The following article contains spoilers for Tiger & Bunny 2 Episode 25, "Today is Not Just Tomorrow’s Yesterday," now streaming on Netflix.
Following on from Episode 24, Barnaby and Lunatic struggle against Kotetsu and Audun after the two heroes were set on a rampage by Gregory Sunshine. Meanwhile, Hero TV's announcer, Mario, finally reveals to the Stern Bild public the truth behind Gregory Sunshine and the Xs.
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Just as Audun winds up a final blow against a battered Lunatic, someone manages to restrain him: it's Kotetsu, having snapped out of Gregory's trance. However, he reveals that he only managed to break free because his Hundred Power has finally run out -- permanently.
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With Kotetsu Depowered, Barnaby Must Finish the Fight
The other heroes are devastated to learn Kotetsu is no longer a NEXT, but he pleads with them to concentrate on saving the people of Stern Bild instead. Luckily, Barnaby's Hundred Power has finally recharged, and he's able to land some serious blows against Audun.
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Unfortunately, Audun retaliates, breaking Barnaby's hero suit in the process. Just as all seems lost, Kotetsu throws his bracelet to Barnaby, and Barnaby uses his partner's suit to deliver one final blow against Audun, finally knocking the legendary vigilante out for good. As the people of Stern Bild celebrate Barnaby's victory, Kotetsu reminisces about the first time he met the young hotshot who would become his partner, and he tears up in pride.
Gregory Sunshine slinks away but winds up confronted by Golden Ryan and Blue Rose. Ryan finally pays back Gregory for the trauma he endured years ago by knocking Gregory out, destroying Mattia's drug in the process.
Little Aurora is safely escorted away by the police, but before she leaves, she thanks Kotetsu and Barnaby, telling them to extend her gratitude to Lunatic as well. Following a blood trail, the two heroes catch up to Lunatic standing precariously on a ledge -- clearly ready to take the plunge.
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Lunatic and Gregory Sunshine Face the Final Curtain
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Kotetsu and Barnaby plead with him not to, thanking him for his help today and telling him he was a true hero. Lunatic retorts that he intends to stay true to his form of justice and implores the duo to stay true to theirs too before falling off of the ledge to his uncertain doom in the river below.
Lunatic isn't the only character to meet his end in this episode. Gregory Sunshine, sitting in the back of a police van, tries to bribe his driver into letting him go. Unfortunately for Gregory, the driver turns out to be an Ouroboros agent with orders to kill Gregory, and he jumps out of the moving van with Gregory still restrained inside. The out-of-control van veers off of a bridge and plummets to the ground below, exploding on impact and taking Gregory with it.
With Gregory's death, all the X victims are finally relinquished from his control. As the newscaster celebrates the heroes' victory, Magical Cat's mother chews her out for previously spreading anti-NEXT sentiment. She implores the newsreader to change her attitude as she has done as well, showing that Cat's once-coercive mother has finally turned over a new leaf.
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As the heroes all reunite, they're devastated to learn that with his powers gone, Kotetsu has decided to retire as a superhero. He still pledges to help people where he can, and ponders Rosicky's words about NEXTs being exploited, vowing to somehow find a way to change the world for the better.
The other heroes part ways with Barnaby and Kotetsu, and each pair reaffirms their dedication to one another. Origami Cyclone encourages Wild Bison to pursue his crush on Agnes, Dragon Kid plans for her parents to meet Magical Cat and her mother and Mr. Black invites He Is Thomas over for dinner, offering to cook his favorite dish -- lasagna. With the titular heroes left alone at the battle site, Barnaby sobs over his partner's retirement.
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Is This the End of Kotetsu and Barnaby?
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After composing himself, Barnaby pledges to continue being a superhero despite his leg injury. Kotetsu smiles at his partner's declaration and the two fist-bump. As they depart for a victory dinner, Barnaby notices something by his feet. It's a "Happy" doll -- a plush toy that appeared throughout the season, which asks "Are you happy?" upon being squeezed. Barnaby picks the doll up, and after squeezing it, replies with a solemn "maybe" -- .
In the season's final scene, the camera swoops into the hero museum, revealing a painting of Kotetsu and Barnaby in their hero suits, along with an inscription commemorating the "LEGEND OF THE BUDDY HERO," bringing an end to the story of Tiger and Bunny.
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It's a melancholy note to end on, and one with much uncertainty for the future of the series. There are plenty of unresolved plot threads the show could pick up on in the future, but it's clear that the tale of the titular partnership has come to a definitive end, and any future tales in Stern Bild City will have to be without Kotetsu on the front lines. All of this begs the question: where could Tiger & Bunny go from here?
