Next day
Kuoh General Hospital
This is the largest hospital in Kuoh, and one with deep ties to the House of Gremory, the shadowy rulers of Kuoh, and other high-ranked devils.
"I'm glad you were able to get out of the hospital safely, Koneko."
"Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience."
Two days ago, Koneko was transferred from the Seito University to this hospital, and on this day, she was finally discharged, although it took some time due to the procedures and the manipulation of information so that Koneko's apparently early discharge would not be unnatural, and she told her master and head of the Occult Research Club, Rias.
Then…
"I'm very happy for you, Rias-sama, that one of your most important peerage members is able to recover."
"Oh, thank you, director."
"It's alright, the Kuoh General Hospital would not be here without the blessings of the Gremory family."
"I know, let's get along well in the future." Rias said to the director, who was clearly trying to be helpful.
Then…
"Director, may I have a word?" One of the doctors spoke to the director.
"I'm in the middle of an important discussion with Rias-sama."
"Actually, the patient with pancreatic cancer has suddenly been transferred to the hospital today and there is an ambulance on its way to pick her up."
"Today? That's…"
"Is something wrong?" Rias was a little curious and asked the director.
"Yes, actually, it seems that a patient who had been admitted to our hospital for pancreatic cancer is suddenly being transferred today…"
"Suddenly today… that's terrible."
"Yes…" The director said, but the patient's illness was no longer survivable, and to be honest, he was relieved because it would be better for the patient to die in another hospital than here.
"By the way, which local hospital will the patient be transferred to?"
"A-about that…"
As the doctor spoke, an ambulance arrived at the hospital, and out of the ambulance came three doctors, led by the Hawaiian shirt-wearing doctor, Kiriya.
"Err… you are…"
"Ooh, you're director of this hospital? I'm…"
"Ah, Kiriya-sensei…"
"Hm? Oh, Koneko-chan, it's been a while."
"Oh, do you know each other, Koneko?" Rias asked, curious to see Koneko talking to someone she didn't know so friendly.
"Yes, I met him at the hospital before I came here…"
"Yes, I think his name is Kiriya, and the one who took care of Koneko at that time."
"Uhh… you are…"
"She's the head of the Occult Research Club I'm in."
"Ah, I see."
'She must be one of the higher-level devils told by the Ministry of Health, Rias Gremory… this explains why Koneko-chan's recovery was so abnormal…' Kiriya thought as he looked at Rias in front of him.
"So, what brings you to this hospital today?"
"Uh, yeah, I had an errand for you."
He started talking to the director, who stood beside Rias.
"Uhh… I hope you're okay with this, director."
"Y-yes, but why are you here?"
"As you may already know, I'm here to pick up Misaki Tsuchiya-san, who has been hospitalized here at Kuoh General Hospital for pancreatic cancer, because she's going to be transferred to the hospital I belong to."
"Oh, that's very kind of you, but where exactly is Misaki-san going to be transferred to…?"
"Misaki-san will be transferred to the main hospital of Seito University Hospital where I am the medical examiner."
"What!? S-Seito University Hospital!?"
The director and the other doctors were shocked to hear Kiriya's words. It was just as well, because the patient who could no longer be saved was being transferred to the main hospital of Seito University, the most prestigious national university hospital in Japan.
"W-why!? How can the prestigious national university hospital have her!?"
"I can't go into details, but this is an urgent matter, so please understand and cooperate."
One hour later
"Thank you for your understanding."
After completing the transfer procedure with unusual speed, Kiriya was about to board the ambulance carrying the patient.
"Umm, Kiriya-sensei, did you tell Hiiro-sensei…"
"Yeah, I know, Koneko-chan. I'll tell the Prodigy you're okay, then, see ya."
After that, he got into the ambulance and went back to Seito University.
"Anyway… why would an ordinary patient with no money go to the main hospital of the Seito University…"
"Seito University… I'm sure it's the city next to Kuoh… I don't know much about the medical world, so is Seito University that famous?"
"Rias-sama, the Seito University of Medical Sciences reigns at the top of Japan's university hospitals, ranked second in the world after Harvard Medical School in the United States, has many affiliated hospitals and research institutes all over Japan and even the world, and many of its graduates become famous world-leading doctors and researchers."
"Ooh, so it's that famous."
"Yes, and the main hospital of the Seito University is now the talk of the town as the home of the genius surgeon, Hiiro Kagami, who is said to be the best ever at the Seito University and is very renowned around the world."
"Hiiro-sensei?"
When Koneko heard the director's words, she was quite surprised. She had no idea that the surgeon who had saved her is a world-famous genius surgeon.
"…Now that you mention it, that's odd…"
It's strange that an ordinary person who is not a celebrity would suddenly be transferred to the main hospital of a university that is one of the top hospitals in the world and reigns supreme in Japan.
'I'd better do some investigation… no, I've just been put in charge in Kuoh, I don't have time to worry about other territories, at least not until I get used to it.'
Rias thought about checking out Seito and the Seito University for a moment, but decided against it, since Kuoh was her domain.
Meanwhile
The ambulance bound for the Seito University safely entered the city from Kuoh.
But then…
RATATATATATATATATA!
Bullets rained down right in front of the ambulance, and at the same time, Revol and armed Bugster Viruses that had escaped yesterday appeared in front of it.
"Vehicle with target in sight! Well then! We will now commence the destruction of the target! All units, get ready!"
With that, Revol and the others got out of the ambulance and looked at the rear holding area for the patient, not paying attention to the fleeing paramedics.
There was…
"W-WHAAAAAAT!?"
What was in the back compartment was not a patient, but a large number of plastic explosives. While he was astonished…
"Huuh? Have we been boarded?"
As soon as he said that, he pressed the button on the remote control in his hand.
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
"UGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The ambulance, as well as Revol and the Bugster Viruses, were blown away by a massive explosion.
"Shame on you, the target you are aiming for isn't in this ambulance, we expected you Bugsters to attack this ambulance the moment we entered Seito, so we switched to a less conspicuous vehicle on the way."
"Dammit! I never thought I'd fall into a trap! Grrr! You'll pay for this! All units, attack!"
At Revol's order, the Bugster Viruses immediately got up and started attacking Kiriya.
"Oh, you're so full of life, now we're revving it up."
BAKUSOU BIKE! GIRI GIRI CHAMBARA!
"Third Gear, henshin!"
Gashat! Gacchan! Level Up! Bakusou Bike! A Gacha! Giri-Giri-Giri-Giri Chambara!
He immediately transformed himself into Lazer Chambara Bike Gamer, and with his Gashacon Sparrow, he slashed the enemies that came at him one after another, and fired energy arrows at those that tried to attack him from afar.
"What the hell are you doing!? Don't engage him alone, he'll destroy you! Everyone! Surround the enemy and attack from all sides with long range barrage!"
Upon Revol's order, the Bugster Viruses surrounded the area, keeping their distance from Lazer.
"Whoops… this one's a bit of a mess."
That's what Lazer thought as he was completely surrounded and dodging attacks from all directions.
Then…
A large number of bullets rained down on the heads of the Bugster Viruses.
"Whoa, you've come."
"Of course, I'll kill all Bugsters."
And with that, Kamen Rider Snipe appeared.
"You! You're getting in my way again!"
"Shut up, I'll interfere as many times as I have to destroy you Bugsters!"
JET COMBAT!
Snipe activated the Jet Combat Gashad she got just yesterday.
"Tactics Level Three!"
Gashat! Gacchan! Level Up! Ba-Ba-Bang! Bang-Ba-Bang! Yow! Bang Bang Shooting! A Gacha! Jet! Jet! In the sky! Jet! Jet! Jet Comba~t!
"Mission start!"
Snipe, who had transformed into Combat Shooting Gamer Level 3, flew through the air and used the machine gun fire from above to strafe the Bugster Viruses surrounding Lazer one by one.
"W-what a mess! All units! The formation is broken! We're retreating!"
And with that, Revol and the Bugster Viruses under his command left the scene.
"Wait! Damn it! They got away again!" Nico swore and pulled out her Gashat, canceling the transformation.
"Well, well, well, thanks for saving my life."
"Don't get the wrong idea, I just wanted to slay Bugsters." She said and turned to leave.
At that moment…
"Wait a minute."
"What do you want?"
"I have a favor to ask you." Kiriya said, stopping Nico as he was about to leave.
Meanwhile
Seito University Hospital room
"Welcome, Misaki Tsuchiya-san, to the main hospital of the Seito University Hospital, I am Haima Kagami, the director of this hospital and Seito University, and this is the surgeon who will be performing your surgery, doctor Hiiro Kagami."
"Hiiro Kagami."
"My name is Misaki Tsuchiya…"
"Excuse me, Misaki-san, but I'd like to schedule the surgery for tomorrow…"
"Um, director-sensei… you don't have to do my surgery…"
"Aah, yes, yes, I don't have to… huh!? EEEEEH! W-w-w-w-w-w-w-why!?"
"When I was at Kuoh General Hospital, I heard the doctors say that I can't be cured anymore… and yet my father is forcing himself to work for me like this, so I don't want to force him to stay in the hospital any longer when me can't heal."
"I understand how you feel, but don't worry, Hiiro here is the super doctor at our hospital…"
"But! But… no matter how good he is, I'm already—"
"I can cure it…"
"Eh?"
Hiiro began to talk. "I am the best doctor in the world, even if the doctors at Kuoh General Hospital can't cure you."
"Really… I won't die?" Misaki asked, and without hesitation Hiiro said…
"There's nothing I can't cut."
After receiving the consent form for the surgery, Hiiro was heading to the conference room for the final preoperative conference before the surgery.
"Hiiro, let me thank you for convincing Misaki-san to do this."
"I just couldn't accept that she would refuse to go through with the surgery, or two lives would be lost at the same time, as a doctor."
"I see, well, leave it to me to secure the staff and the operating room on the day."
"Please do, father."
He took out his cell phone and called Kiriya.
"It's me, I got the consent form for the surgery…"
A nearby park
"Aah, okay, I'll take care of the Bugster that's going to attack you on the day of the surgery… yeah, bye."
He then hung up the phone, bought two drinks from the vending machine in front of him, and went back to the bench where Nico was sitting.
"Here, thanks for earlier."
"Thank you… so, what happened?"
"Ooh, I wanted to ask you something."
"A favor? What kind?"
"Actually…"
Kiriya told Nico that the cause of the stress of this game disease patient was his daughter who had pancreatic cancer, and that Hiiro would be operating on her tomorrow to save her.
"I see… so what do you want me to do?"
"I'll get straight to the point. While Hiiro is in surgery tomorrow, will you ride with me in this race to cover Hiiro and the patient named Misaki from the Bugster?"
"Ha? Not happening. The one who will crush all Bugsters is me… I'm the one who will destroy Graphite that killed Taiga-niisan and the other Bugsters…"
With that, Nico stood up from the bench and turned to leave.
"Oh, man~ your brother must be crying in heaven because his sister's fighting for revenge with the life she is suffering from in front of him…"
"Don't talk to me like you know what's happening! What the hell do you know!?"
"I know, because your brother, Taiga Hanaya, and I actually know each other."
"Huh?"
Nico was stunned by the unexpected words.
"Know each other… what do you mean?"
"He was a serious, respected doctor who cared more about life than anyone else, just like the Prodigy…"
"Prodigy… you mean that Hiiro-sensei?"
"Yeah, hey, Nico-chan, do you why Hiiro is so against you fighting?"
"…Because he thinks I'm a liability… and he doesn't know what I'm capable of…"
"Wrong."
"If not, then why?"
"Because, at most, he doesn't want you to die."
"What do you mean?"
"He values life more than anyone else… that's why he doesn't want to involve you in this fight for your life, when you don't have to fight for your fate, not as a doctor, not to atone his sins like President Masamune… he may be not honest about it, but more than anyone… he values life as much as your brother…"
"Value of live…"
"Well, I'm not as good as the Prodigy, so I have nothing to say about your decision not to fight… but I do hope that you will make a choice that will not shame you and your brother, Taiga… so long."
He then waved one hand and left the park.
"A choice that won't shame me or Taiga-niisan…" Nico looked up at Seito's sky, which had turned vermillion after the sun had set, and muttered to herself.