Elsewhere.
Makino Juro walked slowly down the street with his backpack slung over one shoulder, a can of iced coffee in his hand.
Training had been exhausting—but the improvement in his stamina made him genuinely happy.
Beside him were the ever-noisy Sakuragi Hanamichi and Ayako, who happened to be heading the same way.
"Master! What are we having for dinner tonight?!"
"These shoes are seriously amazing!"
"I swear I jumped five centimeters higher today than yesterday!"
Sakuragi circled around Makino Juro like an overexcited husky that had just discovered unlimited energy.
"Shut up."
"If you keep yelling, I'll take those shoes back."
Makino Juro took a sip of coffee and sighed helplessly.
"Wait wait wait! I won't talk anymore!" Sakuragi immediately covered his mouth.
Ayako watched their interaction from the side and couldn't help laughing.
"I never expected Sakuragi to listen to someone this much."
"Makino Juro, what exactly did you give him? Some kind of love potion?"
Juro shrugged.
"Probably… the power of money."
"Or maybe personal charm?"
The three of them walked along, chatting and laughing.
Just then—
From the entrance of a nearby alley, several figures suddenly appeared.
The one in front had shoulder-length hair.
He looked fairly handsome, but the fact that he was missing two front teeth gave him a rather sinister vibe.
It was Mitsui Hisashi.
At this time, he was still the fallen delinquent gang leader.
Behind him followed Hotta Norio and several other lackeys.
"…That's them."
Ayako frowned slightly, recognizing them as a notorious delinquent group at school.
"Where's that brat Miyagi?"
Mitsui held an iron rod and banged it against the wall with a loud clang, his fierce eyes scanning the surroundings.
"I clearly saw him come this way earlier."
Hotta pointed ahead.
"Boss Mitsui, he's over there!"
Not far away, Miyagi Ryota was walking over with his head lowered, clearly deep in thought.
Enemies meet on a narrow road.
Miyagi stopped walking. Seeing Mitsui and his group blocking the way, a flash of disgust appeared in his eyes.
"You guys again."
"Didn't you get beaten enough last time, Mitsui?"
Miyagi said coldly.
"You bastard!"
Mitsui instantly exploded with rage, the sore spot clearly hit.
"That was a sneak attack last time!"
"Today I'll show you who the real boss is!"
Just as both sides were about to start fighting—
Miyagi Ryota's gaze suddenly passed over Mitsui and landed somewhere behind him.
His pupils shrank instantly.
The world seemed to freeze in that moment.
He saw Ayako.
The goddess who had captured his heart… the reason he joined the basketball team… the person he still thought about even when he was hospitalized.
Ayako was walking under the setting sun, smiling brightly.
But…
Beside her were two men.
One was a tall redhead who was wildly gesturing and trying to make her laugh.
The other had black hair and dead-fish eyes.
Although he looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world—
Ayako kept turning her head to talk to him, her gaze gentle.
"BOOM!"
In Miyagi Ryota's mind, it was as if a nuclear bomb had detonated.
The string of reason snapped.
"Ayako…"
"Why…"
"I was only gone for a few days…"
"And you already…"
The flames of jealousy instantly devoured his rationality.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Ignoring Mitsui completely, Miyagi rushed forward like a wounded beast.
"Hey! Miyagi! You dare ignore me?!"
Mitsui froze for a moment and tried to stop him, but Miyagi's murderous glare made him hesitate.
Miyagi's target was clear.
Not the red-haired idiot who looked like a fool.
But the black-haired guy standing beside Ayako—the slightly handsome one who looked arrogant.
Makino Juro.
In Miyagi's eyes, a "pretty boy" like that was the biggest threat!
"Unforgivable…"
"Absolutely unforgivable!!"
Miyagi Ryota moved incredibly fast, like a bolt of black lightning, instantly rushing past Mitsui and the others.
"Watch out!" Ayako cried out.
Makino Juro was casually drinking his coffee when he suddenly felt a wave of killing intent rushing toward him.
He lifted his eyelids.
A short guy with tears streaming down his face like wide noodles was flying straight toward him with a ferocious expression.
"Give Ayako back to me!!"
"You damn pretty-boy bastard!!"
Miyagi roared as he leaped into the air.
A flying kick filled with rage and jealousy shot straight toward Juro's face.
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
Makino Juro sighed.
"What a pain…"
"Can't I even drink coffee in peace without getting attacked?"
He didn't even bother dodging.
Because he knew someone would step in.
Just as Miyagi's foot was less than ten centimeters from Makino Juro's nose—
A massive red figure suddenly cut in.
Thud!
With a dull sound—
Sakuragi Hanamichi grabbed Miyagi's ankle with one hand, stopping him midair.
"Hey, shorty."
Sakuragi's face darkened.
A frightening light flickered in his eyes as he spoke in a cold tone:
"What exactly are you trying to do to my long-term meal ticket—ah, I mean, my master?"
Miyagi felt like his leg had been clamped in an iron vise.
It wouldn't budge at all.
He stared at the red-haired giant in shock.
"What incredible strength…"
The two of them froze in place.
The air seemed to crackle with invisible sparks.
"Sakuragi! Miyagi! Stop it!"
Ayako finally reacted and rushed forward, shouting.
"Ayako…"
Hearing the voice of his goddess, the murderous look in Miyagi's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by the pitiful gaze of a scolded puppy.
He broke free from Sakuragi's grip, landed on the ground, and pointed at Makino Juro while accusing him in a trembling voice:
"Ayako! Who is he?!"
"I was only gone for a few days, and you're already with this guy who looks like he does nothing but sleep—"
"Waaah! My heart hurts!"
Miyagi clutched his chest and burst into tears.
Makino Juro: "..."
He took another sip of coffee and shook his head helplessly at the farce unfolding before him.
"What is this mess…"
"I'm just a passing Kamen Rider. Can you let me go home and sleep?"
At that moment, the completely ignored Mitsui Hisashi finally lost his patience.
He walked over with his gang, face dark.
"Hey! You lot!"
"You dare ignore me, Mitsui-sama?!"
"None of you are leaving today!"
Mitsui waved his iron rod menacingly.
Sakuragi Hanamichi turned his head and looked at Mitsui's long flowing hair, tilting his head slightly.
Then he said something that made Mitsui want to cough up three liters of blood.
"Ma'am, who are you?"
"This doesn't concern you. Go home and cook dinner."
"M-Ma'am?!"
The iron rod in Mitsui's hand clattered to the ground.
He touched his long hair, his mentality completely shattered.
"I'm a man!!"
"I'm Mitsui Hisashi!!"
"Pfft."
Makino Juro couldn't hold it in and laughed.
That single laugh instantly ignited the powder keg.
Miyagi Ryota glared at Makino Juro.
"You still dare laugh?! I challenge you to a duel!"
Mitsui Hisashi glared at Sakuragi.
"You red-haired bastard! I'll kill you!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi shielded Makino Juro.
"Come on then! Who's afraid of you?!"
Ayako held her forehead, feeling a massive headache coming on.
"This… is total chaos."
Amid the chaos—
Makino Juro quietly stepped back two steps and leaned against a nearby utility pole.
"Sigh… I'm exhausted."
"System, use my Slacking Points."
"Exchange for Karate."
[System Notification: Slacking Points Consumed]
[Reward Obtained: Karate!]