"Hoo..."
Alya sat on the bank of the rice field, letting out a breath and resting. She hadn't expected transplanting rice seedlings to be such tiring work.
She looked at Shiraishi Shin, Shiina Mahiru, and Chitoge Kirisaki sitting on either side of her.
Unknowingly, she, who was once called the "Aloof Princess"—no, after winning the campus beauty pageant, it changed to "Solitary Queen"—had seemingly integrated into a small circle, despite previously having no friends.
"Are you tired?"
Shiraishi Shin turned to look at Alya, who had just taken a deep breath.
Everyone had changed into their school sports uniforms for transplanting rice. Alya had fine beads of sweat on her forehead, and her usually fair cheeks were now flushed, adding three points of charm to her beauty.
"I'm fine, not too tired."
Alya proudly lifted her head. Even if she was tired now, she had to act tough; she couldn't be underestimated.
"Is that so?"
Shiraishi Shin didn't think much of it; he was already used to her tsundere personality.
Just then, Chitoge Kirisaki spoke up curiously.
"I just heard other classmates say there's a Monster Kappa in the back mountains. What do you all think, is it true?"
Alya, however, didn't believe it, saying, "It's all just legends. If there really were Kappa, the relevant authorities would have been here long ago."
Shiina Mahiru was silent for a moment, then said, "Although I also find it hard to believe, since this rumor is circulating, it means it's not without basis. Shin-nii, what do you think?"
Shiraishi Shin said nonchalantly, "I don't believe there are any real demons or Monsters in this world. Even if there are, they're just Monsters. And even if there really are demons and ghosts, so what? All fear comes from insufficient strength, and I am a Kamen Rider. Even if there are demons and Monsters, if they dare to appear and do evil, I'll still wipe them out."
Chitoge Kirisaki pouted.
"Class Monitor, you're a Kamen Rider, so naturally you're not afraid, but we're all ordinary people, so we're definitely scared."
Chitoge Kirisaki, who had just finished speaking, paused.
Shiraishi Shin had revealed his Kamen Rider identity, and she had just blurted it out. But now she realized that if Shiraishi Shin said that, did it mean the other two also knew about Shiraishi Shin's hidden identity?
She said, "By the way, do Mahiru and Kujou-san both know that the Class Monitor is a Kamen Rider?"
Shiina Mahiru glanced at Chitoge Kirisaki and Alya, then nodded.
"Mm."
Alya didn't speak but also nodded in affirmation.
Shiina Mahiru was already Shiraishi Shin's girlfriend, so it was normal for her to know his Kamen Rider identity. But she hadn't expected Chitoge Kirisaki, a transfer student who had only been there for a week, to also know?
"I didn't expect Chitoge and Kujou-san to know. I only found out yesterday. Shin-nii said he didn't want to hide anything from me, so he performed a Henshin for me to see."
After Shiina Mahiru finished speaking, she looked at Shiraishi Shin with love in her eyes.
Shiraishi Shin voluntarily telling her his Kamen Rider identity was a sign of trust in their love. She just didn't know how Chitoge and Alya found out.
Shiraishi Shin smiled at her. If his hands weren't dirty from transplanting rice and hadn't been washed yet, he would have wanted to stroke his girlfriend's head.
Chitoge Kirisaki's eyes showed a hint of envy.
She hadn't expected the Class Monitor to be so pure in love, willing to reveal his identity voluntarily.
"A few days ago, on my way home, the Class Monitor brought me my phone that I'd left in the breeding area, and we encountered a Monster who wanted to harm me."
"At that time, the Class Monitor stood in front of me, performed a Henshin, and dealt with the Monster."
"If it weren't for the Class Monitor, I don't know what I would have gone through."
"And it wasn't just that one time; before that, the Class Monitor had saved me twice already, once at the mall, and once with Mahiru at school, though I didn't know the Class Monitor's identity at the time."
Chitoge Kirisaki felt a chill just thinking about it.
Perhaps they wouldn't have killed her, but since that yakuza organization could command Monsters to do their bidding, who knew what evil they were brewing?
She had also considered the possibility that they might use her to lure out her father and the high-ranking members of the mafia, and then have the Monsters wipe them all out, which would be true despair.
Therefore, Shiraishi Shin not only saved her but also indirectly saved her family, and for this, Chitoge Kirisaki had a very good impression of Shiraishi Shin.
Alya finally said, "I encountered a Monster on my way to the station last Saturday night. If Shin hadn't appeared, I would have died."
Shiraishi Shin chuckled.
"That's called not being destined to die. Although Monsters attacked you, it was fated that you wouldn't die prematurely, and I came to help you resolve this crisis."
Chitoge Kirisaki said with a hint of melancholy, "Yes, I owe the Class Monitor three lives."
"You don't owe me anything. As a Kamen Rider, I'm naturally at odds with Monsters, and I never ask those I save for gratitude or repayment."
"Just two days ago, I rescued 60 hostages from Monsters."
Chitoge Kirisaki said admiringly, "As expected of the Class Monitor, Kamen Rider Cronus is truly amazing."
"Keep it low-key, low-key."
"Oh, by the way, since we're so close and friends, just call me Shin. 'Class Monitor' sounds too formal."
Chitoge Kirisaki fidgeted a bit, subconsciously glancing at Shiina Mahiru.
Seeing no reaction from her, she nodded.
"Mm, okay..."
"Alya-chan."
Just then, a female voice came from the right.
Shiraishi Shin and the others turned to look and saw a beautiful and gentle-looking girl approaching. She had a faint smile on her face, giving a very good first impression.
"Sister?"
Alya stood up and called out to the arriving girl.
"Sister."
"Sister?"
Chitoge Kirisaki, Shiina Mahiru, and Shiraishi Shin looked at the newcomer. Hearing Alya's address, she indeed looked somewhat similar to Alya.
The girl handed Alya a bottle of water, then looked at the other three around Alya with surprise.
She said, "Alya-chan, I brought you water. Are these your friends?"
Alya also glanced at the three of them, especially Shiraishi Shin, and nodded.
"Mm."
The girl said excitedly, "Oh my, I didn't expect you, Alya-chan, with your reclusive personality, to make friends! Why didn't you tell me? This is great news."
Chitoge Kirisaki said boldly, "Kujou-san, aren't you going to introduce us?"
Alya said, "Her name is Masha, she's my sister."
Then Masha greeted them.
"Hello, kouhai, my name is Maria Mikhailovna Kujou, Alya's sister."
(Image Maria Mikhailovna Kujou/Masha)
"Hello, Kujou-senpai, I'm Shiina Mahiru."
"Hello, Senpai, I'm Chitoge Kirisaki."
"I'm Shiraishi Shin."
Shiraishi Shin and the other two greeted her.
Masha smiled and nodded, then her gaze fell on Shiraishi Shin, and she said, "So you're the Kouhai Alya-chan often mentions at home, mmph..."
Before Masha could finish speaking, Alya forcefully covered her mouth, physically silencing her.
But Shiraishi Shin and the other two had heard Masha's words clearly.