Kamen Rider Zi-O: A Temporal Reckoning

Just a Passing Through Kamen Rider

The battle raged on across fractured timelines, each world more unstable than the last. The Riders continued their mission, facing enemies who sought to manipulate time for their own gain. With each victory, the cracks in the fabric of reality seemed to close just a little more, but the threats were far from over.

Through it all, Mrigank Mukherjee, the Indian Kamen Rider fan turned reluctant ally, had settled into his new role. Although he didn't possess the Rider powers of his companions, his knowledge of the Rider world proved indispensable. Yet, despite his value to the team, Mrigank always reminded himself—and the others—that he was "just a passing through Kamen Rider".

He was a fan who had somehow found himself in this extraordinary position, and while he aided the team, he knew his time here was limited. He wasn't meant to be the center of the battle or the hero. He was just someone passing through, caught in a moment of history that wasn't truly his own.

One evening, after the group had successfully thwarted another attack on the timeline, the Riders gathered around a makeshift campfire. The quiet hum of the broken world around them was a constant reminder of the chaos they were trying to fix.

Mrigank sat slightly apart from the others, leaning back on his elbows, looking up at the stars. He had always been fascinated by the stars, a quiet reflection of his days as a cosmologist in his world. Now, in this fractured reality, the stars felt more like distant memories, shimmering faintly like the flickering fragments of a dying story.

So Okuno, noticing the distant look in Mrigank's eyes, approached him. "You're always so quiet. Everything okay?"

Mrigank smiled softly. "Yeah, just thinking. You know, I never thought I'd be here, not in this way. A Kamen Rider fan in the middle of a time war—sounds like the setup to a really weird story."

"Well," So said with a grin, sitting next to him, "you're part of the story now. You've fought alongside us, helped us understand things we didn't before. That makes you a part of the team."

"I know," Mrigank replied, "but that's just it. I'm just a fan. A passing through Kamen Rider. I don't belong to this world, and I never will. I'm just here to help fix things while I can."

So looked at him, his expression thoughtful. "I get it. But sometimes, it's not about where you belong—it's about what you do with the time you have. You're making a difference, Mrigank."

Mrigank chuckled lightly. "I guess so. Still, I'm just a passing through guy. I don't have the powers or the legacy of the other Riders."

At that, Sougo approached, overhearing their conversation. "But you've got something they don't, Mrigank. You've got the heart of a Rider. You may not have a Rider form like me or Tsukasa, but you've got the spirit, the will to fight."

Mrigank blinked at him, surprised by the words. "You really think so?"

Sougo smiled. "Of course. Being a Rider isn't just about the transformation. It's about what you do for others, how you fight for what's right. And you've been doing that. You've fought beside us when things got tough, and you've always believed in our mission, even when things seemed impossible."

Mrigank looked down at his hands, then up at the stars again. "I guess I've always wanted to be a part of something bigger. To make a difference, just like the Riders I've always looked up to."

Masahiro Inoue, who had been silently listening from a distance, stepped forward with a knowing smile. "Every Rider has their time, Mrigank. Some come into the story later, others leave earlier. But the impact you make isn't defined by how long you stay in the spotlight. It's about what you contribute to the greater cause."

Mrigank felt a warmth spread through him, hearing the words of both Sougo and Masahiro. "I guess... maybe it's not so bad being a passing through Kamen Rider."

"You're more than that," Sougo said. "You're part of the team, whether you want to admit it or not. And when the time comes for you to leave, you'll have made your mark. Just like every Rider before you."

Mrigank smiled, feeling the weight of his temporary role lighten just a bit. "Thanks, Sougo. Masahiro. Maybe I don't need to be a full-time Rider to help. Maybe all I need is to do what I can while I'm here."

And so, with newfound resolve, Mrigank joined his companions as they prepared for the next chapter in their journey. He wasn't sure how much longer he would be part of their world, but he knew one thing for certain: he would fight alongside them until his part in the story came to an end.

After all, even if he was just a passing through Kamen Rider, that didn't mean he couldn't leave his mark on the timeline.