Kamen Rider Chrono

Chapter 22: A Normal Life

Kibou didn't think it was possible, but he had his normal life back... and he hated it. He hated not having AI's voice constantly in his head, he grew tired and bored of the tedious classwork he once loved. Back before he was a Rider, his entire life revolved around school. He would wake up, eat breakfast with the family, go to school, finish his homework, hang out with Sakura, then sleep. He slept without knowing of the dangers out in the world. The dangers that now kept him awake at night. 

Sakura: "You okay, Kibou?"

Kibou was snapped out of his thoughts when Sakura called out his name. He turned over to his childhood friend, and couldn't help but smile. He had constantly shoved everyone to the side, but now? Now he could finally be the son his parents wanted... The friend that Sakura deserved.

Kibou: "Yeah! I'm fine, Sakura-san..."

Sakura: "Sakura-san, huh...?" The friend couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. He hated the fact that Kibou added honorifics to the end of his name. He knew Kibou meant it as a sign of respect, but he thought that Kibou would've lightened up by now.

Sakura: "You seem a little off..."

Kibou: "It's just... it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders." He responded, but he couldn't shake that terrible feeling.

Kibou: "Hey...! Let's check out a movie! Like we used to..."

Sakura: "A movie? Don't you work at some company? Actually... Aren't you usually swarmed with your work lately?"

Kibou: "Uh... I had to resign for personal reasons... So I'm left with a whole bunch of freetime."

Sakura: "Seriously? I'm not about to pressure you about it, but you were super passionate about that job... What movie would we even go see?"

Kibou: "Any movie. I don't really care so long as we spend time together..."

Sakura was caught off-guard by Kibou's sudden desire to spend time. It really wasn't hard to find out that Kibou was Kamen Rider Chrono. He drove the same motorcycle, and whenever Chrono appeared, Kibou disappeared. So for Kibou to say he resigned...

Sakura: "Alright. We'll watch something at random, then." Sakura responded, fixing the bag over his shoulder. The two teenagers finally made it onto the main streets of the city and made their way to the theater.

...
(HOME Base)
...

Connor: "What!? Kibou just retired!? Like that?" Connor slid back in his seat, spinning around to face Mercy as she tinkered around with something.

Mercy: "Yeah... The fight with the Rat Zodiac was hard on him. Physically and mentally." She explained to her coworker, leaning back as she stared at the device on her desk.

Connor: "I just can't believe it... He seemed like such a good match for AI."

Mercy: "Even more so than Trish? She had 100% compatibility."

Connor: "Erk..." The male scientist froze up, glancing away for a brief moment before shaking his head. "Yeah, even more so than Trish. What really mattered in the end was heart and soul!"

Mercy: "So you say..." Mercy had brushed her hair back, then stood up from her desk. 

Mercy: "Come on... Zetsubou wants us there as they test out the Chrono candidates."

...
(Old Factory)
...

The Monkey Zodiac was running for dear life through the remains of the old factory. The fight between Chrono and the Pig Zodiac had leveled the several story-tall building, leaving it nothing more than a dilapidated landmark for the first real showcase of Chrono, and now a battlefield.