Walking toward the sidewalk on my way to the shrine, I exhaled into the cold air. The temperature had dipped below zero.
It was a very icy welcome to the first day of the year in my town.
New year, new me… hopefully.
Isadora decided to stay behind at my place. She was more interested in farming away in that new game I'd bought during a store discount, with zero desire to pray for anything.
I didn't stop her.
Walking alone always felt different, especially with music in my ears. The world seemed quieter, more distant, as if it were deliberately giving me space to think.
I simply hummed to myself, unburdened by any worry.
Lost in thought, I came to a stop as a car passed by. Right then, my phone rang.
Curious, I opened my LINE.
Dad: [Happy New Year!]
*[Image.jpeg]
Dad: [Late greeting cause the signal sucks here]
Seeing his message made me snort in amusement. In the photo, he was grinning, a tent set up behind him, a can of beer in his hand.
Hideo: [Happy New Year!]
Hideo: [Also, you've gotta calm down with the booze, old man]
Dad: [Just let me be, kid]
I chuckled to myself.
Never change, old man. Never change.
After chatting with my dad for a bit longer, I slipped my phone away as soon as the torii gate came into view. The shrine grounds were already alive with people. Elderly couples walking side by side, families herding excited children, lovers lingering just a little closer than necessary. Food stalls lined the paths, their aromas mingling in the cold air.
Near the steps, shrine maidens stood behind their counters, offering charms and small keepsakes crafted by those who tended the shrine. Paper lanterns glowed softly overhead, their warm light wrapping the place in a festive haze. The spirit of the New Year was already in full bloom.
Before entering, I bowed lightly toward the torii gate and continued on. At the water pavilion, I paused to rinse myself, letting the chill bite of the water clear my thoughts before stepping deeper into the shrine.
I joined the line and waited patiently as the woman ahead of me finished her prayer.
When it was my turn, I stepped forward and rummaged through my pocket, taking out a single yen coin before tossing it into the offering box.
I bowed, clapped my hands twice, and murmured my prayer. Once finished, I drifted toward a nearby stall.
"Oh, onii-san! Would you like some dango? They're really good!"
I glanced at the neatly arranged dango on display.
Might as well grab some before I leave.
"Give me two."
"You got it."
He reached for two from the rack, and I assumed he was about to hand them over, but he paused.
"Wait a second," the owner said. He picked up a pair of scissors and snipped off the very bottom of each dango.
Curious, I tilted my head. "Why'd you do that?"
"Oh, it's to leave bad luck behind and not carry it into the coming year," he said with a grin, finally handing me the dango. "Enjoy!"
I just nodded.
"I will." I returned his smile and walked over to a nearby bench.
Sitting down, I took a bite.
Damn. The seller wasn't lying.
The umami flavor hit my tongue first, followed by a faint smokiness, the soft texture yielding almost immediately. The sauce only made it better, rich and perfectly balanced.
I ate in peace as the murmur of the crowd washed over me, the noise fading into the background. Before I realized it, the skewers were empty.
"Maybe I'll just sit here for a bit."
I didn't have anything waiting for me back home anyway. No rush.
Suddenly, something brushed against my foot.
I looked down to find a strangely familiar orange cat staring up at me.
"Meow, meow," it meowed, like it was greeting an old acquaintance.
I blinked when I noticed the name Reo engraved on its collar.
"You're even here?"
How did this cat end up here?
"Meow."
As if in agreement, the cat dipped its head, then turned and padded away, leaping effortlessly onto a nearby tree and disappearing among the branches.
...
...
Alright. That was… kind of random.
I let out a small breath and stood up.
I'd better just head home, I guess. Best to leave before anything else weird decides to happen.
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Yamashiro Ren POV
Fireworks bloomed across the sky as I hovered above the palace rooftop, where the International Assembly was currently being held here in the United Kingdom.
"Happy New Year~" I chuckled, lifting a glass in a quiet toast to myself.
The timing of this meeting had been painfully abrupt, leaving me no choice but to serve as the personal bodyguard for the assembled representatives of the world gathered here today.
"Still," I muttered, "I'd rather be spending my time with Kaname and Miyabi right now."
I found myself aching for their attention… and their cuddles. Thankfully, a corgi trotting happily around the palace grounds helped take the edge off that longing, if only a little.
Swirling the liquid in my glass, I tilted my head back to study the night sky.
Days had grown stale.
Both in Mato and on Earth alike.
Spending time with Bell remained one of my favorite pastimes, right alongside relaxing with Mira and losing hours together watching animal videos.
Despite that, boredom is starting to cling to me like a second skin.
As the current Supreme Commander, my position and my relationship with the Ministry was rock solid.
I would be staying in this seat for a long, definite time; most of the chiefs consistently voted for me during elections after all.
Just as expected of me.
No one within the Defense Force could defeat me in battle, and the Shuuki themselves had become little more than a joke.
Then, without warning, something interesting surfaced.
It came completely out of nowhere.
"Kamen Rider," I murmured, lifting my glass for another sip. "A man who managed to defeat a Unique Shuuki."
An unknown individual.
Someone wielding power that might lie completely outside our current understanding.
A man slaying a Shuuki.
That alone was unprecedented. No one had ever reached such a level of strength merely by wearing a suit.
And especially not a man.
In this world, men had been, for lack of a better term, largely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
Whether in military affairs or politics.
The best late christmas gift practically knocked on my door when Kyouka informed me that her unit had spotted the Kamen Rider in Mato.
Even I was surprised when I heard the report.
The more I learned about him, the stronger my urge grew—to find him, confront him, and teach him exactly who stood at the top of Mato.
The smile that spread across my face that day was more than pleased.
Too bad that, right after the Assembly concluded, the Prime Minister called for me immediately.
It also cost me my planned session with Bell as well.
"Bad boys need to be punished~~"
Let the chase begin, Mr. Kamen Rider.
You'd better not disappoint me after all the spectacle you caused.
Appearing out of nowhere, stirring things up as if Japan and Mato were your personal stage.
As a reward, I'll give you the best and worst time of your life.
Consider it an honor that you've earned my interest.
Why, you ask?
"Because I am Yamashiro Ren."