[Kimewaza (Finishing Move)!]
[Mighty Critical Strike!]
Power surged through Ryuga's entire body, concentrating in his right leg. He unleashed a series of blazing kicks on Solti, each impact bursting with colorful, vibrant effects.
[Hit! Hit! Hit!]
[Great!]
[Hit! Hit!]
[Perfect!]
Boom!
Solti, the first Bugster to appear, exploded on the spot. The impact was punctuated by a glowing [Perfect!] title card. He had no chance to resist.
[Game Clear!]
Mighty Action X – Level Complete!
"Great! You've been cured!" Asuna beamed, scanning Sata with a stethoscope-shaped Game Scope. She patted the child's head gently.
"Yeah! Thank you, doctor!" Sata laughed joyfully, clinging to Ryuga with gratitude.
Ryuga smiled back, warm and relieved. After safely returning Sata to the hospital, he followed Asuna into the Cyberbrain Room—CR for short—a specialized department under the affiliated hospital of Seito University.
"This department was created to combat the Bugster Virus," Asuna explained. Without warning, she leapt into a beam of light and phased directly into a large arcade-style game console.
"Actually, 'Asuna' is just my name in the human world. My real name is Poppy Pipopapo! Nice to meet you again!"
Inside the screen, Asuna's persona transformed—from cool, professional nurse to a bubbly, high-energy girl with bright pink hair and a colorful pop idol outfit. The contrast was comical.
In truth, Poppy was herself a Bugster born from the rhythm game DoReMiFa Beat, which explained her ability to freely enter and exit digital devices like game consoles.
"Clear all the games! Become the Super Doctor who saves humanity—Kamen Rider Ex-Aid!" she shouted dramatically from within the screen.
"…"
"…I think you'd better turn back into Asuna," Ryuga muttered, expression flat.
"Huh? No way!" Poppy grinned.
Just then, a middle-aged man opened the door—Dean Kagami Haima, head of Seito University Hospital. Alongside him stood a younger man with stern eyes—Kagami Hiiro, his son, a prodigy surgeon and CR's second Rider.
"What are you doing here? This isn't a place for unauthorized personnel," the Dean said sternly.
"Dean, Ryuga will be working here as both a pediatrician and CR member from now on!" Poppy yelled from the console.
"Welcome to CR!" The Dean's demeanor shifted instantly, becoming grand and welcoming.
This rapid switch was... almost suspiciously comical.
"She's the leader of the Ministry of Health's Kamen Rider unit. I'm counting on you to support her," the Dean whispered to Ryuga, placing a hand on his shoulder as they walked away.
"That's right!" Poppy's voice rang out behind them. Startled, the Dean stumbled and kicked the desk painfully.
"Owwww—!!" he wailed dramatically.
"By the way, this Game Scope will be yours from now on. You'll receive alerts through it when new patient cases arise," Poppy said, ignoring the Dean and handing the stethoscope-like device to Ryuga.
The moment he slung it around his neck, Hiiro walked in with cold precision, his steps sharp and imposing.
"He's not qualified for this," Hiiro declared.
"Father, we don't need two doctors in CR."
He pulled out his own Gamer Driver and dropped it casually on the table.
"You're an intern. Your presence here is No, thank you."
"Oh really?" Ryuga crossed his arms, smirking. "Did you get this job through your father's connections?"
"What did you say!?" Hiiro's expression darkened instantly. He hated being accused of nepotism.
"I did not! Don't make baseless claims!"
"Okay, okay—I believe you. Really." Ryuga raised his hands with mock sincerity and left the room, chuckling to himself. We'll see who's really competent.
The Next Day…
Ryuga was relaxing at his desk playing a game when the Game Scope around his neck buzzed with an alert.
Suddenly, Poppy appeared behind him like a ghost.
"Emergency notice!"
"Wha—?! Where did you come from? Did you sneak up behind me before the alert even rang?!"
"Let's go!" Now dressed in her nurse uniform, Poppy dragged Ryuga out and raced off on a sleek red-and-white medical motorcycle.
Having an assistant is pretty convenient, Ryuga thought. No need to drive myself!
They arrived at the scene. A patient lay on the ground, unconscious. Just as Ryuga knelt to examine him, a luxury sedan pulled up.
Out stepped Hiiro, flanked by two tall, elegant nurses.
"Seriously? Dude gets a car and assistants? Poppy, you're slacking," Ryuga teased.
Poppy sighed. "…The car's his own, and the nurses were assigned by the Dean. Not my fault!"
"Oh, so he's still getting special treatment from his father," Ryuga nodded. "Balanced."
"I told you—I did NOT go through the back door!" Hiiro growled.
"I never said you did," Ryuga replied flatly.
That only made Hiiro more furious.
"Well, to prove you earned this on your own, this patient's yours," Ryuga offered casually.
"Hmph!" Hiiro stepped forward, clearly annoyed. While this was his case anyway, Ryuga's phrasing made it sound like he was delegating it.
"Beginning the operation now," Hiiro said. Using the Game Scope, he confirmed the presence of the Bugster virus in the patient. He immediately shifted into battle mode.
Despite his cold demeanor, Hiiro's medical skills and professionalism were top-tier.
Of course, he did have a flair for the dramatic. Raising his arms like a conductor, he signaled his two nurses.
"Player Driver!"
The nurse on the left handed him the driver and knelt to fasten it to his waist.
"Rider Gashat!"
The nurse on the right handed over a glowing blue game cartridge.
Poppy quickly pulled the patient's relative aside. "We're starting surgery."
"Wait, what?!"
Unbothered, Hiiro activated the Gashat.
[Taddle Quest!]
A fantasy RPG of swords and sorcery.
"You think you can defeat me?" taunted the Bugster-infected patient, his body morphing into a monstrous, phage-like form.
Hiiro calmly slotted the Gashat into the driver.
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
Kamen Rider Brave – Mission Player, Level 1!
"Let the virus removal surgery begin."
"Step one—separate the Bugster from the patient."
He charged the Bugster with a small blue shield and a basic-looking sword. The weapons appeared almost underwhelming—until Ryuga noticed something.
He's waiting for the real equipment drop, Ryuga thought.
Meanwhile, Poppy turned to Ryuga. "Go help him!"
"What kind of doctor would interrupt someone else's operation?" Ryuga said calmly. "Let him handle it."
Hiiro, overhearing that, glanced over in surprise. His opinion of Ryuga shifted—if only slightly.