The day went on as usual, no Hollow outbreaks, no emergency calls, just the usual hum of activity inside Section 6.
When the afternoon rolled around, Miyabi decided it was time to take Tsutsumi for his first real training session.
The two made their way to the Hollow Investigative Association's Training Facility, a large, high-tech complex built specifically for Void Hunters and Special Operations agents. The place was lined with reinforced glass walls, humming power conduits, and the faint echo of combat simulations running in nearby chambers.
The staff there didn't question Miyabi much, not that anyone dared to. Her reputation as a Void Hunter and Chief of Section 6 carried enough weight to make even the senior instructors stand straighter.
As for Tsutsumi, most of them didn't even give him a second glance. To them, he was just the new kid tagging along behind the Chief, probably here for a basic skill assessment or team compatibility test.
"So we just have to get into this pot, correct?" Tsutsumi asked, standing before one of the massive, capsule-like metal chambers. The machine looked like a mix between a cryo-pod and a sensory deprivation tank, covered in glowing circuitry and connected to thick cables running along the floor. Its side panel displayed shifting holographic data.
"Yes," Miyabi confirmed, adjusting her earpiece while typing something on the console beside her pod. "Once inside, our minds will be transferred into an artificial combat space. It keeps all of our skills, instincts, and reflexes intact, but separates physical damage from reality. Any wounds or injuries you take in there won't carry over to your real body."
She paused, giving him a warning look. "That said, the exhaustion is very real. You'll still feel fatigue and strain as if you were actually fighting."
Tsutsumi hummed in thought, circling the pod like he was inspecting some sort of strange animal. "So it's a safe way to go all out without dying or blowing up the building," he muttered.
"Exactly," Miyabi said with a faint nod. "It lets agents utilize their full power without worrying about collateral damage or friendly fire. You can test everything you're capable of."
"Interesting…" Tsutsumi murmured, placing a hand on the cold metal surface before stepping inside. The interior was lined with soft cushioning and light restraints to stabilize the body.
He leaned back and crossed his arms, completely unbothered. "Alright, let's see what this baby can do."
Miyabi gave a small smile at his confidence before climbing into her own pod. "Try not to get cocky," she said as the lid began to close.
A low hum filled the air as both pods sealed shut. The lights dimmed, and streams of holographic data cascaded across the screens.
"Neural sync in progress…" a mechanical voice announced.
And in the next instant, both of them vanished from the real world, their consciousness diving straight into the artificial battlefield.
When Tsutsumi opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the middle of a ruined city. Crumbling skyscrapers loomed around him, their frames twisted and blackened as if devoured by time itself. The air was heavy with static, faint particles of blue light floating through the fog.
"Looks like someone's idea of an apocalypse," he murmured, glancing around as faint echoes of distant thunder rolled through the artificial sky.
While Tsutsumi explored the simulated ruins, Miyabi stood a short distance away, checking the settings on her terminal. A series of holographic displays flickered before her eyes, showing the combat parameters, and then she froze.
"...What the?" she muttered.
His Ether Adaptability… zero.
His Ether capacity… zero.
She frowned, leaning closer as if the numbers would change if she stared long enough.
"Another anomaly…" she whispered under her breath.
After the Fall of the Old Capital and the emergence of Hollow Zero, Ether had become a part of life itself, existing everywhere: in the air, in the ground, in every living creature and machine. Ether wasn't just energy; it was the foundation of their modern world. Even newborns showed measurable Ether resonance.
But Tsutsumi… had none. He was like a void, a blank space where Ether simply didn't exist.
"Tsutsumi," Miyabi called out, her tone firm. "Do you know what Ether is?"
He tilted his head. "Ether? Like those batteries they sell in stores or something else?"
She blinked. He wasn't joking, he genuinely didn't know. The fact that someone his age didn't understand Ether was absurd. It was basic education, something even children in kindergarten could explain.
"…I'll explain later," she said finally, forcing her tone calm. "Let's just focus on the training for now."
She didn't mention that she was growing increasingly wary and intrigued. His instant form-changing abilities, those strange weapons and powers… she had assumed they were Ether-based. But now that she knew he had zero Ether resonance, the possibilities became far more unsettling.
"Alright, how about three rounds?" Miyabi suggested, slipping into her combat stance, her fox tail flicking behind her as she drew her blade. "First to reach three points wins."
"Sure," Tsutsumi said, shrugging casually. "I don't mind."
The words barely left his mouth before Miyabi blurred forward. Her form became a streak of blue light, her sword cutting through the air like lightning.
Attack Ride: Instinct!
Tsutsumi's body moved on its own, ducking back just as her blade sliced past his bangs, the sharp edge grazing his hair and cutting a few strands clean off. Her second slash came down faster than the last.
He leapt backward, only for a crescent wave of blue Ether flame to erupt from her blade and rush toward him.
Kamen Ride: Saber! Brave Dragon~! Rekka Issatsu!
His form ignited with fiery light. The ground beneath him cracked from the surge of energy as he swung his twin blades, sending a red-orange flame slash to meet her Ether wave. The two attacks collided in midair, bursting into a flare of blue and crimson sparks that painted the broken skyline.
When the light faded, Tsutsumi stood in a new form with white pants, black and red boots, his long-sleeved coat split into three colors: white in the center, black on the left, red on the right. A horn-shaped crest glowed on his forehead.
He twirled his blades, Kaenken Rekka in his right hand, the Rider Book Sword in his left, and launched two fiery energy slashes toward Miyabi.
Miyabi countered immediately, her Ether-imbued sword flashing in two arcs. Their attacks met again, bursting into a storm of glowing embers.
The battle intensified. Every clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the ruins, shaking broken concrete loose from buildings. Sparks danced like fireflies between them as their duel became faster, sharper, a blur of light and motion.
Miyabi's expression hardened. She found herself subconsciously going all out.He was adapting too quickly.
Kamen Ride: Agito!
His body flashed again, his clothes shifting to black with a golden sleeveless vest, silver-lined boots, and a horn-like crown upon his head. His movements changed entirely; slower, perhaps, but more fluid, his reaction time sharper.
Despite losing some power compared to Saber Form, Miyabi could feel that he was reading her better, adjusting to every swing, every feint, like his body was learning from her with each exchange.
Their duel tore through another building, the structure collapsing around them. They ran down its crumbling walls, still clashing as chunks of concrete fell around them.
Attack Ride: Auto Vajin!
A mechanical roar echoed as a motorcycle materialized beside him. Without hesitation, Tsutsumi swung the bike like a weapon, slamming it into Miyabi and sending her crashing through the collapsing wall.
She retaliated instantly, bursting from the rubble to drive a kick into his chest, sending him tumbling through another floor until he crashed onto an old, dusty sofa.
He sat up, only to meet her gaze through the haze of dust. "...Guess that counts as a point?" he muttered.
Before Miyabi could reply, the building exploded from within. The two were thrown out into the open air, landing on falling slabs of concrete.
They ran across the debris midair, clashing again with a flurry of sparks as they descended.
His golden vest suddenly shimmered, sleeves extending from its edges, one burning red, the other stormy blue. A powerful gust rippled through the ruined city as Tsutsumi summoned the Storm Halberd in his left and the Flame Saber in his right.
With a single exhale, he crossed both weapons and swung. Red flame from the blade and navy blue wind from the staff meet the azure flame of Miyabi's blade. Their weapons clashed violently, releasing arcs of energy that cut through the falling debris.
They continued trading blows while plummeting through the sky, each strike echoing like thunder across the desolate cityscape. Their movements blurred into a trail of fire and wind until.
Both jumped from the collapsing platform just before it shattered, rolling onto the cracked ground below. They skidded back, dust swirling between them as they raised their weapons once again.
Tsutsumi steadied his breathing as a new card materialized in his hand.
Form Ride: Agito! Ether Form!
A surge of light erupted around him. His golden vest deepened into a pitch-black hue, the red and blue sleeves blending into an eerie green that pulsed like veins of liquid light. His inner clothes turned pure white, almost luminescent, contrasting sharply against the ruined world around them.
Even the horned crown on his head has turned white, with one horn larger than the other.
Agito's passive, the Power of Agito, allows those who are blessed with this power to evolve far beyond the power of what could be said to be the gods in Agito World. It allowed Tsutsumi to unlock a new power from a Kamen Rider if they existed within a world like this.
Miyabi's eyes widened in disbelief as she sensed the Ether surge around him, the system interface even flashing red warnings.
In front of her stood her adopted son, yet the system is telling her that the being in front of her is an Ethereal. A jet-black Ether core like void spun at the center of his vest, throbbing like a heart.
"Tsutsumi, d-do you feel anything strange?" Miyabi asked, her voice cautious but carrying a motherly concern as she instinctively lowered her sword.
"Not really," he replied calmly, flexing his clawed fingers as Ether danced around his hand like shimmering smoke. "Although… this new form is quite interesting."
The way he said it made it sound almost casual, which only deepened her unease.
"Can you switch back to normal?" she asked, a faint tremor of worry leaking through her usually composed tone. The thought of him becoming an Ethereal, a being of corruption and madness, sent a chill down her spine.
Hearing that concern, Tsutsumi gave a small nod. The Ether around him flickered, then dissipated. His form dissolved in motes of light, returning to his usual appearance. The readings instantly dropped to zero.
Miyabi exhaled slowly, shoulders relaxing as the tension faded. "Let's call it a day," she said, her voice softer now, almost fatigued. "We can come back tomorrow… and see what other surprises you have in store."
Tsutsumi didn't argue. "Fine by me," he said with a faint shrug.
Together, they stepped out of the training simulation.
The two made their way home under the dim evening light, the sky painted in hues of orange. Once inside, Miyabi stretched tiredly and reached for her phone, clearly planning to order takeout again.
Before she could even scroll through the menu, Tsutsumi's calm voice cut in. "I'll handle dinner."
She blinked in surprise, lowering her phone as he rolled up his sleeves and began preparing ingredients with quiet efficiency. The familiar rhythm of chopping vegetables, the hiss of the pan, and the rising scent of spices filled the air. Soon, the soft bubbling of curry simmering in the pot overtook the room.
Drawn by the aroma, Miyabi leaned against the doorway, silently watching her adopted son at work. The golden light from the kitchen lamps reflected off his hair as he stirred the pot, every movement precise, almost practiced, like someone who found peace in repetition.
After a moment, Tsutsumi lifted the spoon and gave the curry a taste. He nodded once in approval. But as he set the spoon down, his right hand suddenly trembled. The metal spoon clattered against the counter.
"Tsutsumi?" Miyabi asked softly, her tone instantly shifting from curious to concerned. "Is everything okay?"
He stood there for a second, hand twitching slightly, eyes distant, haunted by something only he could see. Then, with a forced breath, he answered, "Yeah… just remembered some… old memories."
His voice was calm, but it carried an undertone of ache that didn't belong to his years.
Before she could say anything, Tsutsumi suddenly clenched his fist and slammed it down onto the counter. The sharp sound startled her, but he didn't flinch, didn't even wince. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on his hand, letting the pain anchor him back to the present.
A faint tear escaped his right eye. He quickly brushed it away with the back of his hand, pretending it was just sweat.
Miyabi's chest tightened at the sight. She could sense the sadness behind his composure, the kind that comes from scars too deep to talk about. But she said nothing. She simply let the silence settle between them, giving him the dignity of not being questioned.
A few minutes later, the front door opened. "I'm home!" Souichirou's familiar voice echoed through the house, breaking the heavy quiet.
"Welcome back," Miyabi greeted, regaining her usual composure.
The three of them sat down together for dinner. The rich aroma of curry filled the table, and Souichirou wasted no time in digging in.
"This is amazing!" he said between bites, ears twitching in delight.
"Mm, it's really good," Miyabi agreed warmly, her ears twitching contentedly.
Tsutsumi gave a small smile, looking down at his bowl. "Glad you like it."
He took a bite himself, the flavor spreading across his tongue, spiced perfectly, balanced, and rich. Yet, as he swallowed, something about it felt… empty.
No matter how good it was, it still tasted hollow to him.