As the little animal-themed droids scattered into the city, Kouga leaned back in his chair, his thoughts already shifting to tomorrow. School. The word left a sour taste. After being thrown into countless strange worlds and stranger roles, sitting in a classroom felt… trivial. Still, if he wanted to blend in and gather information, it was necessary.
His gaze drifted to the door of the room where Kiana slept. The house wasn't perfect—far from it—but it was livable now. The quiet felt almost foreign. For the first time in a while, Kouga allowed himself a moment of peace."At least it's not another world-shattering battle," he muttered with a dry smile.
He rose, poured himself a glass of water, and stepped to the window. The city outside was hushed. Hours ago, the streets had been alive with people; now, only a few late commuters lingered, the air strangely still—as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Something was lurking. He could feel it. And Kiana… her past, her quest to find her father, the glowing monster she had faced—it all made his instincts restless. But answers could wait. For now, he had to prepare for tomorrow.
Morning came faster than expected. Kouga woke to the buzz of his phone, groaning when he saw the reminder: First day at Chiba Academy. Pretending to be a normal student wasn't exactly on his list of thrills, but it was unavoidable. Still, before leaving, he had one more responsibility.
"Kiana'll need food," he muttered, recalling her bottomless appetite from last night.
Rolling up his sleeves, Kouga set to work in the kitchen. A whole chicken, vegetables, potatoes—simple, but enough to last her the day. He seasoned the meat, chopped the vegetables, and slid everything into the oven. Garlic and herbs filled the air as he whipped together mashed potatoes.
It wasn't elegant cooking, but it was hearty. And as he worked, a small smile tugged at his lips. Taking care of someone else wasn't something he often had the chance—or luxury—to do. Usually, his life was missions, battles, survival. Yet, something about Kiana reminded him of people he'd met before—friends in other worlds, the ones he still carried with him.
When the food was done, he portioned it into containers, making sure the servings were big enough for her appetite. Grabbing a scrap of paper, he scribbled a quick note:
I'll be gone most of the day for school. Food's in the fridge. Reheat when hungry. Don't wreck the place while I'm gone. —Kouga
He slapped the note onto the fridge door, cleaned the counters, and grabbed his bag. Before leaving, he cast one last glance at the house. It was still rough around the edges, but not unbearable. Kiana might be a handful, but she wasn't the worst company.
With a sigh, Kouga locked the door behind him. A new day was waiting—school, and whatever else this world decided to throw his way.
Hours later, Kouga found himself sitting in class at Chiba Academy, struggling to focus on the lesson. He had managed to locate the school that morning and discovered it was no ordinary place. From what he overheard, this was a prestigious academy where the children of the rich and powerful were sent to study.
When he opened the door to his classroom, he was surprised by the sight of every student crowding around a single desk. At its center sat a girl with long, dark purple hair and striking indigo eyes.
"Raiden-san, how are you today?""Mei-chan, come with us to karaoke after class!"
The voices overlapped, students eager to win her attention. Kouga could guess well enough—she was someone important. But that was none of his concern. Without a word, he walked to his assigned seat: a desk tucked into the back corner beside the window.
He paused for a moment, raising a brow. Really? The protagonist's seat again?In too many of his past journeys, that exact spot had been reserved for the so-called hero of the story. He sighed and sat down anyway.
The bell soon rang. The crowd dispersed, and class began. For the rest of the day, Kouga had only one thought in his mind: boredom.
Meanwhile, back at the house—
Kiana was seated at the kitchen table, devouring the food Kouga had left for her.
"This is sooo good!" she exclaimed between bites, working through the hearty portions as if she hadn't eaten in days.
By the time Kouga's classes ended and the final bell rang, Kiana had already eaten half her way through his carefully prepared meals.
At Chiba Academy, the students once again gathered around Raiden Mei's desk, filling the air with cheerful chatter. Kouga slipped away unnoticed, glad to be free of the noise. On his way home, he stopped by a shop to buy two futons and some cleaning supplies before heading back.
But as he walked, movement caught the corner of his eye. Two of his CanDroids—the bat-themed Battacandroids—fluttered toward him, signaling urgently. They had found something.
Kouga's expression sharpened. He made a quick detour down a deserted side street, his footsteps steady but quiet. The Battacandroids circled overhead, leading him away from the main road, toward the edge of a forest where the trees grew thick and shadows pressed in.
The air here was different. Heavy. Dangerous. His instincts screamed at him.
Without hesitation, Kouga transformed into GekiRed, crimson aura flaring around him as his senses heightened.
That was when he saw them.
A pair of glowing magenta eyes emerged from the underbrush. Then another. And another. Until ten sets of burning eyes fixed on him, accompanied by low, guttural growls.
They stepped into the clearing—wolves. Or at least, things that resembled wolves. Their bodies were twisted, larger than any natural beast, their claws jagged like blades, and across their hides ran glowing pink lines pulsing like veins of corruption.
The pack lunged.
Kouga summoned the GekiNunchaku, his Ki infusing the twin weapons. He spun them with deadly precision, knocking back the first wolves that leapt at him. The blows connected, sending the beasts crashing into the dirt, but none stayed down for long.
"They're tougher than I thought," he muttered through clenched teeth.
Flowing into martial focus, he dissolved the nunchaku back into pure Ki and drew upon his Tiger-Fist style. His movements blurred, strikes hammering into the pack one after another, until with a final roar he unleashed his GekiTiger—a colossal crimson tiger formed of energy.
The spirit beast surged forward and tore through the corrupted wolves, obliterating them in a flash of Ki.
The forest fell silent.
Kouga exhaled, detransforming back to himself, chest heaving. "What the hell were those things?"
He turned to leave, but a strange presence clung to the air—the same energy that had coursed through those wolves. Curiosity tugged at him. He stepped closer.
That was when the energy struck.
The corrupted aura surged into his body, searing like fire. Kouga dropped to his knees, gritting his teeth as it clawed at his flesh, his mind, even his very soul. It whispered of corruption, of surrender, of bending to something greater.
"No… I've felt worse than this!"
Summoning the innate resilience of Kamen Rider Ghost and the immunity of Ex-Aid, Kouga forced the energy back. His body blazed with spiritual light as he purged the corruption, bit by bit, until it recoiled and dispersed.
When it was over, Kouga collapsed to one knee, sweat dripping from his brow.
'That wasn't just corruption… there was divinity mixed into it.'