"I'm stuffed. Mahiru, leave the dishes to me; you just sit and rest."
At Shiina Mahiru's apartment table, Shiraishi Shin stood to clear the plates.
Shiina Mahiru rose too. "How could I let you wash them, Shin-nii? Let me."
Shiraishi Shin pressed her back into the chair. "Why not? You cooked with a twisted ankle—I already feel awful. It's only dishes. I've got this; stay put."
"But…"
Mahiru tilted her head to protest, but this time Shin said nothing more—he simply leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Pop~
Then, still smiling, he said, "Leave it to me."
Mahiru froze until Wushuang carried the plates away; only then did she cover her burning cheeks, feeling like a kettle about to whistle steam from her ears.
"I—I was… kissed on the face?"
She glanced toward the kitchen, then buried her face in a sofa cushion, reliving the moment in a daze.
Even after Shin finished and left, she flopped on her bed and rolled around.
Shin didn't go home; at eight he had to train Kisaragi Gentaro in the park.
With half an hour to kill, a solo stroll sounded perfect.
"Evening's livelier than daytime."
He walked a food-crowded street; nights drew everyone to strips like this, and the city had plenty.
"Huh? Tanzaburo Tojima and Teacher Okada—why are they together? Some kind of patient support group?"
Outside a family restaurant he spotted them chatting over coffee.
He recalled they both loved Kamen Rider—one wanted to cosplay a Rider, the other a radio-wave girl.
Too interesting to miss; he stepped inside and headed for their table.
"Shin?"
Okada Yuriko had been telling the man about meeting real Shocker Combatmen; catching Shin's approach she panicked, afraid he'd misunderstand.
Before she could explain, Tojima turned. "Oh, Shin, what brings you here?"
Yuriko blinked. "Wait, Uncle, you know him?"
Tojima asked back, "You know him too?"
Wushuang reached them; Yuriko slid over to make room, and he sat. "Uncle Tojima, Teacher Okada—what're you discussing?"
Light glinted off Yuriko's plain lenses. "Shin, we just ran into real Shocker Combatmen!"
Tojima nodded. "Their strength was beyond human limits—and a real Monster appeared too!"
"Monster? When?"
Shin frowned; he should've sensed it. Unless it was far outside his range—but if they'd met it nearby, why hadn't he felt anything?
"About ten minutes ago, at a convenience store," Tojima said. "The Monster wasn't fully transformed—only its mouth changed. It spat a poison needle that dissolved the defeated Shocker Combatman."
"I see."
So it hadn't fully Henshin; no wonder his Monster-search system stayed quiet.
Arms folded, Shin leaned back. "Shocker Combatmen… haven't met those. Has Shocker, enemy of the showa riders, really rekindled?"
Tojima caught the odd phrasing. "Hold on—Shin, when you say 'showa riders,' you mean the tokusatsu drama, right?"
Shin shook his head. "No, I mean reality. The Kamen Rider Showa era in those shows truly existed."
"What—it really happened!"
Tojima slammed the table and stood, tears and snot flowing; knowing Shocker grunts were real and Showa riders had walked the earth felt like life's dream fulfilled.
Yuriko understood the outburst—she'd felt the same.
Shin eyed him. "Uncle, calm down—people are staring. Think of the tokusatsu drama as more documentary than fiction."
Tojima clenched his fists and sat, heart racing at the revelation.
He didn't doubt Shin; after all, Shin was a real Kamen Rider.
"Hi there! I'm a friend of Mr. Tanzaburo and Ms. Okada. Enjoy the coffee—on me."
A blond guy—handsome but only half as much as Shin—set down a cup, smiled, and left.
Yuriko said, "That's Shimamura Mitsuba. He told us Shocker killed his grandparents when he was a kid."
(Image Shimamura Mitsuba)
"Hm."
Shin sugared the gifted coffee, lifted it—then froze.
"What's wrong?"
Yuriko, watching him, asked.
He set the cup down. "A Monster's appeared."
Tojima jumped up. "Where? Take me!"
Yuriko added, "Shin, I'm coming too!"
Shin stood. "All right—let's go see."
(In the next week I will update 5 chapters a day, are you happy? Are you happy?)
(PS: This little monkey has sacrificed a lot for all of you now give me all of your power stones)
(PS: Does anyone know what the power stone is for? I asked you guys for the power stone, but I don't know what the power stone is, it's strange.)
(PS: Why is this little monkey so handsome?)
(PS: I think this little monkey is too handsome)
(PS: I need a girlfriend)
(PS: Only 700 words, what the hell?)
(PS:I am really boooooooooooooooored)