As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Nao, holding a freshly wrapped bouquet of cherry blossoms and a box full of cherry blossom pastries, stood at the intersection in front of the Metropolitan Police Department, waiting for Hojo Toru to get off work.

She wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, and her gentle smile made her breathtakingly beautiful in the sunset.

She was waiting for her detective husband, waiting for them to go see the cherry blossoms together, waiting for him to eat the cherry blossom pastries she had made herself.

As Hojo Toru walked out of the Metropolitan Police Department, he saw Nao at the intersection, and a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

He walked quickly over and tried to take her hand.

Just then, the Unknown, who had been hiding in the shadows, suddenly appeared.

It was entirely black and had a huge rhinoceros horn. The huge horn smashed through the roadside guardrail with a piercing sound, and charged straight at Nao.

The speed is astonishing.

Nao was so frightened that her face turned pale, her body stiffened, and she stood frozen in place, unable to move.

"Nao!"

Hojo Toru's eyes widened in fury as he charged forward like a madman.

He wanted to shoot, to rush over and push her away, to do everything he could to protect her.

But his body reacted first.

The power of light that had been suppressed within him for so long surged wildly, almost breaking through his restraints.

The urge to transform swept through my entire body.

If he lets go, if he accepts this power, if he becomes Agito, he can save Nao instantly.

That would be enough to block that deadly rhinoceros horn.

But he was afraid. In that one second of hesitation, the fangs of fate bit down hard.

"don't want--!"

Hojo Toru's roar echoed throughout the entire street.

He lunged forward, trying to embrace Nao and shield her from the fatal blow.

But it was too late.

The cold rhinoceros horn pierced Nao's back hard.

Blood splattered on Hojo Toru's face, warm, sticky, and glaring.

The bouquet of cherry blossoms in Nao's hand fell to the ground, its pink and white petals scattering everywhere, mingling with the blood in a horrifying sight. The box full of cherry blossom pastries shattered, the delicate pastries falling to the ground and getting dirty with dust.

Nao slowly turned her head to look at Hojo Toru, a faint, gentle smile on her lips.

With her last bit of strength, she raised her hand and gently touched his face; the temperature of her fingertips gradually turned cold.

She wanted to say something but couldn't speak; her hand fell limply to her side.

Hojo Toru's mind went blank.

The girl who would bring him coffee with a smile, wait for him to get off work, and say she believed in him.

She died in his arms.

He died in his escape.

The world completely collapsed before Hojo Toru's eyes.

The light of the setting sun turned cold, the fragrance of cherry blossoms became pungent, and the wind on the street became biting.

All the sounds disappeared.

Only the sound of a heartbeat remained, heavy, desperate, and broken.

He held Nao's cold body, trembling all over.

"Nao... Nao!"

"Wake up! Wake up!"

"I promise you, I'll go see the cherry blossoms with you, I'll eat the cherry blossom pastries you made, wake up!"

He shook her body desperately, but the person in his arms no longer responded.

Warm tears slid down his cheeks, landing on Nao's face and shattering into pieces.

He finally understood.

Running away from power will not protect anyone.

His fear, his cowardice, and his escapism killed the person he loved most.

"Aaaaaaahh ...

A heart-wrenching scream burst from his throat and echoed throughout the entire street.

Pain, anger, despair, regret—all these emotions converged into a tremendous force that broke through all his suppression and resistance.

Golden light shot into the sky from Hojo Toru's body.

The armor spread out from his chest, with golden lines outlining a majestic and solemn silhouette. The breastplate was thick, the shoulder armor was sharp, and the horned blade on his head shone with a dazzling light.

Kamen Rider Agito.

The rhinoceros-type Unknown looked at the sub-polar gyroscope that appeared.

It roared, and its huge rhinoceros horn charged straight at Agito.

Having completed his transformation, Agito, in a frenzied state, charged straight towards the Unknown.

His hands easily caught the impact of the rhinoceros horn.

An overwhelming advantage, like a crushing force. Even as the rhinoceros-type Unknown struggled desperately, it was unable to move.

"I want you to die!"

A cold, emotionless voice emanated from beneath Agito's armor, carrying a destructive rage.

Agito raised his fist and slammed it hard into Unknown's head.

"Oh!"

With a loud bang, the Unknown's scales shattered instantly, sending particles of light flying everywhere.

He showed no mercy, each punch delivered with all his might, each strike imbued with the pain, regret, and rage of losing his beloved.

There were no fancy moves, no fighting techniques, only the purest and most ferocious rage.

One punch after another.

The rhinoceros-like Unknown let out a painful roar under his fist, and Agito grabbed Unknown's rhinoceros horn and snapped it hard.

The rhinoceros horn was broken off.

He raised the broken rhinoceros horn and plunged it deep into Unknown's chest.

"Click".

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

The rhinoceros-shaped Unknown body instantly transformed into countless golden particles of light, dissipating into the air.

The battle is over.

Agito deactivates his transformation.

Hojo Toru collapsed to the ground, covered in sweat and blood, looking utterly disheveled.

He crawled back to Nao's side, gently lifted her cold body, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and his shoulders trembled incessantly.

This man, who had been proud his whole life and had never shed a tear, cried like a child at this moment.

The cries were suppressed, filled with pain, despair, and heart-wrenching agony.

Lin Chen stepped out of the shadows and stood not far away, silently watching him.

His hand slowly rose towards Nao, and a white light shone. Hojo Toru, who was in agony, seemed to notice something. He hugged the person in his arms even tighter. Lin Chen's face was pale, as if he had been greatly exhausted. He gave the two of them a deep look, then turned and left.

...

Toru Hojo has changed, completely changed.

He proactively located the underground base of the G3 squad.

Sumiko Ozawa and Makoto Hikawa were both surprised to see Toru Hojo suddenly appear.

"Detective Hojo? What brings you here?" Hikawa Makoto asked in surprise.

Hojo Toru didn't beat around the bush; he transformed into Agito right in front of the G3 members and said, "I also have the power to fight the Unknown. From today onwards, I want to join the G3 team."

Sumiko Ozawa and Makoto Hikawa were so shocked by Hojo's change that they didn't hear what he said at all.

However, the two did not remain silent for long.

Hikawa Makoto smiled and extended his hand: "Welcome to the team."

Hojo Toru grasped his hand and nodded.

Later, during the Unknown attack, Toru Hojo would immediately transform into Agito and stand in front of the civilians; he would also lend a hand when Makoto Hikawa's G3-X was in a difficult battle, and the two fought side by side with excellent teamwork; but after each battle, he would return to that flower shop to be with the girl he loved, which made him feel at ease.

Tsugami Shoichi learned of the existence of Team G3 and Agito, and every day he would prepare a loving bento and deliver it to the underground base, saying with a smile, "Everyone has worked hard in the battle, eat more!"

Kazatani Mana would take her camera and follow the edge of the battlefield, capturing images of Agito and G3-X protecting the city, and say with a smile, "I want to remember what you look like, you are heroes!"

Yoshihiko Misugi will use his knowledge to help Sumiko Ozawa analyze the weaknesses of the Unknown, providing assistance in battle.

Lin Chen remained hidden in a corner of the city, occasionally handing Hojo Toru a bottle of water when he sat alone in front of the Sunflower House, lost in thought.

Hojo Toru looked at him calmly.

"You did it, didn't you?" Hojo Toru asked.

"Who knows?" Lin Chen said with a hint of mischievousness.

"Thank you!" Hojo Toru stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen did not move aside, accepted his thanks, said goodbye, and turned to leave.

Hojo Toru looked up at the setting sun, a faint, gentle smile playing on his lips.

"Mr. Hojo, come help me." A voice from the flower shop interrupted Hojo's solitude.