Chapter 4 – The Secret of the Night
The laughter from the reunion still echoed in Kazama's mind, but later that night, he sat awake at his desk, staring at the ceiling.
"…That shadow. I didn't imagine it."
He stood, pacing restlessly. His phone buzzed in his hand. Finally, he dialed one number after another.
"Shinchan, Masao, Nene, Bo-chan. Meet me. Tonight. Don't tell anyone else."
Inside a dusty old warehouse on the edge of Kasukabe, a single bulb flickered above a round table. The five old friends sat together again, sneaking away from their homes like kids hiding from their parents.
Shinchan leaned back in his chair, tossing chips into his mouth.
"Man… adult life is rough. Who knew diapers were scarier than monsters?"
Masao sniffled dramatically. "And grocery shopping… it never ends!"
Nene smacked his arm. "That's because you never buy the tofu!"
Bo-chan blinked. "…Tofu… is the foundation of peace."
Everyone turned.
"…What?"
Bo-chan shrugged. "Just felt like saying it."
They all burst into laughter—except Kazama, who pushed his glasses up, eyes sharp.
"This isn't a comedy show. I called you because something unusual is happening. I sensed danger today… and I'm not the only one. The principal felt it too."
Shinchan smirked. "Maybe you just need a nap, Kazu-kun. Even your eyebags look stressed."
Masao hesitated, his voice small. "…But… I also felt something weird earlier. Like… like déjà vu."
Silence fell.
Then the ground rumbled. The flickering bulb above them swayed.
They rushed outside—and froze.
Above Kasukabe, the night sky split open with a dark glow. Five towering silhouettes loomed, wings of power spreading across the stars.
Lord Umbra. Glacira. Voltazo. Thornfang. Jokerbane.
Their voices boomed in unison:
"After twenty years of silence… we return to claim Kasukabe!"
Shinchan's heart pounded. For once, he didn't crack a joke.
"…No way. Not them. Not again."
🌌 Flashback: The Secret Beginning
Twenty years earlier, Kasukabe was on fire. Darkness swallowed the city as the five villains unleashed their wrath:
Lord Umbra: master of shadows, summoning beasts of pure darkness.Glacira: freezing entire blocks into crystal prisons.Voltazo: lightning splitting buildings in half.Thornfang: vines crushing tanks and choking streets.Jokerbane: illusions and explosions, laughing as chaos spread.
The citizens screamed. The army failed. Hope was gone.
Then, from the skies, five legendary heroes descended.
But instead of charging into battle, their voices rang out, grim:
"We cannot defeat them. Their power is cursed. Only innocence can resist it. Only untainted bravery can fight back."
And so, while the crowd begged for help, the heroes quietly scanned the frightened children nearby… until they spotted five familiar faces.
Shinchan, Kazama, Masao, Nene, and Bo-chan. Just five years old.
Shinchan was busy dancing with his butt sticking out.
Masao was bawling uncontrollably.
Nene yelled at him to toughen up.
Kazama tried to act brave but shook like a leaf.
Bo-chan just drooled, staring into space.
The heroes exchanged a knowing look.
"These five… they have the innocence and courage the darkness cannot corrupt."
Without alerting the crowd, they pulled the kids aside into the shadows of a ruined building.
Kazama's voice cracked. "Wh-What's happening?"
Masao hiccupped. "D-Don't eat us!"
Shinchan grinned. "Are we finally getting capes? I call red!"
Nene screeched, "This isn't dress-up!"
Bo-chan muttered, "…Capes… are good."
The heroes knelt before them.
"You are the only hope. From this day, you will be the guardians of Kasukabe."
And with a surge of divine light, they gave the children powers.
🌌 The Birth of the Kasukabe Defense Team
Shinchan → Action Kamen Junior: blazing cape, fiery martial arts, unmatched speed and agility.
Kazama → Intelman: glowing visor, silver shields, tactical blasts of energy.
Masao → Quantum Robot: armored body, raw strength, plasma-charged punches.
Nene → Magical Moe-P: wand of light, pink energy ribbons, illusions and healing sparks.
Bo-chan → Rockman: skin of stone, unstoppable defense, earth-shattering strikes.
Shinchan struck a ridiculous hero pose. "Behold! Action Kamen's cooler son—me!"
Kazama barked, "We're not here to play!"
Masao tried to flex but nearly tripped.
"Q-Quantum Robot is… super serious!"
Shinchan laughed. "Looks like a constipated robot!"
Masao shrieked, "S-Stop it!!"
Nene smacked Shinchan with her wand. "Heroes don't talk about butts every five seconds!"
Bo-chan said flatly, "…Shinchan always talks about butts."
The heroes smiled, naming them that night:
"The Kasukabe Defense Team."
And when the villains attacked, the kids fought back.
Voltazo's lightning clashed with Intelman's shields.
Glacira's ice shattered under Quantum Robot's glowing fists.
Thornfang's vines snapped against Rockman's stone arms.
Jokerbane's exploding cards vanished in Moe-P's pink blaze.
And Lord Umbra's darkness split apart under Action Kamen Junior's blazing kick.
At last, the villains were banished, swallowed into nothingness. Kasukabe was saved.
The five kids stood together, battered but smiling, and made a promise beneath the stars.
"No matter what… we'll protect Kasukabe. Always."
🌌 Back to Present
The memory faded. The five adults stood outside the warehouse, staring at the villains returning in the night sky.
Shinchan cracked a grin, fire in his eyes.
"Well… looks like the Kasukabe Defense Team is back in business."
Kazama adjusted his glasses. "If they've returned… then so have we."
Masao trembled but raised his fists. "Q-Quantum Robot… reporting for duty!"
Nene's wand flickered pink sparks. "They won't stand a chance this time."
Bo-chan's deep voice rumbled. "…Rockman never crumbles."
Shinchan raised his fist to the heavens.
"Alright, Defense Team… it's showtime!"