Thank you, @Darknight, for joining the memberships.
I'm truly grateful.
Bonus (1/1)
...
Chapter 54: First Day in a New World, Picking Up a JK.
....
Before heading to the world of One Punch Man, Kihara decided to test his new ability—[Gensokyo Divine Invocation].
Since he was still inside Gensokyo, the cost was ridiculously low.
For just one gold coin, he borrowed Yukari Yakumo's gap-manipulation ability.
And what did he do with it?
Simple.
He immediately opened a gap and retrieved his beloved pillowcase from the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
After happily replacing it, he finally felt complete.
Only then did he say goodbye to Akane Shinjo and Rikka Takarada.
"The world barrier has become unstable due to the fusion," Yukari warned.
"There's spatial turbulence inside the gaps. If you don't want to end up with your butt stuck in a tree after teleporting—transform into that armored form first."
Kihara followed her advice and transformed into Kamen Rider Faiz before stepping into the gap.
Inside—
The scenery was far more chaotic than usual.
Crimson eyes floated in the void like cybernetic hallucinations, surrounded by glitching mosaics of distorted color.
Kihara ignored everything and sprinted toward the exit light.
Just as he was about to leave.
His body suddenly slowed to a crawl, as if sinking into mud.
Then the next instant.
He accelerated like lightning.
Time-space turbulence.
Thankfully, the Rider armor protected him. Aside from feeling heavy, he wasn't harmed.
After smashing through dozens of thin yet strangely resilient layers.
He finally broke free.
...
Deep underground.
An experimental facility was in chaos.
Sirens blared.
Researchers and security personnel fled in panic, their faces bathed in red warning lights—like they had just witnessed something unspeakable.
Only one person remained.
A green-haired girl locked in the deepest cell.
She had seen it.
The black figure that destroyed the lab.
A knight with a sharp, horned helmet.
"Why…?"
"Why did you save me… but not take me with you?"
"…Am I too weak?"
Time passed.
Long enough that she seemed to be the last living person in the facility.
Her dull green eyes slowly regained a spark.
"I'll become the strongest."
"And when I find you…"
"I'll make you regret leaving me behind."
Using trembling hands, she pushed herself up.
And staggered toward the shattered metal wall.
...
Kihara stepped out of the gap.
Only to find himself on the rooftop of a five-story building.
At the edge sat a girl with chestnut-colored long hair.
She was fiddling with a black-and-white puzzle ring cross, clearly startled by his sudden appearance.
The moment he saw her.
He recognized her.
Canceling his transformation, he raised his hands calmly.
"Hey, relax. I'm just a passing Kamen Rider—not a monster."
The girl let out a long breath.
She tried to stand.
But her legs, still trembling from fear, gave out.
Her body tilted outward.
"…Ah. Crap."
As she fell—
Yume Minami felt an unexpected calm.
So this is how it ends…
Just like her sister.
Her final thought wasn't fear.
But confusion.
Why did you leave that day…?
"I must be crazy… thinking about you even now."
She closed her eyes.
Waiting for death.
"Seriously, you're this pretty and still trying to kill yourself? At least let me take advantage while you're still warm."
"…Huh?"
A pair of strong arms caught her mid-fall.
The world spun—
And when she opened her eyes again.
She was safe.
A faint emotion flickered in her chest.
Relief?
…Or disappointment?
Yume narrowed her eyes.
"Maybe I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't suddenly shown up like some suspicious weirdo."
"Wow. First thing you do after surviving is complain about me? You're not exactly normal either."
Kihara sighed.
"What's your name? Where do you live? I'll take you home."
"Yume Minami."
"I'm Kihara. And the rest?"
"That place…"
She looked away.
"…Going back or not doesn't really matter."
"Just pretend I don't have a home."
Kihara gently set her down.
He understood.
Her sister's death.
Her strained family.
Yume had been living her life trying to become someone else.
Her sister.
Even her personality right now…
Was an imitation.
After a moment of thought, he spoke:
"…Then how about coming with me?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
She circled him, observing carefully while muttering:
"Looks perfect… strong enough to save me…"
Then she smiled.
"Alright."
"From today on, I'm the JK you picked up."
"Take good care of me, okay?"
Honestly—
With her current mental state, Kihara didn't have any improper thoughts.
She wasn't "mysterious."
She wasn't "cool."
She was just…
Lost.
"Fixing a troubled girl isn't really my specialty," he admitted.
"But I'll try."
"Let's go. First—we need a place to stay."
With Yume acting as a guide, he quickly figured out his location.
The outskirts of Z-City, a notorious danger zone filled with monsters.
"No wonder it's so deserted. You've got guts coming here alone."
"Thought it'd be fun."
"…You're unbelievable."
Grabbing her wrist, Kihara led her toward the city center.
In the world of One Punch Man.
Monsters and heroes were part of daily life.
Destruction.
Protection.
Chaos.
Balance.
If Kihara were alone.
He'd dive straight into Z-City's danger zone to train.
But now?
He had someone to take care of.
So instead—
He chose a safer option.
Q-City.
A place rarely attacked by monsters.
Because it was guarded by an S-Class hero:
Watchdog Man.
After taking the train.
They arrived.
And then—
In front of Yume's stunned eyes.
Kihara casually bought a fully furnished villa in cash.
"…Wait."
"…You're rich?"
...
Thank you for reading.