Japan, Fuyuki – Singularity F.
Inside the abandoned building, flickering flames from burning debris reflected off cracked walls. Caster led the group through the ruined hallways, providing crucial information about Archer and Saber. Olga Marie stood nearby, constantly taking notes, her sharp eyes focused, lips occasionally pursed as she considered strategies.
Meanwhile, Saito Kagami—the exemplary employee bearing all responsibilities—was… squatting in a corner, holding a burning branch, eyes fixed on the flames, smiling idiotically. A gesture that made Olga Marie's forehead vein pop.
"Kagami! You! Can you act serious for once?! Right now, the situation is critical, we need to resolve this Singularity immediately—come here!" Olga Marie shouted, her tone both urgent and scolding.
Kagami turned his head, tilting it, eyes wide as if puzzled, a giant question mark seemingly hovering above his head.
"Don't play dumb here! Come over and listen! Caster is sharing vital intelligence about Archer and Saber—this is life-or-death information!" Olga Marie barked, pointing straight at Kagami.
Kagami shrugged, nodded once, his face still retaining that innocent, dazed expression:
"Umu umu… you mean you want me to join the operation, right? Got it, got it."
"Yes! Now get over here and help plan the operation!" Olga Marie yelled again, her voice loaded with pressure.
Kagami huffed softly, a faint smirk on his lips, eyes still fixed on the fire:
"Intel… is important, I guess…"
"Exactly."
"Daga kotowaru!" Kagami suddenly added with dramatic flair, pointing his index finger skyward, tone like he was declaring war on the world itself.
"Nani!?" Olga Marie jumped back, furrowing her brows, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief.
Kagami shook his head, his eyes lighting up with an unusually serious expression:
"You, you evil director, want me to work overtime, huh! I can see right through your intentions! Hmph… you underestimate Kagami-sama? I absolutely refuse to work overtime!"
Olga Marie growled, grinding her teeth, her face flushed red, breathing hard from anger, as if she was about to explode. She looked ready to pounce on Kagami and punish him on the spot. Mash stood beside her, watching the scene with a mixture of worry and caution, trying to intervene, forcing a smile:
"Kagami-san, please, listen to the director's explanation… after all—"
Kagami shrugged, maintaining a serious tone but swaying casually, eyes gleaming with mischief:
"No means no! What time is it now? That's right! 6 PM! This is after hours, anyone who wants to work overtime can… but right now, I just want to rest. Work should balance hardship and leisure—throwing yourself into overtime just earns a few extra pennies."
Mash hesitated, unsure what to say, only able to sigh.
Kagami shrugged again, eyes gazing into the distance as if recalling the "horrors" of his youth:
"Look, you're too young to understand… Back in the day, I worked at the Dan Foundation, that Kuroto Dan guy had me serving tea, running errands all day, buried in paperwork, then made me a tester for his new game. If I refused once, he'd dock my pay immediately. Got it? Imagine it—my mind and body almost… vanished in a single night. So… I refuse overtime!"
Mash could only look at Kagami and shake her head, her forced smile showing both tension and… helplessness.
Kagami snorted lightly, swung his arm, and strode off like a "lone hero with no equal," his declaration echoing through the room:
"I, Saito Kagami, a life lived in struggle! Will never kneel before you capitalists ever again!"
The dashing figure of Kagami disappeared, leaving the room filled with an awkward yet tense atmosphere. Mash glanced around nervously, then took a deep breath before running after him.
Caster Cú Chulainn stood to the side, chuckling softly, his voice carrying a mix of admiration and teasing:
"Hahaha! That Master really has… spirit. Having an employee like him as your subordinate is truly… amazing."
Olga Marie could no longer hold back, spinning around, veins bulging on her forehead, shouting with restrained fury:
"Shut up right now!! Seriously… what's wrong with that guy?!"
Caster Cú Chulainn just shook his head lightly, a smile still on his lips, but his eyes immediately turned serious again, steering the conversation back to the main issue:
"Now… let's return to the matter at hand. At Mount Ryuudou, where the Servant is guarding the Holy Grail…"
The room carried a mix of tension from the mission and humor from Kagami's antics, creating a pause that was both suspenseful and… hard to suppress laughter.
---
Kagami walked down the hallway, hands tucked into his pockets, stepping lightly yet arrogantly over the shards of glass and crumbling walls. When his gaze landed on a familiar orange-haired figure sitting on the stairs, he strode over, his voice teasing yet friendly:
"Yo! What are you sitting here staring off for, Ritsuka?"
"Aghhh–!" Ritsuka jumped, spinning around to look at Kagami, eyes wide as if realizing… an disaster had appeared:
"It's Kagami… I thought it was someone else."
Kagami chuckled softly, brushing off dust from the stair, then sat down beside Ritsuka, raising an eyebrow:
"Why the long face? Something troubling you? You can share it with me, you know."
Ritsuka sighed, her eyes lowering, hand propping up her cheek, her voice soft but tinged with sadness:
"Kagami, you're amazing… handling everything so quickly without any Servant or help. And me… I feel like a dead weight you have to carry… completely useless."
Kagami furrowed his brow, his gaze serious, a slight sigh escaping:
"What are you saying… why compare yourself to me? Why belittle yourself like that?"
"Haiz… isn't it obvious…" Ritsuka muttered, sadness mixed with disappointment:
"You're overflowing with strength, carrying responsibilities… and I'm just trailing behind."
Kagami crossed his arms, exhaling calmly yet authoritatively:
"You're way too naive… why overthink so much? We're on the same team, with the same goal. Thinking of yourself as a burden—that's the real mistake."
Ritsuka shook her head, her voice lowering:
"You don't understand… if I had power like yours, I could help lessen the burden for you and Mash."
Kagami cast a sideways glance, narrowing his eyes half in jest, half serious, his tone teasing:
"You… want to become a Kamen Rider?"
"Of course!" Ritsuka's eyes lit up, her smile bright and determined:
"That body of yours is so ridiculously cool, who wouldn't want that! Besides… I want to help you, Kagami."
Kagami straightened, his gaze burning, voice cold yet commanding:
"Do you even know… what it truly means to become a Kamen Rider?"
"Ah? That… to protect ordinary people, and… bear responsibilities like a hero?" Ritsuka stammered a little, eyes fixed on Kagami.
"Wrong!" Kagami snapped, his gaze sharp as steel:
"To become a Kamen Rider means… no matter what you face—whether it's facing utter darkness, a future filled with suffering, or sacrificing yourself for the greater good—you must confront it head-on! Got it?"
"Ah?! That serious?" Ritsuka blinked, part scared, part in awe.
"Haiz… then, let me tell you a story. This is the true face of a Kamen Rider, always confronting…" Kagami narrowed his eyes, speaking slowly, each word weighted.
"Mm? Then, please tell me." Ritsuka leaned forward, her face lifted expectantly toward Kagami.
"Then listen carefully! This story begins in a city… a city terrorized by creatures called the Gurongi. They were cold-blooded, ruthless predators, each incident like a sick experiment. Human corpses piled up into gruesome walls, and fear spread everywhere. The police force was nearly powerless, for weapons, laws, or faith in justice… all proved useless against enemies that were no longer human.
But hope had not yet vanished. When Yusuke Godai—the man known as Kamen Rider Kuuga—appeared, he became a living shield protecting ordinary people, carrying their smiles and faith. Yet, every time he transformed, he plunged into brutal battles, saving lives but feeling a part of his humanity erode. The Kuuga armor was not merely protective gear; it was a slumbering monster inside Yusuke Godai, and every fight brought that beast closer to devouring his soul.
Optimism gradually faded, replaced by torment, the fear that one day he would lose control over himself. Battles raged on without pause, pressing Kuuga to the brink, as the power within urged him toward brutal instincts. Then, one day… Yusuke Godai was forced to awaken his Ultimate Form—a supreme yet terrifying form. This power transformed him into an entity surpassing even the Gurongi; each punch not only annihilated foes but instilled terror in those who witnessed it.
Kuuga was no longer a shining savior. He became a shadow of death—a being that inspired both fear and dependence in humans. And from that image arose a question: do humans truly need a hero if that hero must bear the visage of a demon?"
Ritsuka swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She had never imagined that being a Kamen Rider carried such a harsh fate. The mix of pity and fear immediately made her gaze turn to Kagami, her eyes filled with both concern and awe:
"So… Kagami, you—"
"I'm not suffering like Yusuke-senpai," Kagami waved his hand dismissively, his tone casual yet tinged with pride. "I'd say… my life is far easier than his."
Ritsuka exhaled softly, her eyes still distant, and quietly asked:
"So… are all Kamen Riders like that?"
Kagami nodded, his gaze briefly tinged with sadness but still resolute:
"Yeah… the seniors always put themselves aside to fight for their beliefs, to protect others… except for those Dark Riders, they uphold justice in twisted, pragmatic ways."
"I see…" Ritsuka murmured, trying to digest the shock.
As the two of them were lost in thought, a short-haired pink figure ran up, letting out a relieved sigh, eyes bright as they looked at Kagami and Ritsuka:
"Kagami-san, what are you doing here? And Senpai? You two are—"
"Just telling a story, nothing important," Kagami tilted his head and smiled faintly, his voice calm yet commanding. "Also, Ritsuka… let me remind you: don't belittle yourself just because you're small or weak. Sometimes, it's precisely that smallness that can defeat darkness, even make heroes cautious! Remember that… now, I'm going to sleep… tomorrow I'll continue escorting you to smash the Holy Grail again."
He stood, yawned, eyes still brimming with confidence, and turned to leave, leaving Ritsuka and Mash watching him, both in admiration and worry for Kagami's strength and determination.
---
PS: Today I'm posting early and keeping it short because I've done my best already. Unexpectedly, after getting soaked in the rain this afternoon, I caught a fever, so I had to shorten this part to be able to rest and hopefully feel better tomorrow to continue writing… Anyway, have a great day!