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It was a late night for the newest official Kamen Rider, 17 year old Koutarou Minami, Kamen Rider Black. He had just finished a rather lengthy and draining patrol, so he decided to take a break at a frequent hangout spot for the Riders: A 24/7 donut shop.
Given how late it was, Koutarou didn’t expect to find anyone to be there besides the night shift workers. However, to his surprise and slight delight (patrolling gets lonely at times, especially when he wasn’t with a partner like that night), there was another person, a boy, who looked to be roughly Koutarou’s age.
The boy had crimson red hair that converged onto the right side of his head as three segments, with some sort of red paint on his face, over the top half specifically, contrasting the sun-kissed skin, indicating the boy was clearly outdoors a lot of the time. His outfit consisted of black and red combat gear, a pair of red gloves, a single shoulder pad (or is it a pauldron?), and something strapped to his back that Koutarou could only assume was a sword of some kind.
After ordering a couple of sugar donuts (his favorite), Koutarou’s curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to go over to the boy.
“Hey.” Koutarou said to the boy, attempting to start a conversation.
“What… Do you want?” Despite the boy’s sun dipped appearance, he was cold in his tone of voice.
“I just wanted to converse with you, since you caught my attention. What’s your name?” Koutarou said with a much warmer tone.
“Nika… What’s… Yours..?”
“Koutarou. Koutarou Minami.”
The two sat in silence for a couple minutes, before Nika’s stomach broke that silence. Koutarou had gotten his donuts by this point and offered one to Nika.
“Want a donut? You’re clearly hungry.” Koutarou said, attempting to hand Nika a donut.
“Don’t… Need. Can go… for a few… more hours.” The boy said, clearly lying out of his teeth.
“You don’t look it. At least have a couple bites.” Koutarou insisted.
“Fine.” Nika accepted the doughy offer, taking a bite, and then another, until in a matter of seconds, the confection was gone.
Koutarou chuckled slightly, this was a nice break after such a long night. “So, what brings you here?”
“Looking for… Somebody…” Nika said blankly.
“Oh? Mind telling me who it is?” Koutarou was curious now, moreso than before.
“Jin… Keisuke…”
This took Koutarou aback, but attempted to keep his connection to him, being his adoptive younger brother a secret. “The scientist? Why?”
“He… Can bring back… Sister.” Nika said, his blank expression getting misty.
This hit Koutarou like a truck. “What happened to your sister?”
“I… I… Wasn’t good enough… Couldn’t… Get to her… In time…” Nika choked out, his monotone voice cracking. “Couldn’t… Save her…”
Koutarou sat frozen as memories came rushing back of that night two years ago. A bloody sword, A hole in his brother’s chest, and his parents yelling to “KILL THE CURSED ONE! RETURN HIS LIFE TO HELL AND PURITY TO THE CHURCH OF GORGOM!” And in the middle of it was a 15 year old Koutarou, bawling his eyes out as he murdered his adoptive brother, who looked like a Cronenberg-esque insect-human abomination, with a swing of his sword, cleaving Nobuhiko, his brother and best friend in half, tears streaming down his face, both then, and in the present.
The two boys sat in silence besides the crying noises, both captives to their traumatic pasts, before Nika snapped out of it and saw Koutarou, who he now considered a friend, having a panic attack and attempted to calm him down, rubbed Koutarou’s back in circular motions, something that has calmed Nika down in the past.
The trick worked and Koutarou zoned back in.
“Thank you.. I really needed that.” Koutarou said, taking long, deep breaths.
“Don’t… Worry. Can’t bear… to see.. my friend… like this.”
The two sat in silence as the sun rose, finishing the donuts.
“Well, I’ve gotta get going, my dad’s gonna wonder why I was gone so long. See ya!” Koutarou said, exiting the donut shop and walking into the sunrise.
Nika watched before pulling a picture of an older orange haired man and a younger, green haired girl, and a younger version of himself. It was his family, and he desperately wished to see them again.
Later, Koutarou ended up back at the rider residence, stopping by Jin’s lab, the boy slumped on his desk in sleep, leaving a note for him.