Episode 9: Umasked
Both Ren and Tezuka had serious looks as they sat down next to Shinji. Just the other day, Shinji had called up the two of them to inform them of his encounter with the latest Kamen Rider, Zolda. Shinji had just finished reporting how his encounter went down.
"From the looks of things, Zolda might be the strongest Rider yet." Shinji sighed. "I only saw him using one weapon, some sort of bazooka or cannon, but it's clear that he's got us beat in firepower. And if one of his standard weapons is capable of that much destruction, I don't even want to think about what his Final Vent is capable of."
"Well, at least you weren't stupid enough to try and challenge him." Ren snorted. "So he specializes in long-range, does he? Fine. Just means we need to rush him before he can slot in a card."
"Did I mention that his visor is also a gun?" Shinji asked with a frown. "I know you're a good fighter, Ren. But the fact is, we're all outmatched. Sure, my Strike Vent can shoot fireballs, but I'm not specialized for ranged combat. I'm more of an all-arounder."
"Whereas the two of us are more suited purely for melee combat." Tezuka nodded. "Still, that doesn't mean Zolda is unbeatable. It just means he has his own advantages in the Rider War. But we can also be thankful for one thing above all else: Zolda isn't playing mercenary like Abyss."
"Yeah." Shinji gulped. "I'm shuddering just at the thought of someone with that kind of firepower running around as a hired gun."
Shinji then shook his head to snap out of his fear of the possibility of Zolda going mercenary. "Anyway, that's all I was able to get save for finding out that apparently his life's riding on the wish."
"Are you two still wasting time trying to understand your enemies?" Ren scoffed. "Ridiculous. The fact is, Zolda's going to try and take us out the next time any of us meet him."
"Understanding our opponents is what will allow us to beat them." Tezuka retorted calmly. "In addition to helping us convince them to withdraw from the Rider War."
"There is no withdrawing." Ren sighed. "Maybe if you have blank deck, sure. But chances are, the other Riders are already contracted to monsters. Whether we want to or not, we have to fight."
"That doesn't mean we should fight each other." Shinji declared as he bolted up from his seat. "If I do need to keep on fighting, then I'll fight the Mirror Monsters and the Riders who would willingly harm innocent people or use the wish for evil."
"You'd still let me get the wish despite not knowing what I'd use it for?" Ren asked in surprise.
"You're a better man than most people think, Ren." Shinji replied with an honest smile. "Besides, I know you're a good person. Especially when I saw you comforting that girl who nearly got grabbed by a Zelle."
"Demanding an answer would've just made her freeze." Ren waved off Shinji's compliment.
"Why is it so hard for you to accept people being nice to you, Ren?" Shinji groaned. "Seriously! Being nice to each other is something friends do! I don't care if you never consider me one, but I definitely consider you a friend!"
Ren said nothing, and just stood up, returning to the café's kitchen area. Shinji couldn't help but le tout a defeated sigh.
"Don't let it get to you, Shinji." Tezuka smiled as he placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "You'll get through to him eventually. Though Ren might see it as an annoyance, your determination is one of your strongest qualities."
"Thanks, Tezuka." Shinji chuckled. "Couldn't call myself a real Kamen Rider if I was one to call it quits so easily, right?"
"True enough." Tezuka nodded. "But what do you mean by 'real' Kamen Rider? If I recall, you were quite protective of the name when you fought against Scissors."
"Oh, that?" Shinji scratched his chin as his mind flashed back to an earlier time in his life. "Well, the reason for that goes back to my high school days."
*Flashback: Shinji's high school years*
Shinji scratched his head as he sat down at the library. His teacher had just assigned the class a new project. They were to research urban legends and make presentations of the information they'd gathered. Everyone else had chosen run-of-the-mill topics such as haunted buildings or sightings of strange creatures. But that wasn't what Shinji wanted to cover.
"Too many legends are about scary of weird stuff." Shinji muttered quietly to himself. He was in a library after all. "Why aren't there more positive ones out there?"
Shinji sighed as he looked at his watch. At this rate, he'd be here forever before he could think of an urban legend to research. Sparing a glance at his belongings, Shinji noticed a superhero manga sticking out of his pack. Ever since he was little, Shinji loved superheroes. Be it from TV, manga, or American comic books.
'Ah, what the heck?' Shinji thought with a tired smile. 'Might as well give it a shot.'
Grabbing his things and making his way to the nearest computer, Shinji put in the keywords "Superhero sightings" in the search bar. Once he clicked search, a surprising number of entries showed up. Scanning through the various links, one name seemed to keep popping up no matter how different the site.
"Kamen Rider… " Shinji whispered as he skimmed through the sites. "You seem to be showing up a lot. Well then, let's see what people have to say about you."
As he started researching, Shinji thought he'd only be spending a few minutes looking for information regarding sightings or reports of encounters with Kamen Riders. He couldn't have been more wrong. Within a few short minutes of reading, Shinji was immediately hooked on the topic. While it was already intriguing to hear rumors about armored heroes existing right in his backyard, what really captivated Shinji were the reports of the Kamen Riders' bravery. Some report stated that even when they were badly injured, the Kamen Riders would still fight on no matter how bad the odds seemed. Especially when the witnesses who made the reports were still in danger. Tales of such sacrifice and heroism greatly touched Shinji.
'They're amazing… ' Shinji thought in awe. 'One day, I hope I can be like them. Maybe I won't become a superhero, but I'd be more than happy to do something that honors them and the sacrifices they made!'
*Flashback end*
"And there you have it." Shinji smiled. "That's why I'm so protective of the name Kamen Rider. It's a name so inherently tied to heroism and sacrifice. So, when I see someone like Scissors running around, using that same name to commit crimes and other horrible acts, I just get so angry. They're disgracing the name of Kamen Rider and spitting on the sacrifices they made to keep us all safe. And I refuse to let people like that run free. Maybe the Kamen Riders in those legends and stories really exist, or maybe they don't. Either way, I'm going to do my best to be worthy of name as long as I hold my Advent Deck."
"I think it's safe to say you're doing the name quite proud so far, Shinji." Tezuka smiled. "And it's been my honor to help train you to uphold the mantle."
"Thanks, Tezuka." Shinji beamed. "Well, I've been chatting long enough. I've got to get back to ORE Journal. See you next time!"
Shinji mounted his bike and drove off to his workplace. As he drove, he noticed Dragrder following him through the windows of buildings.
'If Dragreder can follow my movements, does that mean the Mirror Monsters can track prey by watching things moving in the Mirror World?' Shinji thought as he drove. 'Better think about that later. Right now, work's more important.'
Before long, Shinji arrived at ORE Journal and immediately set to work. Or at least, he would have if he hadn't received a call from Kitaoka.
"Must be about the article I wrote about him." Shinji murmured before answering the phone. "Hey Kitaoka. What's with the social call?"
"I've gotta say, your article on me was a lot fairer than some other interviews I've had, Shinji." Kitaoka said from his end of the call. "You've got my thanks for that. Also, I noticed you also shed some light on Goro."
"Hey, he saved both of our hides from those thugs that were assaulting you." Shinji huffed in mock annoyance. "Mentioning him in the article was just my way of thanking him."
"Fair enough." Kitaoka acknowledged. "I figured we could celebrate the success of your interview."
"Sounds fine to me." Shinji nodded. "Where do you want to meet up at?"
"Goro will pick you up at your work." Kitaoka answered. "I've got a doctor's visit today, so the both of you will meet me at the hospital."
"I see. Thank you." Shinji then hung up the phone. "Looks like I'll be having different lunch plans today. Kitaoka wants to celebrate the interview I gave him."
"You're getting some friends in high places, Shinji." Reiko joked.
"All I did was stop the guy from getting beat up." Shinji chuckled bashfully.
"Do you think you could get me a signed picture?!" A woman with hair in pigtails and glasses called out as she popped up from her desk. This was Nanako Shimada, ORE Journal's web designer and systems engineer.
"Really Nanako?" Shinji raised an eyebrow. "It's not like he's a member of an idol group or a famous actor."
"But he's handsome enough to be one!" Nanako countered.
"I'll see what I can do." Shinji sighed as he went back to his desk.
A while later, Goro showed up to bring Shinji to Kitaoka.
"Sensei was quite pleased at the article you wrote." Goro said with a small smile as he drove. "I didn't expect you to make any mention of me though."
"Well, you saved me and Kitaoka's butts." Shinji smiled. "Mentioning you was just my way of repaying your heroics."
"I did make a grand entrance." Goro chuckled.
"By the way, how did the two of you meet?" Shinji asked. "And why do you call Kitaoka sensei? You're not studying law under him, are you?"
"No, I'm not." Goro shook his head. "As for he I met sensei, I was a client of his. It's because of him that I'm able to have a life. For that, I'm indebted to him. "
For a moment, Goro's expression saddened.
"That, and it's to repay him for what I cost him." Goro whispered to himself.
"Did you say something?" Shinji tilted his head in confusion.
"Nothing." Goro shook his head. "We'll be arriving shortly."
Within a few minutes, the pair arrived at the hospital. Shinji and Goro exited the car, and made their way to the reception office, asking for where Kitaoka was located.
"Thank you." Shinji nodded before turning to Goro. "I'm going to go towards where Kitaoka's being screened. That alright with you?"
"It would be a nice surprise for sensei." Goro stated. "I have no problem with that."
Shinji headed towards where Kitaoka's medical visit was being held. But as he approached, Shinji caught some slight chatter from nearby medical staff.
"Can you believe someone that young is stricken with such a horrible disease?" A nurse asked.
"I know." Another staff member said sadly. "If he were screened sooner, the cancer would've been caught earlier. Then he'd have more time left in the world."
Shinji wondered who they were talking about, but he didn't have to wait long for an answer. As he neared the examination room, Shinji overheard Kitaoka speaking to a doctor.
"It's gotten worse hasn't it, Doctor?" Kitaoka asked.
"I'm afraid it has." The doctor answered sadly. "You're fortunate that it hasn't made you unable to function normally. I'd have recommended undergoing chemotherapy, but it was caught too late for any treatment to be highly effective."
"I understand." Kitaoka sighed. "Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate getting an update."
'Kitaoka… 'Shinji thought in sympathy. 'I had no idea you were suffering through something like this.'
"Shinji?" Kitaoka's voice snapped Shinji out of his thoughts. "Well, what a surprise! Did you come to give me a get-well card?"
"You're a picture of health." Shinji joked to hide what he'd overheard. "You probably know that every time you look in a mirror."
"Too true!" Kitaoka chuckled. "Anyway, where should we go to celebrate?"
"You're asking me?"
"Of course!" Kitaoka grinned. "It's your article we're celebrating! It'd be rude not to ask you where you'd want to go!"
"Well, I know a good place." Shinji smiled. "It's not a lavish or high-end as the places you're used to, but it's a good place to get a bite to eat or a nice drink. Atori Café."
"Hmm." Kitaoka scratched his chin. "Sounds simple, but I'll give it a shot. Some of life's best things are simple pleasures."
"I suppose you'll want to stop by my workplace too?" Shinji joked.
"Just to drop off my business card." Kitaoka chuckled. "Let's be off!"
As they met back up with Goro, Shinji couldn't help but reflect on what he'd heard in the hospital. He never would have guessed Kitaoka was battling cancer, given the fact that Kitaoka always seemed so lively. But then again, sometimes people masked their pain or troubles with a smile and a laugh.
'Looks like Kitaoka's masking his pain pretty well.' Shinji thought sadly. 'I don't think I could ever hide how I'm hurting. At least, not as well as he can.'
Before long, the group arrived at the café. To Shinji's surprise, Tezuka was still at there and was helping with clearing and setting up tables.
"Tezuka?" Shinji asked in surprise.
"Oh, Shinji." Tezuka greeted with a smile. "Welcome back. And I see you've brought some new friends as well."
"Shuichi Kitaoka. Superlawyer" Kitaoka introduced himself. "So, this is where Shinji goes to grab a quick bite."
"It sure is." Yui smiled. "Shinji told us all about the little adventure you two had during your first encounter."
"I predicted that Shinji would have many fated encounters, but I didn't picture one of them being that exciting." Tezuka chuckled.
"Oh?" Kitaoka tilted his head in interest. "You predicted I'd run into Shinji?"
"Yes." Tezuka nodded. "Name's Miyuki Tezuka, I'm a fortune teller by trade. Every fortune I've told is highly accurate. However, they're not to be taken as absolute. They only come true so long as my patrons stay on their current path. So long as they take action to change their course, fate can be foiled."
"Interesting." Kitaoka smirked. "Perhaps I'll have my fortune read after a bite to eat. But with the income I get, I've already made my fortune."
"In that case, you can afford the whole menu." Ren called out from behind the kitchen.
"He a friend of yours too, Shinji?"
Ren snorted. "Only that idiot would be dumb enough to waste his time trying to befriend me."
"Love you too, Ren." Shinji sighed. "Don't mind Ren. He's just being… Ren."
"Tsundere much?" Kitaoka snickered. "So, what would you recommend here, Shinji?"
Shinji was about to answer when his phone started ringing.
"Hello? Really? Okay, I'll be right there!" Shinji then hung up. "Sorry, work emergency. Chief Okubo needs some help back at the office. Go ahead and start celebrating without me! I'll be back soon!"
"It's fine." Kitaoka nodded. "Goro? Would you mind taking Shinji back to his workplace?"
"At once, Sensei." Goro bowed.
As Shinji was escorted back to his work by Goro, Kitaoka sat down at a table and looked at the menu. After ordering, Kitaoka decided to have Tezuka read his fortune while the food was prepared.
"So. What lies in my future?" Kitaoka smirked. "A huge client? Winning the lottery? A hot date with a gorgeous woman?"
"Let's see." Tezuka chuckled as he tossed the coins he used to divine the future into the air. Once they landed, Tezuka began his prediction. "Hmm. It says that you'll become involved in a great struggle. And by overcoming it, you'll emerge better than you began."
"Well, I would like a challenging case once in a while." Kitaoka nodded.
However, the celebratory mood was soon shattered by a most unwelcome interruption.
EEEeeeeEEEeeeeEEEEeeeee!
Kitaoka and Tezuka both bolted up from their seats while Ren dashed out from the kitchen! The three going for their Advent Decks on pure instinct before realizing the obvious.
"You-!" Ren exclaimed as he saw that Kitaoka had reacted to the Mirror Noise. Yui gasping in surprise at the reveal of yet another Kamen Rider.
But before anyone could get another word in, the Mirror Noise struck again, louder, and more intense than before!
"The ringing!" Tezuka groaned as he covered his ears! "It was never this bad before!"
"Gah!" Kitaoka groaned as he clutched his head. "And today was starting out so nice, too!"
"Let's take this behind the mirrors!" Ren cried out over the Mirror Noise's whine.
Going to the nearest mirror, all three men held out their Advent Decks, summoning the V-Buckles to their waists.
"HENSHIN!" All three cried out in unison before slotting in their Advent Decks!
Greyscale phantom images of their armors spiraled towards them before colliding into them, transforming them into Kamen Riders Knight, Raia, and Zolda. Now clad in their armor, the three leaped into the mirror and mounted the waiting Ride Shooters. Upon entering Mirror World, the three disembarked from their rides to find the source of the mirror noise. What they found shocked them.
"What the-?!" Ren sputtered in shock.
"Oh my God… " Tezuka said in a mix of awe and fear.
"… You think they're mad I killed some of their friends?" Kitaoka joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Staring down the three Riders were not one, not two, not three, but a whole herd of Zebraskulls. Each of them having a different color of armored segments denoting their position within the herd. The leader of the herd soon stepped forth, his armor segments being gold while a crown-like crest protruded from his head. This was the Zebraskull Gold. And he was ready to stampede with his herd. With a violent whinny, the Zebraskull Gold charged forward, the rest of the herd following suit! Acting quickly, all three Riders drew an card from their Advent Decks, slotting them into their visors without delay!
"SWORD VENT!"
"SWING VENT!"
"GUARD VENT!"
At the visors' announcements, the Winglancer and Evilwhip materialized in Knight and Raia's hands. For Zolda, a green shield that resembled the chest armor of a gigantic robot materialized in his left hand. The Zebraskull Gold flipped its arm blades forward, and leaped at Zolda, hoping to cut the Rider to bits! But unfortunately for the Mirror Monster, Zold raised his shield just in time to block the attack and pepper the herd's leader with gunfire! While the beat was staggered, Zolda bashed it in the face with his shield!
"Well?" Zolda asked as he turned back to face the other two Riders. "You wanna join the party or not?"
Knight and Raia looked to each other and nodded before charging forth to engage the rest of the Zebraskull herd. The first Zebraskull that tried to assault the pair found itself impaled upon Knight's Winglancer and was flung towards its comrades before it could even whinny in pain, knocking down a few of its herdmates! Capitalizing on the opening, Knight leaped into the air and plunged the Winglancer down into the pile of Mirror Monsters, the beasts dissolving an instant later and leaving behind energy cores.
"Tezuka!" Knight called out to Raia! "Summon your monster! We can't afford to let the cores reform!"
Nodding, Raia slotted Evildiver's card into his visor, summoning the stingray to the battlefield! Knight followed suit with Darkwing's card, and the two monsters set to work devouring any cores that materialized. Whether it was by Knight's lance or Raia's whip, many monsters fell.
Meanwhile, Shinji had finished helping out with his work emergency, a mix-up of the credited sources in the journal's databanks, and had just head the Mirror Noise. He was about to head for the nearest mirror when his phone began ringing.
"Yeah?" Shinji answered his phone. "Yui? What's going on? Is it about the ringing I just heard? I don't think there's ever been one that loud before!"
"It's not just that!" Yui said from her end of the call. "We've found out the identity of the last Kamen Rider you encountered! Zolda is that lawyer-!"
"Shinji." Goro said as he entered the office.
"Call me later, Yui." Shinji said as he abruptly hung up the phone. "Yeah, Goro?"
"If you've finished with the emergency here, we should head back to the café." Goro stated.
"Actually, something's come up again." Shinji replied. "I' m sorry, but it looks like the celebration's going to be cut short."
"I see." Goro nodded. "I will inform Sensei once I return to the café."
"I'm glad you're understanding about this, Goro." Shinji sighed. "Hope to see you and Kitaoka again sometime so we can properly celebrate."
As Goro left, Shinji headed to the nearest mirror away from prying eyes. But before he transformed, something Yui had tried to tell him earlier came back.
'Yui said that Zolda's identity was revealed…' Shinji thought. 'She said that it was related to a lawyer!'
Shinji's mind flashed back to when Goro had arrived to beat up the thugs assaulting him and Kitaoka and posed like he was going to transform. However, Shinji gave pause before he jumped to a conclusion
'The last time I assumed I knew a Rider's identity, it put Yui in danger. I'm not going to make that mistake again. Besides, how could Zolda be Goro if he was right with me?' Shinji reasoned. 'Yui called from the café, so that means Zolda was there before he revealed himself, probably when the Mirror Noise started."
And that's when Shinji pieced it all together.
'Zolda is Kitaoka.' Shinji concluded. 'He even said that I sounded like someone he knew. Not only that, but he said that his life was riding on the Rider War's wish. That's because he's dying form cancer. It all fits. I'll have to confront him about it after I deal with whatever's causing trouble right now! And chances are, all of them are going to need my help!'
Shinji held his Advent Deck up to the nearest mirror, summoning the V-Buckle to his waist.
"HENSHIN!" Shinji cried out as he threw his right arm across his chest and slotted in the Advent Deck! Transforming into Kamen Rider Ryuki!
Mounting the Rideshooter, Ryuki sped through the corridor between the Mirror World and the real world, arriving at the sight of the other Riders' battle against the Zebraksull herd. Beneath his helmet, Shinji's eyes widened.
"So many Mirror Monsters at once… " Shinji murmured before steeling his nerves and drawing an Advent Card, slotting it into the Dragvisor.
"SWORD VENT!"
The fist thing Shinji noticed upon summoning his weapon was that while Knight and Raia were handling their enemies just fine, Zolda seemed to be having a hard time with the Mirror Monster he was faced with. The Zebraksull Gold had knocked away Zolda's Magnuvisor and was hammering away at Zolda's shield! Wasting no time, Ryuki rushed to Zolda's aid, attacking the Zebraskull Gold with a jumping slash right to its back and making the Mirror Monster screech in pain!
"Heh! Figures!" Zolda panted as he got to his feet. "The hero always shows up at the last minute!"
"Better late than never." Ryuki nodded.
"You wouldn't happen to be close to them, would you?" Zolda gestured over to Knight and Raia.
"Sure am." Ryuki answered. "I'll take care of the head of the herd if you give my friends some coverfire."
"Guess I owe you that much." Zolda shrugged. "I'd say that's more than fair."
Zold retrieved his Magnuvisor, and opened it up before slotting a card in.
"SHOOT VENT!"
The Gigalauncher flew into Zolda's hands from parts unknown, and the gunslinger of the Riders took aim at the horde Knight and Raia were dealing with.
"HEY!" Zolda cried out to the two as he took aim! "GET CLEAR!"
Seeing the big cannon pointed in their direction, Knight and Raia immediately leaped out of the way as Zolda fired upon the Zebraskull herd, blowing away a good chunk of the monsters in the process! Zolda spared a glance back at Ryuki and saw that the dragon Rider had just unleashed his final vent, obliterating the Zebraskull Gold with the Dragon Rider Kick!
"Hm." Zolda dismissed the Giglauncher. "Perhaps its time I wrap up this party. Should've done this from the start, but hey. Hindsight."
Zolda drew a card from his deck, this one depicting his emblem with a green background, and slotted it into his visor.
"FINAL VENT!"
Upon the visor's announcement, a pool-like mirror portal appeared at Zolda's feet. From the portal rose a gigantic robotic minotaur! This was Magnugiga. Zolda's contract monster and the source of his arsenal. Zolda casually walked up to Mganugiga and inserted the Magnuvisor into a port in the minotaur's back. The instant he, did, Magnugiga's chest opened up to reveal a salvo of rockets and his shins flipped forward to become cannon barrels. Mangugiga then began to gather up energy, each of the barrels of his guns glowing as the energy peaked!
"Bye bye!" Zolda waved to the remainder of the Zebraskull herd before pulling the trigger.
With that, Magnugiga fired his guns. ALL of his guns. A storm of missiles, lasers and bullets exploded from the robotic minotaur, letting no targets escape their fury! Ryuki, Knight and Raia just watched the destruction unfold with a mix of awe and fear. Awe at seeing such destructive firepower unleashed, and fear at what would happen if such guns were turned on them. When the onslaught finally let up, a smoldering wreck remained where the Zebraskull herd once stood. As well as a bounty of energy cores that floated aimlessly which Magnugiga gladly sucked up into his chest before lumbering away. As his Contract Monster left, Zolda turned to face the three other Kamen Riders.
"So." Zolda clapped his hands. "Tezuka and Ren. Shall we get back to the café? I bet Yui's getting worried now."
"If her call to me was anything to go by, you're right." Ryuki nodded. "Let's head back."
"Wait, you know Yui?" Zolda blinked beneath his helmet.
"Sure do." Ryuki nodded. "I told her all about our first encounter."
"Wait a minute! I know why you sounded familiar now!" Zolda realized. "You're-!"
"We can do reintroductions back at the café." Ryuki declared. "I don't think we want to risk another herd deciding to stampede toward us."
Without wasting another second, the four Kamen Riders exited the Mirror World and returned to Atori Café. Yui was relieved to see they were all fine, but things were a bit tense among the small group of riders. Especially since their identities had just been revealed to each other.
"So did the three of you decide to team up or something?" Kitaoka asked. "You all know the rules of the Rider War. There can only be one left standing. You sure these two aren't planning on stabbing you in the back, Shinji?"
"Ren might be a bit cold and constantly proclaim he'll crush me, but he said that he'll do it in a straight fight." Shinji answered. "And Tezuka shares the same goal as me: Stopping the Rider War."
"Quite the noble goal." Kitaoka nodded before frowning. "But I can't let you do that. My life's riding on that wish."
"Because of your cancer, right?" Shinji asked. Kitaoka stiffened at hearing this. "I overheard some chatter between medical staff at the hospital on my way to the examination room you were in. As well as some of what that doctor told you."
"… Heh. You found me out." Kitaoka said with a defeated smile. "I'm going to wish for eternal life. That way I'll never have to worry about my cancer killing me."
"If only there was some way to forfeit or withdraw from the Rider War." Shinji sighed before looking at Kitaoka. "If there was, I'd withdraw so you can get your wish."
Kitaoka blinked at hearing this. "You… you'd do that?"
"Yes." Shinji nodded. "Knowing why you're fighting and the wish you want to make? It makes me wonder if I have any right to stop you or the other Riders from fighting for the wish. But I also realize, there's going to be Riders with less benign wishes than yours. You just want to cure your sickness. As for Ren, I don't know what wish he plans on, but I can tell he's a good man. But the other Kamen Riders? For all I know, they might wish for horrible things. Or worse, to keep the Rider War going forever, locking it in an endless cycle of strife and death. That's why I'm fighting. Not just to protect people from the Mirror Monsters, but from Kamen Riders who want to use the wish for evil purposes. That's why I'm not going to fight you, Kitaoka."
"But couldn't the wish also accomplish your goal?" Kitaoka asked. "Couldn't you just wish that the Mirror World was sealed away forever, and all the lives lost, Riders included, be revived?"
"No." Shinji shook his head. "That would be taking the easy way out. And like I said, I want to stop the fighting. I'd much rather have all the Kamen Riders would band together to defend humanity. That's a dream I'm going to achieve with my own hands. Besides, a catch-free wish? It just sounds too good to be true."
"You really are interesting, Shinji." Kitaoka sighed. "But like I said, my life's riding on this. Whether the wish is real or not, I've still got to try and reach for it. The next time we meet, we might have to fight each other."
"Do not be so certain." Tezuka said. "The future's not set in stone. Besides, Shinji and I don't' consider you an enemy Kitaoka."
"Speak for yourselves." Ren snapped. "Anyone in the way of my wish is an enemy."
Kitaoka couldn't help but chuckled. "Yeah, you're an interesting lot alright. Well, until we meet again. On either side of the mirrors."
With that, Kitaoka returned to his car and was driven home by Goro. During the drive, he reflected on what Tezuka had said.
'That lot seems like good people.' Kitaoka thought with a conflicted look on his face. 'Part of me honestly hopes they find a way to withdraw from the Rider War. If I had to kill them, I don't know what I'd to with myself afterwards. Sadly, I might not have a choice in the matter. That's probably the worst thing about the Rider War. Once you know the faces behind the Riders' masks, the fighting becomes even more painful.'