Epilogue

You can be a Gear Master with the world's best technique, but you'll never build a perfect Gear unless you know the Gear Fighter.

Kyousuke allowed Alex's words to resonate inside his head as he stepped up to participate in their club's going-away ceremony. Aside from their delegation, Shingo and Fuuko Nagidori were also there to see them off, as well as their two so-called campaign managers, the spectacled Yukihiro and the plump Shunsuki. The two continued to recite the cheer they had composed to encourage the players in the World Cup, which consisted of the words 'fight' and 'Tobita Club' that they repeated over and over until the chant ended with a, "Yeah!"

They clapped, and so he did he, just so he wouldn't spoil everyone else's happy mood. Despite the fact that they hadn't heard anything from their fourth Gear Fighter in the last few days, and that the news they received before that was not very joy-causing, they were all unusually cheerful, probably because they were on their way to another country to compete in an international tournament. He, for one, was excited, because he had never been out of the country before, and… well, though he hated to admit it, he wanted to see the Chinese technician Lan Fang again.

"We really made it, you guys," Kouya, their captain, told them before he turned to face the other club members. He was grinning, but the Gear Master still saw the sadness in his eyes. After all, they still weren't sure if Kuroudo would be going to the World Cup to participate in the event with them, or if they would have to make do with one of their appointed substitutes. "Thanks for coming to see us off. It's really nice."

"We're really happy for you!" Shunsuki pitched in.

"We have some news to tell you, too. Mr. Shingo is going to be our coach while you're in Australia, and we're very happy to have another great teacher while you guys are gone," Yukihiro recited rather nervously, sparing a glance at the eldest Gear Fighter once in a while, then continued on as if what he was saying was a memorized speech. "But you guys don't have to worry about us."

Shingo stepped forward and caught each of the player's gazes with his own. "Just do your best in every single match. No matter what happens, I want you to remember not to give up." He then smiled, as Kouya enthusiastically replied with an affirmative.

From behind him, his younger sister Fuuko crept out, handing the Tobita Club captain what appeared to be a card with a monkey's face. The brunette recognized it in an instant; it was Q, their father's Gear Fighting monkey. "This…" she began shyly as Kouya took the card, "…is a lucky charm for you. Please try your best Kouya. While I'll do my best here, as acting manager."

"So now Fuuko's gonna be the Tobita Club manager?" Kouya asked with a wide grin. It was a bad choice for a statement, but what he said next came out almost involuntarily, seemingly out of reflex. "Does this mean that you're going to Australia with us instead of Kaoru?"

And indeed, it was a wrong move. He suddenly felt something hit him hard on the head, and before seeing the seething image of their brown-haired, indigo-eyed team manager, he swore he had seen a handful of stars and two to three birds circling around his head. He had barely recovered when Kaoru exclaimed in her always bossy and authoritative tone, "Dream on, little man!"

They laughed, knowing how often Kaoru would lose her temper and how Kouya always managed to make her lose it, but in no time, their laughter died down, and silence sunk in. And it was of the uncomfortable kind, too. Kyousuke knew almost immediately what they were thinking of, of course; rather, who they were thinking of. They were most probably worried about him, as he hadn't sent them word lately, and the last time he did was before the commencement of his second operation more than a week ago. His companions didn't tell them anything, either, even though they practically bombarded them with tons of emails. And while it was strange…

"Why don't we show them our new Gears before we go off to Australia, Kyousuke? It would be a treat to see them up close," Jirou suggested, interrupting his train of thoughts. He was looking at the Gear Master with a knowing smile, his new red-hued machine held with one hand.

The spectacled boy nodded absent-mindedly before he took out his Gear from its container and proceeded to one end of the arena. Jirou followed, and in no time, Kouya did, too. He may not have a new Gear, but he definitely didn't want to get left behind. "I'll start things off," he declared before anyone could protest, and soon after, he fell into his release stance, his right arm stretching behind him. Then, using just the right force, he thrust his Gear forward, it landing inside the arena without trouble. "I call it Dino Phalanx. The front weapon is a tri-spinner. It's an upgraded spin saw with a tornado spinner."

Jirou wasn't about to let his Gear be overshadowed. "And now it's my turn. This is for you, Alex," he muttered, before he released his new Gear into the arena, it looking as red as ever, but now a lot stronger and deadlier. "Meet Raging Bullet. I changed the front weapon, and it's now ten times better than its predecessor."

The silver-haired girl nodded. "It looks very powerful."

Her brother nodded as well, in agreement to her statement. He followed the Gear's movements with his eyes silently for a few moments, then he commented, "Alex never let anyone down." He flashed a grin at Jirou, then at Lilika, reminiscing the time when he and his teammates --- Yuhya, Takeshi and Alex --- were showing off their Gears to the rest of the members. "He's a true genius Gear Master, that's for sure."

"If you want a genius Gear Master, look no further than the guy standing next to Jirou."

Only Kyousuke did not turn to look at the owner of the voice, a voice which they haven't heard in a long time. By then the lens of his eyeglasses were flashing under the glaring light, and he was smirking, as if he had known what was coming. And in actuality, he did. With everyone else too shocked at the development, he then turned around to address the newcomer, ebony eyes meeting sapphire ones. He descended from his post until he was directly in front of the blonde, looking up at the latter with accusing eyes. "You're late."

"Sorry," the other apologized, smiling lightly at his best friend's manner of greeting. The young genius had never been fond of showing his sentimental side, and almost always preferred to hide under the mask of a cold-hearted, uncaring person. Fate, he realized, had been kind to them, as it allowed Kyousuke to welcome him back first before anyone else did, and for that he was glad. He was about to say something more when his teammates rushed towards him, ecstatic at his return. Soon, he found himself lost in their company, and he felt good. There was one slight problem, however. "Hey, hey, slow down… I'm not fast lip-reader yet, you know."

That statement caught everyone's attention, making them whatever they were doing and look at the blonde in shock, but it was Kaoru who had the quickest mouth. "What? You mean to say that you still can't---"

"I can. A bit. But I stick with lip-reading for now," Kuroudo interrupted her before she could say anything more. He then proceeded to explain, with Kyousuke's help --- he had told his best friend everything, from his discovery that his real father is Mamoru Ichikawa to his plans of returning during the Tobita Club's going-away party --- that the first operation cleared his hearing a little bit, and that he decided to postpone the second operation and its succeeding therapeutic sessions for him to concentrate on finishing his new Gear.

Of course, they clearly heard him say that he had a new Gear, and so they asked him to show it to them. Grinning at Kyousuke, who worked as much as he did to contribute to its existence, he took out his new machine from his Gearbox, and proceeded to the arena to present it to everyone. As he took up his initial stance, he allowed himself to inhale deeply. He missed Gear Fighting dearly, and he was simply glad that he had been with two women who encouraged him to stop running away and to fight his demons instead, and that he had a best friend who never gave up on him no matter how hard the situation was for both of them.

Shooting Phantom soared gracefully into the arena, as gracefully as he released it. Perhaps it was because of his last-minute practices, but he, too, felt that he hadn't lost his touch at all. "The rear weapon also gives it dash power. It's called a turbine piston," he explained as he watched it play around the arena along with his friends' Gears. Now loaded with a VT-Chassis, it seemed ten times faster than its forerunner, which also happened to enjoy dash-type settings.

"That looks really awesome. You two make a great team," Kouya complimented before bringing out his Garuda Phoenix. He could not help but notice, however, that Kyousuke made almost all their Gears, except Jirou's, and that made him beam in pride. The blonde was definitely right; they didn't have to look very far for a genius Gear Master. "All right, now it's my turn! Let's go!"

Quickly so as not to miss out in any of the team moments, Jirou and Kyousuke stepped back into the arena, joining Kuroudo and Kouya as their Gears danced around like they did, apparently warming up and getting ready for the big event. The blonde Gear Fighter closed his cerulean eyes for a few heartbeats to savor the moment, silently telling himself that there was definitely no turning back from the decision he had made. And as his friends' laughter and cheers, though vaguely and distantly, filled up his heart and eventually his very being, he knew he had the strength to carry on.

He was going to get through it, amidst the silence.

-Owari-

Minna, thanks for sticking with me 'till the very end. You guys are the greatest. This is for you! :)