Between the time of the Cyberbeast attack on the convoy, and Tatsuya going to see Masura to investigate the abandoned car, Yuto remains at his garage. He closed up shortly after Lady left with the paperwork for the LocustStar.
He's currently tidying up the garage, putting away the few tools he still had around to prevent damage. He puts on a sweat moving boxes and kits around the room, putting them all in a near perfect place. As he works, the door leading to the reception area opens up, and in walks his work colleague and confidant, Ayaka.
Ayaka is a fairly athletic person, perfect for the role of a mechanic. Same age as Yuto, she has long, white hair tied into a ponytail in the back with a cap over it. Dressed up ready to work on a car, she wears a navy jumpsuit with sleeves tied around her waist, and a grey tank top that highlights their athletic figure, and strong arms.
Yuto looks up from his toolkit, "Oh good. Glad of you to finally show up to work."
"I'm sorry, I overslept. I had a busy night," they speak with a rough, deep voice. "I just had a lot of work on my plate."
"Staying up all night to play Monster Hunter does not count as work."
Akio tries to retort them, but all it takes is Yuto to just stare at them with a pair of deadpan eyes, "Okay, fair enough."
Yuto rolls his eyes and continues to clean up. Akio looks around, taking a visual inventory of what's left. "Did they come for the bike?"
"Yeah, that new Rider came this morning with his secretary and took off with it. Apparently, they had an emergency, if you buy that," he wipes his fingers on a piece of cloth before looking around. The hairs on his neck stand up. Something doesn't seem right to him.
Ayaka minds her business, and lends a hand putting away some loose tools, "So, did they like it?"
"Of course they did. I put my heart and soul into crafting such a marvel of machinery. It only makes sense otherwise," Yuto tries to shake the uneasy feeling of being watched and talk to Ayaka properly, but he's still distracted.
The hairs on his neck settle down as the uneasy feeling dissipates. He lets out a sigh before clearing his head.
Ayaka sees him standing in the middle of the garage doing nothing but contemplate his existence.
"Yo! You okay?"
Yuto turns back to her, "Hmm? Yeah, I'm good. Just…just one of those mornings."
"Uh-huh," she starts losing her grip on the box of parts in her hand. Yuto is quick to come to her aid and catches it before it slips from her, his fingers brushing against hers on accident.
Her face turns bright red at the touch. Using the box, she hides her head behind them. Wanting to change the topic as a distraction, she says the first thing on her mind, "So have you decided if you want to build another one yet, or are you still on the fence with it?"
Yuto takes a while to answer her. He ums, and ahs on the idea, before having a proper answer for her. "That's…I don't know. The money's good, but I don't know if I have it in me to build another for people like ZOO."
The pair lift the box onto the shelf and push it into the back so as not to fall. Ayaka can see the clear mental struggle going on behind his eyes. Before she can say something, the phone starts ringing in the reception area.
"Could you go get that, please? That might be another client checking in for an appointment."
"Sure," giving him space, she walks out of the garage and answers the phone, shutting the reception door for privacy.
Yuto is left alone with his thoughts. His internal conflict regarding working for ZOO has him questioning himself.
"You look like you're in need of a distraction," Yuto's hair sticks up again as a creepy voice calls out from behind. He snaps and turns around to see standing in his garage. "Woah now. Easy there. I just come to chat."
Yuto stands his ground. He keeps his distance from the Pseudo-Rider, while subtly reaching for something to use as a weapon. "Who the hell are you, and why have you come to my shop?"
"How rude of me. I apologize. You can call me . And I'm here because I'm in the market for some new wheels. Care to help with that?" walks around the garage, Yuto follows them with his eyes, seeing them holding a briefcase with the ZOO logo on it. "You see, it's come to my attention that the city's newest Kamen Rider has acquired themself quite the 'marvel of machinery'. And you my friend, are the genius behind it."
Grabbing a wrench, Yuto pockets it into his trousers, and steps closer, "Keep talking."
"I want you to make me a bike, just like Frontier's. Only better. Think of that as a prototype, and this is the improvement," Cobra sets the briefcase down on the table beside them.
"An improvement?" Yuto gives Cobra a smile, while his eyes grow narrower, and his hands clench into fists.
"Yes. Create something without limitations. I wouldn't stand for second best," Cobra opens up the case. "I'll provide everything you need, of course. And I won't expect you to do it for free. No, I will provide full payment…with this." They slide the case over, revealing a CyberLink, and the JackleZoPhone.
Yuto's eyes widen as he sees the payment in front of him. He reaches out, his fingers sliding over the ZoPhone before taking out the CyberLink. "This is…," Yuto is at a loss for words at what he is currently holding. He grips it tight in his hand while contemplating his choices.
The reception door opens a crack with Ayaka pokes her head through. She keeps out of sight, ducking behind a table to still keep an eye on Yuto.
"With this, you'll have power like you could never dream of. Imagine it, if you can. I don't extend an offer like this to just anyone. So what do you say?"
Yuto holds up the CyberLink and starts laughing. "I'd have to be a fool to reject such an offer, now wouldn't I?" He and Cobra have a good laugh together, with the latter stretching their hand out to shake. Yuto instead sets the CyberLink down on the same table. "I never was much for making smart decisions." Pulling the wrench, he quickly slams it down on the CyberLink, shattering it into pieces. Cobra is stunned at the rejection. "Don't you dare disrespect my craftsmanship, you venomous lowlife."
Yuto swings for Cobra, attacking them with the wrench. Cobra is quick to dodge, using their inhuman flexibility to weave between the swings. Cobra catches their arm, before kicking them in them across the room onto a shelf.
"So that's how it is then? I offered you a chance to be partners, and you just spat in my face?" Cobra's voice sounds more hostile, and the scales on their suit darken.
Yuto tries to pick themself up off the floor. He glances over to see Ayaka hiding. He shakes his head at her, telling her to stay down before turning back to Cobra. "It's not my fault you were dumb enough to A, insult my craft. And B, think I'd take some a weak form of payment." Yuto gets back up, bracing himself against the shelf. "I know all about those CyberLink pieces. I know how people have used them. It's disgusting. And I want no part in it."
"You leave me with little options," Cobra tries to get closer, the angrier they become, the more robotic, and distorted their voice sounds.
"Cry me a river, and get lost," grabbing a toolbox, he tosses it over his arm at Cobra. They smack it aside with a snake whip. Yuto tackles them, showing to be surprisingly strong for a human.
Cobra tosses him to the side, knocking him into the table with the case on it. It falls to the floor, dropping the JackleZoPhone in front of Ayaka. As well, a business card for the warehouse district also drops beside her.
Realizing she might be spotted, Yuto tackles Cobra again, this time grappling with them as a distraction.
He tries to latch on, enduring Cobra's punches and kicks before they bring out their main move. Yuto lets out an audible gasp as they are bitten in the neck by one of Cobra's venom fingers. He goes limp before being picked up and tossed over his shoulder.
"You will make that bike for me. I guess now I won't have to pretend that you're anything but my inferior. Let's go, dog," Cobra rips the shutter doors open, and walks out. Ayaka only barely gets a chance to catch them entering a stretch limo before leaving.
Not wasting time, Ayaka grabs the business card off the floor and immediately picks up the phone. She rapidly dials a number into the landline. Her foot kicks the ground repeatedly until someone answers. "Yes, hello! This is Utsukaru Ayaka. Takahashi Yuto has just been kidnapped by a Masked Rider!"