Starting with Firefly, Speedrunning the World — Part 27

Since she was targeting the Desire Grand Prix, Firefly was no ordinary person either. That did not seem strange, considering the miraculous items Firefly had taken out.

"Sorry, I'll tell you, but... not now."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Firefly answered like that.

"If that's the case, then why did you tell me all this?"

Kurama Neon did not understand.

"Because I don't want to lie to you."

"I don't want us to go our separate ways and become enemies. At least... I don't want that to happen."

"..."

Kurama Neon fell silent. Only after quite a while did she look at Firefly again.

"I understand. If you haven't lied to me, then I... am willing to help you."

"If the Desire Grand Prix really is just a reality show for those people from the future to enjoy..."

Though she did not want to admit it, she was indeed a member of the Kurama Family. As a member of the Kurama Family, there were some things she had to do.

That was what her father had taught her.

"That's good."

Hearing that, Firefly smiled.

Then her expression turned serious as she apologized to Kurama Neon again.

"Finally, I'm sorry once again!"

After saying that, Firefly turned and prepared to leave.

She was no longer suited to stay with Neon. Even though she had never harbored any ill intent toward her and had instead been helping her.

But taking advantage of someone was still taking advantage of them!

Yet just as Firefly turned to leave, Kurama Neon grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

"Huh?"

Firefly stopped, momentarily stunned.

"Firefly-chan, where are you going?"

"I already..."

"I've never blamed you, Firefly-chan! Even if it was a tracker, the truth is... you really were protecting me. I should... be thanking you instead."

Kurama Neon looked at Firefly with complete seriousness. She was not lying. Although she had been shocked by the truth about the Desire Grand Prix and the fact that Firefly had placed a tracker on her, she had never disliked Firefly from beginning to end.

Much less would she allow this matter to create a rift between herself and her only friend.

If she let Firefly leave like this, it would become difficult for their relationship to recover afterward. She would definitely regret it.

What Firefly had done did not really count as deception at all.

Besides, the fact that she could tell Neon all of this now proved that Firefly trusted her, didn't it?

She had not even needed to tell her about the tracker, yet she had still said it.

That alone was enough to show what kind of person Firefly was!

"Neon..."

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's not often that we come to a place like this, so let's take a picture as a keepsake, Firefly-chan!"

Taking out her phone, Kurama Neon cheerfully pulled Firefly into a suitable spot, ready to take a commemorative photo together.

"...Okay."

Firefly hesitated for a moment, then said nothing more and obediently went along with her.

"Three, two, one..."

"Click!"

After taking the picture, Kurama Neon looked at the adorable Firefly in it.

Sure enough, how could such a cute Firefly possibly be angry with her? Besides, it was not really a big deal.

She was doing this to fight the Desire Grand Prix and save the world, too.

Although she had not investigated it yet, Kurama Neon now more or less believed Firefly's words.

Cute Firefly could not possibly lie. The Desire Grand Prix was a Rider reality show. So Neon began thinking... about how she could help Firefly. She could not let the Desire Grand Prix's management keep acting so recklessly.

Relying on her own power seemed difficult. Perhaps she would need to rely on the Kurama Family's power.

Did she still have to go back?

Kurama Neon hesitated a little, but then she remembered something and calmed down again.

Going back would not make much difference. With the fox mask, she could easily sneak out again anyway.

"Firefly-chan, let's head back too!"

After glancing at the sky, Kurama Neon and Firefly spoke.

She kept hold of her hand, never letting go, afraid that the moment she did, Firefly would disappear out of guilt.

I'll Personally Step In and Deal with Him

The eastern sky gradually turned pale, and faint light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, softly spilling into the room.

The air carried the unique freshness of early morning, mixed with the faint fragrance of flowers and grass, instantly lifting one's spirits.

Firefly stood by the window and raised her right hand, looking at the sky through the gaps between her fingers. Things seemed to have gone differently from what she had expected. Even after revealing part of the truth, there had been no consequence.

However, Firefly turned to look at the other room, where no one remained. Kurama Neon had already headed once more to the Desire Grand Prix venue.

The third round of the Desire Grand Prix had begun.

And Kurama Neon had not thrown away the Curio Firefly had given her. She still carried it with her.

It seemed she had already believed her.

Then it was time for Firefly to make her entrance.

This time, she hoped she could obtain what she wanted.

Only by acquiring the Vision Driver could many things proceed smoothly, instead of leaving her lost and confused. Not only was the Vision Driver the key to the Desire Grand Prix, it also contained records of every Desire Grand Prix throughout history.

Firefly gently reached into the empty air with her right hand, and the next moment, her transformation device appeared in her grasp.

It was about time.

"Transform!"

[Stellaron Hunters! Sam!]

Flames swirled around Firefly, and in an instant, the beautiful girl transformed into the dashing Rider, Sam.

"Game Master, all that remains is for you to appear!"

Looking in a certain direction, Firefly murmured softly.

Meanwhile, at the Desire Grand Prix gathering point.

The remaining Rider contestants, along with Game Guide Tsumuri and Game Master Girori, were all standing there, ready to begin this round of the game.

Kurama Neon stood off to one side, holding the Desire Grand Prix communicator in her hand.

At this point... she was the only girl left among the Desire Grand Prix contestants.

The weaker participants from the beginning had already been completely eliminated. Those remaining either possessed considerable strength or fairly good luck.

However, unlike the others, Kurama Neon did not have such a strong obsession with becoming the God of Desire. Her current life was actually not bad.

Though it could not be called perfect, that wish was no longer an absolute necessity.

So she was in a relatively good frame of mind...

Besides, after learning the true nature of the Desire Grand Prix from Firefly, many of her thoughts had changed.

Although she claimed that she would investigate it herself before deciding whether to believe what Firefly had said, she had already believed those words in her heart.

Compared to the Desire Grand Prix management, she trusted the adorable Firefly more...

Still, if possible, she wanted to witness the truth of the Desire Grand Prix with her own eyes.

Her gaze swept across the other Riders. Everyone had returned to normal; even Ukiyo Ace and Azuma Michinaga, who had been beaten the worst, looked as though nothing had happened.

Back then, they had looked like they were about to die.

Was this what Kamen Riders were like?

No matter how seriously injured they had been before, they would recover before long—or immediately once they transformed.

Above them, Tsumuri was explaining the rules of the new round. The third round of the Desire Grand Prix was a game of Concentration.

It was a type of card game.

And the contestants would have to face the Playing Card Jamato.

Moreover, this round was a two-person team game.

The contestants would draw lots to determine who their partner would be.

Yet as they listened to Tsumuri's explanation, most of the Riders seemed distracted, lost in their own thoughts. Azuma Michinaga in particular wore an extremely grim expression, clearly having not forgotten what happened last time.

That had already been the second time—the second time he had been left in such a sorry state at the hands of that Stellaron Hunter.

Yet no matter how frustrated and displeased he was, there was nothing he could do, because he was completely no match for her. His only hope now was the God of Desire.

Only by becoming the God of Desire could he gain the power to defeat every Kamen Rider.

Thus, even after repeated defeats, he had not given up on participating in the Desire Grand Prix. He had no other choice.

Unlike Azuma Michinaga and the others, Kurama Neon, Sakurai Keiwa, and Ukiyo Ace showed no change in expression. At least on the surface, they appeared calm.