Holding onto the train's handrail, I stared listlessly out the window. A small groan slipped from my lips. Even with a stronger body now, I still hated waking up early just to go to work.
'Damn morning,' I thought to myself.
[Oh, right. What are we eating for dinner later?]
Isadora's voice echoed directly inside my head. She was currently in bracelet form, wrapped snugly around my wrist.
'We'll just eat outside today,' I replied.
[Eh? So you hate my cooking, then? Hmph. You ungrateful guy.]
I glanced down at my wrist, eyes piercing through the sleeve of my suit as if I could actually see her. I could only shake my head at her antics.
'Oh yeah, can't you just open a portal straight to my workplace?' I muttered. 'I could pass it off as peach blessing. So why refuse my request every time?'
[My ability doesn't work that way, you know.]
'I don't know,' I shot back. 'That's why I'm asking you right now, woman.'
[I don't wann—]
'I'll let you order whatever you want later,' I cut in quickly. 'As long as it's within my budget.'
[Can't be helped then. If you really want to know it~~]
'…You change your mind way too fast when food's involved,' I sighed. 'Also, stop stuffing my fridge with ice cream every single day. My freezer's completely packed already.'
[Are you really cutting off my lifeline?! You brute! Just like how other Greeed need Cell Medals to survive, I need ice cream to keep my battery charged!]
'You know, I'm really starting to think that sob story of yours is a complete hoax,' I replied. 'The way you acted back then and how you're acting now are totally different just because you gained emotions and all that.'
[I mean, I desire to save the world and have fun, you know? I'm a Greeed. I act on my desires. And that fun is spelled with a capital I‑C‑E‑C‑R‑E‑A‑M.]
She said it proudly, without even a hint of shame.
[In fact, you should be grateful. I only need normal food to survive. I'm not out there turning people into Yummy just to harvest Cell Medals for sustainability.]
'You almost sounded responsible just now,' I muttered. 'Almost.'
[Lets just get this over regarding my portal creation. First, imagine Mato as a train station.]
I nodded.
[I can only create railways leading to that station from Earth, and only from specific locations. A fixed platform, like the wilderness we usually go every night.]
[From that railway, we can go anywhere in Mato. The lines branch endlessly once you arrive. But when we return to the real world, we always come back to the exact same location we entered from.]
'I understand the condition,' I said slowly, 'but why can't you make a portal here on Earth that leads to another place on Earth?'
She was silent for a moment.
[Just imagine Earth as a single, massive 'welcome station.' When I make a portal, I can only lay railways toward Mato.]
[Because Mato is a true station. It accepts incoming tracks and lets them branch freely. Earth doesn't work that way. From Earth, my ability can only create outbound railways, never internal ones.]
[In short, Earth is the departure hall, not a destination. Mato is the hub. That's why every portal from Earth must lead there, and why every return brings us back to the same platform we departed from. There are no internal tracks on Earth for my power to connect, only exits.]
If I had to summarize it, then her ability was practically useless for everyday convenience because of that restriction. It wasn't that the power itself was weak. Being able to open a path to another dimension was absurd.
It just felt wrong in a strange way. Like living in paradise, yet having no option but to step into any location inside hell as you open a portal.
Of course, calling Earth a paradise was a huge stretch. Especially when politicians were already growing greedy, casting their eyes toward Mato as nothing more than a convenient resource depot.
But that wasn't the point.
Continuing my conversation with Isadora, we eventually reached the station.
========
I stared blankly at the scene in front of me, the same feeling I'd get like seeing a cute neighborhood cat. Only to realize it had the appetite of a freaking bear.
Multiple bowls were stacked high on the table, while Isadora leaned back with a satisfied grin.
"That was a good meal," she said, politely thanking the food as if she hadn't just annihilated my wallet.
After I finished my work, we went to a diner for dinner. I'd confidently told her earlier that I would treat her to anything within my budget. Clearly, I had underestimated her definition of within reason. Goodbye, my money. You will be missed in Yen Heaven.
As if that wasn't enough, Isadora stood out in the diner. She was wearing her usual gothic dress, completely unfazed by the stares it drew.
With how attractive she was, it wasn't even a question why people kept looking. Normal clothes or not, she naturally pulled attention.
Once I paid for the meal, we stepped out of the establishment and started walking through the bustling streets.
"This place really is something," Isadora said as she looked around, her eyes wandering across the scenery. "Even if you see it every day. People having powers and all."
"I guess," I replied. "Your world only has superpowered villains and humans who can transform just to beat the crap out of them. Seeing ordinary people with abilities too must feel strange."
While we continued our conversation, Isadora suddenly slowed down. I followed her gaze and noticed a small girl staring at her with open curiosity.
"Onee-san, your hair and dress are really pretty," the girl said in admiration. "Are you a doll?"
Isadora smiled warmly and crouched down until she was at eye level with the girl.
"Do you want to touch it?" she asked, offering her hair.
The girl's eyes lit up as she nodded enthusiastically. Slowly, she reached out and began gently caressing Isadora's hair.
"It's so smooth," she giggled.
For a moment, the scene felt strangely wholesome. An innocent kid, smiling without a care in the world.
"What's your name?" Isadora asked.
The girl stopped touching her hair and puffed out her chest proudly.
"My name is Kei!"
While Isadora continued entertaining her, a woman came into my view, frantically looking around. The moment she spotted the girl beside Isadora, her expression shifted into pure relief.
"There you are, Kei! I was so worried!" she said, breathing heavily.
Kei turned toward the woman, her face blooming into a bright smile as she ran over.
"Mama!" she cried, clinging tightly to her.
With a wry smile, Kei's mother bowed toward Isadora and me.
"I'm sorry if my daughter caused you any trouble," she said apologetically.
"Don't worry," Isadora replied. "I had fun talking with Kei-chan."
After a brief exchange, the mother and daughter said their goodbyes and headed off.
"Bye-bye! pretty onee-chan!" Kei waved excitedly.
"Take care on your way home!" Isadora said, lifting her hand and waving back as the two disappeared into the crowd.
Resuming our walk, I glanced at Isadora for a moment before commenting on what happened earlier.
"Didn't know you were quite good with kids," I said with a smirk.
"Like you're one to talk, Mr. Hero," she shot back, sticking her tongue out. "She's adorable."
I simply chuckled in response.
Suddenly, Isadora stopped in her tracks. Her eyes shimmered into a rainbow hue, just like the times she open a portal to Mato.
"Looks like the party's come to us," she said, her eyes shifting back to blue.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She didn't answer. Instead, she gestured for me to look ahead. Curious, I followed her stare and my eyes widened instantly.
In front of us, amid the crowd, a gate slowly began to open. One by one, people backed away from the spot where it was forming, unease clearly etched across their faces.
Authorities in the area responded immediately, moving in to prevent chaos as they quickly established a perimeter around the gate.
Normally, a temporary gate was nothing more than a passing anomaly. It was something that would close on its own in time.
"The Defense Force might already be guarding it on the other side," I said.
Isadora shook her head.
"I wouldn't be optimistic if I were you," she replied seriously. "I've seen the other side. This gate is connected to a rather remote and hidden area in Mato."
That was bad news, worse than I'd hoped.
"You've got to be kidding me," I said, irritation creeping into my voice. "There are a lot of civilians here."
As the words left my mouth, a massive hand began to emerge from the gate.
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Non-canon Omake: Oh sorry, did I break your concentration?
Isadora hummed softly as she walked down the street, a catchy Japanese pop song drifting from her lips is the latest track by a singer she'd recently following.
On one hand, she carried a plastic bag stuffed to the brim with ice cream she bought with Hideo's money, the cold seeping pleasantly through the thin handles.
"Sorry, Hideo," she muttered with a grin, adjusting her grip. "A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."
With the errand completed, she headed back toward Hideo's apartment, steps light, mood carefree. That cheer lasted right up until she reached the door.
The moment she unlocked it, her expression shifted.
Joy drained away, replaced by sharp caution. Her eyes flashed red for a split second before fading back to their usual blue.
"…Someone's inside," she said quietly, clicking her tongue.
Fear never crossed her face.
She pushed the door open anyway, cracking her knuckles as she stepped inside.
A man sat calmly on one of the chairs, legs crossed as if he owned the place. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark skin and a completely bald head. The most striking feature, however, was the eyepatch covering one eye.
Isadora set the bag of ice cream down with a soft thud.
"Who are you?" she asked, switching to flawless English instead of her usual Japanese. Her tone was flat, dangerous. "And unless you've got a death wish, you'd better start talking."
The man didn't flinch.
Instead, he stood up and offered a faint, amused smile.
"Ms. Isadora," he said in a clear American accent. "Partner of Kamen Rider OOO. The last remaining Greeed."
Her stance lowered instantly, muscles tensing as she prepared to strike.
"You really think you're the only one who can hop between universes?" he continued. "If so, you've got it all wrong."
She squared up, ready to apprehend or dismantle him on the spot.
Before she could move, he casually raised a hand.
"I'm not here to start trouble."
"Oh, I don't believe you for a second," Isadora replied dryly. "Breaking into someone else's home tends to do that."
Pot, meet kettle.
The man's smirk vanished, replaced by a grave seriousness that immediately shifted the atmosphere.
"The multiverse as we know it is beginning to collapse," he said. "And we need every capable individual we can find to stop it."
Isadora blinked once… then tilted her head, curiosity overtaking hostility.
"Oh?" she said, gesturing for him to continue.
"I'm here to formally invite you," he answered. "Both you and Mr. Hideo."
"To join the Avengers."
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Kamen Rider OOO Will Return in Avengers Doomsday