[Kamen Rider Ex-Aid] are someone else’s hero

Titel: are someone else’s hero
Fandom: Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
Pairing: Houjou Emu / Kujou Kiriya
Words: 433
Completed: 2019/04/14
Misc: –

---

“But you know, Emu… Your life will not end, so you can’t reset.”

“Why?”

“In this world… there are heroes who protect you.”

“Heroes?”

“They are called doctors.”

*

“Heroes… huh?”

“Eh?” Kiriya stopped in his tracks, not sure if his ears were playing a trick on him or not. His attention shifted to Emu beside him, who had yet to touch his food, and the coroner wondered if and just how much his partner actually remembered from the Mighty Novel X gaming world.

And then it started.

A single tear rolled down Emu’s face, soon to be followed by another one. And another. And-

“Eehhhhh?! Emu what’s wrong, why are you crying??” Poppy began to panic and her shrill voice drew the attention of the others to them.

“Emu…” Kiriya’s chest tightened. There was so much he wanted to do – hug Emu, dry his tears, kiss his tears away – but time and place only allowed so much. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Emu’s shoulder, a gesture so familiar and natural between them it never felt out of place, and ever so slightly scooted him closer. He exchanged a quick glance with Parado and nodded.

“Really Emu, crying over food again?” Parado’s lie couldn’t have been more transparent, but it was good enough for Poppy to believe it. Her relief was contagious, or maybe the others just knew when to take a hint, honestly, it could have been both. More importantly, however, was that no one else pressed the subject any further and everyone returned to their food and/or conversation. Kiriya let out a sigh of relief he didn’t know he was holding in.

“I’m sorry, guys.” Emu dried the remaining tears and mustered a weak smile. He didn’t wish to worry anyone, but it was easy to tell his emotions were still all over the place.

“Don’t be.”

Kiriya hadn’t meant to say these words out loud, but they must have escaped his lips nonetheless. Emu’s puzzled eyes met his and moments of silence passed. It was subtle at first, but Emu’s face lit up considerably. “Hehe, thank you Kiriya-san.”

And there it was, the bright and dazzling smile which had put the coroner under its spell, probably so since the first day he had met Emu as an intern. It was a smile Kiriya had sworn to protect ever since he decided to turn a new leaf; that fateful day when he put all of his faith in Emu, the only person worthy of it.

No Emu, I should be the one thanking you.

You, too, are already a hero.