Tsumari. She's the navigator for the DGP. Working as the eyes and ears for the Game Master, her primary role is to assist the Kamen Riders part of the current game in ensuring their willingness to fight and to provide guidance.
As a new game is about to begin, the Game Master has tasked Tsumuri with the role of recruiting civilians of the world to take part in the DGP as Kamen Riders. Given a list of names of people over the globe, she sets out to collect these individuals for their new purpose.
...
America. The land of the free, and home of the brave. It's early morning, the time when people are rushing to go to work or catch a bus for school.
Driving a family car, a middle-aged father is taking his teenage daughter to school. They sit together in the front, listening to one of the daughter's albums as they drive by everyone walking.
"Okay, so is this the same band you have all over your walls, or a completely different one? Because I'm starting to lose track, really," the father asks, trying to show interest in his daughter's likes. He's a larger fellow, top-heavy. Has a keg rather than a six-pack, but arms that could lift a sofa on his own. Faint signs of grey hair creeping up on his natural browns, but no clear signs of balding.
"No, these are a different band. They just came out recently, and they're not bad," she's upfront with her answer, "I might print something of theirs to hang up, because they don't have any merch out yet."
"I see. So, do you like them for their music, or because you think a few of their members are cute?" He gives a jokey response to her answer.
"Dad!" She playful gives him a smack on the arm, while giving him the half embarrassed tone.
"What? It's a legitimate question. I was young too you know. When I was your age, I had Led Zepplin, Aerosmith, and Dolly Parton on my walls."
"Well...yes, they are really cute, but I also like their music. They like to mix genres, and...stuff."
They pull up in front of the school she goes to. "Alright sweetie, here we are. Have a good day, and let me know if you need a lift, or whatever your plans are." He gives his daughter a kiss on the cheek before opening the door for her.
"Thanks, Dad. I'll ask Stacy if she's free, and get back to you."
He watches her leave before remembering something. Opening the window, he calls out, "Hey Sam! Sweetie! Don't forget to ask about that Recommendation letter." She waves him off acknowledging that she heard before walking into the building.
He waits until she's safely inside before turning his car back on. At that moment, there's a sudden knock on his window. He jumps in his seat before turning to see Tsumuri standing there. She doesn't look threatening, wearing her trademark black and white attire, and friendly smile. She's holding a yellow box with a black lid in her hands.
The father winds the window back down to speak to her, "Can I help you?"
"John Anderson. Congratulations. After careful consideration, you have been approved. From this day on, you are a Kamen Rider!"
John opens the car door and steps out. "I'm sorry, I think you might be confused. What are you talking about?" Looking at Tsumuri, he finds something familiar about her.
Tsumuri keeps her smile, and just presents the box to him, "It's all in here."
John takes the box, and slides the lid off, revealing a Desire Driver, and an ID Core with a white rhino image. Seeing the ID Core, John becomes enchanted by it. Reaching out, he touches it. As his fingers touch it, he is given a sudden jolt through his body. Images flash inside his mind, of Jyamato, previous games, and other Kamen Riders.
He takes the ID Core and lets out a hard sigh before looking at Tsumuri. "No rest for the wicked. Am I right, Tsumuri?"
She keeps smiling, happy that he remembers. "Welcome back, Obsidian."
...
Over in Europe, in the northern side of England, a park groundkeeper is in the middle of their shift. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a fairly toned build wrapped in overalls dragging sacks of soil over the garden to fill in the holes in the ground.
While not a glamorous job, it's still an honest profession, preserving the town's park to keep it nice and healthy for the public to enjoy during the hot days, and ignore during the cold.
While emptying the bags of soil into the holes, the walkie-talkie attached to his belt starts going off. A voice comes out barely audible, but they can still understand them. Grabbing it, he responds to their call.
"Yes mate, I'm here," there's a back a forth between them and the speaker. "I'll be taking my break shortly, I just need to finish up with the mole holes. There's a surprisingly a lot of them, to be honest with you."
Another voice comes on over the radio, one more clear. "Alex. It's Dave. When you have a moment, I need your help fishing a trolley out of the canal. It's not causing problems, but it is an eyesore. Can you be able to help in 20...worthy 30 minutes time?"
"Yes, boss. Just give me a few to catch a breather. It's too bloody hot today."
"Okay, good. Let me know when you're on your day."
With the conversation over, he grabs the empty bags and returns to his vehicle, a modified golf cart with tools, and other gardening supplies in the back.
Before he can sit down, he hears a voice from behind, "Alexander Cross." He turns to see Tsumuri standing there with a yellow and black box. "Congratulations. After careful consideration, you have been approved. From this day on, you are a Kamen Rider!"
"Uh, I don't follow you," like with John, Alex is just as confused. However, he takes the box anyway. Opening it, he finds his own Desire Driver and a navy ID Core with a wolf on the front. Touching it, he receives similar flashes of the DGP. A smile appears on his lips, as he narrows his eyes, "Good to see you, Tsumuri."
She nods, bowing to him. "Welcome back to the DGP, Garuru."
...
On a tropical beach, placed right on the edge of Ishigaki, one of Japan's islands, a hotshot lounges on a sun bed. They're living the dream. A warm sun in the sky with the light bouncing from his red hair, two attractive women under his arms, and no cares to their name.
His lounging is interrupted by Tsumuri approaching him, her presence casts a shadow over him and the girls, "Akihito Nishimura."
He lifts his sunglasses upon seeing her. "Alright girls, shows over. I got business to attend to." He rudely shoves the girls off, having them leave him and Tsumuri alone for their talk.
"Congratulations, Scarlet. You've once again been selected to become a Kamen Rider."
He leans back, acting nonchalant to it, "I figured that part already. Everybody likes a winner, so you keep bringing me back."
Although indifferent, she keeps up her smile. "I see you're enjoying your wish. I must say, it was odd how you only wished for a beach vacation over anything else."
"I didn't see the need to ask for anything else, since I keep winning all the time. This was my third one so far, and I felt like I needed a break. But, whatever. I guess I could use a break, from my break," He sits up again and snaps his fingers. "Give me the Driver already." Although annoyed, she doesn't show it on her face, instead just hands over the box. He opens it to find a new Driver, with his ID Core. "Here's to a fourth win."
...
Paris, the capital of France, and the city of love. For some a honeymoon destination, for others their home. For one in particular, it's their muse.
Overlooking the city skyline from their small, cramped apartment, a college-aged woman looks out her window from the desk in her bedroom. She watches the city as the everyday people walk by with her emerald eyes. Her long, platinum hair tied up into a large ponytail to keep it out of her eyes.
The bedroom is cozy, fitting barely a bed, and a desk inside with one small wardrobe. The floor is littered with clothes, and crumpled-up sheets of paper, while her desk is plastered with post-it notes and makeshift mood boards.
A native of France, she uses the city of Paris as her inspiration for her writing. However, all of her works are either incomplete or not even past the mood board stage.
While her focus is on the outside of her room, Tsumuri appears behind her, carrying one of the last boxes to deliver. "Élise Dupont. Congratulations, from this moment on...," Élise falls out of her seat in shock at someone being in her apartment.
She quickly gets back up on her feet, and immediately goes on the questions, "Who are you? What are you doing in my home? And what is that?"
Tsumuri is unphased, she's been doing this job long enough. "My name is Tsumuri. I am here to invite you to take part in the Desire Grand Prix. And this," she gestures to the box, "Is your invitation." She sets it down on her desk. Élise's eyes follow her as she puts it down. The second she takes them off of her, she vanishes, leaving the apartment.
Left alone, Élise sits back down and opens the yellow box. She finds a Desire Driver and an ID Core. This one is white, with a snow leopard motif on the face. Beside the Driver is a card. Written in perfect french, it appears to be instructions on what to do next.
Following the instructions on the card, she puts the Driver against her waist. A belt materializes around her, keeping it in place. She then grabs the ID Core and places it into the middle of the Driver in the appropriate slot.
ENTRY!
Élise's surroundings change the second she places the ID Core into her Driver. She finds herself on a platform overlooking a vast, unending field of desert and sand. Trying not to fall, she takes a step back before turning around. She's greeted by the sight of more people. All from different walks of life. Businessmen, high schoolers, college-age like her, regular civilians, and people of the service.
Among this crowd, John stands proud alongside some businessmen. Looking around, he sees Alex leaning against a pillar, keeping away from the crowd. Alex gives John a smile, and a knowing nod, acknowledging the other. His mood turns sore when he sees Akihito close to the front.
This has already been quite the experience for Élise. While her heart can't stop pounding in her chest, this feels like a new chapter in her own story, at least in her mind it is.
"Good day, everyone," Tsumuri calls out, catching everyone's attention as she suddenly appears on a pillar at the center of the platform. "My name is Tsumuri, and I will be your navigator." John, Alex, and Akihito have heard this speech several times in the past, but each time feels like the first. "I bid you welcome...to the Desire Grand Prix!"