The setting sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky a burning orange-red. Clouds, like molten metal, flowed across the gradually darkening blue canvas. Streetlights flickered on one by one, as if ignited by an unseen force, casting long, swaying shadows in the twilight.
The blue and silver Kamen Rider shimmered with a faint blue light in the twilight, reflecting a cold arc in the afterglow of the sunset, like a sword drawn from its sheath.
The figure in the helmet's eyes was no longer a playful boy, but a Kamen Rider whose resolve had been acknowledged.
"Tomori, this is the surprise I told you about."
"Hmm, Rikuo-kun, you're indeed not an ordinary person."
Tomori touched her chin with her small hand, looking at the Kamen Rider before her.
"Indeed? Tomori, did you feel I was different from the very beginning?"
Tomori looked up at the sky, as if pondering something.
"Well, the first time I saw Rikuo-kun, he was chatting with Sakiko. Although I didn't know what they were talking about, I could see Sakiko's trust in him. Then, when I got to the classroom, I saw him standing alone by the door. Even though some boys came up to talk to him, he seemed unwilling to engage with them, but he didn't have that sense of aloofness I'd seen in others before. And then there's Anon..."
Rikuo looked at Tomori before him, and the face beneath the Kamen Rider mask couldn't help but smile.
'Can she see so much after knowing me for just one day?'
"And also, Rikuo-kun! The most important thing is, I feel like you exist independently in the world. Although I don't feel any malice, I always feel like you deliberately keep your distance from others!"
"Is that... is that so?"
"Absolutely!"
Rikuo touched his face, but couldn't feel it, which made him even more awkward. Looking at Tomori's certain expression, he couldn't refute her.
"Perhaps it's because it's only my first day and I'm not very familiar yet?"
Rikuo was so engrossed in chatting with Tomori that he forgot he was still in his Kamen Rider Blade form. Amidst the flickering streetlights, the Kamen Rider's blue and silver glow became even more striking.
"Is that...? A Kamen Rider? Ho ho, indeed! I, Magneto Kai, the Ruler of Magnetic Fields! Am I not an existence independent at the pinnacle of the world?"
A boy was seen flying towards Rikuo at a speed of eight seconds per hundred meters. His head wore an anti-mind interference helmet (actually DIY tinfoil), his hands wore Infinity Gauntlets (actually rubber gloves with 6 holes cut out), and his body wore a Superman cape (actually a modified supermarket shopping bag).
"Holy crap, chuunibyou!"
Rikuo uttered the adjective others used to describe him.
"Hmph, Kamen Rider, how dare you question my identity as Magneto Kai, the Ruler of Magnetic Fields!"
"...?"
The boy suddenly flung his hand and shouted loudly.
"Eighth fruit in the deep darkness, I, the Ruler of Magnetic Fields, command you in my name, Metal Control!"
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly, and a vending machine floated in mid-air. The boy looked at Rikuo with a smug expression.
"Have you witnessed the power of Magneto Kai? Tremble, Kamen Rider!"
'Holy crap, a supernatural power! Has someone really used an Undead card? Things are getting complicated. Judging by this stance, it's probably the 8 of Spades - Magnet Buffalo (Ability: Allows temporary control over magnetism).'
Rikuo knew that to deal with a chuunibyou boy, he had to communicate with a similar mental state.
'Then I'll reluctantly pretend to be a chuunibyou boy for once.'
"Oh, Lord of Magnetism from the Far East, is the eighth fruit in the deep darkness, the source of your power, a servant under the Black King? Then as the Black King and Ace, I should have the right to dominate you!"
Rikuo didn't want to conflict. He canceled his transformation, took out the Ace of Spades from the Blay buckle, and the King of Spades from the storage box. He looked down at the boy with a condescending gaze.
Tomori watched their exchange, silently taking two steps back, making room for them.
"Is this how Kamen Riders fight? So amazing, I can't understand anything they're saying!"
Tomori clapped her hands softly, but it would have been better if she hadn't clapped. Hearing Tomori's applause, Rikuo's face began to flush with embarrassment.
"Should I say it's worthy of a Kamen Rider? To possess the power of the Dark King and Ace. But even as the eighth general under your banner, I will not easily submit. If you have the ability, come and catch me, Kamen Rider."
To translate, he meant that he felt he couldn't win, and was afraid of having his card taken, so he ran away.
"Heh heh, oh Ruler of Magnetic Fields, did you flee in disarray without even daring to leave your name! How cowardly and incompetent."
Rikuo currently had no cards that purely enhanced speed. Both transforming and using Jack of Spades's wings would attract too much attention. He could only choose to extract information from the other party and then investigate.
"Hmph, oh Dark King, I thought my name was renowned throughout the world. Yet, as the Ace, you are so ignorant. My name is Tanaka Ninosuke! This will be a name you will never forget in your entire life!"
'Is this going to be for a lifetime too?'
Rikuo remembered the other party's name, but couldn't help but inwardly complain.
Tomori watched Tanaka Ninosuke leave, then walked back to Rikuo's side and gently tugged at his clothes. Rikuo turned his head to see Tomori's golden pupils gazing at him.
"Rikuo-kun, are you just going to let him go like that?"
"I can't help it, Tomori. It wouldn't be good if we attracted too much attention."
Rikuo could only helplessly spread his hands.
"But taking cards must be put on the agenda. Although the other party seems quite naive, what if others exploit him or the power of the card brings negative effects...? Tomori, you don't think it's excessive for me to take someone else's ability without permission, do you?"
Although Rikuo would still choose to do so regardless of others' opinions, people still hope to gain the approval of those around them.
"Hmm, although I don't really understand. But what Rikuo-kun wants to do is reduce the harm others suffer, right? If so, then it's the right thing to do. Since it's the right and gentle thing, why would it be excessive?"
Tomori pointed at her face with her small hand's index finger, looking at Rikuo with questioning golden eyes.
'Tomori is indeed a succubus! She's too cute!'
"If I can get Tomori's approval, then I have no burden. Speaking of which, it's getting late now, I'll take you home."
Just then, Rikuo's phone lit up. An emergency news alert was displayed.
"Today, due to unknown magnetic field causes, the tram line texture has been affected. Repairs are expected to be completed tomorrow at 6:00 AM. Tokyo Metro Company expresses its deepest apologies for the inconvenience caused to your daily life."
"Oh, this is not good. If I walk home, it will be too late and my parents will worry."
Tomori tidied her hair with her left hand, a troubled expression on her face.
"Oh well, Tomori, I'll take you home."
[Turn up]
The blue and silver Kamen Rider reappeared. Rikuo took out the Jack of Spades from the storage box and swiped it into the Blay Rouzer, and the golden-brown wings reappeared.
"Tomori, come here, I'll carry you home."
"But, Rikuo-kun, didn't you say you were afraid of others finding out...?"
"Then fly higher, fly high for me."
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