Chapter 04: I Am Here
I did not go to school yesterday. Who can blame me? I was stared down by one of the most powerful Kamen Riders, after all. It should be natural for me to get a fever the next day.
Don't get me started on Kadoya-san. He has been laughing at my arse since then. I hope Hikari-san comes and takes him back.
"Takahashi-san, can you tell me why you left your career choice empty?" Haruka-sensei called me to the staff room this evening.
"I was being honest, Haruka-sensei," I replied resignedly. I put nothing in my future career choice, so I am getting scolded by my teacher.
"Don't you want to continue being an author? I believe you'll do well," she is very good at her job for someone who doesn't want to be a teacher. Her concern for me... it was real. Weird.
"I don't think I can keep working as one, Haruka-sensei. I am at a loss for what to do after finishing this book," I am not good enough to continue my journey as an author. I am not like Kamiya Touma. I cannot do both fighting and writing at the same time.
"This might take longer than I expected," Haruka-sensei sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please follow me, Takahashi-san. I have a prior appointment with Kisaragi-san."
Ah... Today is the day Haruka-sensei will become friends with Gentaro-san. Maybe I should follow her?
"You are finally here, Haruka-sensei!" Gentarou's voice boomed throughout the classroom. "Eh, Kousuke! What are you doing here?!"
"I was in the middle of career counseling with Haruka-sensei before she told me she had a prior appointment with you, Gentarou-san," I smiled. Haruka-sensei tried to escape like she had not seen a man wearing a strange white suit sitting like a delinquent. But I was blocking her way, so she failed to escape, unfortunately.
"Get out of here, Kousuke! It's dangerous here!" Gentarou shielded me from Haruka-sensei, who is confused about why she is being treated like a criminal.
"As expected of a Kamen Rider," I muttered. I don't know what emotions I am currently feeling right now. This person... this Kamen Rider, the first thing that came into his mind is to protect the innocent civilian, aka, me.
"As expected of Gentarou," was what I used to say while watching the series. But now that I'm experiencing it firsthand, it feels different. To think that he would disregard himself to protect his friends, even if they don't fully treat him as one.
There's too much going on in my mind right now. "Please sit down and talk it out, you two. I will be leaving for a while," I said, then left the two in the classroom.
Now, I'm behind the chemistry class building, contemplating my future. My future looks bleak. I might die at the hands of monsters one day. I just don't know when or during which time period. So, is it wrong for me to leave the future career field blank? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.
Will there be people who will feel sad for me if I die? I don't know. Gentarou? Well, he might. Is it okay for me to open my heart and be friends with people from different time periods? I don't know.
*Cling* *Cling*
I heard the sound of chains approaching. I knew what this sound meant in this school. In front of me stood the Libra Zodiarts.
"I am very sorry, Mister Monster. I am currently having a mental crisis, so I apologize in advance for not welcoming you with a heartfelt scream," I started the conversation.
There was a brief silence between us before I heard Libra's voice. "What are you having trouble with?" That... that is not the question I expected.
"I don't know what to do in the future," I sighed tiredly. "I don't think I am good enough to continue my current profession."
"I have read your books," Libra replied. Wow... the principal had read my books? Well, according to my memory, I have been writing books nonstop. "Life has to have balance, and that's why I am here," he tapped the bottom of his staff to the ground.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
"Wish upon a star," he said, holding out something in his hand. I thought he was giving me a Zodiarts Switch.
Looking at the object in his hand, it wasn't what I was thinking. It was an... envelope?
Taking the envelope, I asked, "This is?"
"This school year is ending in a month. If you have nothing to do after that, take a good rest during the break. Achieving balance is the road to discovering oneself," the envelope in my hand was neither too thick nor too thin.
Is he seriously giving me advice? I thought he was going to give me the Zodiarts Switch.
"Thank you... I guess?" When I turned my gaze toward Libra, he had disappeared amid the blue dust.
The envelope contained a coupon for a two-week stay in a hotel from Matsumoto City and fifteen 10,000 Yen notes. Wow… that's a lot. But why did he give it to me? Was it just because I haven't achieved balance? Or was he simply doing what a headmaster should do?
I guess I'll never know what another person is thinking. But… thank you, principal, for giving me advice. Thank you for giving me shit tons of money.
I shouldn't dwell on something I couldn't control right now. I'll have to strive harder to overcome whatever challenges fate throws at me. I'm looking at you, Sisters of Fate from Gotchard.
"Haruka-sensei," I walked beside my teacher.
"Ah!" I think I startled her. Hmm? Ah… she was too absorbed in Fourze's fight against the Pegasus Zodiarts.
"Where were you?! Do you know how much I worried because you disappeared suddenly?" I somehow felt warm because of her concern. No… even Gentarou was concerned about me back in the classroom.
Yeah… I don't have to worry about the future. There are people who care about me here. I am currently living in the moment. People who care about me are here. I am here.
Unknowingly, a smile spread across my face. For a moment, I felt happy and content with my life.
3rd POV
Looking at the sight of Takahashi Kousuke's back going further, Hayami Kouhei smirked. He had noticed one of his prized students was feeling down in the past few days. So, it was his job to help him find balance.
With approval from the Chairman, Libra Zodiarts had decided to give the boy a little push to lighten his burden. He didn't care much about the boy's problems, but he couldn't let the boy stop writing his novels.
Think how much a famous author attending their school will bring in more students. More students mean more chances to discover the Horoscopes to join their ranks.
"Life of an Exiled Vampire Queen, huh?" Hayami reached into the bag he was carrying and pulled out a book Takahashi Kousuke wrote. It was released a few months ago, so it is fairly new.
Hayami hasn't read it yet, so he can't tell whether it is good or bad. But his all-time favorite of Takahashi's books is 'Monsters in Our Reflections.' The story has all the balance it needs.
"If I remember correctly, his next work should be 'Observing Various Worlds Through the Lens,' right? I hope he doesn't stop writing. Well, who am I kidding? He is my prized student, after all."
This time for sure, Hayami will find another Horoscope, and he is betting all on Takahashi Kousuke. Takahashi will be the one to join their ranks, and he'll make sure of it.
Author's Note:
Man, Libra is going to balance Takahashi, eh? Good luck with that. Don't worry, Takahashi's mental crisis will end in five chapters or so.
FYI, a certain Kamen Rider MC attended Elementary School in Matsumoto city. Will they meet? I honestly don't know.
I'll be honest here. I am having fun writing Kousuke and his interactions with the Fourze cast, mainly Haruka-sensei. She's nice, and I wish I had a teacher like her.
Some questions to answer here.
Q1. Instead of Calibur, why not Kamen Rider Evol?
Ans: Evol is too strong for Fourze.
Q2. Can he use belts from the local Kamen Riders?
Ans: Yes! The Starter Pack is not the only way for him to acquire powers!
That will be all. See you in the next chapter.
