Inside STORAGE's restroom, after finishing their business at the urinals, Yuzhou and Juggler began talking about matters that could never be discussed in public.
"After obtaining Tiga's combat body," Juggler said as he leaned against the wall, "I've eliminated quite a few monsters across the universe."
"And how does it feel?"
Yuzhou smiled as he asked.
"As for how it feels…" Juggler thought for a moment before replying, "It feels like the way I look at the world has become… gentler."
"Gentler…"
Yuzhou nodded thoughtfully.
Did becoming Tiga naturally temper one's heart?
In truth, Juggler had once been a gentle man long ago.
Toward friends. Toward disciples. He had always possessed kindness.
But certain experiences inevitably changed people.
"About Celebro—the one I mentioned before," Yuzhou changed the topic, "you don't need to look for it anymore. I already took care of it."
"So fast?"
Juggler was briefly stunned. "I was planning to deal with that guy personally."
Now that Juggler had become an Ultraman, his mindset differed greatly from the original timeline.
Originally, he hadn't eliminated Celebro early on, allowing events to spiral until the end.
But now, Juggler had no intention of tolerating anyone who threatened cosmic peace.
"Captain? And…?"
At that moment, a young man walked into the restroom. When he saw both Juggler and Yuzhou, he froze in surprise.
"Haruki," Juggler smiled. "Here to use the restroom too?"
His gaze, however, casually drifted to Haruki's waist—where a small blue case for storing medals was clipped.
"Ah—yes, Captain! You're here too!"
Haruki nodded quickly, then looked at Yuzhou with curiosity.
"And this gentleman is…?"
Although Yuzhou had earlier been to STORAGE's command room, Haruki hadn't been present at the time. The two were technically meeting for the first time.
As for when Haruki had crash-landed Sevenger near Yuzhou—he hadn't even seen his face clearly back then.
"He's a friend of mine," Juggler replied.
"I see."
Haruki nodded, then unfastened his belt and went about his business.
At that moment, Yuzhou gave Juggler a subtle look.
Though confused, Juggler quietly left the restroom.
After finishing, Haruki turned to speak—only to realize the captain was already gone.
Only the captain's "friend" remained.
"Um…"
Haruki scratched his head awkwardly. "I'll be going now!"
He turned to leave.
"Wait."
Yuzhou stopped him.
"Huh?"
Haruki paused, utterly confused.
"It's nothing, Haruki," Yuzhou said with a smile. "I just have something to give you."
"Eh? You know my name?"
Haruki blinked. "The captain told you, right? Ah—how should I address you?"
"Yuzhou."
Yuzhou spoke his name plainly and then took several medals out of his spatial ring.
"Wait—those are…!"
The more Haruki looked, the more familiar they seemed. He suddenly remembered what Z had told him—
Recover the Ultra Medals.
"Um… could you give those to me?"
With characteristic bluntness, Haruki asked directly.
"They're really important to my partner!"
"Of course."
Yuzhou handed them over without hesitation.
The medals included Taro, Ace, Ultraman, and Tiga.
Yuzhou already had duplicates—there was no reason to keep them.
"Z," Yuzhou said calmly, crossing his arms, "there's no one else here. You can come out."
Those words nearly scared Haruki half to death.
How did this man know?!
Before Haruki could react, Z emerged as a beam of light, separating from Haruki's body.
"Z-san?!"
Z's sudden appearance left Haruki stunned.
Why would Z reveal himself in front of a stranger?
"Who are you, Ultraman?!"
Z asked cautiously in his spiritual form.
Unlike the original timeline—where Z and Haruki fused due to a near-death state—Z could now freely enter and exit.
"It's me, Z," Yuzhou said with a gentle smile.
"I was the one who blocked Genegarg's attack earlier."
"T-Tiga-senpai?!"
Z shouted in shock, making Haruki jump as well.
"Sharp as ever," Yuzhou nodded. "You got it right."
"So you're the Tiga-senpai from earlier?!"
Haruki immediately straightened, his tone respectful.
"That's right," Yuzhou confirmed openly.
"Haruki, by partnering with Z, you'll see a far wider world."
"I'll do my best, senpai!"
Haruki answered seriously.
"That's all I ask."
Yuzhou placed the medals into Haruki's hands.
"These are the other Ultra Medals. I'll leave them with you."
"Thank you, senpai!"
Haruki and Z bowed together.
"As for the remaining medals," Yuzhou added, "try checking the Kaiju Research Centre. All of Genegarg's fragments are there."
Knowing that Z's mission was to recover every lost medal, Yuzhou pointed them in the right direction.
Z immediately became excited.
"Haruki! Where's the Kaiju Research Centre?"
"It's… near STORAGE," Haruki replied after thinking for a moment.
"Then let's go tonight!"
Z couldn't contain his urgency.
Tartarus was still at large. Before his next scheme unfolded, the medals and risers had to be recovered.
"Easy, Z," Haruki said.
"Breaking into the research warehouse won't be simple."
"But Yuka might help—she goes there all the time."
"Then you two discuss it."
Yuzhou smiled and turned to leave.
There was no reason to keep lingering in the restroom.
After all—
The smell really wasn't pleasant.