The afternoon sun streamed through the window, painting warm stripes across his bedroom floor. Haruka sprawled on his bed, mindlessly scrolling through his phone. College applications loomed, but the prospect felt… distant. Right now, all he wanted was to relax.
A sudden ding! from his phone broke the silence. A text message. From Lena.
Lena Luthor: "Haruka, I was hoping you might be available for another visit to LexCorp. There are some additional tests I'd like to run, and I value your… unique insight."
He stared at the message, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation churning in his gut. On one hand, Lena was brilliant, and her technology was fascinating. Plus, she never ceased to impress. On the other hand… she was a Luthor. And he knew firsthand how dangerous those could be.
Still, he had to admit, his curiosity won. Plus, she needed him, and he was a Kamen Rider. So it's his responsibility to do everything he can to help the city.
He typed a quick reply: "Sure, I can come by."
He tossed his phone aside and sat up, stretching. Time to gear up. He was going to LexCorp again.
…
He arrived at LexCorp, the sleek, imposing tower a stark contrast to the rest of National City's skyline.
Lena greeted him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Haruka, glad you could make it."
He followed her through the labyrinthine corridors, his gaze sweeping over the sterile, high-tech environment. They reached a vast testing lab, and Haruka stopped dead in his tracks.
Rows of armored suits stood poised like silent sentinels. They were sleek, silver, and undeniably familiar. Like his armors. But more… generic.
"Are those…" he began, his voice tight, "Are those what you've been working on? From analyzing my Drivers?"
Lena's smile widened, genuine this time. "Precisely. And I was just about to run them through their paces. Care to watch?"
She gestured towards the armors, her green eyes sparkling with anticipation.
…
The armors moved with an unsettling precision, simulations kicking in. They swiveled, targeting the turrets that sprang from the floor, unleashing a barrage of missiles and gunfire. Each hit landed with calculated accuracy, and the turrets were reduced to smoking wreckage in a matter of seconds.
Haruka watched, arms crossed, unimpressed. Power armors. That's all they were. Sure, they amplified strength, speed, maybe even offered some decent protection. But that was it. Nothing special.
It seemed Lena hadn't cracked the code, couldn't replicate the unique powers that made his Riders more than just metal suits. They don't have Abyss's access to the Mirror World. Nor Kabuto's superspeed.
Good. A cold sense of relief washed over him. The world didn't need more wannabe Riders.
"Impressive," Haruka said, forcing a smile. The word tasted like ash in his mouth.
Lena, however, seemed far from satisfied. Her brow furrowed, and she crossed her arms, her posture radiating barely contained frustration. "Impressive? Is that all you've got?"
He shrugged, trying to play it cool. "They did what you asked. They destroyed the targets. What more do you want?"
"More," she snapped, her voice sharper than he'd ever heard it. "Much more. All I made were glorified supersuits. No different than creating a damn robot. Heck, a robot might be more versatile."
She paced, her expensive shoes clicking against the polished floor. "These are just… weak imitations, Haruka. They don't even come close to what your armors can do. There's no spark, no… magic."
Magic. She used the word he'd been carefully avoiding. Magic was the only explanation for what he did, and there's more to the technology that can be studied in a lab.
He suppressed a sigh. This was going to be more difficult than he thought.
"So, what do you want from me?" he asked, cutting to the chase. "Why did you bring me here?"
Lena stopped pacing and fixed him with a piercing stare. "I want your insights, Haruka. I want to understand what makes your armors so unique."
He scoffed, a genuine laugh escaping his lips. "And why would I give you that? What's in it for me?"
He watched her, a silent challenge hanging in the air. She could use her money, her influence… but he had the power.
Lena sighed, and she looked directly into his eyes. "I have no right to ask you."
His guard went up. That doesn't sound like the Lena Luthor.
"I already let you study my armor last time," Haruka said, crossing his arms. "I think my debt has already been repaid."
Haruka's last sentence echoes around the room, leaving a pregnant silence between them. Haruka steel himself for the argument that is to come.
"Okay," Lena said, breaking the silence. "What if I could offer you… resources?"
Haruka's eyebrows rose, his curiosity piqued.
Lena gestured around the lab. "LexCorp has the technology, the funding… everything you could possibly need to enhance your… Kamen Rider activities. Better weapons, enhanced armor, intel on threats… We could even provide cover stories, ensure your… personal life remains undisturbed."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "Think about it, Haruka. With LexCorp backing you, you could be unstoppable."
Unstoppable, she said. It sounded tempting, especially now that his powers were growing.
But LexCorp… The name left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was a Faustian bargain, and one he wasn't sure he was ready to make.
"Why?" he asked, cutting through the noise. "Why offer me all this? What do you get out of it?"
Lena sighed. "I want to help National City, and I see you as the best way to do it." She paused, glancing at him again. "There's no other way, Haruka, but to be honest with you: I want to fix my family's reputation and become a hero. And I want to use all that power to do that."
"I don't even know if I can trust you," Haruka blurted out, shaking his head. "You are a Luthor."
The words hung in the air. That's right, he thought, keep the pressure on her.
Lena's expression hardened, a flicker of pain flashing in her eyes. "I know," she said, her voice low. "And I know that I have a lot to prove. I'm not asking you to forget what my brother did, or to suddenly trust me implicitly. All I'm asking is for a chance."
She met his gaze, her green eyes earnest and unwavering. "A chance to show you that I'm not Lex. That I want to use my power for good, not evil."
The air crackled with unspoken tension. Haruka knew she wasn't wrong.
He looked away, towards the banks of machines, then back at Lena. He could take advantage of LexCorp resources, of all that power… but at what cost?
Family. The word echoed in his head. He's finally found one in this world, but it came at a cost.
He took a deep breath, making up his mind. Okay. Okay, he'll do it.
"I'll give you a chance," Haruka said, his voice firm. "But understand this, Lena: If you break my trust, if you use me or my abilities for your own selfish gain… it won't be cheap."
He met her gaze, his eyes narrowed, communicating his warning. I will hunt you down.
A flicker of something akin to relief crossed Lena's face. "I understand, Haruka."
She stepped closer, extending her hand. "So… partners?"
Haruka hesitated for a moment, then grasped her hand, sealing the deal. "Partners," he agreed, a wary edge in his voice. He then shook her hands, thinking that it was a deal made with a devil.
The power of Lexcorp was now in his hands.
///
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