After dinner, with both Kiana and Mei in much better spirits, Kouga excused himself to his room. He stretched out on his bed, ready to drift into a much-needed nap, when his phone suddenly buzzed.
He reached for it lazily—until he saw the name on the screen. His eyes went wide.
Siegfried.
In a rush, Kouga sat up and answered the call.
"Long time no see, pal," Siegfried's familiar voice came through, carrying its usual rough warmth.
"You bastard," Kouga replied with a grin he couldn't hold back. "Where the hell have you been? You haven't called me in forever."
"Yeah, I know, I know. But hey—big news. You know Theresa, the principal of St. Freya? She pulled some strings. Ryoma's been cleared. Proven innocent."
Kouga froze for a second, then let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. A wave of relief washed over him—not just for Ryoma, but for Mei most of all.
"That's… great. Where is he now?"
"Right here with me," Siegfried said. "Hang on, I'll pass the phone over."
There was a brief shuffle before another voice, deeper and steadier, spoke on the line.
"Hello. Kouga Hayata?"
Kouga straightened instinctively. "Hello, Mr. Raiden. It's been a long time."
"No need for 'Mr.' Just call me Ryoma," the man said with a small chuckle. "I believe my daughter is safe in your hands?"
"Well… there've been complications," Kouga admitted, "but yes. She and Kiana are students at St. Freya now, training to become Valkyries."
From somewhere off the receiver, Siegfried's voice boomed proudly: "That's my girl!"
Kouga couldn't help but smile.
"I see," Ryoma said softly, warmth clear in his tone. "I'm glad I can trust you with her safety, Kouga."
"…Do you want to talk to her?" Kouga offered.
"Please."
Without hesitation, Kouga left his room and walked down the hall. He knocked on Mei's door. A few moments later, Mei answered in her nightgown, blinking at him in confusion.
"Kouga-kun? Is something wrong?"
"There's someone who wants to speak with you." Kouga handed her the phone.
Puzzled, she lifted it to her ear. "Hello? Who is this?"
There was a pause, then a voice Mei hadn't heard in years.
"Hello, Mei. It's been a while."
Mei froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes widened as tears welled up. "F-Father? Is… is that really you?"
Kouga saw the joy bloom across her face, brighter than he'd ever seen before. Smiling to himself, he quietly stepped away, leaving Mei alone with the call.
That night, Raiden Mei spoke with her father for the first time in a while. For her, it was the happiest night she could remember.
That night, after hours of talking with her father and finally setting the phone down, Mei drifted into the deepest sleep she ever had .
And in that sleep, she dreamed.
She stood beneath a brilliant sky, the sun casting golden warmth over an endless field of white lilies. Mei looked down and realized she was clad in a wedding dress, pure and dazzling, delicate lace flowing around her like light.
Ahead, Kouga stood in a groom's suit, steady and strong, while beside him Kiana gleamed in a wedding dress of her own, hair glimmering under the sunlight. Both extended their hands toward her, smiling as if she belonged there between them.
Heart swelling, Mei stepped forward, reaching out. For the first time, she felt whole.
But then—
The warmth dimmed. The lilies wilted. The golden sky bled into shades of violet. A thick purple mist swallowed the dream, tendrils creeping over her dress until it withered back into the familiar fabric of her St. Freya uniform.
The dreamscape twisted. Shadows stretched, and from them came a voice—mocking, cold, dripping with disdain.
"Well, well… isn't this sweet."
Mei froze. She knew that voice. Her blood ran cold as she slowly turned.
And there she was.
Herself—yet not. Eyes glowing with violet lightning, a cruel smirk twisting lips identical to her own. The Herrscher of Thunder stood before her, arms crossed as sparks danced at her fingertips.
"Hello, weakling," the Herrscher purred, smug and venomous.
Mei's breath caught, her dream of happiness now shattered under the weight of her darker self.
The next morning, Kouga stirred awake with the sunlight slipping through the blinds. After freshening up, he made his way to the kitchen expecting to find Mei—she was always the earliest riser, usually preparing tea or quietly reviewing her notes.
But today, her spot was empty.
Brows furrowed, Kouga set down his cup and walked to her room. He knocked lightly at first. No response. With a cautious breath, he slid the door open.
There she was, still curled under her blankets, breathing steady. At first glance, she looked peaceful. Too peaceful. Kouga's instincts screamed otherwise.
When he turned to leave, a sudden weight pressed against his chest—a faint but undeniable surge. It wasn't physical. It was mental, spiritual… a clash deep inside her. Kouga narrowed his eyes.
"A battle of wills…" he realized.
Without hesitation, he pulled out his Ghost Driver and Eyecon.
"Henshin."
A flash of light engulfed him, his form shifting into Kamen Rider Ghost. With a gentle motion, he rested a glowing palm against Mei's forehead. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, letting his own spirit dive inward.
When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in her room.
Before him stood a vast, endless void broken only by a single looming door. The surface shimmered like liquid light. Kouga approached, pushed it open, and stepped through.
What greeted him made his lips twitch in mild amusement.
Mei stood there in her St. Freya uniform, fists clenched, voice sharp with desperation. Across from her, wreathed in crackling violet lightning, was the Herrscher of Thunder—her mirror image, but crueler, smug, unrestrained.
"You ruined my life!" Mei's voice rang out, filled with hurt. "Ever since you appeared, everything has gone wrong!"
The Herrscher tilted her head back and laughed coldly. "Ruined? Pathetic. Your life was already shattered long before I claimed you. I merely pulled away the mask you clung to."
Violet sparks licked the air, the weight of malice pressing down on Mei like a stormcloud. Still, she stood firm, eyes burning with defiance.
Kouga crossed his arms, leaning casually against nothing, watching the two with a faint smirk. "Well, this is going to be interesting."
The Herrscher's laughter echoed through the void, cold and mocking—until a new voice cut through it.
"Alright, that's enough."
Both Mei and the Herrscher froze. Mei's eyes widened in shock as she turned, spotting Kouga standing just a few paces away in his Rider form, cloak faintly glowing.
"Kouga?!" Mei gasped. "What are you doing here?"
The Herrscher, however, looked more intrigued than surprised. Her lips curved into a smirk, eyes narrowing as violet sparks arced lazily around her."Well, well… this is unexpected. A mortal waltzing into a Herrscher's dominion. How… amusing."
Kouga gave a small shrug, his tone calm but edged with dry humor."One of my powers lets me step into the mindscape of others. This morning, I noticed you weren't up making breakfast like usual, Mei. I went to check in… and here we are."
For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then the Herrscher waved dismissively, her voice dripping with disdain."Fine. Take this weakling out of my sight. She bores me."
"No!" Mei snapped, stepping forward, her fists trembling. "You don't get to just—"
But before she could go further, Kouga gently raised a hand. His eyes met hers, steady and reassuring, and with the smallest nod, he quieted her.
Then he turned back to the Herrscher, his voice low, thoughtful."Tell me something. Why do you hate humanity this much?"
The Herrscher's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with scorn."Don't you see? Look at what humanity has done to her. The betrayals, the pain, the suffering. They broke her long before I ever arrived."
Kouga folded his arms, his gaze unwavering."I won't deny that. There are people out there who deserve nothing but my fist for what they did to Mei. But that's not the whole world. A few rotten ones don't speak for all of humanity. After all—" he gestured to himself, then to Mei "—you've seen me and Kiana, haven't you? We've always stood by her when she needed us most. You've barely scratched the surface of what people can be. Don't let one bad apple convince you the whole tree is rotten."
The Herrscher fell silent. She studied him, and for the first time, her composure wavered. Memories flashed—of their past clash, of the reckless way he had defeated her, stealing a kiss mid-battle. Her face darkened with color, though she tried to mask it behind a sneer.
Kouga tilted his head slightly. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Her lips curled into a sly smile. She stepped closer, sparks trailing at her feet, until she stood just before him."Fine. I'll give humanity one more chance," she said softly. "On one condition."
Kouga's eyes narrowed. "…And that is?"
"This."
Before he could react, the Herrscher seized him by the collar and pulled him into a kiss. Mei's gasp echoed in the void, her expression shattering.
Kouga's eyes widened in shock—but before the Herrscher could savor her triumph, he ripped himself free, grabbing Mei by the wrist."Time to go."
The void around them began to crack as he dragged Mei out of her own mindscape. She followed without resistance, but her eyes… once filled with warmth and joy, now looked empty.
Kouga woke with a sharp breath, quickly letting the Ghost transformation fade away. The glow vanished, leaving him once again in his human form.
A soft stir beside him caught his attention—Mei's eyes fluttered open. She blinked up at him, still drowsy."Oh… Kouga-kun." She yawned delicately and sat up, brushing her hair back. "I'm sorry I overslept. I just… had this weird dream."
"I get it," Kouga replied quietly, turning his back to her to give her space. "We should hurry, though. Breakfast isn't going to cook itself."
Silence lingered behind him. He waited for the familiar sound of her moving from the bed—but it never came. Curious, he glanced over his shoulder.
Mei was still sitting there. Her gaze was distant, her face flushed with a blooming red."I—I'm sorry!" she nearly squeaked, pressing her hands to her cheeks as though trying to cool them. "It's just… could I ask you something?"
Kouga gave a small nod.
"When I was asleep… that happened, right?"
His expression softened. "Yeah. It did."
Mei lowered her gaze, lips pressing together in thought. Then, with surprising resolve, she edged closer to him."Do you mind if I… try the same?"
Kouga hesitated only briefly before giving another nod. Mei's blush deepened, but her eyes glimmered with a shy determination."Then… close your eyes, please."
He obeyed, already suspecting what was to come. A moment of stillness stretched between them—until he felt something soft and trembling press against his lips.
His eyes opened just in time to see Mei pull back, both hands flying to her burning cheeks. Her smile was radiant, filled with pure joy.
Realization hit her a second later, and with a flustered squeak, she darted past him."I-I'll go make breakfast!"
Kouga chuckled under his breath as she vanished into the hallway, her energy more alive than he'd seen in days.
He rose and left her room, heading toward the kitchen himself. On the way, he nearly bumped into Bronya.
Despite her usual stoic mask, the younger girl's expression carried a subtle weight. Her silver eyes lingered on him, as though she had words carefully measured but not yet spoken.
"Bronya?" Kouga asked. "Something on your mind?"
"Subject Kouga, Bronya must speak about a problematic situation with you."
Her tone was as even as always, but Kouga could tell from the way she stood—straight-backed, unwavering—that this wasn't casual talk. He followed her to the side of the hall where they wouldn't be disturbed.
A few minutes of quiet explanation later, Kouga understood.
Cocolia had planned for everything. Of course she would—someone like her wouldn't let her "weapon" slip away without contingencies. A bio-chip, cruelly embedded, gave her control over Bronya's very body. For a parent to do that… Kouga clenched his fists.
He looked back into Bronya's blank, emotionless stare. "Did you tell the others?"
"Mei-neesama has been alerted of my condition," Bronya replied flatly. "Her stance on me has not wavered. Subject Kiana will be informed when her temperamental nature has lowered, and our relationship is less strained."
Kouga exhaled through his nose, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I think Kiana sees you more as competition for Mei's affections than anything else."
Bronya blinked once, as though processing the statement, but her silence spoke louder than words.
"But I get it," Kouga continued, softening his voice. "It's your call when to tell her. Do it at your pace."
A second of tense silence passed before Bronya gave a small, deliberate nod.
Kouga was about to head to the kitchen when he heard her call out again. He turned back just in time to see Bronya bring her right arm across her chest, posture sharp, the image of a soldier pledging an oath.
"From this point forth, Subject Kouga," she declared with military precision, "Bronya swears loyalty to you. Place your faith in Bronya's capabilities, and any mission will be completed perfectly."
Kouga stared at her for a beat. To anyone else, she'd look like a machine. But to him? She was still just a kid doing her best to live in a world that treated her like a tool.
A soft chuckle slipped out of him as he stepped closer. He raised a hand and gently ruffled her silvery hair.
Bronya's eyes widened in faint surprise, her oath posture faltering slightly.
"I'd rather you have faith in yourself," Kouga said gently, his voice steady and kind. "Even I screw up sometimes."
For a moment, Bronya looked at him—not as "Subject Kouga," but as Kouga, the one who saw her as more than a weapon. She didn't respond, but the silence felt warmer this time.
"Now get ready, I'm going to help Mei with breakfast," Kouga said as he pulled his hand back from her hair.
Bronya gave a firm nod, composure snapping back into place. "Understood. Bronya will join shortly."