The Ridewatch Hero (Kamen Rider Zi-o x My Hero Academia)

Ch.20 - Tension

Ryou faced Mina in the arena after his little episode of embarrassment, and he was really frustrated at her. Not only did his head start wandering around, but he couldn't look at Mina seriously.

He wasn't even paying attention, so much so he didn't realize that Midnight yelled for the match to start.

Mina splashed some Acid on the ground in front of Ryou, causing him to slip and fall on his butt.

"Ryou, what's the matter? Distracted?" Mina laughed.

Ryou growled as he managed to stand up. "You did that on purpose! I bet you were lying to me just to distract me."

"Whatever you want to think." She winked at Ryou.

"Oh that's it." Ryou took out his OOO's Ridewatch, only to find it covered in Mina's acid, and it wouldn't seem to work.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that without your Ridewatches, you don't have much else to rely on." Mina chuckled.

Ryou smirked, glaring at her with an odd expression.

"Is that what you think?"

Ryou tossed the Ridewatch back to where he entered.

"Wait, what are you..." Mina was confused as to what he was trying to do.

He raised his fists in a boxing stance, keeping his eyes fixed on Mina.

"What makes you think my Ridewatches are my only asset?"

Mina was baffled and didn't know what to say. "Um...you're not going to...try to transform?"

"Nope."

Ryou ran forward at Mina, and kicked her in the foot, causing her to fall down.

"How did-"

Ryou raised his fist, and looked at her devilishly.

"If you don't want me to unleash fury on you, I'd concede right now."

"Alright....I...I give up." Mina blubbered.

Ryou smiled, offering her a hand. "You didn't honestly think I would straight up hit you, did you?"

Mina blinked, as Midnight announced the winner. "You...what?"

Ryou helped her up, and patted her on the shoulder. "Oops. But at least my intimidation is still on point."

Mina shook her head in disgust, pouting.

Ryou smiled as he walked off the arena, picking up his Ridewatch. In all honesty, she did kind of deserve it for lying to him about Tsuyu.

However, speaking of Tsuyu...she was waiting for him at his entrance, just barely hiding from the spectators.

"Do you have a moment? Kero."

***************************************

Both Ryou and Tsuyu sat on opposite sides of each other, outside the arena. They both sat in the sun, as people walked along. Nobody paid much attention to the both of them, as the festival was still going on.

"I...um...don't know why it's so awkward...maybe because of the lie Mina told me? I'm still getting over it."

Tsuyu poked her fingers together. "Ryou...um...that wasn't...that wasn't a lie."

Ryou looked over at her.

"I scolded Mina for doing that, but it wasn't a lie. Ryou...I like you."

Ryou turned red in the face, as Tsuyu moved closer to him.

"Ryou, I really admire you. You really are a tough person, and are also kind on top of that. You help others no matter what, and you keep going to get better. It's what I like about you and what makes you stand out."

Please stop pouring your heart out to me...please stop....

"But...I can't shake this feeling. I saw Sunny, and the way she talks to you and acts...are you both dating?"

Ryou shook his head, still not saying a word.

"You're not? Well, that's a relief."

"Tsuyu...I..."

Tsuyu looked nervously at Ryou. "I don't want to put you in a tough position, especially during the sports festival...so I'll leave this for now. We can talk more after the sports festival. I'll be rooting for you."

She got off the ledge she was sitting on and was about to leave, until Ryou lightly reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

"What if we went on a date first?"

Tsuyu turned around to see Ryou, who was still red in the face, but stood up confidently to face her.

"You want to?"

"I do. I need to find out if this is what I want or not. I don't want to say no though."

Tsuyu gave a warm smile and hugged Ryou. "Thank you, Ryou."

Ryou also gave her a tight hug. "Between you and me, I think you looked great in that cheerleader outfit. Even if it was Mineta's scam."

Tsuyu jolted back as she tried to hide her red face, but failed. "That....that was..."

Ryou patted her on the shoulder and began to walk back into the stadium.

"Now watch as I win this thing."

"Wait, I have one more question."

Ryou turned to face her, her face gone back to normal.

"Why do you want everyone else's approval so much?"

"I'm not sure what-"

"I've seen you Ryou. You were the Kamen Rider Vigilante for the longest time, and now you're in U.A. but you can't seem to get rid of that side of you. You want people to see you as someone different, but you can't seem to shake the Vigilante side."

Ryou looked at his OOO's Ridewatch, which he had cleaned.

"You would understand if you were in my shoes."

"Can I understand?"

Ryou turned to walk away. "Not now. I have to win first, then you'll see."

***************************************

Ryou just arrived back in time, as the match between Todoroki and Iida was just about finishing up.

Sunny ran up to Ryou, and wrapped her arms right around him.

"Ryou! I'm so happy for you! You're doing so well so far! I can't wait to see what you do in the next match! Bakugou is going to be a tough opponent!"

Crap. In the time he was distracted with Tsu, he never had time to think how he would be able to fight Bakugou.

"I, uh....yeah." Ryou scratched his head, looking slightly worried.

Almost as if by chance, who should've walked by, but Bakugou himself, glaring at Ryou, and shoved him.

"Oi! Kamen Rider! Don't think I'm going to go easy on you in the next fight. I'm going to crush you."

Ryou narrowed his eyes and moved past Sunny, getting up close to Bakugou.

"I didn't come this far to have someone like you knock me out of the tournament. You just wait. I'll show you my power."

Bakugou formed an evil grin. "I've wanted to fight you again for a long time! Damn vigilante."

Ryou grabbed Bakugou by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "Shut up!"

Sunny was going to interject, but in the nick of time, Midoriya and Kirishima came down and attempted to break up the fight.

"You just wait, damnit!" Bakugou yelled, veins popping out of his neck. "I'll crush you, you damn vigilante!"

"I'm no vigilante, you punk!"

Midoriya and Sunny held back Ryou, as Kirishima began to lead Bakugou away.

"I'M THE RIDEWATCH HERO, RYOU SOUTOU, KAMEN RIDER!"