ZERO SHIFT

As Kyle,maya and Josuke arrived at the capital city of Elaris, Josuke's eyes widened at the sight of the towering buildings, bustling crowds, and gleaming lights. The capital was far more advanced than the small town he had grown up in. Technology was woven seamlessly into every aspect of the city hover transports zipped by overhead, holographic advertisements lined the streets, and automated drones carried out tasks as people hurried about their business.

Kyle, ever playful, had teleported them to the outskirts of the main district, known as Yamato. It was a vibrant, busy area packed with markets, cafes, and shops. As they stood on the bustling street, Maya couldn't help but ask, her tone edged with irritation, "Kyle, why are we here and not at headquarters."

Kyle grinned, his tone teasing. "Well, you're a mom now, right? Don't you want your boy to get some new stuff? You signed the adoption papers, after all." His playful tone only made Maya grit her teeth, struggling to maintain her composure.

She sighed deeply, murmuring under her breath, "What crime did I commit to be stuck with an idiot as my commander?"

When she looked up, however, both Kyle and Josuke had disappeared into the crowd. "I won't run after you two," she said with a tired sigh, "Come back here, now!" But her command was drowned out by the city noise, with no response from either of them. Resigned, Maya simply headed into a nearby coffee shop to relax.

Meanwhile, Kyle and Josuke were at a cake shop, eyes wide in admiration at the display. "Can you smell the aroma?" Kyle asked, his eyes gleaming.

Josuke nodded, equally enthralled. "It looks heavenly."

Without hesitation, they entered the shop, ordering a large chocolate cake, savoring each bite like they had discovered a treasure. The two ate with reckless abandon, enjoying their sweet escape. After they finished, Kyle, still grinning like a mischievous child, reached into his coat for his handkerchief but pulled out the headband that Shiro had given him. "The old man wanted me to give you this," Kyle said, holding it out. "He said your mother made it."

Josuke took the headband, looking at it with a mix of curiosity and emotion. As he tied it around his head, Kyle chuckled, "Not bad! You know what this calls for?"

Josuke blinked. "What?"

"Shopping spree!" Kyle exclaimed, dragging Josuke off toward the nearest clothing store.

A Different Kind of Heroics

As they dashed from store to store, arms full of bags like two carefree kids, they passed through an alleyway and noticed a robbery in progress. A man was stealing a woman's purse, holding a gun as he backed away.

Kyle stood at the edge of the alley, hands casually in his pockets. "Hey, that's not nice," he said in a lighthearted tone.

The robber, startled, grabbed the woman, using her as a shield. "Stay back, Commander! I know who you are!"

The man turned, expecting to see Kyle still standing at the entrance, but found Josuke instead. Before he could react, Kyle appeared behind him, disarming him in a flash and knocking him out cold. The woman, shaken but unharmed, thanked Kyle profusely before making her way out of the alley.

Josuke watched in awe, impressed by Kyle's speed and precision. "You did that so fast," he said, wide-eyed.

Kyle grinned, giving him a playful nudge. "Stick around, kid. You'll see even crazier things. Now, let's get back to shopping!"

As the sun began to set, the two finally emerged from the shopping district, bags in hand like two kids after a day of adventure. Maya, who had been frantically searching for them, finally spotted them walking down the street, arms full of shopping bags.

Her patience snapped. She stormed up to them, grabbing Kyle by the collar of his shirt. "I look away for two seconds, and you disappear with him!" she shouted, glaring at Josuke too. "Do you even know what time it is?!"

Kyle, ever the charmer, put on a wide-eyed, innocent expression. "Don't worry, Maya! We're here now, safe and sound!" His attempt at looking cute didn't fool her, and she immediately bonked him on the head.

"Just take us to headquarters," she grumbled.

Kyle, still rubbing his head, gave Josuke a wink before leading the way to their next destination—the Ranger Headquarters in the heart of the capital.