The bell shrilled, signaling the end of history and the start of… whatever came next. Haruka closed his textbook, the faces of dead presidents blurring together in his mind.
"So," Kara said, leaning against the lockers beside him, "big plans for the future, huh?"
He shrugged, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Trying to figure it out. You seem to have it all set."
Kara beamed, her eyes sparkling. "Journalism, all the way. I'm gonna be the next Cat Grant, just… nicer, maybe."
Haruka chuckled, imagining the chaos that would ensue if Kara actually tried to emulate Ms. Grant's particular brand of management. "Sounds… ambitious."
"What about you? Hotel mogul?"
He winced. "Something like that. It's what my parents expect. Hotel Management seems to be my only option."
Kara nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Makes sense. You gonna be working with your Dad, then?"
"Yeah. Eventually. It is what it is," Haruka said with a shrug.
"So, that's what you were up to this weekend?" Kara asked, a casualness in her tone that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Finalizing hotel plans?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Nah. I showed Hila around National City."
Kara's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked it with a casual smile. "Hila? Oh, right. The… friend from another city?"
"Yeah. From… Amnesty Bay. I was just showing her the sights." Haruka paused. Why did that sound so lame?
"Oh?" Kara's voice was deceptively light. "Was it a date?"
Haruka's eyes widened. A date? He'd never considered it. Hila was… complicated. A princess, for starters. "No! No, it wasn't a date. We're just friends." He said it with more force than intended.
He glanced at Kara, trying to gauge her reaction. Her shoulders seemed to relax, and a subtle smile touched her lips. It was gone before he could be sure.
"Just friends, huh?" Kara asked, looking almost relieved.
"Yeah," Haruka said, trying to sound nonchalant, but he could feel heat rising in his cheeks. "Just… showing a friend around."
"Well," Kara said, pushing herself off the lockers as the bell shrilled again. "Gotta go. See ya in Physics."
And with a final wave, she disappeared into the throng of students.
Just friends. Haruka replayed the phrase in his head, a strange echo bouncing around inside. He shook it off, the faces of his classmates blurring as he hurried toward his next class. It was just… easier, that way. Safer.
He settled into his seat, pulling out his notebook. Physics. Great. Just what he needed to distract him from the swirling vortex of confusion that was his social life.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Damn it. He risked a glance at Ms. Tanaka, who was already launching into a lecture on… something. He discreetly pulled out the phone, angling it away from prying eyes.
A text from a blocked number. Of course.
Batside's got eyes on the prize. Old factory district, south side. Deal going down. 1700 hours.
It was a crude, direct message. Efficient. Robin. He sighed. Bane again. He was starting to hate that guy more and more. Not just for the potential danger, but for the way he kept disrupting his life. First the robots, now… this.
Understood, he typed back, quickly deleting the message. I'm in class.
The reply was instantaneous. Excuses are for the weak. Be there.
Haruka rolled his eyes. Arrogant little… He quickly typed back, I'll be there. Then he shoved the phone back in his pocket, trying to focus on Ms. Tanaka.
…
The final bell shrieked, releasing the students into the afternoon. Haruka slipped away from the throng, heading towards a rarely used alley behind the school's gymnasium. He needed a place to transform, and fast.
Reaching the secluded spot, he glanced around one last time, making sure he was alone. Good.
"Henshin," he muttered, feeling Kivat latch onto his waist. In a flash of dark energy, the Kivat Belt materialized, and crimson armor erupted from within, encasing him in its gothic embrace. Kamen Rider Kiva stood tall, the crimson fangs of his mask gleaming in the dim light.
"Let's go, Haruka!" Kivat said, perched on his shoulder. Haruka ignored the little bat's usual theatrics.
He spotted Robin leaning against the alley wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. Show off.
Robin raised an eyebrow, taking in the vampiric armor. "Bit dramatic, even for you," he commented, but his tone was more amused than critical.
Haruka shrugged, suppressing a sigh. "Just doing my job. What's the intel?" He didn't need a critique on his armor choice. He needed to know what Bane was up to.
Robin pushed himself off the wall, his expression turning serious. "Bane's been spotted at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. Looks like he's meeting with someone… important. Big player."
Outskirts, huh? That meant trouble. More room to maneuver, less chance of collateral damage… and more opportunity for things to go wrong.
"Let's move," Haruka said, his voice a low growl beneath the Kiva helmet. "We can't let this deal go down." He channeled Kivat's vampiric power, and crimson energy pulsed from him.
Robin smirked, appreciating the quick agreement. "Finally. Thought I'd have to drag you kicking and screaming." He straightened up, and his cape fluttered in the breeze.
Together, they moved towards the edge of the alley, ready to set off.
…
The Auto Vajin roared to life, its engine echoing off the brick walls of the alley as Haruka and Robin sped out onto the streets of National City. The abandoned factory district was on the other side of town, a sprawling wasteland of broken dreams and forgotten industry.
The sun was beginning to set as they arrived at the factory, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The air hung heavy with the stench of decay and the silence felt ominous, broken only by the occasional screech of a distant seagull.
Haruka killed the engine of the Auto Vajin a block away from the factory. "We go on foot from here," he muttered, dismounting. He needed to be careful. He could sense the presence of multiple individuals, a cocktail of malice and greed hanging in the air.
Robin nodded, already moving towards the factory grounds, his footsteps silent on the cracked pavement. "Stealth is key. Don't want to spook the big guys before we know what they're up to."
They navigated the perimeter fence, slipping through a gaping hole in the rusted metal. The factory loomed before them, a skeletal structure against the twilight sky. Shattered windows stared like vacant eyes, and the air was thick with the smell of damp concrete and rot.
Haruka is extending his perception. Too many targets.
He moved through the shadows, following Robin's lead. The kid was good, he gave him that. Years of training under Batman showed.
They reached a vantage point overlooking the main factory floor. Below, a scene unfolded that made Haruka's blood run cold.
Bane stood like a colossus, his massive frame dwarfing the men that surrounded him. The telltale tubes snaked from his neck, pumping the Venom directly into his brain. His presence alone radiated menace.
But it wasn't Bane that truly caught Haruka's attention. It was the man standing opposite him, dressed in a tailored suit that seemed absurdly out of place in the dilapidated setting. He was broad-shouldered, towering over most of Bane's men, and possessed a face that was equal parts handsome and brutal. This must be the other man that Robin mentioned.
Behind the man in the suit stood another group of tough looking men, but they clearly were of lesser rank than Bane's henchmen.
Robin nudged Haruka, whispering into his ear. "Roland Desmond. Goes by Blockbuster. A Crime lord from Blüdhaven."
Blüdhaven, Haruka thought, grimacing, figures. He recalled reading about Blüdhaven, a city plagued by crime and corruption, where Nightwing struggled to maintain order. So, Blockbuster was a major player. Haruka never would've thought that he would be in National City.
Down below, Bane spoke, his voice a low rumble that carried even through the thick factory walls. "The Venom is ready. The distribution network is in place. We control the streets."
Blockbuster chuckled, a deep, guttural sound. "Control is a strong word, Bane. You provide the muscle. I provide the brains. And the money. Let's not forget who's really in charge."
Bane's eyes narrowed, and Haruka could feel the tension radiating from the scene. "An alliance, Desmond. Not a dictatorship. We are partners in this endeavor."
"Partners with benefits," Blockbuster corrected, his eyes gleaming with greed. "I want a bigger cut. Gotham and Blüdhaven are proving… expensive."
Bane shifted, his muscles coiling beneath his skin. "Greed will be your undoing, Desmond."
"Maybe. But until then, Gotham and Blüdhaven is mine, and you need to provide. " Blockbuster replied, his smile a predatory curve.
Haruka glanced at Robin, his heart pounding. The situation was spiraling. This wasn't just about a simple drug deal anymore. This was about power, control, and the future of Gotham and Blüdhaven as well as National City. They were outnumbered and outmatched, but he knew they couldn't let this deal go through. Too many lives were at stake.
He took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. "Ready, Kivat?" he murmured, his hand instinctively moving towards his weapon.
"Ready as I'll ever be, Haruka!" Kivat said, the bat-like creature's fangs bared in anticipation.
Robin's eyes glinted with grim determination. "Let's crash this party," he whispered, and readied his weapons.
Haruka steeled his resolve. He was ready. He would do his best, even if it meant putting his life on the line.
"Showtime," Haruka muttered, then dropped from the rafters, trusting Robin to follow his lead.
The descent was quick, a blur of motion and adrenaline. They hit the factory floor with a thud, dust and debris swirling around them like a macabre confetti. Haruka landed in a crouch, his senses on high alert. He could feel the eyes of every thug in the room locked on him.
Bane and Blockbuster turned as one, their expressions hardening. They know we're here, now, Haruka thought. There was no turning back.
Bane's eyes narrowed, focusing on Haruka. He spoke, his voice a low, menacing rumble. "Take down the bats." He thought Haruka was Batman, which could work to their advantage. At least for a moment.
Haruka spared a glance at Robin, seeing the young vigilante already poised for action, Batarangs clutched in his hands.
Blockbuster's eyes narrowed, but his gaze was focused on Robin. He had no idea who he was, but knew that he was with Batman. He smirked and nodded at his henchmen, signaling them to attack as well.
The room erupted into chaos.
Haruka activated his enhanced senses, picking up the movement of dozens of thugs as they surged forward, weapons drawn. He was surrounded, outnumbered, and facing some serious firepower. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, sharpening his focus.
This wasn't going to be easy. Understatement, Haruka thought grimly.
He took a deep breath, centering himself. This was what he was born to do: protect the innocent, fight for justice. He wouldn't back down. Not now. Not ever.
He locked eyes with Robin, a silent understanding passing between them. They were in this together.
The first wave of enemies charged, a mass of snarling faces and glinting steel.
Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," Haruka muttered, as the first wave of enemies charges.
///
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