"We meet again at last!"
Under Isshiki Iroha's bewildered gaze, Takanashi Rikka swaggered toward them.
And it was literally swaggering—her arms and legs swung dramatically with every step.
"Your friend?" Isshiki Iroha couldn't help but turn to Shirase beside her, eyes carrying the look one reserved for encountering rare animals.
"Do you remember what I told you earlier?" Shirase said lightly. "No matter what you see or hear, don't ask."
How could I possibly not ask?!
Isshiki puffed up her cheeks. "Shirase-kun, I know you're popular with girls, but elementary schoolers are off-limits!"
Shirase froze momentarily, pointing at the smiling Rikka. "Just because someone looks cute, you can't say she's in elementary school."
"Then she's a middle schooler?" This time it was Isshiki's turn to be surprised. No matter how you looked at her, the tiny girl with the eyepatch and ahoge atop her head appeared to be a grade-schooler or at best a middle-schooler.
"She's in high school."
The moment Shirase finished speaking, Rikka chuckled mysteriously. "A high school student is merely my surface identity. In truth, I've long abandoned the false human world and stand upon the dark side of humanity, observing all of you."
Isshiki's expression gradually turned blank. "What does that mean?"
As if she'd been eagerly awaiting that exact question, Rikka immediately struck what she believed to be an extremely cool pose, solemnly declaring, "The heavens are calling, the earth is calling, people are calling—they call upon me to defeat evil! I am the warrior of justice—Kamen Rider Stronger!"
Shirase mercilessly cut her down. "Last time you clearly quoted Kamen Rider W's lines. Why have you defected to a different team now?"
Rikka was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "All Kamen Riders are united as one! Our goals are the same. Just like how I often help others without expecting anything in return—even if my sight is obscured by this eyepatch, I can still sense everyone's inner happiness."
"Without expecting anything in return?" Isshiki couldn't help but interject again.
"Exactly!" Rikka lectured in a deeply earnest tone. "If you expect something in return, you can't call it justice anymore."
Isshiki remained silent for a few seconds, then side-eyed Shirase. "Is she...?"
She didn't finish the sentence; instead, she raised a finger and lightly tapped her own temple.
The meaning was clear: Did this kid escape from a mental institution? Because she definitely looks like she has a few screws loose.
"Don't ask; if you do, it's your fault," Shirase replied blandly, nearly choking Isshiki to death.
Ignoring the pouting girl beside him, Shirase turned his attention back to Rikka.
He knew very well that normal communication was impossible here—especially after "he" had already discussed her condition with her last time.
Thus, he simply said, "You truly believe you're a righteous Kamen Rider?"
"Of course!" Rikka answered resolutely.
Shirase nodded. "Then you should know, Kamen Riders are exceptional people who can accomplish many things ordinary humans can't, such as..."
As he spoke, he took a receipt from his pocket—leftover from yesterday's shopping trip.
Shirase casually crumpled it into a paper ball, pinching it between his index and middle fingers. "If you can catch this paper ball I casually throw, I'll acknowledge you."
Isshiki stared at him as if seeing an idiot. Shirase-kun, are you serious right now?
Rikka confidently smiled. "Bring it on!"
She dramatically covered her eyepatch with one hand, raising her other arm proudly.
Isshiki was utterly stunned: You're serious too?!
What's going on? Even if you both love chuunibyou culture deeply, you shouldn't be causing a scene in broad daylight like this!
Haven't you noticed the strange expressions of the passersby?
Isshiki stood rooted to the spot, glancing left and right suspiciously. Now she even wondered if she was the odd one out. Am I actually the abnormal one here?
Neither Shirase nor Rikka cared about the shaken girl beside them.
Shirase lightly flicked his wrist, sending the paper ball floating toward the smiling, confident Rikka, who smoothly reached out to grab—
Bonk.
It bounced neatly off her forehead.
She immediately covered her forehead pitifully, gazing at Shirase with eyes filled with resentment and embarrassment.
That was way too lame!
Isshiki couldn't hold it anymore. Even a grade-schooler would easily catch such a weak toss!
Shirase addressed Rikka calmly. "It seems you aren't the chosen one after all."
"But I..." Rikka attempted a rebuttal, but before she could finish, Shirase once again raised his hand, feigning another throw.
Panicked, she instinctively dodged—but quickly realized Shirase's hand was empty.
Way too lame. Seriously, incredibly lame. He wasn't even holding anything, so what was the point of jumping around so frantically?
Isshiki rolled her eyes. And Shirase-kun, so you're this childish too?
"Damn it, it's my loss," Rikka bit her lip unwillingly.
"How did you lose exactly? Stop saying nonsense so seriously!" Isshiki interrupted, face darkened.
Rikka, oh Rikka, look at how you've pushed poor Isshiki-san to the brink!
Holding back laughter, Shirase began walking forward without turning back, speaking slowly: "Next time we meet, I hope you'll successfully catch my attack."
"I'll definitely do it!" Rikka shouted determinedly.
Shirase paused. "Right, my name is Shirase Haruto. And you?"
Rikka instantly perked up, heart swelling. Did he finally acknowledge me?
Immediately she struck another pose, grinning dramatically. "I am Kamen Rider—ow, ow, ow!"
She couldn't finish, as Shirase suddenly pinched her cheeks, forcibly interrupting her dramatic introduction.
"...I'm Takanashi Rikka."
Only after Shirase let go did she miserably cover her cheeks, voice deflated.
"Good. I've memorized your name." Shirase nodded, then said solemnly, "Remember this as well: When the sacred spring vanishes, fierce warriors appear like thunder, and the sun shall be swallowed by darkness!"
"Ohhh!" Rikka's eyes sparkled, fully revitalized again.
Isshiki Iroha, by now, had completely gone numb.
She mechanically trudged behind Shirase step-by-step, her movements heavy and leaden.
Clearly, I've misjudged Shirase-kun yet again!
Beneath his serious exterior, he actually hid a deeply chuunibyou heart.
Isshiki clenched her little fists. Really, my understanding of Shirase-kun is still far from enough.
Instinctively turning back, she saw that petite figure still standing in place, smiling brightly in their direction.
Suddenly, Isshiki realized—someone with such a strange personality, still immersed in chuunibyou culture even in high school, probably had no friends at all, right?
When she looked at Shirase again, Isshiki's tone became probing. "The reason you're willing to interact with her—is it because lonely girls like her seem pitiful?"
Shirase glanced sideways at her. "Remember not to assume the worst about others."
Hearing this, Isshiki flushed awkwardly. "...You're right, that's really rude."
"No," he clarified calmly, "I mean, as long as you don't assume the worst about someone, you'll never feel disappointed in them."
Isshiki responded flatly, "So you're saying I should always think positively, spreading truth, goodness, and beauty? Lesson learned."
Great, what he's talking about isn't remotely what I meant at all!
---
T/N: "Mm. If you've read this far, I suppose you're at least a little invested."
"If you want to support the translator, there's a Patreon here: patreon.com/wisetl. It's optional—think of it as tossing a few extra coins on the counter. Early chapters are just a bonus side-effect of that support."
"This place also has its own strange currency… Powerstones. For every 100 Powerstones the story gets, you'll receive 1 bonus chapter. 100ps = 1 chp, 200ps = 2 chp, 300ps = 3 chp… you can do the math."
"If you'd rather talk than throw money or stones, there's a Discord: discord.gg/wisetl. Go there if you want to complain, theorize, or poke the translator for more updates. Just don't expect me to mediate your arguments."
Say thank you to Maomao guys