Haruka sits at his desk in National High, his mind still reeling from the events of the previous night. The weight of his responsibilities as the Kamen Rider weighs heavily on him, but he tries to push those thoughts aside as he focuses on the present.
Suddenly, Kara, the girl he's grown closer to in recent days, leans over and asks, "Hey, Haruka, which do you think looks better? A white shirt or a blue one with a red skirt?"
Haruka blinks, caught off guard by the unexpected question. He pauses for a moment, his brow furrowing as he considers her query. "Uh, blue, I think," he responds, unsure of why she's asking his opinion on such a trivial matter.
Haruka watched as Kara began jotting something down in her notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration. Curious, he subtly leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse of what she was working on.
To his surprise, he saw Kara sketching what appeared to be a costume design - a vibrant red cape, a blue top with an S-shaped symbol emblazoned on the chest, and a matching red skirt. Haruka's eyes widened as he realized she was drawing a female version of Superman.
"Are you...planning to cosplay as a female Superman?" Haruka asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
Kara's head snapped up, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Quickly, she closed her notebook, shielding the drawing from his view.
"I, um, I was just...doodling," Kara stammered, avoiding eye contact. "It's nothing, really."
Haruka couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at Kara's flustered reaction. He had never seen this side of her before - the usually confident and self-assured Kara suddenly reduced to a bashful, blushing mess.
Haruka listened as Kara quickly changed the subject, her curiosity piqued. "Hey, did you see the news about the Black Cobra gang last night?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
Haruka nodded, trying to maintain a casual demeanor. "Yeah, I saw it. Sounds like the Kamen Rider really gave them a hard time."
Kara leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I was actually there when the police arrested them. I even caught a glimpse of the Kamen Rider!"
Haruka felt his heart skip a beat at Kara's revelation. Had she seen him transform? He searched her face, looking for any hint of recognition, but her expression remained one of awe and wonder.
"Really?" Haruka responded, trying to sound intrigued rather than anxious. "What was he like?"
Kara's eyes sparkled with admiration. "He was amazing! So fast and strong, like something out of a comic book. I couldn't believe my eyes."
Haruka nods, relieved that Kara seems more interested in the Kamen Rider's heroics than in identifying the person behind the mask. As Kara continues to gush about the Rider's exploits, the bell rings, signaling the start of the next class. Haruka and Kara turn their attention to the teacher.
Haruka listened as the teacher addressed the class, his words causing a shift in the mood. The excitement over the impending summer break quickly turned to somber resignation at the mention of exams.
"Now, now, settle down class. I know all of you must be excited for your summer break which is around the corner."
"Yeah~!" The classroom cheered.
"But need I remind you all. You still have to take your exams before summer break."
"Aww~" The class became somber.
"Exams..." Haruka said softly, his mind drifting. In his previous life, he had already graduated high school and was studying for his college entrance exams. While history will been a challenge because he is not sure of this world's history, the rest of the subjects should be manageable.
Haruka turned to Kara, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "Do you think you'll do well on the exams?"
Kara offered him a confident smile. "Oh, I'm sure I'll be fine. I'm actually the top student in the school," she revealed, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Haruka's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed that." He paused, considering Kara's words. "I suppose that makes sense, given the amnesia and all."
Kara nodded sympathetically. "It must be tough, trying to catch up on everything you've missed." She leaned in, her eyes shining with warmth. "Hey, if you'd like, we could study together. I'd be happy to help you prepare for the exams."
Haruka felt a surge of gratitude at Kara's offer. "That would be amazing, actually. I could definitely use the help." He offered her a small smile, his mind already racing with thoughts of how Kara's tutoring could benefit him.
As the teacher continued the lesson, Haruka found it increasingly difficult to focus. His mind kept drifting back to Kara's proposition, the prospect of having a dedicated study partner filling him with a sense of relief and anticipation.
Haruka suddenly saw his system lit up with a new mission. He reads its contents:
[New Mission:
The path of a Kamen Rider is long and arduous. Requiring hard work and experience.
Objective: Visit three other cities and defeat three supervillains.
Duration: 2 months. (The mission will start at the beginning of summer vacation.)
Rewards: 5000 points, two gacha draws]
Haruka's eyes widened as he read the details of the new mission. Visiting three other cities and defeating three supervillains over the course of the summer was no small feat. He felt a mix of excitement and trepidation at the prospect. The reward of 5000 points and two gacha draws was enticing, but the danger level also increased significantly.
Haruka glanced around the classroom, wondering if he was ready for such a daunting challenge. He had only recently discovered his role as the Kamen Rider, and the thought of facing off against powerful supervillains in unfamiliar territory made his heart race. Still, he couldn't ignore the pull of the mission, the desire to grow stronger and protect those he cared about.
Kara noticed the shift in Haruka's expression and leaned closer, her brow furrowed with concern. "Hey, is everything okay? You look like something's on your mind."
Haruka considered her question for a moment, then shook his head. "It's nothing, really. Just thinking about something." He offered her a small, reassuring smile, then turned his attention back to the teacher's lecture.
Kara studied him for a moment longer, but ultimately decided not to press the issue. She, too, redirected her focus to the lesson, determined to excel on the upcoming exams.
Haruka's school day had finally come to an end, and as he gathered his belongings, Kara approached him with a warm smile. "Hey, Haruka, I was wondering if you'd like to come over to my place and study together?" she asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
Haruka felt a surge of relief at her invitation. "That would be great, Kara. I really appreciate you offering to help me with the exams," he replied, his own expression brightening.
Haruka felt a surge of relief at Kara's invitation. "That would be great, Kara. I really appreciate you offering to help me with the exams," he replied, his own expression brightening.
Kara beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Awesome! I know the perfect place for us to study - this really cozy cafe just a few blocks from my house. They have great coffee and pastries, plus tons of comfy spots to set up and get to work."
Haruka nodded, his expression softening. "That sounds perfect. Lead the way."
As they walked to the cafe, Haruka couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt. In the past few weeks, he had been so consumed by his duties as the Kamen Rider that he had all but neglected his social life. It was a stark contrast to his previous existence, where he had been accustomed to being alone.
Entering the cozy cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloped them. Kara guided Haruka to a secluded corner, where they set up their study materials. Haruka couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, unsure of how to navigate this new social situation.
Kara wraps her arms around Haruka's arm, sensing his distraction. "Hey, are you okay?" she asks, her brow furrowed with concern.
Haruka blinks, startled by the unexpected physical contact. "Oh, uh, yeah, I'm fine," he stammers, offering Kara a sheepish smile. He's not used to this kind of affection. Haruka feels his cheeks flush with a light blush.
Kara's lips curled into a teasing grin. "Hmm, is this your first date or something?" she asked playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Haruka's eyes widened, caught off guard by her question. "D-date?" he repeated, his voice cracking slightly. "I, uh, I didn't realize this was a date."
Kara let out a melodic laugh, her hand squeezing Haruka's arm affectionately. "I'm just teasing you, silly. I know this is just a study session." She flashed him a warm smile, her expression softening.
Feeling his face grow even warmer, Haruka ducked his head, unable to meet Kara's gaze. He couldn't help but feel flustered by her playful banter, unsure of how to respond. As they made their way to their seats, Haruka couldn't shake the lingering sensation of Kara's touch and the fluttering in his chest.
Haruka and Kara took their seat and began their study session. He tried to focus on the material, but his mind kept drifting back to the new mission. The thought of facing supervillains in unfamiliar cities made his heart race with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
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Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz, which is also the best way to support me.