eyes.

Ultraman Dinah cares about me.

'If I can help Dinah, I'm his friend too....'

With a slightly naïve idea, Hasegawa resolutely chose to leave.

Although he used to like this 'ideal country' very much, as the voice said, everything here is just a dream after all.

Whether it's reality or illusion, he's had enough.

He didn't want to run away anymore.

Now, he wanted to help the hero.

to help his true friends.

......

In the mysterious space, Mai was looking at the glittering crystal group with a desperate expression, and Guanglai's words had no effect on the people who were immersed in the crystals.

"Guanglai will leave it to you."

Zhu Xingzhen said softly to Kirino Mufu who leaned over.

Now, even if you use strong measures, you have to take these stubborn people out.

He was going to try to destroy the space from the inside, so that he might be able to forcibly expel the people in the crystal.

Although, Zhu Xing really wasn't much sure that things would develop as he thought.

"It's useless."

As if seeing through Zhu Xingzhen's thoughts, Kirino Mufu shook his head slowly.

"Although this space seems to be just the interior of the mirror puppet, it is actually connected to the interior of Crystal City. Even if you destroy this space, these crystals may be transferred to the inner space of Crystal City. ”

"You have to try."

Zhu Xingzhen shook his head and insisted.

“......”

Kirino Mufu didn't say anything, but just took over Guangrai, who was really supported by the stars.

Zhu Xingzhen nodded, turned around and was about to leave.

"Ah, look!"

Just as Zhuxing was about to leave, Mai shouted sharply, with a thick surprise in her tone.

Zhu Xingzhen and Kirino Mufu were both stunned, and then hurriedly looked in the direction that Mai was pointing.

But I only saw the stars composed of many crystals, and the starlight was flickering brightly and dimly.

As their eyes watched, one of the flickering crystals soon ceased to flicker and was completely extinguished.

This is not an inconspicuous scene in the large number of crystals, but at this time when the crystals are shining brightly, it is particularly eye-catching.

Zhu Xingzhen and Kirino Mufu looked at each other, and they knew very well what this crystal represented when it dimmed.

Even more striking is not the extinguishing of this crystal.

But with the extinguishing of this little starlight, the domino effect brought about by it, one flickering light after another followed, and the bright space became dim for a while.

Perhaps the extinguishing of that little bit of starlight gave people who were hesitating and waiting to have the courage to leave with a sense of relief.

Or maybe it's mostly just a herd mentality.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

There were only a few crystals left in front of them that were still glittering, indicating that their efforts were not in vain.

Zhu Xingzhen also glanced at Kirino Makio with a relieved smile, and the latter immediately understood and nodded with a smile.

When Mai in excitement turned around and wanted to look for it again, in addition to supporting the glasses man Kirino Mufu who was supporting Guanglai, there was still Zhu Xingzhen's figure.

......

High above the city, it has become a battlefield between TPC and 'Asmantis'.

Missiles with blue fireworks roared out of the box, bombarding the crystalline body as clean as jade, bringing out the scars.

And then in response to them, there was an overwhelming amount of energy fluctuation bombs.

The flames of war hung over the city, but the buildings on the ground did not escape the disaster.

A stray bullet in the middle of a battle alone would be enough to destroy this human-built city, though it is only the tip of the iceberg.

The originally designated safe area is no longer safe, and the scattered mirror puppets have placed the battlefield in the entire city, and the TPC troops, who should have taken the initiative, can now only passively accept the attack from 'Asmantis'.

The Beta, which had already joined up with the Gamma and the Alpha, also joined the battle after completing the missile loading.

It's just that in the face of the mirror puppet who also has a supply base, the inventory of Flying Eagle missiles has begun to stretch.

The timeline of this battle has dragged on for far too long, far exceeding the estimates made during operational planning.

But that's not what Captain Hibi is most worried about.

Compared to the torso parts directly dropped by Crystal City, the strange light in the mirror puppet's body that could repair the body caused him more uneasiness.

"Captain, the results of that strange light are out..."

Nakajima's voice interrupted Captain Kibi's musings, but the panic in Nakajima's tone amplified the uneasiness in his heart a little.

"It is the light formed by the special conversion of brain waves, and it is currently inferred to be the 'spontaneous combustion' of the spirit body of 'Asmantis'!"

Without waiting for Captain Kibi to ask, Nakajima quickly said the results he had analyzed.

"'Spontaneous combustion'?"

Captain Hibi narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Yes!" Nakajima nodded affirmatively, "'Asmantis' is a spirit body, and through this suicidal means, it can supply the energy for the crystallization and regeneration of the mirror puppet's body in a very short time!" ”

"In other words, 'Asmantis' is fighting us with his life?"

The results of this analysis surprised Captain Hibi.

"That's right... But..."Nakajima hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and said, "After analysis, there is a mirror image of the light in the puppet's body... The constituent material is human brain waves! ”

"What?!"

Sure enough, as soon as Nakajima's voice fell, he ushered in a shocked response from Captain Kibi.

Quickly sifted through the known information in his mind, and then put the information just now in Nakajima, and in the blink of an eye, Captain Kibi had already strung together this series of information.

"The mirror puppet that is being protected by Daina," Captain Hibi's eyes widened, almost squeezing the words out of his throat, "that's it, right?" ”

"Yes..."

Nakajima was sweating profusely and couldn't bother to wipe it, and hurriedly answered the captain's question.

"So... Does Dinah want to protect it? ”

Kaiya also thought of something, but the first thing he sent out was his relief at Dinah's behavior.

Then I thought about the crux of the matter.

According to the news obtained by Ito-kun, it seems that the brain waves that people absorb are immediately converted into energy to give birth to new life, and cannot be stored in crystals...

So...

"So there's a human in that mirror puppet!?"

Kaya almost blurted out, and Captain Kibi, who had already thought of this, had a gloomy face.

Staff Officer Gondo did not forcibly expel the people in the mirror puppet according to the battle plan, which they did not know until now.

It's no wonder that Gondo Counselor resolutely didn't plan to wait for Asuka and them to come out, because he was afraid that Asuka would find out about this and bring the news out, which would cause himself and others to become unstable factors in his eyes...

Thinking of this, a pale smile flashed through Captain Hibi's mind.

It's Takeru Ito.

The outcome is up to you. ’

This sentence that Captain Xibi didn't understand suddenly became clear at this moment, is this the so-called choice?

If you can't protect even a few, what qualifications do you have to protect even more? ’

This is what I said to Gonto Staff Officer at that time, and it is also something that I have always kept in mind.

But now...

Do you want to ignore the few people in the Mirror Puppet and continue to fight, or do you want to save the people in the Mirror Puppet and ignore the battle?

This option...

"That kid, did you have guessed that I would face this moment..."

Captain Xibi felt inexplicably bitter in his heart, isn't this the case now?

However, this mood did not affect him for long, and soon Captain Xibi cheered up.

Since you don't want to choose either, do your best and do what you can.

This is his choice.

......