"It's still early. Why don't you come to my shop for a cup of coffee so we can talk properly?" Raven said with a slight smile.
"Coffee, eh? I'm actually pretty good at it myself," Eijiro Hikari mused from his rocking chair. "I almost considered opening a café once."
Finally, everyone followed Raven next door to his café. After introducing themselves, Raven personally brewed a pot of pour-over coffee. The meticulousness of his technique earned high praise from the multi-skilled Eijiro Hikari.
"That's delicious! Truly professional!" Natsumi exclaimed with admiration.
"I think you can tell us now," Tsukasa said, taking a shallow sip without changing his expression.
"Truthfully, I'm just like you, a traveler from another world," Raven stated plainly.
"What did you mean by 'Kuuga' just now?" Natsumi asked curiously.
"Kamen Rider Kuuga, the first Heisei Rider. He is one of the nine worlds you must travel through," Raven said unhurriedly to Tsukasa Kadoya.
"How do you know that?" Tsukasa's gaze sharpened. He wondered if Raven was associated with the mysterious man in white who had inexplicably appeared before. That mysterious man had told him that nine worlds were currently fusing, and the result would be the destruction of all of them. The only way to prevent this outcome was for Tsukasa himself to embark on a journey through these nine worlds.
"Well, that's not for me to say," Raven said, playing the enigmatic role.
"From the way you're acting, you seem to know me. What do you know about me?" Tsukasa was eager to learn the secrets of his own past.
"I just know you are Kamen Rider Decade, but I have heard you have a nickname: the Destroyer of Worlds," Raven looked at Tsukasa with interest.
While he wasn't completely honest, what he said was close enough. After all, the original series never fully explained Tsukasa Kadoya's origins or how he gained his powers, apart from the fact that he had a beautiful younger sister and was the leader of Dai-Shocker. However, it was definitely not the time to reveal those things.
"Destroyer of Worlds? Don't be ridiculous." Tsukasa clearly rejected this unfounded accusation. He slammed his hand on the table, intending to leave and investigate the truth of this world on his own.
"Tsukasa, where are you going?" Natsumi asked urgently.
"My current identity is a police officer. I must have a mission to complete in this world," Tsukasa replied. "It's likely to involve fighting the Gurongi."
Having said that, he rushed out alone.
"I apologize, he just has a peculiar personality," Natsumi said apologetically to Raven.
"It's alright, I don't mind at all," Raven smiled faintly.
To be honest, he rather liked the character of Tsukasa Kadoya. While the series Kamen Rider Decade was undeniably flawed, the Rider himself was a great success. His popularity remained consistently high among the numerous Riders.
After all, who wouldn't want a Decade Driver that could transform them into various Kamen Riders? As an anniversary production, this was far superior to the concept of wearing armor of past Riders, like in Zi-O.
[DING! System Quest Issued!]
[Annihilate three Gurongi, and the Gurongi King, N-Gamio-Zeda.]
[Quest Completion Reward: Obtain the Dark Decade Driver!]
"Dark Decade Driver..." Raven was surprised. He hadn't expected the System to be so considerate. Despite its low profile, the rewards always met his expectations. This was the Dark Decade Driver. It was rumored to be a scrapped concept form, lacking Decade's signature magenta color and replacing it with black and gold. It possessed all the capabilities of the Decade Driver.
The System quest was a pleasant surprise. However, Raven was not in a hurry to act. He planned to patiently wait for the Gurongi to appear on their own. In this world, there were many Gurongi, and the Gurongi King he needed to defeat would require the lower-level monsters to resurrect him.
Thus, while Tsukasa Kadoya went out alone to investigate the Gurongi, Raven spent the time getting along splendidly with Natsumi Hikari.
"Natsumi-san, I think your looks and aura are top-tier," Raven was actively pursuing the simple-hearted Natsumi Hikari. His constant praise made her quite receptive. After all, who wouldn't fall for sweet words from such a gentle, handsome, and charismatic man?
"It's just..." Raven suddenly shook his head, his tone sounding regretful.
"Just what?" Natsumi looked at Raven nervously, asking curiously.
"Your fashion sense is a little bit dated." Raven delivered an accurate critique.
This remark instantly left Natsumi feeling self-conscious. She looked down at her current outfit. Honestly, she hadn't paid much attention to this aspect.
So, she quietly asked Raven for advice, "Then what do you think would suit me, Raven-san?"
As the saying goes, a woman adorns herself for the one who appreciates her. Natsumi had only known Raven for a few hours, but she already cared greatly about his opinion. This was partly due to Raven's inherent charm (which had an extra boost for women) and partly due to his active approach in winning her over.
"Do you like wearing stockings?" Raven asked.
Natsumi nodded. "I find stockings comfortable, and they help protect from the sun."
"Then wear colors that are normal. Definitely avoid colors like red, green, or yellow," Raven suggested straightforwardly.
"Then what should I wear..." Natsumi was immediately confused. She hadn't expected Raven to casually mention the very colors she frequently wore.
"Black stockings, white stockings, or sheer nude stockings—you can try those, and pair them with some high-heeled shoes. That would be perfect." Raven said with a smile.
Honestly, Natsumi's legs, if not paired with these "proper" stockings, would be a real waste. It would almost be a crime against fashion.