Chameleon Zodiarts hit the ground, sprang up a second later, and shot a crimson tongue several meters straight at Shiraishi Shin.
Disgusting.
Shiraishi Shin eyed the attack with distaste; he didn't even want to touch it. He flicked his leg and kicked it away. The force was so great that Chameleon Zodiarts wasn't guiding the stone—its own flung tongue dragged it through the air like a kite with a snapped string.
Hiss!
This is bad—too dangerous, get out of here!
Spectating has its price.
Students scattered in panic; if that thing crashed into them, watching the fight could cost their lives. Next time, no one would linger.
Right in Chameleon Zodiarts' flight path stood two girls—Shiraishi Shin recognized them at once: Chitoge Kirisaki and Shiina Mahiru.
What are they doing here?
He hadn't expected it, but he didn't hesitate. One step and he vanished, crossing a hundred meters in less than a second.
Huh?
Shiina Mahiru and Chitoge Kirisaki yelped as the Monster hurtled toward them and instinctively clung to each other.
They'd just left the breeding area, saw a Kamen Rider battling a Monster, and decided to watch—never imagining they'd be caught in the crossfire.
Chitoge despaired at her own rotten luck: even at school she couldn't avoid Monsters. Figuring the Kamen Rider had things handled, she'd stayed with Mahiru—and now they were about to be collateral damage.
An instant before impact, Shiraishi Shin materialized in front of them, the Gashat Gear already on his arm. He leveled the muzzle at the slower Chameleon Zodiarts.
Kimewaza! Critical Judgement!
He squeezed the trigger and slashed downward; twin beams carved through the ground and ripped the air apart.
Boom—boom—boom!
Chameleon Zodiarts exploded the moment the beams struck, a pillar of fire roaring skyward.
Final Judgement!
Hmph.
Shiraishi Shin gave a soft snort, snapped the driver back onto his belt, glanced sideways at the two girls behind him, and walked on.
W-we're safe?
Chitoge blinked, staring at the Kamen Rider's retreating figure, emotions churning—saved by him again, the second time now.
Sure, the crisis had started because of a Kamen Rider's battle, but he'd been fighting just fine; they were the ones who'd stayed to gawk. She was the textbook definition of a burden.
Y-yeah…
Mahiru's heart was still racing, but the danger had passed.
So that's… a Kamen Rider?
It was her first time seeing a real, legendary Kamen Rider up close. He looked huge—two meters tall, maybe.
Shiraishi Shin reached the spot where Chameleon Zodiarts lay unconscious. He picked up the fallen boy and the Zodiarts Switch on the ground, flicked it off, and the switch cracked and vanished.
Kamen, Kamen Rider—what's your name?
Yeah, Kamen Rider, what do we call you?
Kamen Rider, you're so cool, so strong!
Once the first voice rang out, others quickly followed.
Shh—
Shiraishi Shin rose, pressed a gloved finger to his visor, and a hush fell over the crowd as if by magic.
(Image)
More students pressed in; others hung from classroom windows, phones raised.
That guy Shin's really stealing the show.
Kisaragi Gentaro's Kamen Rider Club trio arrived; Gentaro watched the center-stage Shiraishi Shin with open envy.
Okada Yuriko was in the crowd too. She'd sprinted over at the first rumor of a Monster, black satchel on her back ready for a manual transformation—apparently unnecessary.
She adjusted her non-prescription glasses. "As expected, Shiraishi-san is incredible."
Kamen Riders aren't urban legends—they're real. But remember: when you see a fight, don't stick around. Get unlucky and you could end up dead. My name is Kamen Rider Cronus, a passing judge.
Data-light scattered and he was gone, yet his words ignited the entire student body into feverish excitement.
Many here had never seen a Kamen Rider before, but Kamen Rider Cronus was too awesome, too powerful—like something out of sci-fi. Who wouldn't be thrilled?
Students had recorded every word; once those clips hit the internet, Kamen Rider would dominate the trending charts.
Kamen Rider Cronus—my God, they're real! I loved the shows as a kid, grew up thinking it was all make-believe. Turns out the tokusatsu series was a documentary—my life is complete!
So cool, unbelievably cool! That Monster stood no chance, and that final vanish—my heart's still pounding. What a visual feast!
From today on, Kamen Riders are no longer just rumors.
Hey, after the Monster lost, it turned back into one of our students—was he abducted and remodeled by Shocker?
…Inside a hidden chamber behind the chairman's office.
Mitsuaki Gamou, chairman of Seirei Academy, lounged in a semicircular chair, legs crossed, toying with a switch unlike ordinary constellations: crimson grip, oversized button.
Kamen Rider Cronus—who knew we had someone like that on campus? Headmaster, do we know his identity—student or teacher?
He looked at the deferential middle-aged man and the young woman before him: Headmaster Hayami Kouhei and second-year homeroom teacher Sonoda Sarina.
Both shared a secret title—Zodiarts—but unlike the fringe orion or Chameleon Zodiarts, they bore Zodiac Twelve Palaces signs.
Compared with lesser constellations, the Zodiac were executives, far stronger.
Hayami bowed. "My apologies, Chairman; we still don't know who he is."
Sonoda frowned. "Chairman, perhaps this Kamen Rider isn't from our school at all."