TORIISAKA COMMERCIAL DISTRICT – THAT SAME MORNING.
"We have the kind of donuts to make all your daring dreams come true!" The Donut Shop owner said, displaying on their rack the wide array of sweets. There were pink sparkly treats, cream-filled delights, fruity and joyous spheres, rich and tender baked snacks. An assortment of the world's love for sugar, all bundled together and at the touch of your fingers, if you had the money. "Make a selection from one of these." They stated, gesturing once more with a huge grin.
"Or, you could try our special!" Said the other attendant, ushering them over towards the sign. Today's theme was, 'Tropical Tangerine.'
"So many to choose from. Argh, is it possible to buy them all?!" Gentarou Kisaragi asked, making a mess of his shiny pompadour.
"Sure, coming right u–" Time was frozen. If only for a second, you swore there might be a Worm nearby. "All of them?!" The Owner nearly had a heart attack.
"Yep! That's what I want." Gentarou stated proudly, fists on his hips. "You put so much love in each of them. To have one doesn't feel like enough, you know? They say a buddy's work should be appreciated." Holding his school bag over his head, Gentarou cast his arms wide into the air. "Every last bit, so bring it on!"
"Is all that sugar really good for you?" Haruto, who was standing in line behind him, couldn't help but to interject with a sly comment. "Besides, do you have enough for their whole catalog?"
"N-not exactly," Gentarou admitted, scratching the back of his head. Seems he got a little too caught up in the moment with such a grand gesture. "Still, I don't want my friends' efforts to go to waste."
"Friends?" The Attendant asked.
"You heard me right!" Gentarou spun on his heel, striking his index finger down the line, headed straight towards their face; he only stopped inches before it booped their noise. "The name's Kisaragi, Gentarou, and I'm the man who's set out to make the whole universe my friend!" Backing off, he threw an arm around the magician's shoulder. "Haruto here told me he stops by pretty often, and that's a special patronage bond. A friend of a friend is also my friend!"
"What about someone's enemies?" Haruto asked, joking around. While normally on the reserved side, he found himself feeling livelier and more cheery when Gentarou was in his presence. Hey, he couldn't help it – the guy was absolutely radiant, like a special kind of magnet that pulled in all the negative energy and shot you back out feeling as chipper as could be.
"You got me there." Gentarou said, crossing his arms. What a tricky question, he fought for unity, but also he couldn't let someone stand in the way of that either. "There, I have my final answer. Regardless of who they are, I'll show them the power of our connections. If they stand against that, then I have to do my best to put up a good fight for what I believe in, because I know they're fighting for something big too!"
"Didn't really expect such a serious answer," Haruto chuckled. "Know what you want yet?"
"Nah, I still can't decide." Gentarou sighed. "If the gang were here, I'd have an easier time figuring it out. Daimonji would want something packed with power, Miu the pearliest of the bunch, JK would want something really exciting – not pretty looking like what Miu would get, but definitely out there. Tomoko, the darkest of the dark. Kengo, well, he's been a fan of those types of donuts named after a city… Boston Cream? Yuki would want the closest thing she can get to seeming like space, and Ryusei. Well, he would take–"
"Plain sugar." Haruto said, ordering before him. Much to the dismay of the shop owners, they reached into the back and plucked the dessert out from the shelves. There were always extras since their favourite and least favourite customer was particular in his lack of adventure.
"Yeah, actually that's what Ryusei-kun would go for!" Gentarou said with a cheery smile.
"Haru-kun, don't you ever get tired of the same old thing?" The Donut Shop Owner asked. "Be more considerate of others here, like your friend. He thinks of their tastes, and takes a chance."
"No need to change what I like." Haruto smiled, biting into his donut after handing over the payment. Truth was, he was a pretty simple guy. When it came to tastes, if something worked, then it never seemed to lose its touch for Haruto. With sports, he never pondered on branching out to baseball, or badminton. Soccer was too much fun, and he didn't wear yellow because red and black worked so well already.
"Well said! Everyone's got their preferences." Gentarou cheered him on. "Say, since you recommended this place, I'll give your favourite a shot. One plain sugar, please!"
"Ah, man." Gentarou sighed, digging into the donut. "Entrance exams are coming up soon."
"Getting anxious?" Haruto asked, scarfing down the plain sugar with delight. It was cold out, and on a Sunday he figured that someone like him would be busy hanging out with all those friends he never fails to mention, but to his surprise, Gentarou accepted with glee. As a matter of fact, he seemed a bit too eager.
"Of course." The good-hearted delinquent said, shaking his head. "Not about the exam itself, but where I'm going to go. There's a lot to choose from, and none really lead to a place that calls to me."
"For a guy like you, I figured there would be a lot that would." Haruto raised an eyebrow. Suppose hanging out was his way of connecting with other Riders, the magician was kind of a loner on that front. Prior to meeting, Haruto had no idea what the title 'Kamen Rider' referred to, only to find out that there were dozens of them throughout the world. One day, Gentarou caught him up to speed on all that he knew. A kind hearted homeless man who used medals of desire to transform, a pair of detectives who protected the very nature of the Earth in order to uncover the world's greatest mysteries, an archaeologist he once met that had a knack for giving a 'Thumbs-up', and with more energy than Gentarou. Funny, he should ask Nitoh sometime if he knew him.
"For someone like me, it sounds obvious, right?" Gentarou laughed, though not finding that the joke was more so on him than anything. "My friends have already decided and started filling out forms. Some of them have even written back already, so I'm pretty behind."
"Sounds like parting ways with your friends is the issue." Haruto replied, kicking back in his chair. It's a good thing it wasn't snowing, because amidst the frigid wind, he liked to get outside.
"Can't say I won't miss 'em." Gentarou said, letting out another exasperated sigh. He glanced off towards the park, briefly licking the rest of the sugar coating from his lip. "Actually, as the days roll by, I'm having a harder time saying goodbye to my youth. Amanogawa High is a lot of things, but it means a lot to me, and so do the people there."
"Having hope in those bonds can make a difference in their fate." Haruto said, shooting him a sincere, understanding smile. One that wanted to brighten up his day, as Gentarou did to others.
"I'm certain we'll meet again." He stated, sounding sure in his declaration. "We're connected on a whole other level, man. No matter the distance, each of us are inseparable. It's more so that college is the next step – it's the deciding factor to your future, and I haven't got a clue what that means for me!"
"Things can change." Haruto shrugged. "Take it from me."
"Did you ever look back?" Gentarou asked.
Just as he was about to answer, one that even he hadn't given much thought to, a familiar face arrived on the scene. It was Mayu, who was carrying a purple suitcase. Neatly packed inside were an assortment of things. Clothes, hygiene accessories, all of her magical tools. Slung on her back in a case meant for an instrument was her broom, to which she had given the name 'Perseus.'
"You don't make it easy to find you." The young girl said, seemingly unaffected by the baggage she was carrying.
"A magician never reveals his secrets." Haruto smirked. How many months had passed since their first meeting? Two weeks ago, he was halfway convinced that she had vanished off to another world. Their shared 'mentor' didn't exactly take kindly to leaving business cards. Mayu was aptly dressed for the occasion, sporting a light blue puffer coat, a pink turtleneck, and a matching wooly hat that covered the origin of her twin-tails.
Yet, she sneezed and sniffled like a kitty. Suddenly, Gentarou arose from his chair, thrilled to be a part of the conversation – even if he hadn't been invited.
"O-oh, Haruto, man!" He enthusiastically said, hopping like a wild dog. All he needed now was a tail. "Who's this now? Here I figured you were the lone wolf kind of guy. Introduce me to your buddy!"
"Buddy?" Both of them asked, glancing at the other for brief moments before turning away.
"Um, no…" Mayu said, nervously cracking a smile. While the suitcase rested adjacent to her side, buried in the heap of snow that had covered Toriisaka Park's once emerald layers, she held her hands down in front of her waist and twisted a heel. Being a wizard meant a confident boost, but it wasn't a fixer upper for one's shyness. "A-actually, we're not really, um… It's more so–"
"Mayu-chan's a Kamen Rider." Haruto said, coming out and saying it. He sipped on his tea; complimentary of the donuts and a showing of his continued patronage.
"Y-You can't just blurt that out!" She shouted, instinctively bundling up – like a white-footed mouse burrowing itself deep in snow. Aside from Haruto and his crew, no one else knew that she was a rider. There were enough rumors going around school, and she didn't need to set her reputation lower – or rather, bring others down with her, that was more so the worry. Catching stray glances from people who knew neither her story, nor wanted to know the truth as lies packed together and stretched far beyond the school grounds… It was bad enough that Mayu had to hear it, but to bring others with her? If people knew that she was some sort of masked magician, she doubted the rumors of being a witch climbing back up from a well of tragedy would be put to rest. No, it might worsen since her presence as a rider always meant danger.
"No need to look so glum!" Gentarou said with a smirk that shined as bright as the sun. Approaching the young girl, he figured a bit of distance was the source of the awkwardness here. Well, if Gentarou is one thing, he's someone who knows the value of wiping off those little bits of unease when it comes to making friends. As earnest, and as sincere as he can be, he spoke with a strong voice and grand gestures. "Being a Kamen Rider isn't something everyone's so eager to share. Believe me, I have a friend who for a while felt the same way, but don't worry! You and Haruto here don't need to keep the secret." Reaching into his backpack, he whipped out a device imbued with cosmic energy. "We've just met, Mayu-chan, but I've already decided on this. We're going to be friends, so let me show why you don't need to hide!"
THREE…
Mayu, puzzled, tilted her head and held on tightly to the nylon strap hanging over her shoulder.
TWO…
Haruto, enjoying the show, continued to eat his donut. This might be the first time he actually finishes it.
ONE!
Gentarou Kisaragi, as firm as he can be, shot her a glare of impeccable resolve.
"Transform!"
Two navy blue, halo rings formed over the delinquent, enveloping him in a radiant, multi-coloured light of pure spatial matter. Collecting over his figure, it unleashed an idealists' final gift to humanity – a tool that captures the entire essence of our existence in the universe: unity. This was Kamen Rider: Fourze!
"It's space time!" Said the mystical astronaut, bundling his arms together as he bent over, only to release his cheerful energy as a voice that cast across the cosmos. Echoes of his purity crossed over mountain ranges. "See, now that we've got out of the way, there's no need to fear, Mayu-chan. You and I share something in common, so it's not like you're stepping into the complete unknown!" He held out his hand. "So, what do you say, Kamen Rider…?" As a matter of fact, he didn't know what she called herself.
"Mage." Mayu answered, simply. "Kamen Rider: Mage," For a moment, she returned the gesture with a smile, but the girl couldn't find it in herself to make a new friend. Mayu barely had the heart to hold onto those she had, and even those felt like they were fading away recently. Someone else would just make her quest more difficult. "Sorry," She muttered. "This isn't for me."
Detransforming, Gentarou held no such qualms. "No need to rush." He said, holding his hands on his hips. "Just know that when you're with me, there won't have to be a secret of who you really are. Oh, speaking of which…" He paused, glancing at the huge case slung over her back. There was a logo inscribed in bold, white characters. "You're a student from Toriisaka High?" As it turns out, Perseus was quite the haul, and she couldn't just whisk it into thin air if she were miles away from where she last left it – teleportation magic relies on some semblance of closed distance – and so, Mayu simply borrowed a case from the music club. It took some convincing, especially without your 'instrument' in hand, and more so since you weren't in the club to begin with, but there were always spare cases since students never liked the hassle of having to maintain them among the instruments, and some available spots were open to borrow.
"Oh, I'm… A second year." Her eyes widened. "Wait, are you also from Toriisaka?"
"Nah, but our schools have competed in basketball. Yours was pretty tough, actually. Kisaragi, Gentarou. I'm the one who is going to befriend everyone at Amanogawa High!" He said, introducing himself with a bump to his chest, which then extended outwards as a finger inches from colliding with her nose – which then prompted her to step back even further.
"Say, I'm not sure if you have heard, but Amanogawa High has a club for people like us." Gentarou said, pocketing his hands. "Haruto isn't too keen on joining, but I figure that there's a spot for you. We don't have to be friends, although I think if you're ever looking for a place to call home, then the Kamen Rider: Club is open to you, and anyone else."
Mayu laughed, which startled Haruto. Were the people at Amanogawa High so open? She has heard in the past that there were a few goofballs and weirdos, but to host a home for people carrying the same burdens as she did? Well, could such a place truly exist? "I don't think students from other schools can sign up for your kind of club."
"Sure you can! Actually, my buddy, Ryusei, he–" Gentarou checked his watch. Crap, lunchtime was going to end soon! "Uh-oh, not good!" He scratched the back of his head, displaying a set of gritted teeth as his brows reached for the stars. "One more late incident, and I'm back in corrective lessons…" Quickly, he headed off towards the bike. "Haruto!" He shouted. "Thanks for lunch, oh, and Mayu-chan!" Gentarou raised his voice. "Give it some thought. Either way, I'm glad we met!"
Then, just like that, he skipped off.
"Pretty wild guy, huh?" Haruto asked, now standing beside her with arms crossed.
"Are all Kamen Riders like this?" Mayu asked, unsure what to make of this new confidant.
"In their own ways, but he's a pretty good guy, Gentarou is." As he watched the boy zoom off down the road, Haruto couldn't help but to smile. There was just something about that earnesty you couldn't shake off. Try as you might, it was impossible. Checking her flip phone, Mayu turned over her shoulder, facing the nearby entrance to the train station.
"We'll be late as well. Let's go."
TORIISAKA CENTRAL STATION, JUST PAST NOON
The station held no corners one could escape into for a fresh sigh of relief. Amidst the haunting swarm of faceless citizens, their features mixing and matching with another into a conglomerate of colours, Mayu and Haruto eagerly awaited the arrival of their train. Adjacent to one another, and without much to say, the girl could admit to herself that the silence between meant made for an awfully awkward experience, one that rivaled her greatest precedents for what she considered her deepest regrets. Although, the ringed magician surely didn't seem to mind; seeing as to how he casually stood around with pocketed hands, glancing around the platform as if it were an art studio to admire – it was quite chilly today, but exercise was always said to be good for warmth, even the smallest bits could help.
"Man," Haruto muttered. "They sure do take their sweet time arriving here." Seems he couldn't sense a hint of formality between the two wizards, speaking as though he had known the girl his entire life. Considering the direction she was heading in, it wasn't all that bizarre of a claim. "If it comes down to it, are you up to ditch them, Mayu-chan?" He asked, flicking his eyebrows in a cheeky way.
"... What kind of question is that?" She replies, considering in great detail what he could be trying to test here.
"O-oh," Haruto overturned his expression, leaving an oval shape in his open mouth. He adjusted the grasp on his fluffy, red scarf. It hung on the back of his silky, black trench-coat. This was far warmer than the young man's usual attire, which was like a flame whisking through the open air – even someone who can summon flames at will could get cold too, you know? He sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry," He spoke with a more earnest tone. Lighter, and a lingering shame on his backside. "I didn't figure you would take that seriously." He laughed, awkwardly. The silence fell upon them again.
Maybe if they had met a bit earlier, Mayu wouldn't always be on the defense. Though she wanted to say something, to turn around and apologize on her behalf, or perhaps explain in greater detail her current resignations, in the end, Mayu remained soundless except for the faint noise of heaving, frigid wind from her lungs. Cheeriness, and an eager sense of curiosity was something she tried to display, especially on the midst of travelling – her mother once said,
'Strangers are those we should be kindest to, because for some it's their first trip. Others, their last. Some of them are on their worst, and some their best.'
When she could never seem to get the right words out, or any at all, her mother encouraged her with that same kindness to open her heart.
'A kind person can't be shy.'
So, when it came to travelling, Mayu tried her best to strike up at least one conversation during one of their many vacations growing up. For some trips, it was easier than others, and there were times she never uttered a single word to anyone else, but she tried. It surprised her just how friendly others can be if you put in the first word. Impressions are made not only in appearance, but in action. At least, that's what she was taught – it's never enough to rely on outwardly strengths to carry you, because it is stepping over trivial lines that we think we shouldn't cross – the space of formality, and the ever so blurry notions of familiarity that bind us to a certain set of emphasized bonds – that leads us to a whole new world. The first step is to say 'Hello.'
Mayu knew many ways to say it.
'Bonjour.'
'Ciao.'
'Nǐ hǎo.'
Sure, she couldn't make many friends at school, she couldn't join any clubs because she felt she never had anything to offer, speaking publicly was an absolute nightmare, and anything that involved some degree of professionalism was completely lost on her, but Mayu Inamori could always say 'Hello' to someone on the road.
There were a hundred ways to do just that, and Mayu said nothing.
Just then, as the harsh winds grew louder, a fresh pair of faces made their way onto the platform.
"Haruto-san!" A screaming, shrill voice cut straight through the air. No question about who that was. If the world held no colour, somehow, he would find a way to bring a gaudy sense of vibrancy to an otherwise grey world. There he was, dressed to impress and with a toothy grin, their favourite magical assistant and ringsmith, Shunpei Nara! Nothing in his attire matched, as usual. While Haruto thought nothing of his 'alien' charm, sporting an emerald jacket with a multi-coloured assortment of amber and violet stripes, a tangerine array of cargo pants, and some golden boots with pink laces, Mayu couldn't help but to be absorbed and appalled by such a hideous outfit.
"Yo, Haruto." Behind him was the illusive Kosuke, who held such a title for his quirks amassing more the whole than sum of his parts. While this time around, Shunpei had learned about downsizing on his storage, Kosuke was stuffing a survivalist kit away on his back. See, he carried things around because Chimera had no such thing as a teleportation or 'connect' spell, and to his dismay, he couldn't use others rings – something about their contract forbidding him to do so, and a bunch of other things he jotted down on a long forgotten list.
"Look who showed up." Haruto smiled, crossing his arms.
"Ah, don't start!" Kosuke said, throwing a hand up in his face. "Do you have any idea the trouble I went through to find this place? It's a good thing I just so happened to spot your buddy making for a line down the street!"
"How could it have been difficult?" Haruto asked, becoming frustrated with his companion's foolishness. "The directions were emailed to you."
Setting his enormous backpack down, Kosuke started to rummage for his cellphone. Handing a frying pan to Mayu, a set of assorted jars to Shunpei which contained a collection of varying plant life, and tossing to Haruto what appeared to be a folded ironing rack, he eventually dug his way through the mountain of essential junk to find his cellphone. Flipping it open, he tried to turn it on.
"No way!" Kosuke argued. "I expected more from my rival than lying to get ahead. There isn't a chance you sent m–" The particular sound of a beep shut him up in the middle of his rant. "Oh."
"Gee, you would think a little trust would have been earned by now." Haruto muttered, glancing off to the side as his supposed 'rival' watched his shoddy recipe for a fight be dismantled before his very eyes. "Don't you check things twice?"
"Ah, if I did that then I might give in to doubt." Kosuke chuckled. "It's almost as bad as despair, but anyways, I never got your message."
"Still on that?" Haruto replied.
"No, no." Kosuke shook his head. "See, my phone's been dead for days now." Holding it up to the group, the first thing they noticed is how poor the condition of the object actually was.
"A-are you sure it isn't broken?" Shunpei asked.
"Worry not," Kosuke threw an arm around his shoulder. "This baby is as close to pristine condition as can be. The only problem is finding a place to camp out with a free outlet! Ahhh, I'd use internet cafes, but…"
CHOO… CHOO!
All aboard, the one stop-trip to Hokkaido has arrived! The rhythmic dinging of their iron vessel caught the attention of any passerbys, who in the absence of this train, had resigned themselves to indulging in the latest sensations of pop music, or rolling their eyes over the daily tabloids which filled the columns of the news. Grabbing their attention with its excitable song, Shunpei couldn't help but to cheer.
"It's here! It's here, it's here!" He shouted, glancing around at his companions to ensure that everything was in their possession. "Haruto-san, it's here!" Much to the dismay of the magician, he shook him around. "Today is a new day, my first ever train ride… Oh, this is spectacular!"
"Stepping out into the unknown, huh?" Kosuke smirked, feeling an earnest sense of pride that came with his experience. "Ah, you know what they say. The unknown sure is dangerous, but danger brings opportunity." Once it reached the checkpoint, screeching echoed throughout the outdoors, the wheels putting up a mighty battle against gravity. The row of linked cabins passed like shooting stars. Stretching outwards in a matter of seconds, dozens flew by. Then, just when it looked as though the wheels met a formidable foe, unable to match its friction and ready to fly right off the stage, all was proven to be well in the same instance that fear of the great locomotive had ignited a primal flame in one's heart.
When danger strikes, so does opportunity.
"So," Haruto said, turning to Shunpei. "Ready for another adventure?"
REMNANTS, THAT SAME AFTERNOON
With everyone gone, today was pretty boring. While Koyomi often spent her days here, tending to the register and serving customers of all kinds who took an interest in the fine arts of antiques, she was finding it pretty lonely without the usual set of patronage knocking at the door. Admittedly, Koyomi hadn't been a fan of the extra set of hands at first, perhaps it was due to the circumstances of her awakening in this world without the faintest clue of what it held for her, knowing that only one person – the first person she awoke to was the only one who knew the girl's heart – perhaps that was the reason she initially resigned herself to the rest of the world, but as time goes by, things tend to change. Koyomi was happy about that, despite her uncertainties in the beginning, and especially in spite of the sadness it brought her when they were absent. To miss something is to know that you have loved it, right?
Sighing, she continued dusting off a shelf of Wajima's. This one was never going to be sold, he held too much sentimentality to it. What was supposed to be a display ended up becoming one of his favourite pieces of furniture, and oh, boy, he just couldn't bear to let it go. Wajima loved everything in this store, and possibly everything in this world. It was an admirable trait, and something Koyomi, who still held little knowledge of these foreign lands, tried to emulate.
Ring… Ring!
Sounds of a silver bell echoed like morning birds.
With her back turned, the front door opened. "Good morning!" Koyomi greeted their guests in a joyous tune. "Welcome to Remnants, we hope you can find a new piece of yo–" Standing in the doorway was Rinko. Appearing absolutely ecstatic, as though the detective was about to explode like a bright firework, Koyomi couldn't help but notice she wasn't dressed for work. No, in fact she was looking quite casual, a fluffy cream-coloured coat and a pair of matching ear-muffs.
"Mornin', Koyomi-chan!" Rinko said.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?" Koyomi asked, forgetting the specks of dust she never missed during cleaning.
"Nope!" Rinko exclaimed. The detective's arms were held behind her back, holding a mystery. "Today I have the day off, and no matter what the Chief says, I am not coming in! Pretty good timing, huh?"
"Timing?" If this was a joke, or a riddle, Koyomi was out of the loop.
"You betcha! Today's a special day for the two of us." Stepping forward, Rinko unveiled the surprise before Koyomi could even grasp what was happening. There were two, colourful tickets with big bolded characters. Invitations to a wrestling match. "Are you ready to have the ultimate girl's day of fun?!"
"... Fun?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE (10/12/24)
Hello, hello! Weren't expecting a Gentarou cameo, were you? I really wanted to write Haruto and Gentarou interactions, because to me, it feels like Fourze would be pretty close to Wizard if they did more crossovers. It's a dynamic that felt underexplored in the Movie War franchise, so I wanted to rectify that - I feel that they could do a lot of good for each other, and the BTS scenes of their actors show a lot of great chemistry that Toei should have taken more advantage of.
So, I wrote a story called 'Kamen Rider Wizard: Festival of Fate', it's almost two years old now, woohoo! Some have asked, "Is this a sequel?" The simple answer: If you want it to be. It's like how Kuuga and Agito are technically sequels in the beginning. Initially, I wanted this to be a full on sequel to Festival of Fate, but I figured that might force people to want to read that, and it would suck to have to read a whole other story for this one, especially when they're canon compliant to the canon of Wizard and don't require any background knowledge aside from, well, the show itself.
So, if you want Root of Power to be a sequel, then see it as a sequel. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, carry on and keep reading like you saw nothing here!
I write these stories because Kamen Rider: Wizard was a tale that really resonated with me when I was in a dark place, and I want to give the characters the love they truly deserve. I do my best to make sure the characters are close as can be to their canon selves, but if you have any suggestions personality wise, let me know! I only hope (haha), that others can experience that same love I have for them, and be left with smiles on their faces. It's just like a certain doctor in this franchise said, returning someone's smile is the best thing someone can do. Be on the lookout for more chapters, I'm nearing completion of the third one!
Side note: The broom that Mayu carries, which I named 'Perseus', is named after the Greek hero who slays Medusa. Pretty fitting name, huh?