The next morning, the group gathered around the table for breakfast. Plates clattered softly, steam rising from fresh tea and food. The morning seemed normal—until Kouga approached, a faint, almost mischievous smile on his face.
"Got something to show you all," he said casually, one hand tucked behind his back. Everyone looked up, curious.
Slowly, he revealed what he'd been holding—a small doll, perfectly resembling Kallen.
Kiana tilted her head, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Eh? A doll…?"
Mei set down her cup, smiling warmly. "It's really cute."
Himeko leaned back with a grin. "I'll admit, I agree with Mei on this one."
Bronya, however, calmly held up her own Homu doll for comparison. "Homu looks cuter."
Kiana, unable to resist, poked the doll lightly with her finger.
"Miss Kiana, that tickle," the doll suddenly spoke.
Everyone froze.
"EHHH?!" Kiana yelped, nearly falling backward. Mei's eyes widened, and even Himeko had to choke down her drink. Bronya blinked twice, but her grip on Homu tightened ever so slightly.
The little Kallen doll stood up on Kouga's palm, bowed politely, and introduced herself.
"Hello, everyone. Miss Kiana and Bronya already know me, but let me introduce myself again. I am the digital history of Kallen that Mister Kouga managed to retrieve."
Gasps and murmurs went around the table. Kouga placed her gently on the dining table so she could properly greet the others.
Mei smiled kindly. "My name is Raiden Mei. It's nice to meet you, Kallen."
Himeko gave a small wave. "And I'm Himeko. Welcome, little one."
The doll bowed again in response.
Kiana turned her eyes to Kouga, gratitude clear in her expression.
He met her gaze and simply said, "I made a promise, didn't I?"
Kiana smiled, her eyes shimmering faintly as she looked back at the tiny Kallen.
Just as everyone was still marveling at the talking doll, the door to the dining hall creaked open. Theresa stepped in, carrying a small stack of papers.
She paused mid-stride when she saw the doll standing on the table, politely waving at her.
"Hello," the doll said in a gentle voice, lifting its tiny hand.
Theresa blinked. "…It waved at me?" She hesitated, then instinctively waved back, a bit unsure but smiling faintly. "Uh—hello?"
Kiana and Mei exchanged amused glances, while Himeko muffled a laugh behind her hand. Bronya, as usual, looked unshaken, though her eyes lingered curiously on Theresa's reaction.
Theresa cleared her throat, shaking her head as if to reset her thoughts. "Well… as surprising as this is, I came here for something else." Her expression firmed as she looked directly at Kouga. "You have a mission."
Kouga, still halfway between proud and cautious about showing off his creation, blinked. "Wha?" was all he managed to say.
Few hours later
In the back of an aircraft heading toward Nagazora.
"So, what's the op?"
Kouga sat on the cold metal bench inside the gray military transport. From the moment he reached the landing area, he'd been rushed aboard, and before he could even catch his breath, the plane had already taken off. Now, strapped in with nothing but the drone of the engines, he wasn't about to wait any longer without answers.
"It's nothing much," Theresa replied, her short legs dangling freely as she sat across from him. "The labs caught a new Honkai signature that's close to Herrscher levels, and they want it taken out before it grows too strong."
She hopped off her seat with Judah in hand, moving toward the cockpit door. "What's the current condition?" she asked.
"Air flow is normal, Miss Theresa," the pilot said, eyes locked on the horizon of clouds. "Sensors haven't picked up any incoming beasts, and the ground remains clear. Hopefully, it stays that way until we reach the drop-off point."
"Good," Theresa said curtly before returning to the back of the aircraft. "We'll leave by sky-drop once we reach the mark. I'll go first, then you follow."
Moments later, a loud bang echoed from the cockpit. "We're coming up to our destination! Everyone get ready!"
The cargo ramp began to lower, letting in a blast of rushing wind. Both Kouga and Theresa stood, bracing themselves.
"Go!"
Without hesitation, Theresa ran forward and leapt into the open sky, Judah slung over her shoulder as it unfolded, releasing a barrage of spears that rained down below.
Kouga followed shortly after, diving into the clouds. Once he broke through, the reality of Nagazora hit him. Below, a colossal Honkai Beast—towering even over skyscrapers—trampled its way through the ruined cityscape.
Theresa's spears slammed into the monster, but instead of killing it, they only drew its attention upward.
Kouga reacted instantly, shifting into Kamen Rider W—CycloneJoker. Harnessing the wind, he propelled himself forward at blinding speed. Passing Theresa mid-fall, he twisted his body into position.
"JOKER—MAXIMUM DRIVE!"
His charged kick smashed into the beast's weapon as it thrust upward, shattering the massive spear into fragments. The momentum carried through, obliterating the beast's upper body in a single devastating impact.
With the immediate danger gone, Kouga spun through the air and guided the winds, slowing Theresa's descent until she landed gently.
But before he could even breathe, a familiar cry reached his ears from above.
"Kouga!"
He looked up—and nearly lost his composure. The Kallen doll was tumbling helplessly from the sky.
"Why is Kallen here?!" Kouga muttered in shock, kicking off to catch her. The winds surged beneath him as he scooped the tiny figure safely into his palm.
The doll's eyes blinked up at him with a sheepish smile. "I wanted to see what the world looked like after 500 years… so I hid in your clothes."
Kouga exhaled sharply, somewhere between exasperation and relief.
"But when you transformed," Kallen admitted, "I got thrown out."
Kouga simply shook his head, a sigh lost under the hiss of wind. Without another word, he set Kallen carefully atop his helmet. The little doll clung to the rider's head like a tiny passenger, her cloak fluttering in the air.
"So where's our target?" Kouga asked, voice steady.
"There." Theresa pointed ahead, her gaze locked on the city below.
Kouga followed her finger—and froze. The building at the center of the disturbance was one he knew all too well.
"Huh," he muttered with a dry chuckle, eyes narrowing. "It's as if my old school is the center of everything that happens here."
Below them stood Chiba Academy, looming like a ghost from his past.