"Aren't you a genius surgeon? Do you still need help from a mere intern just to retrieve a Driver and cassette?" Long I slapped Hiiro on the shoulder with a grin. "I've even left you a do-it-yourself opportunity!"
That sounds right, doesn't it? But… why does it feel off?
Hiiro fell into a thoughtful silence, something about the situation bothering him.
"Poppy, take the patient and go," Ryuga said with a secretive smile, waving her off.
Having lifted their transformations, the battle space had automatically dissolved. Everyone found themselves outside the small clinic owned by Taiga.
"There are already four Riders in the game now. Things are really heating up."
Just as the group began to part ways, a figure in a floral shirt and red leather jacket appeared—and vanished just as quickly.
In the consultation room...
"Kujo Kiriya, six years old? You expect me to believe that with a face like yours? Sixty would be more convincing," Ryuga muttered, exasperated.
Kujo Kiriya's face darkened. Bro, that's just rude.
"I'm not here for pediatrics, alright?" Kiriya coughed awkwardly and gestured behind him. "This is my colleague, Nishiwaki. He needs your help."
Wait a minute—isn't that the human form of Ultraman Ginga?!
"Ryuga, Ryuga!" Ryuga rushed to shake Nishiwaki's hand, eyes sparkling.
"Doctor, please save me!" Nishiwaki cried out desperately, his forehead slick with sweat as he gripped Ryuga's hand tightly.
"Calm down!" Kiriya pulled him back. "He's been infected with the Bugster Virus. I need your power as a genius gamer to eliminate it!"
Ultraman Ginga, infected with a video game virus? Then the stressor must be… Luki Ayer?!
Sorry, not fighting. Goodbye.
Even so, Kujo Kiriya—despite being "six years old"—dragged Ryuga out of the clinic toward the open field.
The virus inside Nishiwaki was extremely active, taking control and forcing him to stagger forward. In a flash, the Bugster manifested: the virus expelled from his body and congealed into a wheel-shaped connector.
Poppy had already alerted Hiiro, and Taiga had somehow arrived as well.
"Didn't expect to find someone else suitable for the game," Taiga remarked, eyeing Kujo Kiriya suspiciously.
"What's your objective here?" Hiiro questioned sternly.
"My friend died during Zero Day. I won't let that happen to anyone else," Kiriya replied—clearly making it up on the spot.
"Uh, can we deal with the monster first?" Poppy raised her hand weakly.
"Agreed," Kiriya clapped his hands, pulling out his cassette. Apparently, the infected Nishiwaki wasn't that much of a friend.
[Bakusou Bike!]
Runaway Locomotive—a racing game that combines destruction and high-speed obstacle dodging.
"Transform!"
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
Kamen Rider Lazer—Locomotive Player Lv.1!
Seeing Kiriya transform, Taiga immediately followed suit. Together, they charged toward the Bugster Connector to separate the virus from the patient.
But the moment Kiriya made contact, his form spun uncontrollably in place.
"Help! Can someone stop me?!" he shouted, panicked.
"What the hell is with this guy?" Hiiro muttered, dumbfounded.
"Sa, who knows..." Poppy said, resigned.
"Just let him spin. This Bugster is mine," Taiga declared confidently.
"Haha, my game is a racing game too!" said Bugster Mortas with a sneer. He summoned a motorcycle and sped away before anyone could act.
Ironically, he rammed into Kiriya on the way out—accidentally helping him stop spinning.
"Victory starts now!"
Taiga was about to pursue, but Hiiro stepped forward, blocking his path.
"Hand over the Player Driver."
"Looks like it's time to fight again," Kiriya muttered, standing back up.
"Second speed!"
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Runaway! Go Alone! Excite! Runaway!]
[Bakusou Bike!]
Kamen Rider Lazer—Locomotive Player Lv.2. And yes, he's now... literally a motorcycle.
"Lv.2 form requires a partner to unlock its full potential," Poppy explained quickly. "The Driver must ride."
"Long, get on! Let's chase that Bugster!"
"Let's go!" Ryuga leaped on, and the two sped off after Mortas.
It was a bizarre sight: a pediatrician riding a transformed forensic doctor, racing through the city like maniacs.
But after a few moments, Ryuga suddenly brought the bike to a halt.
"What are you doing? Keep going!" Kiriya protested.
"Relax. We have a faster way."
Ryuga pressed the decisive slot button next to the bike's belt, selecting a racing map. The world around them shimmered and warped—the space switched.
Even in motorcycle form, the belt was still strapped to Kiriya's body...
"Oh, right. This is a racing game," Kiriya muttered, finally understanding.
Mortas was teleported to the race's starting point, along with Nishiwaki's abducted sister, held at the track's end as the emotional anchor—the stressor.
To save her, the game had to be played properly. Violating the rules could result in unknown consequences for the host.
But once the race starts, all bets are off. Riders can battle, sabotage, or wipe out opponents as long as they cross the finish line.
"Hmph. A runaway locomotive dares to challenge me? Pathetic," Mortas scoffed. He hadn't shut up since he appeared.
"When I win, I'll kill that woman and fully replace her brother!"
"Enough talk. The race is starting!"
[BEEP... BEEP... BEEP... GREEN!]
The light above blinked green—the signal to go. In Ryuga's eyes, it meant one thing:
"It's showtime!"
"Transform!"
[Mighty Action X!]
[Gashat!]
[Let's Game! Metcha Game! Mutcha Game!]
[What's Your Name?]
[I'm a Kamen Rider!]
[Gachan!]
[Level Up!]
[Mighty Jump! Mighty Kick! Mighty Mighty Action X!]
As Ryuga transformed, Kiriya's bike form automatically charged forward, chasing after Mortas.
Ryuga, now in Rider form, reached for the cassette—not his, but Kiriya's—and inserted it into the decisive slot.
[Gashon!]
[Gashat!]
"Wait, isn't this a racing game?! Why are you using my cassette?!" Kiriya exclaimed.
Too late. As a motorcycle, he had no arms or legs—no way to resist. Ryuga had full control.