𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓟𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓸𝓻𝓪'𝓼 𝓑𝓸𝔁 𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓴𝔂 𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓭𝔂. 𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓻𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓼: 𝓣𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓸, 𝓢𝓮𝓲𝓽𝓸, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓗𝓸𝓴𝓾𝓽𝓸, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓸𝓼 𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓾𝓮𝓭.

————————————————————

"Hang on, just, hang on a sec..." Souichi stopped Sento and grabbed his face. "Do you realize what you've done!?" He snapped at the genius physicists in anger.

Sento planned to bring Ryuuga in their place and keep himself hidden from their eyes. Souichi was enraged at the idea and worried about letting the fugitive stay in his place.

"I didn't have a choice!" Sento retorted back and pushed his hands away. "You can't expect me to send Luella-san or Ji-yoo because they're cops. If I didn't do something, he was going to end up back in prison."

"That's another thing! What if there'll be a day they could find your secret place? Or worse, you're a Kamen Rider." He asked Sento about the consequences if they managed to unveil his secrets.

Sento pursed his lips at the thought of his secrets soon being exposed to them if he never had a chance to reveal them. "He'd be a guinea pig again... I'm sure Luella-san and Ji-yoo would understand my intention."

Souichi narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" He demanded.

"He's the best match with my memories." The genius physicists truthfully answered. Ryuuga may be the key to helping him remember his memories. "Which means I was one of their test subjects, too."

"But if they did something to you, shouldn't you both be monsters now?" Souichi asked curiously how they didn't transform into Smash. "Plus, he's still got his memories. And since he does, it means he knows where their base is, right?"

Sento stared at Ryuuga's direction. "Except he doesn't remember where it was." He realized something. "But if we look into the murder that Banjou was framed for... we might find a lead on the bat man and his group!" He exclaimed.

"We can also ask their help to re-investigate the cold case!" Souichi suggested while Sento shook his head in denial. "Why? They can have access to all the files."

"I know, but I'm worried about Luella-san's reaction." Sento pointed out and exhaled softly. "I don't know about Ji-yoo's reaction because he never shows emotions other than his icy attitude." Having re-open the case is a sensitive topic to Luella and Ji-yoo because of Takumi's death.

"Why would they react?" He looks confused and curious about their reaction if they try to re-investigate the case.

"He was their closest friend, and I heard about it from Himoru." He answered softly before he shook his head. "Let's figure it out later. Right now, let's ask him." Sento approached Ryuuga and turned his body with his sunglasses on. The genius physicists took it off. "For now, tell us about yourself."

"What do you mean?" Ryuuga asked rudely.

"Everything." Sento answered and wanted to know why he was being framed for murder.

"Got it." He sits at the table. "I was born in an OB/GYN clinic in Yokohama. I was a healthy 3.203 kilos... "

Sento growled in annoyance at Ryuuga's narrative story. "Nobody said to start that far back!" He snapped and ended his narration.

"Hey, you said everything." He retorted back.

"Pick up on a context clue for once, idiot." He sighed heavily. "I wish Luella-san is here."

"Who are you calling an idiot, man?" Ryuuga grabbed Sento's shoulder aggressively. "Who the hell is Luella?"

"Stop digging into that every time." Sento pushed his hands to stop him from shaking. "Let's start with when you were arrested. Luella-san is a special friend of mine." He ignored Souichi's snickered at his response.

"Okay." He stared at him suspiciously. "I was told about this scientist who was supposed to give me a job. I went to his place, but he was already dead, and then the cops showed up."

"Objection!" Souichi raised his hands and stopped Ryuuga.

"Go ahead, Owner!" Sento pointed his hand at him.

"That seems too convenient." Souichi pointed out. "For the police show up at a murder scene, with that kind of timing... "

"Well, they did anyway!" Ryuuga snapped and raised his voice while approaching. "You saying I'm lying!?" He squeaks in shock at the sound.

Sento screams happily at the machine and approaches it. He grabbed the red bottle to reveal the face of the gorilla. "So that Smash resulted in a gorilla, huh? Good work." He stroked the door.

The door opened, revealing Misora as she slapped his hands. "Good work that I did." She corrected him before shoving him. "Move."

"Who are you!?" Ryuuga asked in a demanded tone at the unknown lady. "Is that Lightning!?"

Misora approached him before throwing punches as he stepped back to avoid getting hit. "I could ask you that, but I'm not Lightning. None of us knew her true identity or Ice Knight."

"In any case, if the murder and the escape were both set up, there should be something that both have in common." Sento changed the subject. "We'll have to dig into that. The question is where to begin..."

"I can help there!" They heard a feminine voice and looked up at the stairs, revealing a lady wearing a dress and white coat.

The mysterious lady waved at them with a sly smile. Souichi and Sento stared at each other in confusion, wondering how she had found out about their secret hideout.

Misora didn't hesitate to punch her father's shoulder. "Why did you leave the door open!?"

"I locked it!" Souichi defended himself. "You got back with this guy... I was all, 'Don't just bring people to the secret hideout.' Then I opened the door..." He screamed and made the mistake of leaving the fridge door open. "...and I didn't close it."

"Hey!" Sento whined at his mistake.

"I'm sorry!" He apologized.

"So this is Kamen Rider's hideout." The mysterious lady is amazed at the secret hideout under the cafe. "I'll assume the mysterious female lightning and Ice Knight are here too?"

Sento and Souichi approached the mysterious lady. "How do you know that? No, they're not here or their hideout." Sento explained.

The mysterious lady faces him. "Did you forget about last night? At. The. Pier." She remembered nearly getting killed by Smash if not for him saving her on time.

Sento remembered saving her. "But how'd you know to look here?" He asked her curiously.

The mysterious lady showed him a business card from Souichi's cafe. "Here." It felt off from his pocket when he reverted before leaving the place. The business card gave her the clue to find his location.

"Hey!" Souichi glared at Sento's carelessness.

"I'm sorry!" Sento apologized.

"Don't worry! I'm just here to thank you." The mysterious lady assured him before observing the environment. "It'd be fantastic if you let me do a story on Kamen Rider, Lightning Priestess and Ice Knight..."

"Not happening." Sento denied her requests to write their stories. He barely knows Lightning and Ice Knight, but they deserve as much privacy as he does.

"Please!" The mysterious lady begged Sento. "I'm freelance and barely making it! I need some scoop." Sento ignored her. "If you don't let me cover this up close, I'm gonna out you."

"Oh? Is that a threat, Takigawa Sawa?" They heard an unusual icy tone while the mysterious lady known as Takigawa Sawa flinched and recognized the tone.

'Crap, I remember that voice...' Sawa gulped nervously as they heard footsteps.

The person revealed Luella and Ji-yoo as they froze in surprise. Sento paled at their appearance, including Luella's stern look. 'This is what I was afraid of!' The genius physicists wailed and silently hoped no bloodbath would be inside the hideout.

"Ma-Ma-Mamoru Luella... Takashi Ji-yoo." She muttered in a fearful tone.

"Lu-Luella-san, I-I-I-I can explain! I know—" Sento stammered nervously while Luella raised her hand to stop him.

"Your explanation can wait, Kiryuu." Luella cuts him off in an icy tone without looking.

Misora squeaks at her tone. "I've never seen her this kind of reaction." She whimpers and hides behind the door. They know Luella has always been serene when off-duty, not guarding her emotions.

"I know those two." Ryuuga muttered, scared they would send him back to prison. He remembered they got involved in capturing him that day. Ji-yoo glanced at Ryuuga's direction as he flinched at his stoic look. 'I couldn't help but feel intimidated by his expression! Just one move, I'm done!'

"Ah, Mamoru-san and Takashi-san. What a beautiful weather isn't it?" Sawa asked them nervously, but no reaction from them.

"I'll get straight to the point." Luella changed the subject without breaking her eye contact. "Not only are you satisfied with nearly ruining my reputation but also seeking to write a report on them? You really have no shame, do you? Resorting a threat to them?"

"Like you have a room to talk!" Sawa retorted back. "You came from a rich family and don't know what it feels like to have financial problems!" She didn't notice a cringe from Sento, Misora, and Souichi.

"Wrong words." Ji-yoo muttered under his breath. It's common for people to assume her status because of her family's reputation. None bothered to care for her well-being. "She's asking for a death wish." He closes his eyes.

"Is there a history between them?" Misora asked in a hushed tone while watching them arguing.

"Okay!" Souichi intervened before things got more escalated. "I understand."

"Quit understanding!" She snapped at her father, knowing where it leads that would anger Luella.

"We don't have a choice!" He retorted back. "I don't want a blood bath inside my cafe! Luella-san, there's no choice for this. I'm sorry if this would anger you more." Souichi apologized to Luella in advance without knowing their history. He didn't want Sawa to expose them and endanger their lives despite Luella and Ji-yoo doing everything possible to protect them. The owner didn't want to rely on them more as they've done as much as they could.

"Way beyond angry Souichi-san." Luella pointed out, clenching her hands in anger. 'What she did to me was unforgivable, and I'll never forgive her.' She thought furiously.

"But you can't reveal who we are, got it? We don't know Lightning and Ice Knight, so respect them if you don't want to be their next victim." Souichi asked Sawa in a stern voice. "Leave Luella-san and Ji-yoo-san alone as well. I don't want you to write about either of them."

Sawa immediately nodded her head and agreed to Souichi's terms. "Sounds like everybody wins!" She stared at the two Detectives. "You heard him loud and clear. It's their terms, not yours."

"Don't act like a child here, Takigawa." Ji-yoo commented in his usual icy tone while they could feel the room drop in temperature. "Betray them, and you'll face the consequences. Not even them could save you from our wrath."

"Brr... whenever Ji-yoo-san makes a threat or ticks him off. It's like the winter is coming." Misora commented while rubbing her shoulder.

"Seriously?" Ryuuga asked in a disbelieving tone while he was shivering.

"I think coming here to ask is a huge mistake." Luella shook her head and glanced at them. "I'm leaving. Ji-yoo, I'll see you in the morning." She walked out of the hideout as Sento followed her.

"Luella-san, wait!"

Ji-yoo shook his head and looked at Ryuuga. "We're not exposing you, Banjou Ryuuga." He assured him. "We'll ask you something when one of us is free. Would that be alright?"

Ryuuga furiously nodded as he and the others sensed the coldness was gone. "Ye-yeah. Listen, I'm sorry if you and your partner would put your job in danger because of me." He felt guilty that they got involved for knowing his location without telling anyone.

He approached him and placed his hand on Ryuuga's shoulder. "Luella asked me to keep it a secret. I'm keeping my word without revealing your location." He walked out, and Sawa sighed in relief.

"Detective Takashi really does live up to his title as a Frost Prince because of his attitude." The freelancer reporter gripped the handle of her bag tight. "How did you guys manage to befriend them?" She asked them curiously.

"What did you do to make Lulu-chan your enemy?" Misora retorted back curiously. "I've never seen her angry, while Ji-yoo has always been a cold guy."

Sawa smiled nervously. "Let's just say that scooping about her is a great mistake." She answered in a hushed tone.

————————————————————

"Luella-san, wait!" Sento managed to catch up and grabbed her wrist to stop her from walking away. "Look, about what happened back there—"

"Negotiating with that backstabbing freelancer Takigawa Sawa is a huge mistake." Luella cuts him off while heaving in anger. "I know there's a reason for keeping your identity secret, and I respect that. Which also includes his reasons of staying with you guys. However, I cannot tolerate her letting her do what she wants."

"Why are you mad at her? Luella-san, I've never seen you acting like this before." Sento pointed out, and it worried him to see her outburst.

"She..." She closes her eyes and breathes heavily. "My parents paid her to make a false story that nearly destroyed my career if it wasn't for Ji-yoo." Luella answered truthfully and fiddled with her moon bracelets nervously. "My parents were disappointed because Takigawa failed to get what they wanted and didn't pay her."

Sento frowned in anger at Luella's parents. He couldn't believe they wanted to destroy their daughter's career when all she ever wanted was to protect people and solve crimes to bring them to justice. "That's why you're losing composure back then."

"Yeah..." The female Detective nodded. "We wanted to ask you and the others something, but it can wait until one of us is free."

"Are you sure, Luella-san?" He asked and noticed that her eyes were tired from working. "Are you safe enough to drive?"

"Yeah. I'll video call you when I arrive safe and sound." Luella assured him with a weak smile.

"O-okay." He reluctantly agreed before hugging her to catch Luella off guard. "If you need anything. Don't hesitate to approach me, Luella-san. Know that I'm always on your side." Sento placed his head on top of her while holding.

"Thank you, Kir— I mean, Sento-san. For everything." She closes her eyes and holds him.

————————————————————

Sento arrived at the dockyard, but he couldn't locate the Smash. "Let's see... hey, no one's here." He informed Souichi.

"That can't be. There was a report of a Smash." Souichi stared at the screen confusedly. "No report of Lightning and Ice Knight for defeating it."

Sento noticed the Touto Forces had surrounded him. He tried to escape from their sight, but they blocked him. "A trap!?" The genius physicists dodged the bullet.

————————————————————

A chain around the pillar tied Ryuuga to avoid escaping. He's angry for trapping him without a reason. "What's with the cuffs!? Take them off!" The fugitive yelled at Misora.

"Not happening." Misora retorted back and mentally thanked Ji-yoo and Luella for teaching her basic self-defense and tying people with chains. "You're still shady to me. I don't wanna get attacked." She didn't want to take any chance of him attacking her out of nowhere.

"Why would I?! And what are you people, anyway?" He asked her curiously. "How did you guys manage to associate with those two cops?" Ryuuga was amazed at how they managed to befriend the well-known Detectives in Touto.

"The superheroes who keep peace in Touto." Misora answered while scrolling her phone.

————————————————————

Sento dodges the gunshots before attacking them with his weapon. 'I can't believe we fall into their trap!? Lightning and Ice Knight are lucky they are not chasing them down!' He wailed mentally. The genius physicists manage to find a small warehouse to revert himself.

The Touto Armed Forces goes behind the warehouse to find out it's only him, not the Kamen Rider they're looking for. The genius physicists hummed and glanced at them casually. "Good morning." He greeted them while they continued their search. Sento sighed in relief. "That was close... I wonder if Lightning or Ice Knight knew about it."

————————————————————

Misora kneels with a board in front of Ryuuga's sight. "If you want the details, read this." She holds it while scrolling through her phone.

"To turn a Smash human again, you defeat it and retrieve its essence." Ryuuga read it out loud while he used his feet to pull it close. "Once the essence has been bottled... it can be purified in the conversion equipment for Kamen Rider's use."

"I'm the only one who can purify it." Misora pointed out that her job is to purify the essence, which allows Sento to use the bottles. "It's some kind of power I have." She examined her bracelet.

Ryuuga noticed she had dropped her phone. "What, is that for real?" he asked, planning to distract her while taking the phone without her knowing. Misora didn't like his tone and continued to glare at him. "Doesn't sound like something a kid like you could do, unlike the mysterious lady as what you call her Lightning. She's capable of healing my wounds. Why don't you make one right now? Prove to me that you have that ability, like Lightning does. Or is this all a load of crap?" He taunted her.

Misora crosses her arms. "It's not, and you're on. I didn't know Lightning is capable of healing people." She grabbed the bottle and placed it inside the small microwave. "Once I'm done, you're paying me for my time." The young lady goes inside the chamber to purify the essence of Smash.

Ryuuga took this as a distraction and used his feet to dial someone. He pulled it close and leaned his head on it. "Kasumi-san? It's me."

"Ryuuga, is that you!? Help me!?" Kasumi yelled in distress and asked for his help to save her. "No!"

It froze Ryuuga in fear. "Kasumi!? Kasumi!" He yelled worriedly.

"Banjou Ryuuga..." An unfamiliar masculine tone that Ryuuga couldn't recognize.

"Who are you!?" He vowed to save Kasumi.

"I'll bring the girl to you." He ended the call.

It angered Ryuuga, and they tried to break the chain to save Kasumi.

————————————————————

Sento came in on his first day of work. He messaged Luella to check her well-being, but she didn't reply. "I guess she's busy or ignoring me. I hope Luella-san isn't mad anymore." The genius physicists couldn't help but smile when she called his name by his first name rather than his surname.

"Looks like Kamen Rider's a fugitive now." Sento passed by Gentoku as he and the others watched the news. "He'd better not think he can make an enemy of the state and escape. I wonder if Lightning Priestess and Ice Knight will be involved to help him out or not."

Sento ignored his words while he continued watching the news, but the ring interrupted it. He excused himself before accepting the call. "What's up?"

"Banjou got away!" Misora exclaimed while she stared at the pillar where Ryuuga was held, but only the broken chains. "He took my phone so you can follow the GPS." She gave him advice to track Ryuuga.

Sento pursed his lips in annoyance. "Can you tell them about it too, Misora?"

"I tried calling Lulu-chan and Ji-yoo-san, but neither didn't go through." Misora answered.

"I'll try to reach them." He ended the call and sighed heavily. 'What is he up to, now?' He moaned in despair.

————————————————————

"Luella, look at this." Ji-yoo handed Luella a paper, and she read it. "Banjou's fingerprint didn't match when I tried to do a test on it." He explained.

Luella frowned and saw that 0% of the fingerprints on the hunter's knife didn't match Ryuuga's fingerprints. "Why would they frame Banjou in the first place?" she asked him curiously. "I remember Ryuuga's hands were clean before we broke in. Unless he cleans his hands after stabbing Takumi, it doesn't make sense at all, Ji-yoo."

Luella and Ji-yoo investigate the case privately without revealing it to their other colleague. They find it suspicious to capture Ryuuga without giving them a chance to interrogate him. Ryuuga is being framed for attempting murder, and no one believes his innocence of harming people.

"I believe there's more to it than meets the eye, Luella." Ji-yoo pointed out in a grim tone.

"We need more information to prove his innocence, Ji."

"We will."

————————————————————

Sento lowered his weapon as he saw the Touto Armed Forces merge to become a weaponry machine. The genius physicists couldn't defeat it alone, given that it was 30 feet tall and he didn't have a backup ally like Lightning and Ice Knight.

"This is terrible," Sento whimpered. "I wish they could give me their contact details so I can ask for help." He and Ryuuga hid inside the storage house, and Sento used his bottles to defeat the Touto machine. "Now, let's begin the experiment."

"Gorilla! Diamond! Best Match!"

"The best match!? Oh, yeah!" Sento cheered happily at the combination using the new bottle Misora purified from the Smash. He turned the handle from his Driver to activate it.

"Are you ready?"

"Build up!" He transforms.

"The Dazzling Destroyer! Gorillamond! Yeah!"

He exits the building and analyzes the environment around him. Sento calculates the area he needs to destroy the machine and finds that the plan will execute correctly. "That's the winning formula." The genius physicist stroked the edge of his mask.

Ryuuga appeared with his bike. "Get on!" He urged Sento to mount on the bike with him so they could escape.

"Sorry, but I need you to head back!" Sento declined his offer and warned him to return to their hideout. He punches the end of the bike to increase the speed, leaving Ryuuga screaming.

"That crazy—" Ryuuga swears and dodges the bullet from the Touto machine.

Sento used it as a distraction to punch the Touto machine as it shattered.

————————————————————

Sento reverts and meets up with Ryuuga. "So... who's this girl you mentioned?" The genius physicists asked him curiously.

"Ogura Kasumi." Someone answered it for him as they turned their heads to reveal Ji-yoo. "The woman you're looking for."

"Ji-yoo!?" Sento screamed in shock and wasn't expecting to see him. "What are you doing here!?" He wished it was Luella, but Ji-yoo showed up, which dampened his mood. 'Ji-yoo practically hates everyone except Luella.' The genius physicists grumbled mentally.

"How did you know her, Detective Frost?" Ryuuga asked in a demanding tone while Ji-yoo glared at his nickname provided by him. "How did you find us."

Sento snickered but coughed, seeing his glare. "We need answers from you, Ji."

"What's with you guys and the nicknames." Ji-yoo sighed heavily in annoyance for providing him a nickname. "Misora helped me track you down while Luella stayed at the station. Luella and I are re-investigating the case again secretly behind their backs. We knew something was off about it on that day."

Sento's eyes widened in shock. "You guys are breaking the rules. You two put your career's life at risk." It worries him at the thought of them losing their jobs because they're re-investigating the case without consent from their superior.

"It's not your decision to decide, Kiryuu." Ji-yoo warned him. "As I was saying... we tried to reach Ogura-san, but she didn't answer or wasn't at home. We were hoping to ask her some questions regarding your situation."

"I see..." Ryuuga lowered his gaze. "Have you tried to locate her?"

Ji-yoo shook his head. "We tried, but no luck so far. Why were you here rather than hiding?" He asked the wanted fugitive.

"She was the one who told me about that scientist..." Ryuuga dodged the subject while Ji-yoo narrowed his eyes. "She sent me to the room he was killed in."

"Why didn't you mention something that important—" Sento lectured Ryuuga and approached him, but he grabbed and twisted his arm before choking him to knock him unconscious.

Ji-yoo immediately grabbed his gun and pointed it at Ryuuga's head before he could knock him. Ryuuga slaps his gun before punching his gut, but Ji-yoo dodges it before kicking his chest.

"Gah!" Ryuuga was slammed on the wall, but Ryuuga put the pressure on it to stop his movement.

"Cease this immediately if you know what's good for you, Banjou." He warned him. "I don't know why you knocked someone who helped me. Answer me: does it have something to do with her disappearance?"

"Le-le-let go off me." He gasped at the pain and tried to move his feet. Ryuuga didn't want to break his bones.

"I see." Ji-yoo released him after seeing his behavior change when he mentioned the woman's name. "I'll come with you."

"Why?" Ryuuga asked while coughing.

"Something tells me your life will be in danger if you go find her." He answered.

————————————————————

Luella kneels to tap Sento's face. "Build? Build!" She called his name worriedly.

She received a message from Ji-yoo about Sento's predicament and didn't hesitate to find him. The female detective transforms into Lightning if Smash is involved without exposing herself to transform in front of him. 'There will be a day my secret will be exposed soon.' She thought before focusing on the task.

"Ella?" Sento moaned, and Luella froze at hearing the old nickname from the past.

Luella shook her head to ignore the old nickname. "Build, it's me, Lightning." She whispered and stroked his head. "How are you feeling?"

Sento groaned. "I'm going to kill him, and where's Ji?" He asked her curiously.

Luella frowned in confusion at the person named Ji. "Ji, who?"

"Ji-yoo, he was here and— ahh! I'm sorry!" Sento screamed and scrambled off her lap. The genius physicists were embarrassed that his head was on Lightning's lap.

Lightning blinks her eyes in confusion. "There's nothing to apologize for?" She looks confused and doesn't know what made him apologize to her.

"Anyway, we need to find them fast!" Sento used his phone to transform it into a bike.

"I can sense them with their aura." Luella informed him before pulling up. "I also sense dark aura too."

Sento stared at her in surprise. "The more we interact... you keep surprising me with your abilities, Lightning."

Lightning smiled nervously. "We should go now before it's too late."

————————————————————

Ji-yoo and Ryuuga groaned in pain at the explosion. The disguised detective wanted to expose himself but remembered Luella's promise to keep his identity secret.

"You're late, Banjou Ryuuga. You also brought a company with you." Ji-yoo furrowed his eyebrow in confusion at the person's voice. "I've delivered on my promise. Your woman is right there." He tried to locate the voice of the mysterious person while there was a Smash in front of them.

"That's Kasumi?" Ryuuga asked in a weak tone and couldn't believe what he saw. He would assume the one who appeared in their presence was a Smash but in a different form.

"You turn people into Smash?" Ji-yoo asked darkly while he and Ryuuga dodged the attack.

Smash managed to whack Ryuuga while Ji-yoo used his guns to shoot it, but the bullets wouldn't work against it.

"Is it really you?" The wanted fugitive asked and begged. This was all a nightmare for him.

"Get a grip, Banjou!" Ji-yoo snapped at the wanted fugitive before Smash threw a massive fireball at them.

Someone created an electric barrier to protect them from the blast and heard an engine. It revealed Sento and Luella in her Lightning Priestess form, which only Ji-yoo knew.

Luella hops off the bike before summoning her polearm to slash the Smash away from them to give distance. "Do you two have a serious injury?" She asked worriedly without looking at the condition.

Sento glares at the culprit who knocked him out. "Dammit, you sure went nuts on me... do you really wanna die that badly? Ji, you left me!"

"I can't leave him alone, and you're capable of caring for yourself." Ji-yoo wipes the dust off his suit. "It seems like you have a companion with you."

Sento glared at Ji-yoo in annoyance and was about to transform. "Don't!" Ryuuga asked Sento and Luella to stop them from attacking the Smash. "That's Kasumi!"

"They turned her to Smash?" Luella asked in shock before backflip to avoid getting hit.

They heard a dark laugh around them as grey steam appeared and formed into an unknown Rider in front of them. Luella gripped her polearm tight and failed to sense his aura.

'He masks his aura...as if he knew I could sense it.' Luella thought while gazing at him.

"It's bat man..." Sento called the nickname he gave him because of his terrible memories. He remembered being involved in the experiment.

"It's Night Rogue..." He corrected him before turning his head at Luella. "You're siding with the criminal here, Lightning Priestess."

Luella narrowed her eyes at Night Rogue's accusation about Sento. "He isn't a criminal." She whispered but loud enough for them to hear it.

"I don't care what you call yourself!" Sento snapped at him while shaking his bottles to transform.

"Hedgehog! Tank! Are you ready?!"

"Henshin!" He transformed and attacked Night Rogue without waiting for Luella's plan.

"Build!" Luella called him worriedly before dodging the fireballs from Smash.

"Lightning!" Ji-yoo called Luella to catch her attention while he and Ryuuga were far away to avoid getting crossfire in their fight. "Focus on stalling Smash!"

Ryuuga stared at him in shock. "Did you know her too?" He asked the disguised detective. "Stop her from hurting Kasumi!"

"She and her companion, Ice Knight, often helped us solve the case secretly." Ji-yoo answered without revealing their secret. "She isn't hurting her! Lightning is defending herself. How will we stop her?"

Sento is fighting against Night Rogue, knowing Lightning can fight against Smash. "What did you do to my body!? You experimented on me, didn't you!?" He asked Night Rogue in anger.

"As if I could remember every guinea pig's face." Night Rogue retorted back without answering his question.

"Stop playing games!"

Night Rogue kicks his gut to push him away before steam covers his body. "Don't think you can beat me with random bottles or their help." It disappeared to reveal his weapon before slashing Sento.

"Build!" Lightning cried out his name worriedly, seeing him battered by Night Rogue.

Ryuuga's eyes widened in shock at the massive fireball headed toward them. "Lightning!" He called her.

Luella spins her polearm before cutting the fireball in half. She summons her lightning to paralyze the Smash. Sento is about to assist Luella. "Stop it! That's Kasumi!" Ryuuga warned him.

Sento froze in shock. The genius physicists informed him. "If I can remove the Smash essence, she should return to normal."

Luella and Sento dodged the bullet out of nowhere. "Do that and she's gone." Night Rogue warned them of the consequences of curing Kasumi.

"What did you do?" Luella asked in an icy tone while her eyes glowed bright in anger.

"Hazard Level 1. People in sub-optimal health die the minute they're gassed." Night Rogue explains the status of Smash. "If you remove the Smash essence, her body and soul will break down. There's no way to save her."

"She was born from an incurable illness?" Ji-yoo asked Ryuuga to confirm his suspicions, but he nodded sadly.

"This bad..." Luella muttered while biting her lower lips. 'My healing powers aren't stronger as before because I passed all my abilities to Elena to be the next Moon Knight.' She thoughts.

"Stop!" Ryuuga blocked Luella and Sento to attack the Smash. The Smash's hand shook with fire before it shot itself. It refused to harm them because of Ryuuga. "What's going on...?"

"She's battling her inner battle between her and the Smash." Luella answered while she stared at the Smash in sorrow. "Her aura is getting weaker. However, she's trying to regain control to stop from hurting you." Ryuuga stared at her, surprised, before glancing at the Smash.

"Turning into a Smash should cause a loss of identity..." Sento explained and agreed with her theory. "Lightning is right. She's hurting herself to try and avoid hurting you."

"Why?" Ryuuga whispered.

Ji-yoo approached them. "Simple, she cares for you." He answered.

"Hey..." He called Sento and Luella. "Is there no way to save her? Lightning? Can you heal her? Like the way you did to my injury?" The wanted fugitive asked.

Luella shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry, my healing has its limits, and I can't cure an incurable disease." She explained in a solemn tone. "I wish there were alternative plans, but I'm sorry."

Ryuuga lowered his gaze in sadness. "In that case... at least turn her back to normal!" He begged them to bring Kasumi back to normal. "Please!" He bowed his head at them.

Luella placed her hands on Ryuuga's shoulder. "You don't have to beg, Banjou-san. We'll do it." She glanced at Sento. "I can't absorb the essence of Smash like you, but would you do it?"

Sento silently grabbed his two bottles to activate his final attack with equations.

"Rabbit! Vacuum! Are you ready?" He transformed into a different form.

He absorbs the flames until Smash is getting weak. He released the fire as it swirls around like a vortex before transforming.

"Gorilla! Diamond! Best match! Are you ready? The Dazzling Destroyer! Gorillamond!" He raised his fists as the fire vortex turned into small diamonds as it surrounded him. "Ready, go!" Sento thrusts his fists forward as the diamond vortex surrounds Smash to damage it. "Vortex finish! Yeah!" It cried out in pain before the essence of Smash separated from its host to reveal Kasumi, who was glowing. He stopped the diamond vortex to give Ryuuga time to say farewell.

Luella immediately aids Sento in assisting him, leaving Ji-yoo with blank looks and watching them. The disguised detective couldn't understand Luella's action to help the mortals when they only bring nothing but pain. 'Her, Universe and Silver Knight... I don't understand them at all.' He masked his scowling look while watching them.

"Kasumi?" Ryuuga called her name worriedly.

Kasumi opened her eyes after hearing Ryuuga's voice. "Ryuuga..." She whispered weakly.

"How...? She's breathing..." Ryuuga looked confused.

"We gave you a bit of time..." Luella grunted, increasing her electric barrier with Sento's help. "It's all we can do for her!" Her eyes glowed bright.

"Ryuuga. I lied to you..." Kasumi stared at Ryuuga and felt guilty for her actions to set him a trap—a trap by framing him for committing a murder that he didn't do.

"It's fine! Don't talk!" Ryuuga begged Kasumi to refrain her from talking.

"A man named Nabeshima had me send you to the scientist's room..." Kasumi revealed the truth about framing him. "He said he could get your license reinstated..." She explained in a weak tone. "If you had never met me... your life would've been happier. I'm sorry." She cried.

"That's crazy!" Ryuuga shook his head while holding her in his arms. "I couldn't ask for a better life!" His life was happy having Kasumi with him. "Meeting you made me the happiest I've ever been..."

"Thank you..." She smiled before disappearing out of their sight.

Sento and Luella shoved it aside while panting heavily. Ryuuga sniffs and cries in pain of losing Kasumi out of his grasp. He couldn't even provide a proper burial for her because a light disintegrated her body. "Why... I thought we were gonna see the cherry blossoms together again..."

"Banjou-san..." Luella whispered, and it pained her to watch him in sorrow.

Sento reverts to normal and absorbs Smash's essence inside the bottle. "Lightning, are you going to join us?" He asks as they can hear the sound of sirens.

Luella shook her head. "It's better to separate our ways, Build. The last thing we need is to add another problem." She answered, and he nodded his head in understanding. "Banjou-san?" She kneeled and grabbed his hand. "I know that you are mourning someone you cherish the most. I want you to have this."

Ryuuga could feel the cold yet warm in his hand to reveal a cerulean crystal. "What's this?" He asked weakly and heartbroken.

"After Build separated Smash's essence from her, I absorbed some of her life force." Ji-yoo stared at Luella in disbelief look. "We can never revive her or bring her body back. It's the least— I can do for her. You need to leave now before they come."

"It doesn't matter anymore..." He shook his head while gripping the crystal in his hand. It's fine." Ryuuga couldn't continue to live without Kasumi.

Luella didn't hesitate to grab Ryuuga's collar before slapping his cheek hard. It echoes its sound, leaving a handprint on his face. "Don't think about giving up your life, Banjou Ryuuga."

"Lightning!?" Sento was shocked at her action and about to intervene before it escalated worse. Ji-yoo stopped him before shaking his head.

"Don't." He warned him.

"If you surrender yourself to them, people still accuse you as a murderer! You never committed a crime, but someone framed you! " Luella snapped at the wanted fugitive. "Would you prefer to return with them? Going back as a guinea pig like what they did to her!? Think about her for once! Do you think she wanted you to surrender?" She shoved him away before glancing at the two men. "I'm leaving." She disappeared out of their sight.

Ji-yoo tapped Sento's shoulder. "Let's go." He gives him a signal to leave the place. "Can you drop me at my place? I can't go inside the station like this." He dislikes being interrogated by them for doing a private investigation behind their backs.

"Yeah." Sento agreed to drop his place before returning him. Given Lightning's outburst and lecture, the genius physicists felt Ryuuga would join them.

————————————————————

Ryuuga approached Sento. "With your and Lightning's help, I could say goodbye to Kasumi." He thanked them for giving him a small window to speak with his girlfriend one last time before she passed. "Thanks." He frowned without hearing his response and looked at him closely to see Sento fall asleep. "He's asleep!?" The wanted fugitive yelped in shock at the sound and accidentally hugged Sento close.

"Bottle!" Sento yelled and ignored his hug. He looked closer at the machine and saw that the bottle's design was a dragon. "Dragon?" The door opened to reveal Misora, and they stared at him curiously before passing him by. "I guess that's the dragon in Ryuuga." The genius physicist throws it to Ryuuga, and he catches it. "That one was made from the essence I extracted from her. You hold onto it." It doesn't sit well on Sento if he had it, but he thought Ryuuga deserved it, given it's from Kasumi's Smash essence. "You can thank us after we clear your name."

Ryuuga smiled and appreciated Sento's gesture. He took a cerulean crystal from his pocket. "Lightning gave me this... to remember her." He explained while gripping it. "I wanted to thank her too, but... you don't even know how to reach her."

"You can thank her the next time you see her." Luella and Ji-yoo came into their secret hideout. "I heard everything from Ji-yoo and I'm sorry for your loss, Banjou-san." The female detective gave Ryuuga a condolence.

"Detective Mamoru and Detective Frost!" Ryuuga was surprised to see them, while Ji-yoo masked his irk at the nickname.

"Hello." Luella greeted them with a smile. "We manage to find the suspect who knocked you out and sent you to an unknown—"

"Hey, I've got the guard's name— De-De-De-Detectives!" The female detective sighed and recognized the tone.

"Takigawa." Ji-yoo greeted her in an icy tone.

Sawa smiled nervously at the two detectives. "I'm surprised to see you guys here."

Luella crossed her arms while raising her right eyebrow. "Expect the unexpected because we don't need to explain everything—" Sento covers her mouth to stop talking. "Mphf!?"

"Sorry, Luella-san." Sento smiled apologetically while she glared at him. "They're here to help us. Were you saying something?" He asked the freelance journalist.

"I'll assume we think the same person asked Ogura to give Banjou a location of him..." Ji-yoo concluded and refused to say his name out loud.

Sento stared at Ji-yoo worriedly, seeing his eyes in pain before masking his expressions. 'It seems like he isn't cold-hearted like people think.' The genius physicist thought and removed his hand from Luella's mouth.

"Ye-yeah." Sawa nodded before showing them the picture of the man. "His name is Nabeshima Masahiro."

Sento and Ryuuga snatched it from her grasp. The genius physicists pointed out. "That's the link between Banjou's escape and the murder."

"This could also be the key to help you clear your name, Banjou-san." Luella commented and glanced at Sento. 'Also to provide the answers you're seeking.' She thought before glancing at Ji-yoo.