Kamen Rider: Damn! I'm surrounded by beauties

The biting cold and the burning pain were his last memories before his consciousness faded.

Now, what has replaced it is softness and warmth.

Gu Yi's eyelids twitched a few times, and he opened them with difficulty. What came into view was an unfamiliar pure white ceiling, and the air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant, mixed with a faint, sweet fragrance that belonged to a girl.

"where am I?"

He tried to sit up, but found his entire body felt as if it had been disassembled and reassembled, aching terribly, every muscle protesting. He couldn't move, only able to turn his stiff neck to look around the room.

This is a cozy bedroom with simple white furniture, a small succulent plant on the bedside table, and refreshing light blue curtains. Sunlight streams in through the gaps, casting bright spots on the floor.

This is not a hospital.

It's not his own home either.

Where...is that?

Just as he was filled with doubt, the door was gently pushed open with a "click".

A girl wearing a white dress and black-rimmed glasses walked in carrying a glass of water.

She was tall and slender, with a cool and aloof demeanor, and her face showed a hint of concern and relief.

When Gu Yi saw the girl's face clearly, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his brain instantly went blank.

"Yan...Jianing?!"

His voice was so hoarse from not speaking for so long that it almost cracked.

Why is she here?

Upon hearing his voice, Yan Jianing's hand holding the water glass trembled slightly, and the water almost spilled.

She walked quickly to the bedside, placed the water glass on the bedside table, and a crack finally appeared in the carefully maintained composure on her face.

"You're awake? That's great... How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"

Her tone carried an eagerness and joy that she herself was unaware of.

"I...I'm okay."

Gu Yi struggled to sit up. Seeing this, Yan Jianing immediately stepped forward, carefully supported his back, and placed a pillow behind him.

The moment his back touched the soft pillow, Gu Yi couldn't help but groan, as the soreness in his body returned.

"Don't move around, you're still very weak."

Yan Jianing frowned, her tone carrying an unquestionable command, much like the class monitor who used to urge him to hand in his homework in high school.

"It was you... who saved me?" Gu Yi looked at her, his mind still a complete mess.

"How did I get here? Where is this...?"

"This is Xiamen, this is where I live." Yan Jianing pushed up her glasses, as if to appear more composed.

"I found yours."

"You found me?"

Gu Yi's face was full of question marks. What kind of explanation was this? He wasn't some stray cat or dog.

Yan Jianing seemed to find this explanation a bit strange as well, her ears turning slightly red. She cleared her throat and explained in her usual clear and organized tone:

“A few days ago, Xia Tian, ​​Chen Sai, and I went to the beach. Then we found you lying on the sand, unconscious. We…we brought you back.”

Seaside? Beach?

Fragments of images flashed through Gu Yi's mind: pitch-black armor, towering waves, an endless ocean... and the raging fury that nearly consumed all his reason.

He remembered that he was in the waters near South India when he punched a Gurongi and then lost consciousness.

From South India to Xiamen?

What a joke! How far is that?!

"Wait," Gu Yi hurriedly interrupted her, "You said... a few days ago? What's today?"

"November 10th," Yan Jianing replied.

May 11st!

Gu Yi's heart sank. He remembered clearly that the day he fought Galaki was November 7th.

In other words, he drifted at sea for three days and three nights?!

How is that possible! Ocean currents couldn't possibly move that fast, could they?

He tried hard to recall that blank memory, and there seemed to be a vague impression deep in his mind—in the cold seawater, his limbs were moving frantically, at an incredible speed, like a human torpedo, cutting through waves... But what happened after that, and why he ended up on the beach in Xiamen, he couldn't remember at all.

Could it be that after the Amazing Omnipotent Form exhausted its energy, the body's instinct to survive erupted?

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open again.

"Jianing, is he awake yet? I smell Aunt Zhang's chicken soup downstairs, do you want some...?"

A lively and clear voice came in, and then a petite girl with a high ponytail and wearing sportswear poked her head in.

It's summer.

Behind her followed a tall, aloof girl in a black jacket.

It's Chen Sai.

The two were stunned to see Gu Yi already sitting up on the bed, and then their faces lit up with surprise.

Wow! You're really awake!

Summer hopped in like a little swallow, her big eyes curiously scanning Gu Yi.

"Hey! We meet again! This second meeting is already so exciting, you're really something!"

Chen Sai also walked in, hands in his jacket pockets, nodded coolly, but a slight smile played on his lips:

"How are you feeling? You're pretty lucky to be alive."

“Summer, Chen Sai…” Gu Yi smiled weakly.

"Thank you all, I'm so grateful for your help again."

"Oh, don't be so polite!" Xia Tian waved his hand, then winked at Yan Jianing beside him.

"If you want to thank someone, thank our Jia Ning! She was terrified while you were unconscious these past few days. She couldn't eat or sleep properly and stayed by your side every day, wiping your face and feeding you water. We almost thought she was going to offer herself to you!"

"Summer! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Yan Jianing's face flushed red to the roots of her neck in an instant, and she reached out to cover Xia Tian's mouth.

"I'm not talking nonsense! Look at your dark circles, they're practically hanging down to your chin!"

Xia Tian deftly dodged and made a face at Gu Yi.

Chen Sai watched from the side, and although she didn't say anything, the smile in her eyes betrayed her.

Looking at the embarrassed Yan Jianing, Gu Yi felt a surge of warmth and guilt. He could imagine how scared and helpless a girl must feel when faced with a man who suddenly appeared on the beach, unconscious.

He looked at Yan Jianing solemnly and said sincerely:

"Squad leader, thank you so much. And Xia Tian, ​​Chen Sai, thank you both. I will remember this kindness."

Yan Jianing felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, avoided his eyes, and muttered softly:

"I already said...it's nothing..."

"Okay, okay, we won't be third wheels." Xia Tian pulled Chen Sai's arm and retreated towards the door.

"Let's go see if Aunt Zhang's chicken soup downstairs is ready yet, we'll make it to help you recover! Jia Ning, keep it up!"

After she finished speaking, she gave Yan Jianing a thumbs-up, her eyes full of encouragement that said, "I believe in you."

Chen Sai was also pulled along by her. Before leaving, he looked back at Gu Yi and Yan Jianing, his eyes seeming to say, "You two can talk slowly."

With a "bang," the door slammed shut.

Suddenly, only Gu Yi and Yan Jianing were left in the room, and the atmosphere became somewhat subtle and quiet.

Gu Yi spoke again, breaking the silence: "Jia Ning, I really owe you a lot this time. If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know, and I will definitely repay you."

"We're old classmates, there's no need to be so formal." Yan Jianing lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Gu Yi noticed her hesitation and asked gently:

"What's wrong? Is there... something you want to ask me?"

Yan Jianing raised her head, her clear eyes fixed on Gu Yi's through her glasses. She took a deep breath, as if making a huge decision, her voice low and trembling slightly:

"Gu Yi...you...are you Kamen Rider Kuuga?"

boom!

These words struck Gu Yi like a thunderbolt.

He froze, his blood seemingly freezing in that instant. All color drained from his face, and a storm raged within him.

How could she know?!

This secret was known only to herself, Lao Liu, An Xin, and Zheng Ziyan.

How could Yan Jianing, a high school classmate who lives far away in Xiamen and with whom he has almost lost contact, possibly know?!

Seeing Gu Yi's shocked and speechless expression, Yan Jianing knew that she had guessed correctly.

Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty. She tried to keep her voice steady as she explained:

"That day at the beach... I was the first person to find you."

"It was getting dark, and there weren't many people on the beach. I saw... I saw a figure in white armor lying on the edge of the waves, with sparks flying from his body."

White armor... sparks... Is that the state after the ultimate form has been sublimated and the power has been exhausted, returning to the initial state?

Gu Yi's heart sank little by little.

Yan Jianing continued:

“I was terrified. I thought it was some kind of monster and I didn’t dare to go near it. But… but after a while, the armor disappeared like light, and then… I saw you. You were lying there, wearing your own clothes, not moving at all.”

"I was really...really scared." Yan Jianing's voice still carried lingering fear.

"I can't believe my eyes. The invincible Kamen Rider Kuuga on the news... why is it you? Why are you... so badly injured?"

There was dead silence in the room.

Gu Yi remained silent for a long time. Finally, he forced a smile that was more like a grimace, his voice hoarse:

"Yes...it's me."

At this point, there's no point in denying it anymore.

"This matter... is too complicated, and it's difficult for me to explain it to you clearly."

Gu Yi looked at her, his eyes filled with pleading.

"Squad leader, I'm begging you, can you... keep this a secret? This matter can't be known by more people."

"I promise you!" Yan Jianing nodded without hesitation, her eyes instantly reddening.

"I won't tell anyone."

Her quick agreement surprised Gu Yi.

The next second, Yan Jianing's voice trembled with tears, filled with heartache and confusion:

"When I used to watch Kamen Rider Kuuga fight on the news, I just thought he was so powerful and cool, a hero to everyone. But... but when I found out that it was you, and saw you lying there covered in wounds, I..."

She couldn't say anything more, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"That must have been very tough, right? Those battles must have hurt a lot, right?" she asked, her voice choked with emotion.

"Are you... are you going to keep fighting like this forever? Can't you stop?"

Seeing her shed tears, Gu Yi felt a pang in his heart, a mixture of sourness and throbbing.

He reached out to wipe away her tears, but stopped halfway through.