The rest of the days before Sunday went by pretty quickly, but my friends noticed that I was feeling better than ever.

Well, considering I basically finally have my wish to protect people fulfilled, I am much more optimistic.

And Sunday at last in the end..!

Stretching myself a little after getting up from bed, I eat breakfast, shower, brush my teeth, all that stuff you do during the morning really.

At first, I am thinking about going with clothes that looks more fashionable, but...

I want to follow Sakiko's words, and be myself.

So I put on a more regular looking casual fit, but before I actually am heading out...

"Can't forget the Gotchardriver, Steamliner and... Hopper1..?"

As I looked at Hopper1's card, I facepalmed, as it was currently blank.

"Great, he jumped out of it again..." I groan to myself as I pick up Steamliner. "Steamliner, do you know where Hopper1 is hiding?"

"Steam? Steaaam~"

"You really have got to work on lying, Steamliner- Actually, no, don't, just tell me were Hopper1 is-"

"HOPPER~!"

Hopper1 suddenly jumps out from under my bed and scares me, making me jump back a bit, almost dropping Steamliner.

"Oi, what have I told you two about scaring me like that! Don't think I already got a good scare when I woke up two days to Hopper1 having come out of the card and waiting for me on my chest?"

I still remember that Friday morning...

"Mmm, why am I so heavy on my chest- Huh?"

"Hopper!"

"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

"Geez, you two should come out of the cards when the time is more right, you know?"

"Hehe, Hooper!"

"Hoho, Steeeamliner!"

"Yeah, yeah, just laugh about it. Come on, Hopper1, into the card you go, I am going on a date and you two are coming with me."

"Hooper!" He just answers as he jumps back into his card again, before I am now ready to go and meet up with Touko.

As I reach the meeting spot, I can already see her having arrived, so I walk up to her and bow.

"So sorry, I hope I didn't have you wait for long!"

"No worries, I just arrived here myself, so no probs~!"

So stunning..!

We soon head to one of the benches and sit down, because after all, first and foremost we just wanted to talk some.

"So how have you been, Touko?"

"Been great as ever! We have had band practices this week over at Nanami's, so we couldn't really come by CiRCLE, sorry..!"

"That's fine, as long as you guys find good places to practice at, that's good for you. Besides, you save money."

"True, even if we really don't need to think too much about money problems, hehe~"

"Haha, that's true."

"Sooo, were would you want to go?"

"Oh, uh, if it's fine by you, can we go and have conveyor sushi? I have been meaning to try that out since I got here."

"But of course! Let's head to one I know has the latest and most delicious sushi!"

"Lead the way."

Touko gets so excited from me saying that that she... grabs my hand.

"...Ah..."

"Well, we are on a date after all, heh..."

I was really surprised over seeing her be so soft of her, but I guess that's given considering she does like me, and I like her back, a lot.

Man, I want to tell her right here and now that I love her, but that would just be weird to her.

So instead we just head to the conveyor sushi restaurant Touko recommends, and we each get our orders and have a good time opening up to each other about various things.

And I can say for sure that I am only falling in love with her even more after everything she tells me about herself...

Hell, she even tells me straight up that I am very cute...

Oooh, this gal, she is the girl of my dreams-

*KABOOM*

Our conversation and meal was suddenly interrupted by a loud boom from outside, so me and Touko goes to investigate, and what we find...

"Get away from here! Argh, this money is mine, aaaall mine!"

"Is that dude a... skateboard monster..??" Touko asks in confusion, but I think I realize what this is.

This is the first threat that Lavenza spoke about, but well, seems easy enough to deal with.

"Eeeh, what are you two kiddos looking at?! Get out of my sight!" The skateboard monster says as he shoots projectiles towards us, hitting the building behind us, causing rubble to fly everywhere.

"Touko!"

I grab onto Touko and shield her from any incoming rubble, and a big piece falls on my back, causing me to groan in pain, but at least I am glad Touko is safe...

"S-Stephan, you... saved me..."

"Don't mention it. But run away for now, I will catch up!"

"What?! But-!"

"Please trust me, Touko, I will catch up, alright?"

"S-So cool..!"

She soon snaps back to reality as she nods and runs away to safety, while I stand up, stretching my back a little.

"...You, you just ruined my date with the most beautiful girl in the world!"

"Could've just stayed inside then, dumbass!"

"We absolutely could've, but I am not the one to back down when someone is hurting people." I say to the skateboard monster as I take out the Gotchardriver and the two Chemies from my bag.

"Haha, a lunch box and two cards, what are you going to do with those, punk?!"

"This." I reply as I smirk, before holding the Gotchardriver to my waist.

"GOTCHARDRIVER!"

As it announces itself, a belt forms around my waist before I look at Hopper1 and Steamliner.

"Alright, ready you two?"

"Hopper!"

"Steeeam!"

"Just like what I like to hear! Then please, lend me your powers, Hopper1, Steamliner!"

"HOPPER1!"

First I insert Hopper1, while some pretty dope ass music begins playing from the driver, I can't help but to begin dancing a little.

"STEAMLINER!"

Inserting Steamliner in the second slot, I can't help it even more with dancing a little to the tune.

But soon enough, I do a few motions with my hands, before putting them in front of me, forming a triangle shape, before I say it...

"...HENSHIN!"

Pulling the two sides of the Gotchardriver, it puts the two Chemies together and I can feel the power immediately rush into my body.

"GOTCHANKO!"

"STEEEAMHOPPER!"

A suit now covers my body, as I now have become...

Kamen Rider Gotchard!

"Hah, you got a suit, so what?!"

"Don't worry, you will get a demonstration." I tell the skateboard monster, which I get to know from Hopper1 is a so called Malgam that has consumed a Chemy due to the person beneath being malicious or having malicious intentions.

So I point at the Malgam, smirking beneath my helmet.

"Because that pure hearted Chemy within you, I will save it and everyone around me from harm!"

---------

Earlier, at were Lavenza resides...

"And so it begins..."

Lavenza sees as the Chemy Skeebows gets pulled in by a bank robber's malicious nature, and soon transforms into a Malgam.

But as this happens, Sothis arrives, once again bored with her isekai subject.

"So what's- Huh, what's that?!"

"A Malgam."

"What, a Malgam?! It must've been very displaced, we have to-"

"No, just watch."

"Lavenza, he will be angry if something goes wrong with an isekai..!

"Trust me, Sothis."

Sothis reluctanty stays as she sees that Stephan and Touko gets caught in the conflict and sees that the former saves the latter.

"No way! My subject is such a lazy and dense piece of crap that doesn't need to lift a finger for girls to fall for him, but Stephan actually saves the one he loves?!"

"He has always had it in him."

"Eh, wait, what is... he doing..."

"STEEEAMHOPPER!"

Sothis gets shocked, seeing what Lavenza have given Stephan instead of him being an assassin.

"You... YOU MADE HIM BECOME A KAMEN RIDER?!"

"Your fight is now on, Stephan, but I know you can do it."

------------

"This will be over in a flash!"

I take out the Gotcharge Gun that appeared when I transformed, aim and start shooting the Malgam, before I put the gun to the side to try to get close for some punches, but the Malgam shoots its strange projectiles again.

"This again?!"

"You are just wasting my time, bye bye!"

The Malgam has the skateboard parts on its arms become an actual skateboard, which he starts escaping on.

"Crap, I have to have something..!"

I open the Chemy card holder to see who I have in there, and there a lone Chemy sits, named Golddash.

"Golddash, please help me!"

"Golddash!"

Golddash gets out of his card and is a fully operatable motorcycle.

"Awesome!"

I jump on and throttle the gas, as we begin chasing after the Malgam.

"You again?! Take this!"

But this time, Golddash takes out his arms and grabs it, before launching it back at the Malgam.

"Ooohahaha, you're amazing, Golddash!"

With the help of Hopper1, I am able to jump off Golddash swiftly before landing on the ground just as swiftly.

"This is it!"

I push the handles on both sides inwards, as I begin charging up my final blow.

"Hop... Hop... Hop!"

I pull the handles again, and jump up and began diving with my right leg first.

"STEAMHOPPER FEVER!"

I transform briefly into a Wild Form to correct my course a bit more, before I turn back to normal and deliver the Malgam one hell of a Rider Kick.

"AUGH, MY MONEY, NOOOOOOOOOOOO..!"

A big explosion erupts as I land facing away from the explosion.

"FUCK YEAAAAAH!"

From the explosion, the Chemy emerges, with me taking out a blank card and holding it so the Chemy can enter it.

"Gotcha! Skeebows, huh? Nice to meet you!"

"Skeebows!"

The robber beneath the Malgam is still crying out about that his money, or rather the money he stole, will all be taken away from him as police arrives.

"Hm, maybe should get out of here, the law doesn't like vigilantes after all. Besides, Touko is waiting on me."

Driving with Golddash back into the city, I have him return to his card as I also detransform before seeking up Touko.

It took a bit of time, but soon enough I find her by the same spot we met earlier today.

"Stephan, I was so worried!" She says as she rushes up to me and tackles me into a hug before easing up the hug.

"Whoa, don't worry, I am here now."

"Are you hurt or anything?"

"Nope, there was a guy apparently called Gotchard who is a Kamen Rider that stopped that monster."

"Aaah, that's good that is done at least!"

"...Not curious about that Kamen Rider?"

"I will trust your words! And besides... You were the one who saved me, so you are my hero~"

"Ah, oh, well, again that was nothing-"

*Chu ♡*

Without me barely being able to react, Touko suddenly kisses my cheek, leaving me an absolute blushing mess...

"Let's do more dates, I really like you after all, Ste~phy~"

"Y-Yeah, I would love to as well, haha..!"

Touko hugs me again before waving goodbye as she walks away, looking back at me over and over until we are out of both's sights.

As I finally begin moving again, I squat down before standing up and having my arms spread to the sky, and happily yelling...

"I LOVE MY LIFEEEEEEE!"

Later in the evening, I decided to head to park, just to get some fresh, cold air and think about everything that has happened today.

"Man, Touko Kirigaya, you are just the loveliest, most beautiful person ever..!"

"Someone's happy~"

I flinch a bit before I see that it's Lavenza.

"Aaah, hey there Lavenza, sorry for not noticing you at first. But man, getting a taste of being Gotchard was quite something."

"I see Hopper1 informed you all info about what you can do in your current form?"

"Indeed he did, he is a great friend already for sure, hehe."

"Well, as promised, I would be showing you more power, so come with me, please."

As I step inside the door that appears, I am suddenly at a strange place, and I can see what looks like a screen, and the screen is showing the bench I was just sitting on.

"So you do look over me..."

"Indeed, and here you go."

What Lavenza shows me makes me drop my jaw, because I see several different drivers and belts, just like my Gotchardriver.

"I made sure to bring the belts I know will be compatible with you and have made some minor modifications, so this is all handpicked from yours truly."

"Amazing..!" I can just reply as I browse the belts.

"Shame that some belts wouldn't work for me, but that's okay, this is still plenty!"

"I am glad you are staying optimistic." Lavenza says with a big smile in her face.

While browsing, I see so many different shapes and sizes on the belts, but come across what just looks like a card deck.

"What's this?"

"That's a card deck used for the V-Buckle."

"And where is that?"

"It doesn't have a physical form until you hold up the card deck while facing against a mirror."

"Hah?? Man, that would be interesting to try out..!"

"It would certainly be interesting-"

"What?"

"Eh?"

"...Lavenza, you know how these look in action right..?"

"I don't."

"...EEEEEEEHH?!"

"I-I'm sorry, I am not an expert on how Kamen Riders are like!"

"So giving me the Gotchardriver was just winging it?!"

"I'm sorry!"

I just shake my head before I continue looking in awe at all of these belts and drivers.

"Geez, I really want to try taking all of these out for a spin! But maybe some other day..."

I soon grab onto a magenta colored belt.

"Huh, 'Decade'-"

But Lavenza soon grabs it out of my hands and firmly holds onto it.

"N-Not this one, I'm sorry, I don't know why I even brought the Decadriver here..."

I look at her with a suspicious look, before I just shrug my shoulders.

"Anyway, all of these will belong to you now, and gradually I will give you more for free, as long as you continue fighting all these monsters that will come."

"You can count on me!"

Lavenza smiles before she looks a bit distraught suddenly again, just like when she grabbed the Decadriver, which surprised me a little to see. She soon whispers to herself...

"...If only I knew were the Den-O belt is, I couldn't find it no matter in which pocket dimensions I looked..."

"Something wrong?"

"Nothing! I will make sure you can fetch all this once you get home, but for now, let's head back out to the park, shall we?"

"You got it, let's go."

We exit from Lavenza's residence, before we begin walking in the direction of my home.

"I am happy I can finally save people in general thanks to you making me a Kamen Rider, Lavenza!"

"Again, no need to thank me, I just want you to take a better path in life-"

*CHOOOOO, CHOOOO*

"...A train?

"Wait, I think that's-"

But as Lavenza is about to speak, a bullet train suddenly comes out of nowhere and stops in front of us.

"W-Wha..?"

One of the doors to the train opens, and out comes... what looks like a red monster.

"Yo, you're this Stephan guy, right?"

"...Yes, how so?"

"Well, you're coming with us!"

"Hell no, why should I?"

"What was that?! Just do as you are told!"

"No will do." I reply to Reddy while crossing my arms.

"I'm sorry, but Stephan cannot afford to go anywhere at the moment-"

"I wasn't talking to you, little girl!"

"Well, I'll be..! I am far from being a 'little girl', I am just petite of me!"

"Doesn't matter, we are here for Stephan-"

"GOTCHARDRIVER!"

"I am not going anywhere, are you deaf or what..?!"

"Hah, fine! Kamen Rider against Kamen Rider it is then!"

"...Huh?"

Before I could get any answer, Reddy takes out a belt and puts it around his waist, before pressing the red button, making the belt go on standby.

He soon readies the pass he is holding in his right hand.

"Henshin!"

Swiping it in front of the belt, a confirmation noise is heard.

"SWORD FORM."

The sound of a train is heard as parts appears and sits onto the suit, before forming the complete look.

"I... have arrived!"

"So that's what Den-O looks like..!" Lavenza says as she has her focus on the belt.

"Kamen Rider against Kamen Rider you said, huh? Fine, have at you!"

"Hehe, I, Momotaros, will strike you down as Kamen Rider Den-O so you will submit and just board the damn DenLiner!"

I prepare Hopper1 and Steamliner, who are as determined to fight this Momotaros guy.

"Henshin!"

"GOTCHANKO!"

"STEEEEAMHOPPER!"

"And I, Stephan, will strike you down as Kamen Rider Gotchard so you will leave me the hell alone!"

"I would love to see you try!" He replies to me as he begins arranging the tools on his waist into a sword, before he immediately starts running at me.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"

I fire shots from the Gotcharge Gun, but Den-O easily deflects them with his sword.

He is quick on his feet, because I don't have much time to react until he slashes me on the chest, but I make sure to block his second swing with my gun.

"This is why you don't bring a gun to a sword fight!"

"Oh yeah? Pretty sure it's the other way around, asshole!" I snap back at him as I kick him in the chest, making him lose his hold for a short bit.

"Stephan, use Chemies to charge up the gun!"

"What, I can do that?! Should've told me earlier- UGH!"

"Don't get distracted, Gotchard, you are fighting me until we hit a climax!"

I keep on dodging Den-O's swings, but he's too damn good as he still manages to slash me at times.

"Here, use these two alongside Golddash to charge it up fully!" Lavenza says as she brings out two Chemies, Bulletbaang and Pilets, and throws them over to me.

"Thank you..!" I tell her as I look at the Gotcharge Gun and see the slot for sliding cards.

I begin scanning the three Chemies I have on me, before I soon shot the charged shot at Den-O.

"G-G-G-Gotcharge BUSTER!"

"W-Whoa!" Den-O says in surprise as he last minute get out of the way. "Guess the brat isn't the only one with big firepower in his gun!"

"...Not enough..." I tell myself as I soon bring out the beam katana, Blood Berry.

"I have to use it, but to protect people..!"

Activating it, I soon begin clashing with Den-O with my melee weapon as well.

"I was getting bored with you not having a sword of your own, but turns out I was wrong."

"It's just not any sword, it's a beam katana I will use in order to protect those I love, my friends, and even the whole world!"

"So you are set on saving the world, eh?!"

"Hell yeah I AM!"

I make Den-O drop his weapon as I keep on slashing at him, even as the beam katana begins beeping for some reason.

Then suddenly it deactivates, and the last hit on Den-O just became a small thud against him.

"...Eh?" We both say as we look at each other and back at the beam katana, before I begin inspecting the weapon.

"Is it broken already?"

"No way it can be broken, I bought this thing not too long ago!"

"You bought it?! Well of course it's going to be crap, it's man-made!"

"Damn it..!" I swear to myself as I shake the weapon a little from frustration, but suddenly hear what sounds like a charging sound.

Wait, it charges up with me shaking it..?

I take position and begin shaking the beam katana in front of me as if I were jerking it.

"Oi, oi, what the hell are you doing?! You can do that sexual stuff in private-"

But as Den-O was going to keep on talking, the beam katana finally activates again from having been charged up.

"Hiya!"

I finally do the final slash at Den-O, causing him to fly back and land close to the bullet train.

Momotaros soon takes off the Den-O belt, before the door to the train opens up and he crawls inside and stands up to face me.

"Next time we will get you, next time..." He says before he falls backwards and flat onto the floor as the door closes and the train soon chugs away before disappearing into a worm hole.

"...The hell was that even??"

"The DenLiner, and one of the users of the Den-O belt, who is an Imagin. Though I don't know myself how they ended up here..."

"Well, I rather not find out, it isn't really our problem on why they so badly want me aboard, I will fight back nevertheless."

"But you need to claim the Den-O belt somehow-!"

"I already have so many drivers thanks to you though, one missing doesn't-"

"Being Den-O means being a defender of the past, present and future, possibly other timelines entirely."

"...Wait, you mean..?"

"Yes, the DenLiner is a train that travels in time."

"So that was what the bright wormhole was..."

"It explains also why I just couldn't find the belt anywhere, it's tied to the DenLiner fully."

"...Well, even so, I will do fine without it, trust me."

"If you say so..."

Me and Lavenza collects ourselves a bit before we begin heading to my apartment, and we soon separate.

"The DenLiner, a train that travels through time, huh?"

I figure it's not much to think about right now, so I just prepare myself to head to sleep for tomorrow, can't overthink too much after all...

-----------
At the DenLiner...

"Mission... failed..!" Momotaros says as he falls onto his seat.

"Boss, that is why I should've been the one to attempt reeling him in."

"Shut up, Shelly..."

Momotaros soon gets up again and walks over to a seat and table in the corner were an elderly man is seated.

"Yo, Owner, how come we even need that guy?"

The elderly man he calls "Owner" just chuckles before getting up and walking to the middle of the car everyone is in.

"Stephan happens to be a singularity point in this timeline we have arrived at."

"Oh? So there was something strange about that very bumpy ride that happened the other day." The blue Imagin says as he thinks for a bit, before asking.

"But why though would we be here?"

"Imagin are coming to this world as well, among many other threats. That is why..." Owner says as he twirls around and stomps his cane against the train car floor, before pointing to all four good hearted Imagin present.

"...Stephan shall become Den-O!"

"Hah, I see then, so me battling him was to test him. But he already is a Kamen Rider-"

"He can be different Riders due to owning different Rider's transformation devices, which he has obtained from his guardian, Lavenza."

Owner looks at Momotaros with a stern look, making the horned red Imagin flinch a bit.

"Only Den-O will be able to deal with the Imagin, and this a timeline that depends on him, so we cannot back down now."

"Well, if battling him is us essentially testing if he will be able to handle our powers... Then I shall be the one that battles him next!"

"Yes, only after he has fought you, Kintaros and Ryutaros, we will know if he truly is capable of being Den-O."

Owner soon heads back to his seat and looks over at the waitress been hard at work with making coffee for all the DenLiner passengers.

"Naomi, the usual fried rice, please. I have a feeling that with how things has turned out, a rematch with Stationmaster is inbound~"

"Aren't you worried about the wrong thing- Actually, nevermind, I won't question it..."

Momotaros shakes his head and stands up, grabbing the attention of the three other Imagin.

"Right then, our job for now will be to test that horny teenager, and see if he can become Den-O or not!"

"AYE!"

To Be Continued.