Alya's face was blank. "Even if this is just for fun, I still want to test my limits. Shiina-san's athletic talent is exceptional, so… I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous."
Shiina Mahiru shook her head. "No need to apologize, Kujou-san. I feel exactly the same. It's rare to meet a girl as strong as you; getting a good workout and working up a sweat is exactly what I was hoping for."
The two girls met each other's gaze and shared a knowing smile. Though they'd been in the same class, their personalities had been worlds apart.
One gentle, smiling at everyone; the other proud and icy-cold—total opposites, with almost no interaction. Yet after this ball-game friendship, they truly respected each other.
Shiraishi Shin watched the two become instant friends and felt utterly bewildered. The friendships of women really are incredible.
When PE ended it was time for club activities, but today there was no rush; before anything else came Seirei Academy's annual beauty pageant.
Although a Monster had attacked a contestant yesterday, Kamen Rider Cronus appeared and defeated it, so the pageant would proceed as scheduled.
The venue was the grand auditorium—bigger than the gym and built to seat the entire student body for opening and graduation ceremonies.
Shiraishi Shin didn't head over right away; crowds bored him, and with that mob it would be smarter to wait half an hour.
While most students packed the auditorium, a chase was unfolding inside the academic building.
"JK, you liar—today you'll pay!"
A rather flamboyant second-year boy fled in panic, a horse-like Monster thundering behind him. Yet it wasn't truly a horse: a long horn jutted from its forehead—none other than the Unicorn Zodiarts.
(Image unicorn zodiarts)
The boy called JK, terror on his face, shouted, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have tricked you into being my shield—please stop chasing me—help!"
"Enough talk! You'll learn the price of deceiving me!"
The Unicorn Zodiarts sneered, unmoved. No matter how the boy zig-zagged, a mere human could never outrun a Monster with superhuman speed.
Just as the creature's claws were about to close, a man flew in with a diving kick.
"Take this!"
Kisaragi Gentaro's foot slammed into the Unicorn Zodiarts's flank, staggering it two steps, but the blow did no real harm; instead Gentaro landed on his backside, grimacing in pain.
Behind him, Jojima Yuuki shouted, "Found it! As expected, Burgermeal tracked the unicorn zodiarts—so it's the Unicorn Zodiarts!"
(So for those who don't know, Burgermeal here means foodroits, not really food, okay)
(Image Burgermeal)
Last came Utahoshi Kengo, panting and out of breath.
Burgermeal was a small transformable robot that could home in on the scent of a zodiarts and project a hologram, letting them locate the creature quickly.
The Unicorn Zodiarts stared at the man who'd just kicked him. "Who are you?"
He couldn't understand why someone would rush toward a Monster instead of running away.
"Kisaragi Gentaro—the guy who wants to be friends with everyone in school. Unicorn Zodiarts, I don't know why you're chasing him, but as a Kamen Rider I have to stop you."
Heart racing, Gentaro snapped the Fourze driver around his waist, flipped four switches, and a countdown sounded.
[3… 2… 1!]
"Henshin!"
When the three-second timer hit zero he yanked the lever. White gas billowed from the driver.
A white spacesuit-like armor materialized around him, the helmet shaped like a rocket, the visor glowing red. Though both he and Eternal wore white, in power and looks Fourze was light-years behind.
"Uchū, kitā!"(Space is Here!)
(Image Kamen rider Fourze)
Arms high, Gentaro shouted. Nearby, the less-than-upstanding JK gaped in shock.
"What's going on? Nitta turned into a Monster with some weird thing, and that pompadour guy just became a Kamen Rider?"
It felt like a dream. Yesterday's Monster and Rider had been surprising enough; today he'd run into different ones—and the Rider was a fellow student. Huge news.
"Friends with the whole school?" JK mused. "Classic delusional chuuni."
Zzzt!
Gentaro ran a gloved finger across his slick helmet, producing a screech, then thrust a fist toward the Unicorn Zodiarts. "Kamen Rider Fourze—let's do this man to man!"
"A Kamen Rider…?"
The Unicorn Zodiarts hadn't expected to actually meet one. He'd had misgivings when he received the Zodiarts Switch, but revenge had left him no choice.
This Rider felt far less menacing than yesterday's Kamen Rider Cronus, whose very image oozed pressure even through a screen.
On the rooftop, Shiraishi Shin yawned, waking from an idle nap. "Again? Are the Zodiarts on a fixed daily spawn timer?"
Three days, three zodiarts—sure felt like one per day.
Hands in pockets he descended from the roof and reached an empty courtyard where a fight was already underway: a unicorn-patterned zodiarts and a white rocket-themed Rider.
"Kamen Rider Fourze… that look…"
Seeing the suit in person, Shiraishi Shin found it hard to keep a straight face. Clearly inspired by a space suit, it had to be the ugliest Rider System yet.
A devoted aesthete, he couldn't help feeling disdain for its design.
(This little monkey thinks Kamen Rider Fourze is pretty cool, it seems like this author doesn't know taste.)