The alarm clock rang sharply. Beep! Beep! Beep!
Haruto groaned, throwing an arm over his face. The rays of sunlight streaming through the window forced him up. "Ugh… another day of pretending I'm just a normal high schooler…"
He dragged himself out of bed, went to the bathroom, and splashed cold water onto his face. His reflection stared back—black hair messy, eyes still tired.
He brushed his teeth, threw on his uniform, and headed to the kitchen. No one was there, as always. He quietly toasted a piece of bread, staring at the framed photo of his parents again.
"Wish I could remember more… but I'll carry what I have." He stuffed the toast in his mouth, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked outside.
He leaned against the front gate of Kenta's house, waiting, fiddling with the strap of his bag.
Kenta, meanwhile, was still yawning in his bed, hair all over the place.
"Ken-taaa, wake up!" His little sister's voice echoed through the house.
"Five more minutes," he muttered, pulling the blanket over his head.
His mother barged in, hands on hips. "No. School. Now."
"Alright, alright, I'm up!" Kenta shot out of bed like a spring. He rushed through brushing his teeth, stuffing rice balls into his mouth, and tying his tie at the last possible second.
Downstairs, his dad called out, "We're taking your sister to the park today. Want to come?"
Kenta froze with his shoe halfway on. "Uh… can't. Extra class."
His mom looked at him kindly. "Next time, then. Promise."
He gave a small smile, though his eyes flickered with guilt. If only they knew what 'extra class' actually meant.
He rushed outside and saw Haruto leaning against the gate. "Yo! Sorry for being late."
Haruto smirked. "You're always late."
"Hey, at least I show up."
The two bumped fists, then started walking together toward the lab.
They arrived at the alley that led to the hidden lab door. Haruto pounded on the metal wall. "Oi, Elyra! Open up!"
A mechanical click echoed, followed by Elyra's teasing voice through the speaker:
"What's the password?"
Haruto blinked. "Uh…" He glanced at Kenta. "Do we… have a password?"
Kenta scratched his head. "I dunno. Try… uh… 'Masked Chargers rule'?"
"Nope," Elyra replied, sing-song.
"Maybe… 'open sesame'?" Haruto guessed.
"Wrong again."
They both groaned, staring at each other with empty brains. "Uh… Elyra, we don't actually know it."
The door hissed open anyway, and Elyra stood there, smirking with her hands on her hips. "Exactly. That was the test. The password is 'you two are idiots'."
Haruto nearly faceplanted. Kenta pointed accusingly. "You made that up just now!"
"Maybe~," Elyra said, winking before turning and skipping back into the lab. "Took you long enough."
The two stepped in and immediately spotted Airi, already seated at a bench with a notebook open. She gave them a soft smile and waved shyly.
"You're late," she said gently.
Haruto froze for a moment before rubbing the back of his neck, cheeks heating up. "Y-Yeah… we, uh, had a… password problem."
Kenta leaned close to Airi. "Translation: we're dumb and Elyra bullied us."
"Hey!" Haruto protested.
Airi giggled behind her hand. Elyra, meanwhile, strolled past, whispering with a smirk, "Lover boy's blushing again~."
Haruto groaned, collapsing onto the nearest chair.
At the far side of the lab, sparks flew as the teacher adjusted something on his desk. He turned, wiping oil from his hands. His eyes gleamed behind his glasses.
"Good. You're all here," he said calmly. He set down his tools and lifted a strange new device from the workbench. "Because I think… my new belt is finally finished."
The room went still. Even Elyra stopped smirking, tilting her head. Airi straightened up in her chair. Haruto and Kenta exchanged wide-eyed looks.
Something big was coming.
The teacher carefully lifted the belt from his workbench, setting it onto the table with a heavy clunk. Sleek metal plating shined under the lab's lights, with a strange slot on the side shaped like an ink compartment. Tiny green lines glowed faintly across its surface like circuitry.
The four leaned in, eyes wide.
Kenta squinted. "Looks like a normal belt to me… is this just a fashion upgrade?"
The teacher smirked. "Don't underestimate it. This is my newest invention—the Printer Belt."
"Printer… Belt?" Haruto raised a brow.
The teacher nodded, then pulled out a small glass ink bottle with glowing liquid inside. He slid it into the side of the belt with a click. At once, the belt gave off a low whirr as if it had just loaded up fresh toner. The glowing liquid pulsed through the circuitry, and then—zzzzap!—a hologram of a sword projected onto the table. With a sharp shnk!, the hologram solidified into a very real steel blade.
Elyra's jaw dropped. "Wait—did that just… print a weapon?"
"Correct." The teacher's tone carried pride. "This belt runs on ink cartridges—each one infused with data. It can copy the moves and appearances of other Masked Riders it scans. And not only that—" He pressed a button, and a holographic menu floated above the belt. Several icons of weapons spun in the air: a spear, shotgun, even a massive hammer. "—it can also paste those abilities. Summoning different weapons at will."
Kenta's eyes lit up like fireworks. "So it's like… copy and paste in real life! Dude, you made a CTRL + C, CTRL + V belt!"
Elyra facepalmed. "Of course that's how you'd describe it."
Haruto leaned closer, serious. "So if someone fights with a unique style, this belt can replicate it?"
"Exactly," the teacher said. "Though it requires skill and adaptability to use properly. If wielded carelessly, it could backfire. But in the right hands…" His eyes gleamed. "…this could change the battlefield."
Airi's soft voice chimed in, curious. "So… it can copy looks, too?"
The teacher nodded. "Yes. Infiltration, disguise, even psychological warfare. If it sees a Rider, it can become them."
That made Elyra grin mischievously. She leaned on the table and smirked at Haruto. "Imagine two of you running around. Wouldn't Airi love that?"
Haruto's face went crimson. "E-Elyra!!"
Airi flinched, hiding her own blush by pretending to write something in her notebook.
Kenta wheezed with laughter, nearly falling over. "Oh man—two Harutos! Double the awkward romance! Teacher, please let me try that feature first!"
The teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Immature as ever. This is a tool of war, not a toy." He slid the glowing ink bottle out and locked the Printer Belt back into its casing. "But soon… one of you may be chosen to wield it."
The room fell silent. The thought of wielding a power like that sent shivers down their spines.
Kenta broke the silence first. "…So uh, hypothetically, could it copy my sister's cooking skills? Because if so, I'm in."
Elyra groaned. "Idiot."
The quiet hum of the lab was shattered by a blaring WEEEOOO-WEEEOOO alarm. Red warning lights flashed across the walls as the monitors sparked to life.
On-screen, a live feed from the city showed chaos—people running, buildings shaking, car alarms blaring. And in the center of it all, a massive creature clawed its way through skyscrapers. Its jagged head gleamed under the morning sun, and its serrated forearms sliced through a highway overpass like butter.
Haruto's voice cracked. "I-is that—?!"
Elyra's eyes widened. "…No way. That's a Kaiju. That's—"
Kenta slammed his hands against the console, shouting, "KNIFEHEAD?! BRO, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO KILL THAT THING?!"
Haruto's legs wobbled, his face pale. "Our belts can't handle… that…"
Even Airi, normally calm and soft, gasped and clutched her player belt close. "We… we'll be crushed…"
The teacher, however, didn't flinch. He snapped his goggles down over his eyes and muttered, "Guess it's time you all saw my trump card."
Kenta's eyes darted toward him. "Wait—what do you mean by—"
The teacher's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "I have a mech."
The room fell silent for a solid two seconds.
Kenta broke it. "A MEGAZORD?!" His voice cracked like a middle schooler hitting puberty again.
Elyra groaned, dragging a hand across her face. "Touch grass, Kenta. This isn't Power Rangers."
But then the teacher tapped a panel on the wall, and the floor beneath them shook. With a hiss of hydraulics, the back of the lab rumbled open, revealing a hidden corridor. Metal plates slid apart, the lights flickering to life one by one until the group stood before a massive underground hangar.
Inside, towering above them, was a gleaming machine of pure power. Twenty stories tall, its frame was reinforced with heavy steel plating. Two enormous jetpack wings folded against its back, each thrumming with reactor energy. A colossal sword hung magnetized at its hip, and massive armored gauntlets gleamed under the light. Its color scheme—sleek white and black, with glowing blue lines—was unmistakably reminiscent of Striker Eureka.
The four teens stood frozen, mouths hanging open.
Haruto whispered, "…That's not a Megazord. That's…"
Kenta threw his arms up, screaming, "A PACIFIC RIM RIPOFF AND I'M HERE FOR IT!!!"
Elyra, though smirking, couldn't hide the awe in her eyes. "Okay, I take it back. That's… actually insane."
Airi's lips parted softly, almost like she was about to sing. "…Beautiful."
The teacher's voice cut through their disbelief. "There's no time for worship. Transform—NOW. You'll need your Rider forms to synchronize."
The four snapped back to reality and immediately activated their belts.
"Seven Samurai! Charge Up!" Haruto's armor unfolded, a whirlwind of old reels projecting scenes of samurai duels before locking into gleaming dragon-scale samurai armor.
"Chainsaw Man! Charge Up!" Kenta's scanner lit up, the manga panels of Denji slicing devils flashing around him before Pochita merged into his chest—chainsaw roaring alive as jagged armor locked into place.
"Idol! Music—Charge Up!" Airi spun gracefully, glittering spotlights and glowing notes erupting around her before crystallizing into starry-pink and purple armor. Her visor gleamed like Ai's iconic starry eyes.
"War Thunder! Charge Up!" Elyra's suit locked in, digital jets streaking past her as heavy black-and-steel armor snapped on. Her legs ignited with afterburner thrusters, and her sleek visor narrowed into a glowing targeting line.
Finally, the teacher pulled out a belt that looked unlike the others, sleek and broad with ink bottles fitted into the sides like ammo. He slotted in a black cartridge bottle and twisted it.
"Ink!—Charge Up!"
Digital sheets of glowing paper swirled around him, tearing themselves into fragments before pasting together into heavy armor, sleek white with shifting textures across it—his visor flickering like an endless scroll of text and diagrams.
"Good. Now—into the tubes!" he commanded, pointing to four transparent cylinders that extended from the floor.
They didn't hesitate. Each Rider ran forward, stepping inside as the tubes sealed shut with a hiss. Hydraulic arms lifted them up, slotting their pods into the mech's body.
And then—BOOOOM—the mech's systems roared to life.
On the monitor inside their cockpit, their forms appeared linked with the mech's core. With each Rider, the machine shifted.
Kenta's seat locked into the left arm. The mech's gauntlets roared as massive holographic chainsaws erupted from both forearms, revving menacingly. He screamed, grinning like a madman. "CHAINSAW. ARMS. THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE."
Haruto's pod slid into the chest. Digital reels flashed across the mech's torso before locking into samurai armor plating, a kabuto crest glowing bright on its head. He whispered, awe-struck, "We're… a warrior god…"
Elyra's pod slammed into the legs. The mech's feet ignited with blue thrusters, jets unfolding along the calves. The entire hangar shook as she tested a boost. "Oh, hell yes. Hyper thruster kicks engaged!"
Airi's pod locked into the back. Her Note Cannons deployed on the mech's shoulders, glowing pink and purple with energy waves. She gasped. "It's like… a stage for me…"
Finally, the teacher's pod locked in at the cockpit core, linking them together. The mech's visor burned alive in cyan light, flickering briefly with a copied samurai helmet before stabilizing.
The teacher gripped the controls. "Synchronization at 87%… good enough. Let's move out."
The mech crouched, wings flaring. The hangar doors split open with a blinding flood of daylight.
Outside, Knifehead roared, its serrated arms slamming through another building.
Inside the cockpit, Kenta shouted, "Cue the anime opening!"
Elyra muttered, "If you start singing, I will eject you."
But before she could finish, the mech blasted forward, engines roaring like a storm.
The city shook as the colossal Rider-mech descended upon Knifehead, their first true kaiju battle about to begin.
The mech's titanic frame slammed into the ground, the city trembling beneath its sheer weight. Glass shattered from nearby towers, car alarms screamed, and the earth itself cracked under its landing.
Before them stood Knifehead, screeching an ear-splitting roar that rattled every bone in their bodies. The Kaiju's jagged, blade-like skull gleamed, dripping with rain and blood from its earlier slaughter. Its serrated arms dragged sparks across the pavement, carving deep scars into the asphalt as it charged.
Inside the cockpit, red lights blared as the teacher barked, "Steady! Haruto, brace us!"
"On it!" Haruto gripped his controls. The mech's chest armor shimmered—samurai plates locking tight. The crest on its helmet glowed as the mech drew its colossal blade.
Kenta revved the mech's arm controls, grinning with wild eyes. "CHAINSAW TIME, BABY!"
The mech's forearms roared to life, twin chainsaws erupting with steel fury, their teeth spinning at blinding speed.
Knifehead lunged, its massive serrated claw slamming into the mech's blade with an ear-splitting CLANG. Sparks exploded in every direction. The mech staggered back, heels cracking the pavement.
"Damn, it's strong!" Haruto grunted, forcing the mech's chest forward to resist.
Elyra snarled, slamming her leg controls. "Boost kick, NOW!"
FWOOOOOOM—the thrusters roared as the mech shot forward with a devastating knee strike to Knifehead's gut. The kaiju reeled, gagging, a spray of black ichor vomiting from its mouth.
"YES! Got him!" Elyra smirked—only to have the Kaiju's tail whip around.
CRAAAAASH! The mech was sent flying into a skyscraper. Glass and steel rained down, burying cars and citizens in debris.
"NO! People down there!" Airi gasped, her voice trembling.
The teacher cursed. "We can't lose focus! But…" His eyes flicked to her. "…Airi, Haruto—go. Save who you can. Kenta, Elyra, and I will hold it off."
"Right!" Haruto unbuckled, his armor shimmering as he teleported out of his tube. Airi followed, both Chargers leaping out of the mech onto the rubble below.
"Hang on, citizens!" Haruto roared, slashing debris apart with his Seven Samurai blade, freeing a trapped mother and child.
Airi's Idol cannons shimmered pink as she sang a sharp note, blasting boulders off survivors. "It's okay! Run! We'll hold it back!"
Up above, Knifehead charged the downed mech.
"GET UP!" Kenta howled, yanking the arm controls. The mech's chainsaws revved, blocking the Kaiju's claws mid-swing. Metal screamed against bone, sparks flying.
"Hold him, HOLD HIM—!" Elyra screamed, slamming the thrusters. The mech's legs roared, boots grinding into the ground as she boosted upward.
"THRUSTER KICK!!!" She screamed.
The mech's knee slammed into Knifehead's chin, snapping its jaw sideways. Blood gushed from the monster's maw, raining black sludge over the battlefield.
But the Kaiju's eyes burned with fury. It slammed its head forward—STAB! The blade-like skull pierced through the mech's shoulder plating.
Inside, alarms screamed. "WARNING. DAMAGE LEVEL CRITICAL."
The mech staggered, sparks flying across the cockpit.
"Dammit, it got through the samurai armor!" Haruto shouted from below, slicing down another collapsing wall to protect civilians. "Teacher, hang on!"
Knifehead twisted its head, tearing the mech's shoulder apart. Geysers of hydraulic fluid sprayed across the battlefield, hissing against the Kaiju's acidic blood.
"OUR ARM!" Kenta howled, slamming the controls. The left arm chainsaw flickered, sparks dancing before the blade shut down.
"Still got the right!" he roared, thrusting the other forward. The mech's right chainsaw arm revved to max, plunging into Knifehead's torso.
VRRRRMMMMMMMM!!!
The Kaiju SHRIEKED, its flesh tearing apart as fountains of gore painted the city streets. Blue blood drenched the mech, steaming against its armor.
But Knifehead didn't die. Its serrated claw lashed out—SLASH!—carving a line across the mech's chest. Sparks erupted as the samurai armor cracked.
"Haruto, now would be a GREAT TIME TO GET BACK HERE!" Elyra yelled, teeth bared as she strained to hold the mech upright with her thrusters.
Down below, Haruto lifted a boy from the rubble and looked up at the bleeding mech. His eyes narrowed. "…I'm coming."
He leapt back into the tube, armor locking in as the chest plates re-forged themselves. "SAMURAI RESONANCE!"
The mech's chest glowed, its blade burning brighter, now infused with flaming kanji.
"CUT HIM DOWN!" Haruto roared.
The teacher slammed the Printer Belt, inserting another ink cartridge. Pages of glowing energy spun around the cockpit. "COPY—PASTE—WEAPON!!!"
The mech's sword duplicated, shimmering into existence in the left hand. Even with the damaged arm, the Printer power forced it to wield the blade.
"DOUBLE STRIKE!" the teacher commanded.
The mech's thrusters flared, boosting forward. Both swords raised high, glowing with furious energy.
"YAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" All four Riders screamed in unison.
SHHHHRRRRIIIIIIIIIING!!!
The mech cross-slashed Knifehead, both blades tearing deep into its chest. Black ichor exploded across the battlefield, raining like a storm. The Kaiju staggered, screeching in agony, skyscrapers collapsing around it as it flailed.
Airi dove back in at the last second, locking into her pod. "NOTE CANNONS, FULL BLAST!"
The mech's shoulder cannons glowed pink, musical notes swirling as they fired a deafening barrage. The blasts tore through Knifehead's limbs, shattering bone and spraying gore across the city.
But Knifehead was still standing, stumbling, half its torso shredded.
Kenta slammed his fist. "HE JUST WON'T DIE!"
Elyra growled. "…Then let's end it. Boost me."
Haruto caught on, smirking despite the chaos. "Boost her, Kenta!"
The mech's thrusters roared to full power, launching it high into the air. Elyra screamed with wild glee as the mech flipped downward, jets blazing.
"FINAL STRIKE—THRUSTING BREAKER!!!"
The mech drop-kicked Knifehead's skull, the thrusters igniting mid-collision.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The Kaiju's head exploded, shards of bone and fountains of black gore spraying across half the city. The monster's body convulsed, then collapsed with a ground-shaking THUD, leveling three city blocks.
Silence. Smoke. Flames. Sirens.
Inside the cockpit, alarms still blared, systems failing. Their mech stood—but half-destroyed, armor shattered, one arm gone, sparks hissing.
The Chargers breathed hard, soaked in sweat.
"…We did it," Airi whispered, trembling.
Kenta leaned back, blood on his lip from the strain, and laughed breathlessly. "Holy… hell… THAT WAS AWESOME."
Elyra panted, wiping sweat from her brow. "…I swear, if another one shows up, I'm retiring on the spot."
Haruto's grip shook on the controls. "…We're alive. That's enough."
The teacher's voice, low but firm, cut through their exhaustion. "…No. That was only the beginning."
They all froze.
And from the smoldering corpse of Knifehead… the ground began to rumble.
The lab felt heavy with silence after the battle. Everyone was sprawled out on beanbags, chairs, or straight-up lying on the floor, armor unwound, sweat clinging to them. Sparks still flickered from the half-destroyed mech in the hangar, but for now… they were alive.
Kenta's phone buzzed, snapping through the quiet. He answered. "Hello? Yeah, mom… I'm fine. Yeah, I saw it on the news. Don't worry, I wasn't even near—"
Elyra, curled up on the couch with a bottle of water, suddenly leaned over his shoulder. With a mischievous grin, she moaned dramatically into the mic:
"Ohh Kenta~ you're sooo sweet! Wish we could spend more time together~"
Kenta's eyes widened in horror. "Wha—HEY!" He shoved her face away, covering the speaker. "It's NOTHING! Just—friends being dumb!"
On the other end, his mom's voice went suspicious. "…Alright, Kenta. We'll talk later. Stay safe." Click.
The room fell into laughter. Haruto nearly choked on his drink, Airi covered her mouth to hide her giggles, and even the teacher smirked faintly.
Kenta groaned, face red. "I hate ALL of you."
Elyra leaned back smugly, hands behind her head. "What can I say? I'm good at improv."
"More like ruining my life," Kenta muttered, which only made everyone laugh harder.
The teacher finally stood, stretching his back. "Alright. You all need a break. How about a trip to the mall?"
Airi's eyes sparkled instantly. "Shopping?? Yes!"
Haruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… sure, I guess."
Kenta sighed but nodded. "Fine. As long as Elyra behaves."
Elyra gasped dramatically. "Me? I am an angel."
"Yeah, right," Haruto muttered.
At the Mall
The automatic doors slid open, and the five stepped into a bustling shopping mall. Bright lights, chatter, and the smell of food filled the air. It felt worlds away from the chaos of earlier.
"Where first?" Airi asked, tugging Haruto's arm lightly, making him blush red.
"The arcade!" Elyra said immediately. "I want to destroy Kenta in racing games."
Kenta smirked. "You wish you could beat me."
Airi laughed softly, then tugged Haruto again. "Or maybe we should try the fashion store?"
Haruto sputtered. "F-Fashion?? Uh—yeah, if you want…" His ears were burning red.
Elyra narrowed her eyes, smirking. "Oooh, lover boy being dragged around. This'll be fun to watch."
Kenta muttered, "Better him than me."
Arcade Banter
At the arcade, Elyra and Kenta sat side by side in racing pods. Their screens lit up with neon highways.
"You're going down," Elyra said, eyes sharp.
Kenta leaned forward, cracking his knuckles. "Say goodbye to your pride."
The countdown began. 3…2…1…GO!
They sped through the track, slamming into each other, trading insults.
"STOP body-slamming me!"
"It's called strategy!"
"No, it's called cheating!"
Haruto and Airi watched behind them, both laughing. Airi leaned toward Haruto. "They're like siblings, aren't they?"
Haruto chuckled nervously. "Yeah. Though Kenta's the only one suffering."
Elyra suddenly shouted, "YES! First place!" as her car crossed the finish line.
Kenta slammed his hands on the wheel. "Nooo! Rematch!"
"Face it, Kenta. You just got schooled by a girl," Elyra smirked, flicking her hair.
Airi giggled. "Don't worry, Kenta, I'll cheer for you next time."
Kenta sighed. "…Thanks, I guess."
Fashion Store Banter
Later, Airi pulled Haruto into a trendy clothing shop. She held up a stylish jacket against him. "This would look good on you."
Haruto froze, blush spreading to his neck. "M-Me? I don't know…"
"Trust me," she said softly, smiling.
He reluctantly tried it on. When he stepped out of the changing room, Elyra wolf-whistled. "Ooooh, lover boy looking sharp!"
Kenta shook his head. "Man's about to be a model."
Haruto stammered, red as a tomato. "S-Shut up!"
Airi smiled gently, ignoring the teasing. "I think it suits you."
Haruto glanced away, muttering, "…Thanks."
Food Court
The group eventually gathered at the food court, trays piled with snacks—takoyaki, fries, bubble tea.
Elyra immediately stole one of Kenta's fries.
"HEY!" he shouted.
She smirked. "Finders keepers."
"You literally just stole it from my tray!"
"Prove it."
Haruto laughed, shaking his head. "You two never stop."
Airi sipped her drink and smiled warmly at the group. "It's nice… seeing us like this. Normal."
The teacher, sitting with his coffee, nodded. "Enjoy it while you can. We don't know when the next battle will come."
For a moment, the laughter quieted, the weight of his words sinking in. Then Elyra broke the silence with a grin.
"Well, if the world's ending, I'm at least making sure I eat all of Kenta's fries first."
"HEY!!!"
The laughter returned, echoing through the food court, the chaos of earlier forgotten—at least for now.
The sky outside the mall was turning violet, the streetlights flickering awake one by one as the group walked out with their bags. The mood was lighter now, like they were just ordinary teens again.
Elyra stretched her arms above her head, grinning wide. "See ya, loser!" she teased, sticking her tongue out at Kenta as she skipped ahead.
Kenta groaned. "One day, Elyra… one day."
The teacher gave her a flat look. "You're already ten steps ahead of us. Go on. Get going before you start more trouble."
"Fine, fine~" Elyra sang, twirling away into the dark like she owned it.
That left Haruto, Airi, Kenta, and the teacher. The teacher yawned. "Alright, kids. Get home before your parents call the cops. I'll head back to the lab."
"See you tomorrow, sensei," Airi said softly, then turned to Haruto. She leaned in, tiptoeing just enough to kiss him on the cheek.
"G-goodnight, Haruto." She smiled, cheeks slightly pink, and jogged off toward her home.
Haruto froze in place. His eyes wide, his face red, and his knees wobbling. "…did she just…?"
Kenta facepalmed. "Oh my god, dude. Don't pass out in the middle of the street."
"I—my heart—my—" Haruto clutched his chest dramatically.
"Relax, Romeo. It was just a cheek kiss. You act like she proposed."
Haruto groaned, covering his face. "Easy for you to say!"
"Yeah, because I'm not a simp," Kenta said smugly.
Haruto gave him a sidelong look. "…You literally blushed when Elyra teased you earlier."
Kenta froze, mouth opening. "T-that's… different!"
"Uh-huh."
"Shut up."
The two kept bickering as they walked the familiar path home, streetlights washing the sidewalk in a pale glow.
When they finally reached the crossroad where their houses split, Kenta smirked. "Alright, loverboy. Try not to die of happiness before tomorrow."
"Shut it." Haruto shoved him lightly, smiling despite himself. "Goodnight."
"Night."
Back at his quiet, empty house, Haruto slipped inside, still touching the cheek where Airi had kissed him. He shook his head, embarrassed at himself, and muttered, "Get it together, Haruto."
He showered quickly, steam filling the bathroom, before settling onto the couch in sweatpants. The TV flickered on—some variety show with comedians yelling at each other—but his mind wasn't on it. His thoughts kept circling back to Airi's soft smile.
"…I'm doomed." He sighed, grabbing a blanket and sinking into the couch cushions.
Meanwhile, Kenta returned to a much livelier house. His family was gathered on the couch, his sister bouncing with excitement.
"Big bro! You missed the park today, it was so fun!" she pouted, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, yeah. Next time I'll join, I promise."
His mom smiled knowingly. "You and your 'extra classes.' Are they worth missing family day?"
Kenta smirked, flopping onto the couch beside them. "Trust me. More worth it than you think."
His dad handed him popcorn. "Well, sit down. At least join us for TV."
Her mom tease he. "Who was the girl?"
Kenta's face was a bit red. "I swear it was my friends playing pranks"
Kenta grinned and leaned back. For a moment, it really did feel normal.
Airi was curled up on the sofa, sandwiched between her parents as a horror movie played. A jump scare flashed on the screen—she squeaked, grabbing a pillow.
Her mom chuckled. "You wanted horror night, remember?"
Her dad teased, "I thought our daughter was braver than this."
Airi pouted. "I-I am! Just… not at that part." She hugged the pillow tighter, but a small smile lingered on her face. A rare peaceful night.
Back in the lab, Elyra was already out cold, lying on her magnet charging bed. Her visor dimmed faintly, but a small pink hue ran across her cheeks as her systems replayed the earlier memory of Kenta catching her.
Even robots, it seemed, could dream.
At the far end of the lab, the teacher stood in the hangar, sparks flying as small drone robots buzzed around him. He tightened bolts, rewired circuits, and reattached panels to the damaged mech.
"One day at a time," he muttered. "But the war's only just beginning."
The drones beeped in response, like loyal assistants.
The camera (or eye of the scene) slowly pulled back: the mech half-shrouded in shadow, sparks and smoke rising, and the tired man working alone, preparing for whatever came next.