Chapter 530

The Forty-Second Multiple Friends

“Uwaaaah!”

From the rubble, an impertinent red demon with hair standing on end like an explosion, his face blackened from the explosion, crawled out.

Even after being hit at close range by a chemical blast during sleep, Officer Red Demon was barely hurt; however, he woke up feeling disoriented, completely unaware of what had happened. He also lost his ghost stick somewhere while almost being set on fire.

“Ah, my head hurts so much… What just happened? Ah, my hair! Could it be that there really is a Kamen Rider ambushing me! Damn Kamen Riders!”

While cursing Kamen Rider, Red Demon reached out for his ghost stick when a slender hand placed the thick staff in his grasp.

“Looking for this?”

“Aaa, thank you—yes!”

The sultry voice handed over the stick. As Red Demon was about to express his gratitude, he noticed the long legs encased in tight black stockings right beside him. His eyes widened in surprise as he looked up.

“Witch Lina?! What are you doing? Why do you act like this right away?”

“It’s all because of that Kamen Rider…!” The tall “Witch” wrapped in green robes and dark tights fiercely gnashed her teeth at his name, displaying a thoroughly offended and angry expression. “How dare they underestimate me! I will show them the power of a witch! Let’s go, Red Demon! We’ll kick some ass off the Kamen Rider!”

On the other side, Ash and Fourze were helping unconscious workers into a nearby lounge to dispel the tragic aura within the factory. Just as Ash got in touch with Miyuki and Rihua to prepare for another round of overtime, he saw Yayoi, whose eyes were glowing, circling around the still-present Fourze.

Realizing that it was prime time for the Rocket-head’s broadcast, Ash nodded in understanding of Yayoi’s excited demeanor.

After all, he had been even more excited the first time he saw a real special effects hero.

The Knight also sensed the gaze focused on himself, so he lowered and brought his Rocket Head to Yayoi’s level.

“That…” Yayoi, more nervous than ever, exclaimed, “Can I, can I too become a friend of a Kamen Rider?!”

Upon hearing this, Fourze looked at the helpless Ash who shook his head in disbelief, then at Yayoi, before he began to laugh.

“Haha, young girl, aren’t you already a companion of a Kamen Rider?”

Coming from someone always welcoming friendships, Fourze felt joyful about acquiring a new friend in another world. This statement conveyed another meaning to Yayoi as well.

“Ah, is that so?”

Did Yayoi and Ash really become friends… would it feel strange…?

Yayoi turned to receive an answer hesitantly but felt ignored as Ash gazed skyward, whistling.

He’s pretending not to see, so shameless…

The Knight observed Ash and Yayoi, nodding vigorously.

“It seems you’ve finally found a new friend for yourself now. That’s great! But Ash, you need to respond properly to this person!”

“I haven’t acknowledged her yet…”

Thinking of his recent affirmative stance, Ash stumbled over his words.

Being a righteous partner indeed seems quite challenging.

“Are you still unable to be straightforward?” Seeing Yayoi occasionally showing some timidity towards Ash, Fourze surmised what happened, scratching the back of his helmet, which emitted a smooth sound.

“Though I might be blunt and know I shouldn’t criticize others’ lifestyles, Ash, wouldn’t it be easier for you to be more casual and trust people more?”

“Wouldn’t it make life for you easier and happier like this?”

“Oh come on, if you’re my friend, you’d know I hate lecturing! I called you here to help, not to preach to me.”

“Yes! No matter how many times I must say it, I’ll tell you if it can draw you from the darkness!”

“Do you even listen to what I’m saying… you talk so much, you should consider becoming a teacher.”

As if some impression triggered, despite finding it tiresome to communicate this to his friend, Asuka’s gestures seemed to captivate Yayoi’s attention more as she watched them quarrel.

“Mr. Ash, do you know Mr. Shintarou?” The girl stared at the distracted Asuka with pleading eyes, her eyes widening as if realizing something significant!

Asuka is a Kamen Rider, and Ash’s friends are Kamen Riders—meaning Special Police Force, Ultraman, and even Super Robot exist—

Thinking of a Kamen Rider instantly made her think of a Super Sentai, of Ultraman, of Godzilla, of Mazinger Z, of Super Robot Taisen, of Super Heroes, the dual-fan imagination could leap only so far.

“I originally never intended to be friends with such a fiery, nonsensical guy.” Speaking of this, Akash opened his hands, appearing rather helpless. “But there’s no choice, I have to honor the agreement if I lose. It’s truly unavoidable, isn’t it?”

Who could have thought a high schooler could break the closed, dark circle of a school campus like that? Hmph, recalling myself isolating myself from schools, it truly was embarrassing.

However, you have a point. After all, I purposely stiffened our relationship today; then, we had to get closer for some reason. I ended up having to apologize to bridge the gap—it’s truly confusing at times. Even my future self makes mistakes sometimes.

“By the way, wouldn’t your mother worry if you were outside so late?” Seeing Yayoi’s face turn liverish upon his remark, Asuka was on the verge of laughing when the anomaly occurred.

“Alright, I’ll bring you—watch out!”

Before Yayoi could react, a sudden hand pushed her backward, causing her to stumble and fall. Just as she began to grumble, a ghost stick struck the spot where they previously stood.

“Red Demon!”

“What, you crying ghost?” Hearing his name, Red Demon instinctively checked and found Yayoi on the ground. “You can’t transform anymore, right? Then move aside—I’m not looking for you—the one you’re after is the Kamen Rider!”

The ghost stick pointed directly at Fourze, who had risen amid the dispersing smoke. Red Demon hadn’t heard what Jokers described but recognized he was facing a human in armor.

“Seems like you’re strong. Let’s see whose head is harder!”

With a powerful strike, cracks like mountain valleys spread, shattering the entire street beneath them.

“Or is mine tougher?”

Seeing Yayoi nearly fall in a crevice, Ash leaped to save her and jumped back. Fourze then unhesitatingly stretched his fist toward it!

“Kamen Rider Fourze, let’s have a fair and square bout!”