Return to Zero

The peace of Japan is not kept through peaceful dialogue, the work of the proper authorities, or the policies of the government.

It is kept through Direct Attack, a secret organization that keeps the peace of Japan utilizing a common sight amongst the populace: teenage schoolgirls.

Trained in the art of espionage and murder, orphan girls are taken in at a young age to be utilized as secret peace-keeping assassins.

These are known as Lycoris.

Thanks to the work of these schoolgirl-disguised assassins, Japan experienced years of peace and serenity.

However, this would not last.

On a fateful day, a squad of four Lycoris were tasked to eliminate a weapons deal and capture the dealers. It was a simple task.

However, due to the inexperience of the squad leader, Fuji Harukawa, one of the squad members, the young Erika Janome, was captured. In need of help, the young Harukawa went to contact DA headquarters for assistance.

But things went wrong.

The DA headquarters main computer, Radiata, was hacked by the mysterious Walnut resulting in jammed communications.

Not waiting around for something to go wrong, one of the Lycoris, the cold Takina Inoue acted. The Lycoris procured and took control of a heavy artillery machine gun, killing the dealers and saving Erika. While the dealers were killed, the weapons went missing.

While the mission failed, the matter of Takina remained.

Being a Lycoris for as long as she remembered, the girl didn't care for the life of her teammates or life in general. What mattered to her was the mission.

After all, Lycoris were trained to kill.

So, to Takina: why preserve life?

Looking for a pariah for the weapons deal gone wrong and already being despised by the Lycoris for being sociopathic, Takina was reassigned by the head of DA, Commander Kusunoki, to Cafe LycoReco.

To the citizens of Japan, it was an ordinary cafe.

To the Lycoris, it was career purgatory.

But Takina's life would soon take another direction once she arrived at LycoReco.

She met Chisato Nishikigi, an upbeat and energetic young girl, looking to help others with a helping hand and a bright smile.

Despite her unassuming demeanor, Chisato is a Lycoris as well.

The very best.

Known for defeating a group of terrorists ten years ago at the Tokyo Radio Tower with no backup, Chisato is infamous and well-known among her peers.

With eyes that can predict the movements of others from mere muscle twitches and agility as fast as light, Chisato is virtually untouchable and a devastating opponent.

But beyond that, Chisato is also known for her heart.

Or lack thereof.

Chisato grew up with a congenital heart disease that would soon kill her. However, the mysterious Alan Institute provided an artificial heart, given to her by a mysterious benefactor.

In return for this gift, Chisato would use her gifts for the world as a "savior".

The result?

Chisato despised killing and avoided it at all costs. Utilizing armor-piercing rubber bullets along with specialized training, the Lycoris is a pacifist at heart something that strikes as strange to the young Takina.

However, the unexpected happened.

Takina grew a heart.

The former DA Intelligence Worker and current alcoholic, Mizuki Nakahara.

The former DA instructor and Chisato's adoptive father, Mika.

The former hacker, Kurumi, who was the one who hacked the Radiata computer but now stayed at LycoReco for asylum in exchange for protection from a group who wants her dead.

Along with bits of appearances by the mysterious Shinji Yoshimatsu, a former lover of Mika.

And Chisato herself.

Exposure to this misfit band of morons and fools resulted in Takina learning how to be a human being.

For a while, things seemed nice.

But out of the shadows, emerged the terrorist, Majima, wielding guns from the weapons deal Takina's squad failed to stop, with help from the super hacker, Robota, a man with abilities on par with Kurumi but lacking any sense of sanity, humility, or a general sense of decency.

Majima and Chisato fought only for Chisato to realize with horror that the two were similar as they were both saved by the Alan Institute. With the rest of LycoReco's help, Chisato discovered that the Alan Institute's morality was not black and white but blue and orange. Not caring who the individuals were, the Alan Institute saved anyone as long as they had a particular talent. With medical help and assistance, the Alan Institute only asked that the individuals use those talents to the fullest for the world.

Whether it was a benefit to the world, or a detriment was irrelevant.

Unfortunately, for Chisato, the Alan Institute did not approve of Chisato's pacifism as they saved the girl to be a masterful assassin.

Specifically, Shinji Yoshimatsu wanted Chisato to kill as he was the one who provided the heart himself. Whilst seeming a pleasant man to those around him, Shinji is a deplorable man who wishes for Chisato to live her life as a merciless assassin.

Acting to push Chisato to kill, Yoshimatsu sent out the beautiful and mysterious, Himegama, who attacked Chisato and damaged her heart, leaving her two months to live.

Wanting to live out the rest of her life to the fullest, Chisato shut down Café LycoReco to live peacefully with Mika, the rest of the staff departing for their own lives. Much to Takina's dismay, Chisato gently pushed her towards pushing her career track back to DA.

With Café LycoReco gone and her time falling short, Chisato and Mika lived out in peace and solitude.

For about a couple hours.

Majima soon acted as he kidnapped Shinji Yoshimatsu and exposed the existence of DA to the world. Spreading the stolen weapons all around Japan, Majima implored the society of Japan to take back their freedom and kill the Lycoris.

In his eyes, it was all for the sake of balance.

If DA is the powerful arbiter of order.

He would balance things out and be the arbiter of chaos.

Chisato and Mika came out of retirement as they pursued Majima. However, in saving Yoshimatsu with help from Takina, who once again left her career track in DA, Chisato learned the truth about Yoshimatsu.

Yoshimatsu reveals that he was the one responsible for trying to kill Kurumi, the one who provided the stolen weapons to Majima, and the one who ordered Himegama to damage Chisato's heart. Revealing that he has a new artificial heart, albeit surgically implanted in his chest, Yoshimatsu attempted to push Chisato to kill him and take back her life by tearing out his artificial heart.

Chisato refused as she left Yoshimatsu, stopping Takina from killing the man and tearing out the heart completely.

As that incident ended, the matter of Majima still needed to be taken care of.

Unsurprisingly, things got worse.

With the Lycoris assassins exposed, the counter-Lycoris military force known as LilyBell was sent in to exterminate all Lycoris without mercy. But with help from Kurumi and Mizuki, deciding to come back and help their friends, they were able to fabricate a story about Majima, the Lycoris, and the guns around Japan.

The Lycoris were spared as their secret was kept safe.

Japan once again fell into peaceful bliss.

But there was still one thing that needed to be taken care of.

Engaging on the top of the Enkuboku Tower, Chisato and Majima fought one last battle.

Powerful sight versus Powerful hearing.

Order versus Chaos.

Lycoris versus Terrorist.

With help from Takina, Chisato managed to send the man plummeting from the top of the Tower, seemingly incapacitating, but not killing, him for the time being.

Unbeknownst to Chisato, Mika entered the fray as well, incapacitating Hinegama and killing Yoshimatsu, taking out his heart and supplying it to Chisato, giving his daughter a new chance in life.

With their beloved Chisato saved and deciding to wait out the political burning situation of Japan, the staff of LycoReco decided to take a break in the United States, enjoying a well-earned break.

Especially Takina and Chisato, who took special comfort in each other's company.

Despite all of this….

Majima is still out there; alive and well….

The guns he spread are still out there resulting in an increased crime rate….

And something even bigger looms over the horizon….

Despite this….

Hope remains.

A young Lycoris participates in her day-to-day life.

Unaware of her part in a greater battle to come.

KAMEN RIDER: LYCORIS