The exam paper lay on the desk in front of Ryotaro, the final question answered neatly in his handwriting.
He exhaled, setting down his pen. A weight lifted from his shoulders, and for the first time in weeks, he allowed himself a small smile.
'Done.'
Around him, the classroom buzzed with relief as students stretched, whispered, and hurried to submit their sheets. Ryotaro stacked his papers calmly, stood, and handed them to the teacher.
When he stepped outside, the early summer air hit him—warm, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass. The sky stretched wide and clear, as if congratulating him for surviving the ordeal.
"Ryotaro!"
Kara waved, jogging up to him with her usual brightness. "How'd it go?"
He chuckled. "Not bad. I think I'll pass."
"Pass? You're always top of the class." She pouted, then grinned. "Well, either way, you deserve a break."
Ryotaro's gaze softened. A break… yes. It was time.
That evening, in the quiet of Mount Justice, Ryotaro gathered the team. Robin lounged on the couch, Kid Flash sprawled beside him with a bag of chips, Artemis polishing an arrow, Aqualad listening attentively, and M'gann setting down a tray of cookies. Superboy leaned against the wall, silent but observant.
Ryotaro stood before them, his hands in his pockets. "I… wanted to tell you something."
The room stilled, all eyes on him.
"I'll be going back to Japan for the summer. To visit my mom."
M'gann tilted her head. "Your mom?"
Ryotaro nodded. His voice was calm, but his chest tightened as he spoke. "My father's an archeologist. He… was never really home. Always traveling, always working. My parents divorced years ago. Since then, I've mostly stayed with my mom. She lives in Tokyo."
There was a pause. Even Kid Flash sat up a little straighter, his usual smirk softened.
"I thought… maybe it's time I visited her properly. I've been away too long."
Aqualad inclined his head respectfully. "It is wise. Family grounds us."
Kid Flash gave a small, wry smile. "Don't worry, we'll keep the bad guys busy while you're gone."
Robin pushed his glasses up, smirking. "Just don't forget to bring souvenirs."
The tension in Ryotaro's chest eased. Their acceptance felt warmer than he expected.
M'gann leaned forward, smiling brightly. "Tell your mom hi for us. And enjoy your trip!"
Superboy simply met his gaze and gave a short nod. It was enough.
Ryotaro bowed his head slightly. "Thanks, everyone."
The flight to Japan was long but familiar. As the plane descended, Tokyo spread out beneath him in a glittering sea of lights—towers, neon signs, and endless streets alive with motion.
He pressed a hand to the window. "Home."
Stepping out into Narita Airport, he breathed in the familiar air. Different from America, sharper somehow, tinged with the smell of asphalt and grilled street food.
Waiting just past the arrivals gate stood a woman with kind eyes and a warm smile.
"Ryotaro."
"Mom."
For a moment, the busy airport faded away. He walked forward, and she pulled him into a gentle hug. She smelled faintly of lavender, the same as when he was a child.
"It's been too long," she said softly.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "School, homeworks… life got busy."
She pulled back, studying his face. "You've grown stronger. But you still look like my little boy."
Ryotaro smiled faintly. "I've missed you."
They drove through Tokyo's glowing streets, the city alive with energy. His mother's apartment was small but warm, decorated with bookshelves, photos, and the soft touch of her personality. It felt worlds apart from the cold wealth of the Narumi family estate.
Over dinner, they spoke about simple things—school, food, how is his uncle and his friends had been treating him. His mother listened carefully, her laughter soft and comforting.
But eventually, the conversation turned.
"Have you heard from your father?" she asked quietly.
Ryotaro set down his chopsticks. "…No. Not since last year."
"He's somewhere in the Middle East now. Digging up ruins." Her voice held no bitterness, only a trace of sadness. "He was always married to his work."
Ryotaro's chest tightened. Memories flickered—his father's rare visits, the smell of old books, lectures about history, promises broken by the next expedition.
"Do you hate him?" Ryotaro asked suddenly.
His mother blinked, then smiled faintly. "No. I stopped expecting him to change a long time ago. I just wish… he had been there for you."
Ryotaro lowered his gaze. "…Me too."
Later that night, he stood on the balcony, the city lights sprawling below him. His mother joined him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You've carried so much, Ryotaro. Your father's absence. Our divorce. And yet… you're still standing strong."
He shook his head. "Sometimes I don't feel strong. Sometimes I feel like I'm just pretending."
"Pretending or not, you've kept moving forward." She smiled softly. "That's strength too."
Ryotaro exhaled, letting her words sink in. For the first time in a while, the weight on his chest felt lighter.
The next few days passed quietly. Ryotaro studied in the mornings, walked the crowded streets with his mother in the afternoons, and helped her with errands. They ate takoyaki from street stalls, watched the fireworks festival by the river, and even visited a detective bookstore he remembered from childhood.
Each small moment stitched itself into his memory, a reminder of the home he had left behind but never truly lost.
On the third night, as they sat together watching the lanterns drift along the river, his mother spoke again.
"Ryotaro… do you know what you want for your future?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I want to be a private detective. I don't want to inherit companies or live under expectations. I want… to find truth. To help people."
His mother studied him, then smiled. "That sounds like you. Honest, stubborn, and kind."
"You're not… disappointed?" he asked carefully.
"Never." She took his hand gently. "All I want is for you to live a life that's truly yours."
Ryotaro's throat tightened. He squeezed her hand back, silently making a promise.
"I will," he whispered.
This is two nights before his return to America, Ryotaro sat at his desk, packing his notebooks and gifts for his friends—Japanese sweets, trinkets, a few books.
He looked out the window one last time, the city glowing softly under the summer night sky.
This trip hadn't given him all the answers. His father was still absent, his family's expectations still looming. But he felt steadier, more certain of his own path. He said with a smile.
"Maybe I should see what kind of night life this country had to offer? System show me my Status and my rewards."
{Name - Ryotaro Nogami}
Strength - D
Intelligence - C
Agility - C
Dexterity - C
Vitality - D
[Rider Template - Shotaro Hidari]
[Host had Kamen Rider W gadgets and vehicles. Blade Memory, Invisible Memory, Magma Memory and Snake Memory. One random Template.]
"Start the draw."
[Congratulations. Host get the Kamen Rider Faiz series except other belts and their gadgets.]
"Wow. Lucky me. Let start my night activities."