Haruka sat behind the front desk of the Kojima Hotels lobby, his chin resting on his hand as he scrolled through his phone. The marble floor gleamed, and the ornate chandeliers hung silent in the quiet afternoon. A few potted plants and elegant furniture decorated the spacious reception area, but no guests were currently checking in or out.
He tapped out a message to Kara, grateful for the distraction from the monotony of his internship. His smartphone buzzed almost immediately with her response.
"How's the hotel life?" Kara's text read.
Haruka chuckled softly. "Boring. Been here three hours, and not a single guest has checked in. Thinking about practicing my origami skills with these hotel brochures."
The hotel's concierge, Mr. Rodriguez, walked by and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Kojima, remember to look professional even during slow periods."
"Yes, sir," Haruka responded, quickly putting his phone down and sitting up straighter.
Another text from Kara came through. "Sounds exciting. Want to hear about my day at CatCo?"
Haruka smiled, grateful for the conversation that would help pass the time.
The hotel phone rang, cutting through the quiet lobby. Haruka picked up the receiver, his professional demeanor instantly switching on.
"Kojima Hotels, how may I assist you?" he answered.
The caller identified themselves as a representative from Lexcorp, requesting a conference room for an upcoming meeting. Haruka listened carefully, taking notes and confirming details. He processed the reservation with practiced efficiency, ensuring every specification was noted.
After finalizing the booking, he quickly texted Kara: "Got work to do. Lexcorp meeting incoming."
Haruka then approached Mr. Rodriguez and his fellow concierge staff. "We have a Lexcorp reservation. We'll need to prepare the east conference room," he explained.
The team immediately sprang into action. Mr. Fujimoto began checking the room's audiovisual equipment, while another staff member started arranging chairs and setting up the conference table. Haruka assisted by ensuring the room's temperature was perfect and that refreshment stations were properly stocked.
As they worked, Haruka maintained his focused, professional demeanor, carefully overseeing every detail of the room's preparation for the Lexcorp meeting.
Haruka stood near the reception area, watching as the Lexcorp delegation approached. Akira Fujimoto, the hotel manager, stood beside him, radiating professional composure. The automatic doors slid open, and Lena Luthor entered first, her green eyes scanning the lobby with a calculated gaze.
She wore a tailored charcoal suit that spoke of understated power, her black hair styled in a sleek, professional manner. Behind her, a group of Lexcorp executives followed, carrying briefcases and tablets. Haruka noticed how each member of the group seemed to defer to Lena, their body language subtly indicating her leadership.
"Welcome to Kojima Hotels," Fujimoto stepped forward, extending his hand. "We've prepared the east conference room for your meeting."
Lena's hand met Fujimoto's in a firm, confident handshake. "Excellent," she responded, her voice crisp and controlled. Her gaze briefly swept across the lobby, then settled momentarily on Haruka, who stood nearby in his hotel intern uniform.
For a split second, their eyes met.
Haruka felt a sudden weight of Lena Luthor's gaze. Her green eyes seemed to pierce right through him, calculating and intense. He shifted uncomfortably, wondering if he had done something wrong.
"Mr. Fujimoto, please lead us to the conference room," Lena said smoothly, her voice professional but carrying an undercurrent of authority.
Fujimoto nodded. "Right this way, Ms. Luthor."
As the Lexcorp delegation followed Fujimoto, Haruka noticed how they moved with a coordinated precision. Tablets, briefcases, and crisp suits marked them as a powerful corporate team.
Fujimoto turned to Haruka. "Serve refreshments for the meeting. Coffee, water, and light snacks. Make sure everything is presented professionally."
"Yes, sir," Haruka responded, already moving to prepare the tray for the conference room.
Haruka carefully arranged the silver tray with precision, ensuring each cup was positioned perfectly. He entered the conference room, moving quietly between the seated executives. As he served, he could feel Lena Luthor's eyes tracking his movements. Her gaze felt different from the other executives - more calculating, more intense.
He set down a cup of coffee in front of her, their hands nearly touching for a brief moment. Haruka maintained a neutral expression, professional and detached. Once the refreshments were distributed, he bowed slightly and retreated from the conference room.
Haruka was about to head to the front desk to assist with check-ins when a voice called out behind him.
"Haruka."
He turned to see Lena Luthor standing in the hallway, her tailored suit crisp, her green eyes studying him intently.
"Ms. Luthor," Haruka greeted her, remembering their last encounter at the Lexcorp party. "Can I help you with something?"
"Haruka," she said, "I thought I told you to call me Lena."
Haruka bowed slightly, maintaining a professional demeanor. "Ms. Luthor, I apologize, but I'm currently on duty at the hotel. Professional protocol requires me to maintain a formal address."
A hint of a smile crossed Lena's lips. She understood the young intern's commitment to his work. "How are you doing?" she asked, her tone softening.
"I'm doing fine," Haruka responded, his voice neutral and measured.
Haruka glanced at Lena, maintaining his professional composure. "Don't you have a meeting to attend, Ms. Luthor?"
Lena's green eyes softened. "It can wait," she said, her tone suggesting she had something specific in mind. "I actually wanted to ask you a question."
"Go ahead," Haruka responded, his voice steady and neutral.
Lena studied Haruka with a calculating gaze. "Do you have another job besides working here at the hotel?" she asked casually.
Haruka straightened his posture. "No, I do not," he replied firmly. "This is my only job."
A subtle smirk played across Lena's lips. She pulled out a small device and tapped the screen. A video began to play - clear footage of Haruka mid-transformation, his body surrounded by the distinctive energy of a Kamen Rider changing form.
"Are you sure about that?" Lena asked, her voice smooth and knowing. The video continued to play, showing Haruka canceling his Rider transformation, the energy dissipating around him.
She looked directly at Haruka, her green eyes sharp and focused. "So, I'll ask again. Do you have another job? Specifically, as Kamen Rider?"
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
Haruka's laughter caught Lena off guard. It was a genuine, unexpected sound that momentarily disrupted her carefully constructed interrogation. He looked directly at her, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"That's quite an impressive video," Haruka said, his tone light and dismissive. "Must have taken some serious editing skills to make it look so convincing."
Lena's eyebrow arched slightly, her composure remaining intact despite his unexpected reaction. She had anticipated denial, but not this casual dismissal.
Haruka bowed slightly, a gesture of polite farewell. "Thank you for the entertainment, Ms. Luthor, but I'm afraid I have other duties to attend to."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lena watching his retreating back, her plan momentarily derailed by his unexpected response.
Haruka rounded the corner, pressing his back against the cold wall. His heart raced, pulse thundering in his ears. How had Lena Luthor discovered his secret identity?
"This is troubling…" he muttered under his breath, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of his Kamen Rider belt hidden beneath his suit.
The hallway remained quiet, but Haruka knew better than to assume he was truly alone. Lena Luthor was not someone who would let an interesting discovery slip away easily. Her reputation as a brilliant and persistent investigator preceded her, and now she had set her sights on unraveling his mystery.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves and think strategically about his next move.
///
Please give power stones daily to support this story.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz, which is also the best way to support me.