[Kamen Rider Die]

The line at the end. "I just wanted to be happy.” I keep rolling that around in my mind.

I think of it as supporting the idea that goals don't mean anything if you don't why you're pursuing them. Sano's been given everything he wanted, but it doesn't really fix him. He doesn't have anyone he can depend on. His money can't buy him safety from Shiro. And even with this thing he got, I don't even think he's really happy?

Even as he's got all this, and he fights to protect Yuri and his wealth and prestige, he's still alone. He dies alone, trapped in another world, able to see Yuri but unable to be seen. He dies still wanting to be happy. He dies for trappings, for the symbols of what he thinks a happy life is. He dies hoping that someone will save him, protect him, all so that he can find the sense of fulfillment that eludes him.

Or, I don't know, maybe he's truly content and the tragedy is that if he'd never chosen to be a Rider he'd actually get to keep and enjoy it. But I don't think so. I think he's someone who assumes that wealth is happiness, that status is respect, and longs to truly feel that.