I, Kamen Rider of Zetsu Zero

“…”

Chapter 12 Suspicion from Shark (Ailian)

[“Eight crimes have been prevented, and there are two left.”]

“…Does this count?”

[“It counts.”]

After leaving home, Mo Yu casually ate a piece of bread on the roadside for breakfast. He was tired and yawning, so he put on his backpack and walked on the street to school. Then, when he was about to get close to the school, he happened to find some gangsters blocking students to collect protection fees, and they were about to start to make moves on the weak girl.

Determined to inherit the spirit of chivalry and with rich experience in enforcing justice by [more than 300 people], Mo Yu decisively grabbed the opponent's arm from behind, and then before the gangsters could react, he punched them in the abdomen one by one and knocked them all to the ground, perfectly preventing a blackmail or even worse incident. What surprised him was that this was actually considered part of the system task.

Last night, he fought with real guns and real bullets. The gangsters who fought with him suddenly lost their value when they came to them?

He also gradually understood what Knight Space meant by the mission of stopping crime, not destroying the gang's stronghold.

No matter how big or small the matter is, any act that violates the law is a crime. Stopping such behavior from happening is completing the mission.

"Well, Mo Yu? When did you become so powerful?"

Mo Yu, who had just finished beating up three thugs, was about to turn around and leave, when suddenly a very familiar voice came from behind him. He felt something was wrong and stopped immediately.

"Who is this voice...?"

Mo Yu looked back and found that the owner of the voice was indeed Ai Lian.

Since she was standing there, it meant that the scene of him beating up three thugs just now was seen by the other party. [What you fear is what you get. When you subconsciously attack, you forget to check the surrounding situation, which is troublesome. 】

Mo Yu, who encountered this situation, didn't know how to explain for a while.

He didn't expect to meet Ai Lian here, and it was not so easy to perfunctorily beat down three adults who were taller and stronger than him with three punches. In her heart, she knew that the original Mo Yu could not have such strength. He trained himself in the system space while drinking enhancers and wearing G3 armor to fight.

And the fact is indeed so. Ailian, who was carrying a backpack on her shoulder, did not expect to see this scene when she was in school.

Although she was a student, she was also a maid affiliated with Victoria Housekeeping, so she had strong combat capabilities. Originally, when she accidentally saw Mo Yu rushing up and preparing to fight with the three hooligans who were obviously not easy to mess with, she was worried that Mo Yu would be in danger, and she also wanted to go over to help her friend quickly.

But she didn't expect that the development of the matter was completely different from what she thought.

Mo Yu seemed to have become a different person, and his own strength was amazing. Facing three tall social hooligans, he actually knocked them all down with one punch. The strength he just showed, as well as his fighting style and consciousness just now, no matter how you look at it, it doesn't look like the fighting level that a student should have. What's wrong with him?

Aware of the many changes that have taken place in Mo Yu recently, Ailian has already had doubts in her heart. Today's abnormal scene made her realize something was wrong. Her eyes inadvertently lost the naturalness and ease she usually had when she was at school, and were replaced by a fierceness and suspicion. This feeling was like being stared at by a real shark.

At this moment, because her abnormal scene was seen by Ailian, Mo Yu's heartbeat began to accelerate unconsciously. And this sudden increase in frequency was once again captured by Ailian, who had a good hearing, interrupting her meditation just now, and her eyes returned to normal.

Another sudden increase in frequency?

Ailian, who noticed the abnormality, looked up at Mo Yu in front of him, but all she could see on his face was evasion and... fear? What was going on? Could it be that the sudden increase in frequency before was not because he liked her, but because he was concerned or afraid of her?

Hiss, it seems that this possibility cannot be ruled out, and if this is true, then Mo Yu's repeated rejections before make sense.

But why? She didn't think Mo Yu would be afraid...

Ailian thought seriously with her mind open. As time went by, her smile gradually disappeared and her expression gradually changed.

"Oh, it's Ailian. Nothing, I just started to exercise recently. What a coincidence, I didn't expect you to come to school at this time today, I thought you would be a little earlier." Looking at Ailian's obviously wrong eyes, Mo Yu knew that his behavior just now was indeed a bit too much, so he quickly tried to change the subject.

"Oh, I just happened to get up late today." Ailian answered casually, then frowned and asked: "Have you been exercising recently?"

"Yes, I often ride a bicycle at night, and occasionally run in the morning."

"Is that so, but didn't you say that you hate those sports the most? You said before that you like taking pictures and watching videos, so you created a photography club."

Hearing Ailian say this, an inexplicable memory suddenly appeared in his mind. Mo Yu knew that this was because his abnormal behavior made the other party realize that something was wrong.

After all, other people are not fools, and they can still see the changes in their friends around them.

"Ah, just think of it as a strong body that I have specially trained for better photography activities." Mo Yu explained with a stiff face.

"After all, at various times, photographers want to take good photos and also have to seize opportunities, so learning skills such as climbing walls and running is essential."

"..."

Listening to Mo Yu's poor reasons, Ai Lian did not speak, but just stood there and looked at him quietly. But seeing that the other party did not want to explain further, he just nodded and did not choose to ask further.

"Well, I wish you a smooth photography activity in the future. If you need anything or feel uncomfortable, you can come to me for help."

"Well, thank you, Ai Lian."

"... It's okay."

Ai Lian looked at him meaningfully.

Everyone has secrets, even she herself has secrets that cannot be discovered by others. It is also normal for her friend to have secrets that cannot be told to herself.

But the changes in him made her feel abnormal and wrong. The smell clearly told her that the person in front of her was indeed Mo Yu, not someone in disguise. But her intuition told her that things were not that simple.

She always felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't put it into words.

"Then it's all right, right? I'll leave first, see you at school."

After a confusing exchange, Mo Yu had no interest in continuing to chat with the shark girl. He simply answered and prepared to run away. But Ai Lian, who had learned from his previous escapes, did not give him a chance to get ahead this time. Instead, he reached out and grabbed his arm when he was about to leave.

"Eh? Ai Lian, you..."

The icy touch from his palm surprised Mo Yu a little.

"Why have you been running around for nothing recently? I won't eat you. We are in the same class. Since we meet here, let's go to class together."

"Okay."

Listening to Ai Lian's suggestion, Mo Yu was slightly stunned, his expression changed slightly, and he thought it was not good.

He had already noticed that Ai Lian was beginning to doubt him. The shark girl in front of him really had an unusually sharp sense of smell, just like a real shark. If he wasn't careful, he would be targeted by the other party like prey.

"This is going to be difficult..."

And things really went as he thought. After deliberately entangled with Mo Yu and walked side by side for a distance, Ai Lian beside him suddenly turned his head and asked him.

"By the way, Mo Yu, do you still remember what the nickname you and the guys gave me not long ago was?"

Mo Yu: "..."

Not long ago?

Hearing Ai Lian suddenly turn his head and ask this question, Mo Yu was stunned for a moment, and then began to seriously look for that memory.

But regarding the not long ago mentioned by Ai Lian, Mo Yu didn't find that memory in his mind at all, so he guessed that this was probably a test.

"Not long ago? Ailian, what are you talking about? Didn't you only have one nickname since you started school? I remember you thought that name was quite shameful at the time, and you even emphasized that you were not allowed to call that nickname outside. Why are you suddenly asking about this now?"

Mo Yu turned his head and blurted out the name as if nothing had happened: "If I remember correctly, your nickname should be Xiaoyu..."

"Wait! I suddenly remembered it, no need to say it deliberately."

Hearing Mo Yu say the name without thinking, Ailian's face suddenly changed, and then the expression he looked at Mo Yu became even stranger.

"Eh? What's wrong again, Ailian? Why are you suddenly asking about this? You have been feeling a little strange since just now, are you feeling uncomfortable?" Mo Yu asked curiously.

"No, nothing. I just feel a little nostalgic? Yes, a little nostalgic."

"Really? I'm glad you're okay." Mo Yu looked at her with a smile and asked, "Can I call you by your nickname in the future?"

"No way!"

"Okay, let's call you Ailian."

After a brief chat, the two walked into the classroom side by side. Ailian didn't say any extra words to test her on the way, probably because she had let down her guard.

And Mo Yu didn't let down his guard either, still trying to act like the original owner, trying not to reveal a flaw.

Looking at the two people's uniform steps and similar calm expressions, they seemed so harmonious while walking side by side.

If you don't know, you will definitely think that they have a very good relationship.

But in fact, when the two returned to their seats and sat down, the expressions on their faces disappeared without a trace.

And this time, neither of them made any sound.

Chapter 13 Another Self (with additional updates)

That afternoon, when the students were in physical education class, the frail girl sitting opposite Mo Yu's chair, leaning on the desk with one hand, looked at the boy who was hurriedly packing his things, as if he was preparing to run away.

"Well, although I heard from other classmates that you seem to be avoiding Ailian recently, it seems that there may be a little conflict between you. But we are still classmates and friends. Is it necessary to pack up and sneak away during physical education class?"

After much inner struggle, the girl with round glasses and a somewhat frail temperament couldn't help but speak. But before she spoke, Mo Yu had almost packed up his things, picked up his schoolbag and was ready to run away at any time.

"Huh? Conflict?"

In response to the girl's words, he just glanced at his head and replied: "Are you saying that I have a conflict with Ailian? Where did you hear this rumor, why are we having a conflict?"

"But you are now..."

"I just feel unwell, so I want to leave early. I have already asked for leave from teacher Luca."

The frail girl: "..."

The speed at which you pack your schoolbag, and the neat movements just now, don't look like you are unwell at all! !

Seeing that Mo Yu was not going to say anything to her, she became even more worried.

Originally, when Mo Yu disappeared, as classmates and friends, they were very concerned about Mo Yu's safety. They also posted missing person notices in various corners of New Eridu, but they never received an effective response.

Just when they were about to lose hope in finding Mo Yu, not long ago, when they saw Mo Yu suddenly come back, as friends, they were all very happy, including Ailian of course. Seeing their friend safe and sound was an indescribable joy for them.

After all, only in the most unforgettable student period can a few unrelated people with different personalities and pursuits become friends without the interference of interests and positions. For each of them, this is a very pure and precious friendship.

So when they saw Mo Yu come back, they would be happy from the bottom of their hearts.

But this is obviously a good thing, and the classmates in the class have also discussed to hold a celebration for Mo Yu's safe return. After school, everyone went to the ramen restaurant on Liufen Street to eat, and then went to play video games and sing.

As a result, I don’t know what happened between Mo Yu and Ailian? The atmosphere became very strange, and the plan was shelved because of Mo Yu’s repeated rejections.

Although they didn’t show it, as Ailian’s friend, she could certainly see that there must be something she didn’t know about it.

Although she didn't know what happened, it must be very unpleasant.

After noticing this situation, she also asked Ailian what happened. But Ailian just shook her head slightly and answered her: "I don't know."

When she saw Mo Yu and Ailian go to school together and enter the classroom today, she was slightly relieved, thinking that they had reconciled.

But they remained silent for a day. No one said a word to each other during school. The atmosphere was as silent as death. Now when she returned to the classroom to drink water, she saw Mo Yu packing his schoolbag and preparing to run away.

Her heart couldn't bear it anymore.

In this situation, it is definitely impossible to say that nothing happened between them.

As a friend of the two, she couldn't just watch it like this. She had to do something and take some measures.

"..."

So, Mo Yu, who had already carried his bag, turned his head and looked at the weak girl behind him who suddenly called him. Then he packed up the rest of his things again as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere became even weirder.

Did she think she was just unhappy with Ailian? Yes, there were some unpleasant things that happened. But the unpleasant things didn't force him to run away secretly.

What drove him to run away was actually the scene that Ailian saw this morning and her repeated deliberate tests on him.

This weak girl could never have imagined that she had been acting wildly with Ailian on the road for more than ten minutes today. She had to withstand all kinds of tests from the other party before she arrived at the school safely, and every question the other party asked her was a fatal question. If she was not careful, a very bad situation would happen.

If possible, he didn't mind taking responsibility and playing the role of the original owner for a short time to help him consolidate his original interpersonal relationships. But now this situation is obviously not allowed.

Although he had perfunctorily passed it once, he had a hunch that this should be just the beginning. Ailian's shark-like sensitive sense of smell and serious personality would never be easily relieved before the truth was discovered.

Although he had seen some of the original owner's memories and could act according to the memories. But fake is fake after all, it is impossible to act perfectly. If he continues to be tested like this, the other party will definitely find the flaws, and then things will become really troublesome.

Originally, Mo Yu came to school just to reassure the parents and try to maintain the original owner's attendance rate so that he would not face the horrible scene of repeating a grade when he came back. But compared to his own system tasks, this is at best a simple side quest. Out of responsibility and obligation, he also needs to carry it out.