I want to become a Kamen Rider

Since the topic of Cupid had come up, Fan Kang seemed to remember something and casually asked a question.

"Speaking of which, what was your initial reason for rejecting Kewpie?"

"That suspicious creature is trying to instigate me to harm Feng."

"That really deserves to die."

The Contract Knights are a diverse group of people with differing opinions, but surprisingly, they can reach a consensus on a certain point.

If it weren't for his limited abilities, and if it weren't for the reality of the situation, he wouldn't want to see more contract knights appear.

Morning light streamed through the glass, illuminating the two of them, while the soft background music from the milk tea shop continued to play.

Fan Kang's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the silence, carrying an undeniable solemnity:

"Let's stop chatting here, Sakuta Azusagawa."

He looked directly into Sakuta's eyes.

"So, have you thought it through?"

"..."

"Regarding whether to accept this power, this responsibility, and everything that comes with it—to become a 'Kamen Rider'?"

With overwhelming force, he single-handedly intercepted a man from an era of rampant chaos, giving every contracted knight who has inadvertently stepped into the abyss a chance to turn back. Even if the knight's seed cannot be retrieved, and even if the knight's contract cannot be canceled, they can still give up the fight and return to a peaceful life.

Because he will take on the responsibility and obligation of that battle.

He respects others' willingness to fight, at the cost of sacrificing his own.

Even if the boy in front of him was someone he had painstakingly tracked down, rescued, and found, he would still give him the chance to give up with a generosity that cannot be described.

In the darkness, there must always be firewood. Loudly proclaiming the greatness of sacrifice and singing the praises of dedication, while hiding in a safe place and watching others die, is the kind of thing that only those in power would do. But he is a warrior who uses the name of Kuuga.

"As mentioned before, becoming a Kamen Rider means no salary, no job security, and even if you die in some dark corner, no one will cry for you except your loved ones, your comrades, and those who know your story and are moved by it."

“I will not use inflammatory rhetoric to tell you how great such behavior is, nor will I use inspiring stories to teach you and make your blood boil.”

"I just want to tell you that there are many downsides to becoming a Kamen Rider. It's a tough, tiring, frustrating, and potentially betraying job. You stand in the abyss, building bridges for others to cross it. Whether dawn comes or not, you're almost destined to be buried in the bottomless darkness."

"Answer me, Sakuta Azusagawa, have you thought this through? Do you really want to become a Kamen Rider?"

The young man in front of me was initially solemn, but the more he spoke, the more relaxed and relieved I became.

"...Senior, you've talked so much about the downsides, so what about the advantages?"

The boy smiled and spoke to him.

This question startled him, and he finally managed to speak.

"The benefits are that fewer and fewer people will be kidnapped by Shocker like you. The benefits are that fewer and fewer people will be forced to separate from their loved ones. The benefits are that fewer and fewer lives will be trampled on. Until the very end, no one will cry anymore, and everyone will be laughing."

"The benefits are really pitifully small."

Fan Kang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Azusagawa Sakuta's complaint.

Just when he thought he was about to be rejected, a hand was stretched out in front of him.

The boy laughed unexpectedly, and in that laughter, he heard him say something.

"That's enough."

Chapter Thirty-Three: Skipping the Bill

Golden morning light pierced through the mist, slanting in and casting warm spots of light on the light-colored wooden tabletop. Tiny dust particles in the air floated slowly in the beams of light.

"Since you've decided to become a Kamen Rider, if you don't mind, I'll teach you some basics first. After you make a contract with Kyubey and get your first Rider form, I'll teach you how to fight."

Sakuta Azusagawa laughed heartily.

"Then please give me your guidance, Master."

"Master..."

"?"

"I just suddenly heard the word and it seemed a bit strange."

It's all because of some noisy guy.

They don't say anything sentimental like "Ah, I feel like a piece of my heart has been taken over for no reason," which is something only teenagers would say. But the originally planned cold, chilling life that eventually burns out in a corner where no one can see it does become a little noisy.

Perhaps, in the end, he still longs for stories that are basking in the sunlight and full of excitement.

That would make me feel better.

“I have some things to attend to,” Fan Kang stood up. “The specific training and getting you familiar with Kamen Rider battles will start the day after tomorrow, is that alright?”

He picked up his coat from the back of the chair with a swift and decisive motion.

"Well then, goodbye, senior."

Sakuta Azusagawa waved goodbye to him politely.

His eyes were clear and trusting, carrying the unique yearning for heroes that comes with youth. Although he had a way of dealing with the world and emotional intelligence that was not commensurate with his age, he still retained some of the qualities that one should have at this age.

If he hadn't lived two lives, and a Kamen Rider had actually appeared before him, Fan Kang knew he wouldn't be much calmer than him. No, he would definitely be much more excited than Azusagawa Sakuta.

This guy is already quite outstanding among his peers.

"Senior must be going to fight again, driving his motorcycle through the city, saving lives and fighting the spreading darkness. He's really cool."

Fan Kang's lips twitched.

"...That's about right."

At this point, it's impossible to even mention going on a date with a high school girl.

Even he didn't want to tarnish the towering image he held in the eyes of the younger generation.

Speaking of which, having saved so many people so far, if they knew that the man behind that mask was actually a seemingly serious guy with a very rich inner world who not only liked to complain loudly to people's faces but also secretly grumbled in his mind, many people would probably be disillusioned. Thinking about it this way, Mizutani Migen really has something wrong with his head.

As I stepped out of the bubble tea shop, something landed on my shoulder.

Even without turning around, the familiar weight alone is enough to identify it as a suspicious white alien creature.

'Is this really a good idea, to resist the emperor?'

"Isn't this the result of your instigation? It's not like I wanted to go on a date with a high school girl."

'...Oh right, you really don't want to date high school girls at all.'

Kyubey tilted his head.

"Wait, no, I'm getting off-topic. I wasn't talking about your upcoming schedule. What I wanted to say was, is it really okay for you to skip out on the bill? You walked away so nonchalantly, leaving the mess for your juniors."

Fan Kang calmly said:

"It's okay. I chose a bubble tea shop instead of a more upscale place like a coffee shop because I considered the financial situation of male high school students. Sakuta can definitely afford it!"

"Oh, I see," Cupid's voice was completely flat. "Then it's alright. You're so thoughtful—thoughtful my foot! At a time like this, aren't you afraid of ruining your glorious and noble image in the eyes of your juniors?!"

“If it were Sakuta now, he would definitely think that I forgot to pay because I was in a hurry to fight evil. He would just take out his wallet and happily pay for me.”

Watching the man who had run away from the bubble tea shop and quickly disappeared without a trace, Cupid sighed deeply and silently, his fluffy tail drooping down, as if he had been utterly defeated.

"Sometimes, Kang-kun," Kyubey's voice drifted softly in the morning breeze, "I genuinely think that if you hadn't become Kamen Rider, you might have had a real talent for being a scoundrel."

The man who skipped out on his bill didn't stop in the dazzling sunlight at the alley entrance. He ran quickly, disappearing into the sunlight, leaving behind only a self-deprecating yet indifferent reply that drifted on the wind:

"Who knows? Maybe I'm just a scoundrel at heart, and I only have to try to act like a hero because I'm wearing the title of Kamen Rider."

'How long are you going to perform?'

"For a lifetime."

……

……

Several hours later, on the same street.

The afternoon sun blazed with scorching heat, baking the somewhat deserted street. Tina Hiiragi stood in front of a red vending machine by the roadside, fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.

She stared intently at the dazzling array of beverage options, her finger finally pressing the button for chilled melon soda. Only a monster like the minister would choose cherry-flavored Coca-Cola, she thought to herself as the vending machine started working, followed by a crisp "click".

Bending down, Tina Hiiragi opened the small plastic door of the retrieval opening and took out the bottle of refreshing soda water.

"Phew..." She breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze unfocused as she looked at the distant city skyline distorted by the heatwave.

"Kamen Rider...I really admire him..."

The thought popped up without warning, filled with intense longing.

"If... if only I could be like that. Appearing suddenly like light, riding a cool motorcycle, using overwhelming power to cleanly and efficiently defeat the bad guys, protecting the smiles of the city... cool, reliable, trusted by everyone..."

In the blurry reflection of the tank wall, she seemed to see her clumsy figure replaced by the silhouette of a warrior in armor, with sharp lines and a powerful aura.

Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, the figure stood firm as a mountain.

'In that case... you definitely won't feel powerless anymore...'

'It must... be able to help that person now... so stop crying...'

Completely lost in her heroic fantasies, her fingertips unconsciously traced the lines of her imagined armor on the cold canister when a sweet voice sounded behind her—

"Want to give it a try and transform into a Kamen Rider?"

Unlike the talking white cat that the minister easily repelled with a hand chop, a black creature resembling an upside-down Hyper Zetton from Ultraman appeared.

"Here we go again, a mascot that appears before an ordinary girl and can grant her the power to transform!"

The black floating creature completely ignored her complaints. If the minister were here, he would definitely criticize the creature for not following the rules when faced with such a supernatural being, but she didn't have that kind of courage.

"I am Venalita, nice to meet you."

Then it spoke to her in this way.

"Tina Hiiragi, you possess the power of the chosen one. The world is threatened by the evil, fallen knight Kuuga and his minions. A hero is needed to step forward!"

Chapter Thirty-Four: Tracking (3K)

On weekends, at the family-run restaurant, "Salia".

The air conditioner hummed, warding off the scorching sun outside. The air was filled with the aroma of crispy fried pork cutlets, rich coffee, and sweet, creamy scents. The lemon-yellow sofa booths were packed with families, students, and small groups enjoying their weekend, their laughter mingling with the clinking of cutlery, creating a simple yet lively background ambiance.

In a corner booth near the floor-to-ceiling window, Hiiragi Tina felt like she was suffocating.

She was wearing an oversized hoodie, the hood pulled low, almost covering half her face, revealing only a pair of large, nervous eyes that darted around nervously. The ice in her lemonade had long since melted, but she hadn't taken a sip.

On the seat next to her, a canvas bag with the "Ultimate Kuuga" pattern was moving slightly, and through the gap in the zipper, two deep, dark eyes, like miniature black holes, were precisely cast diagonally forward.

"My weekend..." Tina Hiiragi wailed inwardly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the drawstring of her hoodie. "Why did it have to turn out like this?!"

The culprit behind everything was that dark, unidentified creature in her bag that called itself "Venalita." It forcibly intruded into her life, forcing her to spend what should have been a wonderful weekend at home catching up on anime, instead acting like a clumsy private detective, stalking Fan Kang, the head of the Knights Club whom she knew at school.

Venalita threatened her that if she didn't help it defeat the evil Fallen Knight Kuuga and Kuuga's minions, it would spread her personal information and photos online.

You're more like a bad guy than Kuuga for doing something like this!

Even disregarding the dream, and even if we accept Venerita's claim that the government was infiltrated by Shocker, the dark organization to which Kuuga belongs, the sheer number of lives Kuuga saved can't be a lie.

Before she could investigate the veracity of what Venerita said, Venerita told her an even more explosive and direct bombshell: the minister was none other than Kamen Rider Kuuga, who had recently risen to fame worldwide and was active in fighting terrorists and dark organizations.

This is even more outrageous than a minister announcing he's running for prime minister!

After all, given the minister's eccentric personality, he might actually do just that.

And what does Kuuga mean to her? Not exactly a dream lover, but more accurately... a dream knight.

In her imagination, Kuuga should be a cold and aloof figure, with eyes as deep as the night, burdened by a heavy fate, a tragic hero who uses himself as fuel in the darkness. His alter ego should also be a tall, handsome, calm, and reliable being, a perfect figure who inspires endless hope while maintaining a perfectly appropriate distance…

But what about reality?

The reality is that he is a minister.

The sense of disillusionment even overwhelmed the fear of being coerced by Venalita. Why did it have to be that minister? She had personally witnessed him secretly picking his nose, refusing to admit defeat when he lost a game, rolling around in the activity room, and guzzling cherry-flavored cola.

That guy even steals Hachiman's coffee, and when he's hungry, he'll even swallow Yuihama's cookies. He can hold his own in verbal battles with Yukinoshita. He seems to be able to grow in bridge arches, the ultimate creature with both shamelessness and audacity.

Oh, and what's even worse is that the minister likes to steal her magazines and comics!