CHAPTER 3:

Park:

It had been half an hour since Izu ran off with Yua and Horobi going after her. Aruto was sitting alone whilst holding the Raising Hopper Progrise Key. He was thinking about all the times he and Izu had spent together and how things had changed for them until he placed his left hand on his chest.

"Something on your mind, Aruto Hiden?" Aruto looked up to see Jin, he looked concerned as he sat down next to him. "Thinking about Izu?" Jin asked and Aruto nodded.

"Jin, could you tell me why Izu came to see you and Horobi?" Aruto asked as he looked at him. Jin looked at the sky and smiled. "It could help me understand why she ran off." Aruto explained as Jin looked at Aruto then nodded.

"Izu wanted to know if Humagears can feel emotions? Like happiness, sadness, anger and others." Jin explained and Aruto nodded. "There's more. During your solo fight with Azu, Izu said she wanted to be with you but she couldn't." Jin told him which made Aruto look down at the ground.

"I want to help Izu but I don't know how." Aruto confessed as he got up then looked at Jin. "See you later, Jin." Aruto then walked away, leaving Jin alone as he wanted to help too.

Pier:

Meanwhile, Horobi and Yua were still following Izu but they had somehow lost her. The pair stopped and looked around until Horobi pointed over to a bench, Yua and Horobi then ran over to see that it was Izu sitting on the bench.

"Izu." Horobi spoke as Yua sat next to her. Izu looked at Yua then looked up at Horobi, who was standing behind Yua. "Aruto Hiden is concerned about you. Why did you leave?" Horobi asked as Yua moved closer to Izu then held her hand.

"We want to help you. Can you tell us?" Yua asked as Izu looked at the pair again as her left hand moved up and placed it on her Humagear Module. "Does this have to do with what you said? That you wanted to be with Aruto but you couldn't?" Yua asked which made Izu pull her hand away from Yua and look away.

"I understand why you asked me and Jin about Humagears developing Human emotions." Horobi spoke, which made both Yua and Izu look at him. "You're the Humagear who has developed Human emotions. Your Singularity is more advanced than any Humagear I've seen or heard about." Horobi spoke as he walked towards Izu then knelt down.

"After I found the Zero Two Driver and before I found Aruto, a simulation activated where I met the previous Izu. She fused with me; giving me all the old memories. When it was over, I started to cry as I wanted to tell Aruto something important but I knew I couldn't." Izu explained as she placed her hands over her chest.

"You love him, don't you?" Yua asked as Izu looked at her. "When you feel like you can't do anything without that one person who is always there for you, supports you in every way, having someone's best interest and wellbeing as a priority in your life." Yua explained which made Izu look down as her hands held her chest.

"I love Aruto?" Izu asked as she was trying to process this and compare it to how she had acting around Aruto lately.

"Love can't be processed, Izu." Yua told her, which made Izu look at her confused. "Love is one of those things that can't be understood, no matter how hard you try." Yua explained and Izu nodded. "Horobi, we'll take her back to AIMS. Let's go." Yua told him and Horobi nodded as the pair escorted the emotionally confused Izu back to AIMS.

Zaia Enterpraise:

In his new office, Gai Amatsu was working on paperwork as he was signing a deal for both Zia Enterpraise and Hiden Intelligence to work together on projects. He was about to close the file the paperwork was in when his Humagear Secretary, Rin, walked in.

"President Gai, you have a visitor," Rin spoke as Gai looked just as he closed the file. "It's Hiden Intelligence president, Aruto Hiden." Rin announced and Gai stood up. Rin left the office just as Aruto walked in.

"What brings you to my office, Aruto? Any progress with Izu?" Gai asked as the pair shook hands then sat down. Aruto shook his head then he looked down at his hands.

"I want to help Izu but what she said is stuck in my head," Aruto told him as he looked at Gai. "She wants to be with me but she can't be? What does that mean?" Aruto asked then Gai looked at his desk and at the Thouser Driver.

"Fight me." Gai suggested which surprised Aruto. "When I'm stuck on a problem, I find doing something else helpful. Maybe sparring could help you in finding a solution." Gai suggested as he stood up and picked up the Thouser Driver. Aruto thought about Gai's idea and nodded as he took out the Zero-One Driver.

"Let's do it then. Thank you, Gai." Aruto thanked and Gai nodded. "You decide where we spar." Aruto told him as the pair left the office but stopped next to Rin.

"Rin, any meetings I have today; move them for tomorrow." Gai instructed and Rin nodded as Gai and Aruto left ZAIA Enterpraise.

AIMS HQ:

Isawa was in the shooting range with his Shotriser, he wanted something to do as he too was affected by Aruto and Izu's problems; he wanted to help them after what they did for him. Moments later, Naki and Jin walked in and while Jin leant against a table and watched, Naki picked up a handgun and loaded it then joined in target practice.

"Does this help you think, Isawa Fuwa?" Naki asked as they fired the gun a few times. Isawa smirked as he fired a few more blasts then placed the Shotriser on the bench.

"Sometimes." Isawa told them as Naki removed the magazine and placed the gun down. "What brings you two here?" Isawa asked as he picked up his Shotriser and the trio left the shooting range.

"Horobi contacted us, told us to meet here; he and Valkyrie are bringing Izu here." Jin explained and Isawa nodded. They were heading to the conference room to meet up with Yua, Horobi and Izu when they heard running towards them.

"Missing someone?" The trio looked behind to see the fourth member of MetsubouJinrai now standing behind them: Ikazuchi. "Had to finish some work and I'm caught up." Ikazuchi explained as he pointed at his Humagear Module. The four made their way to the conference room as they were discussing ways to help both Aruto and Izu.

Forest:

"Perfect Rise! When the five horns cross, the golden soldier Thouser is born. Progrise! Metalrise! Secret material! Hiden Metal! Metal Cluster Hopper!" The transformation jingles echoed as Thouser and Zero-One started fighting to help Aruto focus on a solution. Gai went to strike with the Thousand Jacker as Aruto blocked with the Progrise Hopper Blade, followed by a slash with the Attache Calibur. Gai watched as Aruto went to slash, he was still fighting like he was distracted. Gai ran towards him then slashed Aruto several times, Aruto was too slow to block the six slashes as he fell and rolled across the ground.

"Why do you fight?" Gai asked, which caused Aruto to look up in confusion. "Everytime I went to target Izu, you would fight like hell to beat me. You did the same for every Humagear but your attacks were far stronger; like they were when you later became Ark One." Gai told him as Aruto slowly got back up. "Look what you did after Izu's first death, you became what you wanted to prevent happening; you became Ark. No other Humagear destruction made you become evil, except one." Aruto was now standing as he looked at the Progrise Hopper Blade, he knew what Gai and the others were trying to do.

"NO! IT CAN'T HAPPEN!" Aruto screamed as he looked up in time for Gai to kick him back. Aruto flew back and crashed into a tree as Gai walked towards him.

"You're Aruto Hiden; Kamen Rider Zero-One. The man you can do anything happen!" Gai told him as he pulled Aruto up onto his feet. "You need to be honest with yourself. You helped others to be honest, like me." Gai told him as he stepped back and looked at Aruto, who was staring at the ground. After a few moments, Aruto looked up at Gai and nodded at him.

"Thank you, Gai." Aruto thanked and Gai nodded. "Now, shall we spar more? Nothing wrong with keeping in shape." Aruto chuckled and Gai nodded as they pulled their swords and continued their spar.

AIMS HQ:

After Izu had been brought to AIMS, Yua and Isawa walked off to talk about the situation while Izu was kept company by the four members of MetsubouJinrai. Ikazuchi and Naki were checking out AIMS' gear while Jin and Horobi were sitting near Izu.

"Horobi, can we talk privately?" Jin requested and Horobi nodded. "Ikazuchi, Naki; can you keep company for a bit?" Jin asked and the pair nodded then they walked over, just Jin and Horobi walked away.

"What is it, Jin?" Horobi asked as he wanted to know what Jin wanted to ask. Jin looked over at Izu, who was now talking to Naki and Ikazuchi. Horobi then looked over at her then the pair looked at each other. "You have an idea, don't you?" Horobi asked and Jin nodded. To make sure Izu didn't hear, Jin leant forward and whispered the idea to Horobi.

"What do you think?" Jin asked as they looked over at Izu, she was looking at Naki's Forceriser as she looked interested in its design and functionality.

"It could work. Let's talk to Isawa Fuwa and Yua Yaiba about this." Horobi told him and Jin nodded. While Jin walked over to Izu and the others to talk, Horobi made his way over to Isawa and Yua to tell them Jin's idea.

That's the end of chapter 3. What did you think? How do you think Aruto and Izu will react when they hear each other's confessions? What's the idea that Jin had?