!ANNOUNCEMENT!:
Considering the state of Kamen Rider writers, I feel like I joined the scene kind of late, as it appears many bigger names have dropped off the face of the Earth in the past few years or so. At least, that's what it feels like from my experience of navigating stories. There isn't really much of a community for Kamen Rider writers, a consistent one that I can't seem to find (old FFN forums are practically dead).
In that case, would anyone possibly be interested in a Discord server to share our stories, and talk about Tokusatsu? I'd like to have a place for many of us to meet and discuss our shared works in real-time. If anyone is interested, let me know!
WEST TORIISAKA, PAST THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT – EVENING
In a fair, leveled labyrinth which warps and wraps around itself in veins of concrete that curl upwards in rigid shapes; the undesirable shadows of buildings abandoned under the lunar light that basks at its peak, waves of shimmering spotlights shining down on those who dare to remain after hours. For whatever reason, may it be time deciding to switch sides, or innate curiosity daring to push the limits of desire in the neverending stream of academics – it need not matter, however, who remains here. No one would see him, no one ever has. Perhaps, he thought, things would have changed after the divine gifts were awakened, but even with all this chaos, no one notices.
"Somewhere, in another world, you and I would walk here together." A low, hushed voice speaks into the nameless void. A chasm of darkness, where he is certain his words would not reach them, but he continues to speak nonetheless. "Maybe, we would laugh about our troubles – oh, how they never end." Dancing to the tune of his own heart, he skipped rhythmically around the trapezoidal glass ceiling. If it shattered beneath him, he cared not. "Or, we could rejoice in our achievements. One by one, row by row, they grow!" Stretching his back out towards the sky, he grinned joyously.
"Ah, who am I kidding?!" A wicked laugh carried out into the empty, open paths. Idle lamps did their best to save stragglers from the shadows, but no amount of light could bring proper colour to this stage. Especially, not when the composer found it more suitable to remain in the dark – at least for now, in his solitude. "Such a world doesn't exist." Raising his arm, he stretched it outwards into the sky, letting his hand be guided freely through the air. Frigid, spring winds swam between his fingers. "You're too selfish to let that happen." The hand curled into a fist, glowing with a tempered, violet rage.
"Your final act begins here. Where it all began, you and me." Oh, how eager he was! Part of him yearned to take a shortcut down to a little house situated in between two converging alleyways and pay a little midnight visit, but that would certainly spoil the fun, wouldn't it? A good show needs a tempting hook, because every piece that climbs towards the climax must work tangentially until the last moment where all that waiting can be paid off. Fortunately, such a wait would only last a few days.
Patience. The words of the King ringed through their ears. Patience leads only to victory.
Once this is finished, the real show can begin. The ends of each thread stretch until nothing more than a single string holds them together, and he shall be the one to induce the break. Here forward, a new world shall arise – despair everflowing, guiding him to greater leagues of power than one could ever imagine. All for the sake of their King, the very reason he stands here today, and will stand tomorrow, and will stand forever. A world where time doesn't matter, where ambition is granted from the heart of one, unburied after the wills of many have wrought the end of countless dreams. No more masses, no more struggles, and nothing but endless love under the guiding hand of their Overlord, ruler of the merged. If the Overlord grants it, of course – and to their loyal servants, why not?
Each soul who seeks to turn dreams into a reality are welcome, only if their hearts rejoice as one in freedom.
The Kamen Riders can choose to fight, squandering each attempt at spreading chaos, but he shall get rid of them soon enough. Their endeavors are fruitless against their King. Submission to anything else but magnificence is unacceptable, and he will personally attend to this matter of trouble. Whatever stands in the way of their new world shall be destroyed. He alone, Manabu Oyama, stands in Heaven, beneath the Merged King.
TORIISAKA PARK, THE NEXT MORNING
Today, the park was quite lively. As the leaves tended to again, and new life began to bloom, citizens of the area gathered outside to take part in the delightful weather. Out with the cold, in with the joyful warmth that only a fresh start could provide. It was the second week of spring, and now that people were ripening into brand new routines, the time to put all other work aside and take a whiff of the dearly missed roses has finally arrived. Youthful students spending their best years enacting all sorts of fun – whether juvenile or not, who cares what trouble they made? Families joined hand in hand, strolling through the paths that felt as firm as last spring with hopes of filling new pages in their scrapbooks ever present in their minds.
Peace was of the essence, and the fight for it never rests – our band of heroes gathered around in the center of the vibrancy, awaiting their next move. Though, it never hurts to take a break every once in a while, right?
"Show us another one!" Poppy pleaded, clasping her hands together. Izu copied her movements, and the two of them pressed the ends of their index fingers above the brows, awaiting for her to oblige.
"I-I'm not a magician on all fronts!" Mayu said. She was holding a stack of cards, ones used for poker. Although, she wasn't actually a player – these were just a cheap pair for show. Well-shuffled, but Mayu held them with a certain degree of stiffness. Her smile faded into a growing frown, digging deep in the crevices of her mind for more tricks, but to no avail. "This isn't really my kind of field."
No, that was more so Yamamoto. Reluctant at first to be a magician, the prospect of being a father guided him into the protector role, and with it he enacted all the little impressions he prepared for two years prior to the birth of his daughter. The most important part of being a dad, aside from unconditional love and support, was having a wide array of handy shows, and unfathomably unfunny jokes at the ready; something Aruto Hiden was already an expert on. Granted, he was a little cold to each of them in the beginning, which was understandable given their positions as warriors of a previously unknown world – that being magic, of course. It didn't take long for him to become a figure of sensible authority to each of the magicians. Never imposing with his wishes, but a firm mentor to each of them. There was a lot of wisdom he could impart. Sleight of hand tricks like these were grafted onto her from his specialty.
Wouldn't you believe it, he even had a positive effect on Nitoh's table manners, given that his Kamen Rider namesake applied to numerous things outside his powers. Beast is a slob, to say the least – or, he was.
How old could Yamamoto's son have been now? Ten. Maybe, if fate was kinder than usual, he would cross paths with her in this park. A simple 'Hello' would make up for a long overdue reunion. Truth be told, she hasn't seen any of the other magicians in a long while, but at least she knew two of them were safe. Haruto and Nitoh, however…
"Surely, there must be another trick up your sleeve." Izu said. Then, she suddenly rose from their bench and threw a hand over her own shoulder.
"THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S ARUTO!" Neither Mayu, nor Poppy knew what to say. So, the Humagear was met with blank stares.
"Oh, I get it." Poppy nodded, resting a hand underneath her chin.
"This is a joke based on the proverb that describes a situation in which someone is about to reveal a tactic or strategy that has not yet been implemented onto a particular activity. This is an example of wordplay, because it relies on the occupation of a traditional magician, who has a trick up their sleeve…" As Izu began droning on, Mayu chewed away at her donut. The outer area was lined with an emerald shade of frosting, with pink candied flowers forming a ringed path in-between a similar pattern, but with red and white.
The owners of the donut stand would call this, 'Blossoming Berry!'
Poppy yawned. Rather loudly, at that. Poppy pipo-plopped down headfirst into the bench. Her eyes were a bit sunken in.
"Didn't get enough sleep?" Mayu asked in a soft voice.
"Eugh, not at all." Poppy shook her head. The bugster's eyes were closed. "We're so short-staffed at the hospital!"
"You went back to work after yesterday?!" Crumbs of her donut spread across her napkin after a particularly large bite tore through its crisp shell.
"Mhm!" Poppy nodded in response. In her adventure to redefine what fun meant, the head nurse of the CR team completely forgot that she was scheduled for rounds in the absence of Emu and Hiiro. For how long each of them have been battling the semi-frequent crisis of Game Illness, the duties of attending to other patients was almost a foreign concept now. Poppy forgot how tiring days as a normal nurse can be. Nearly up until 4 in the morning, all this bubbly spirit of hers has wasted away. "I was so tired, I couldn't even dream! Ugh, do you have a spell to make me more awake?"
"Here, have some of this." Mayu said, offering her some tea. "This'll do the trick."
"THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S ARUTO!" Izu declared once more, mistaking a slip of words for a well crafted pun.
"Izu, do Humagears dream?" Poppy asked, slurping down on the tea. It was like she cast a humongous waterfall down her throat, flooding the land of her body with a bottomless sea of caffeine.
"Humagears do not have the capacity to dream." Izu answered, pursing her lips. "Dream-like states are not something we can possess, because the purpose of dreams is still largely unknown. Our models are meant to replicate human thought processes as closely as possible. Processes that are unknown cannot be copied. However, it would nonetheless be inefficient for our memory to dream."
"Do you ever want to dream?" Poppy said, her voice piquing with curiosity. Just as she was about to answer that question, the ring on the magician's finger started to glow.
"Another ghoul attack!" Mayu exclaimed. The three of them leaped out of their seats. Break-time was over. Now, it's their second chance to strike! Before someone could blink, the Kamen Riders were off to their next destination.
TORIISAKA UNIVERSITY
What was supposed to be another busy, but peaceful day among hundreds of students was turned into a catastrophic nightmare as dozens of monsters flooded throughout the south entrance to campus. The enormous, rectangular path that branched off near the middle; leading to several buildings, each obtuse and irregular in shape, was confining a column of innocent students to their bitter doom. What a lovely little valley this place was, a space for even the alumni with the worst of memories to once relinquish all their stress in the simplistic beauty. Now, it was being defiled by beings that hold no heart to give, accursed monsters that seek only destruction in the name of chaos!
"Run for it!" Shouted a voice lost in the sea of screams. "Make way, and run!" Students ran as far as one could down the pathway. Each of them tried their hardest not to trample over the other, but the monsters were relentless in their pursuit. However, as the crowd started to dissipate, it became apparent that these creatures with terrifying scowls weren't wildly attacking whoever they could find, no. Instead, one unfortunate young woman was their desire.
"Where… Where is…" Out of fear, she collapsed onto the ground. Terror enveloped her as the people dispersed, leaving only her behind. The ghouls approached, stomping rythmically to the sounds of her frail heart shooting out its last beats of hope. They drew near, and she couldn't run, for the little part of everyone that foresees the worst to unfold was now taking center stage, and the spotlight was cast right on its main star! "No, no please, it can't go like this!" Closing her eyes, she prepared for the end.
HONK, HONK!
Then, the Kamen Riders appeared. Did you happen to imagine this story going otherwise? Each of them stood next to one another, more than ready to duke it out with a band of underlings who existed to disturb the sanctity of time, things were going to be different.
"It's time to end this!" Kamen Rider: Mage declared, flicking her wrist like a powerful gust of wind; each finger curling back into a fist, ordered from bottom-to-top.
"Let's have some fun with this game!" Kamen Rider: Poppy cheered, raising one hand adjacent to her face, with the other arm directed low to the ground – an imposing fighting stance she bobbed back and forth with.
"One person stands in your way: and that's me!" Kamen Rider: Zero-Two announced, lifting two thumbs to chest level as crimson lenses flared with a shining radiance.
TELEPORT, PLEASE!
Suddenly, the Gate vanished into thin air! Confusing the ghouls, it wasn't until they turned back around to see that she was safe and sound, hiding behind the heroes. Remembering the priority, saving lives, the girls ensured that no harm was going to come her way. The trio charged, pincering off into different sections! This wasn't an undirected split of the moment decision, no, it was so that no corner was ever left unturned!
Light as a feather, Poppy danced around their violent swipes. Each step containing its own rhythm, she synchronized each command delivered with a well-crafted beat. One, step, two step, skip three and go straight to four!
BIND, PLEASE!
Chains sprouted from thin air, wrapping up some of the monsters around them.
"I'm ready!" Witch shouted, alerting her friend. When she got the alert, Poppy knew exactly what to do. Having memorized the moves, it was time to give this one a whirl! Lining up some of the ghouls on her end through coordinated, and very careful evasions, Poppy hurled her arm straight into the air, backhanding one of the ghouls with all her strength. Then, before the monster could even manage to find out what had just occurred, Poppy did a ferocious spin, raising one leg back over the other and spun with a fist like a spear directed their way!
"Heave, ho!" Poppy said, giving her signal. On the final stretch of this combo, in quick succession, Poppy flapped her legs like wings, volleying the ghouls straight into the air!
BIG, PLEASE!
A sigil appeared just underneath the ghouls. Emerging from it was the heel of Witch, turned gargantuan, and packing all the strength needed to raise their enemies higher and higher! The force alone was quite the 'kicker' on impact, and their enemies ended up as nothing more than a nice display of fireworks!
It wasn't over, not by a longshot. Turning back to Zero-Two, who was dishing out the hurt in the most efficient ways possible, she met the gaze of her companion, and without words, they both understood.
SHINE, PLEASE!
A bright light enveloped the battlefield. Fortunately, with the right warning, Zero-Two was safe from its blinding properties. However, the same couldn't be said for the ghouls. Stunned, and unaware of where they were going, Zero-Two bent down on one knee as her partner brandished a signature rapier. "The path to victory has already been realized." Zero-Two stated, and so it was.
One, two, one two!
Witch and Zero-Two rushed between the columns, hacking and slashing at matching speeds. This took careful precision, one that the Humagear ensured would be carried out. When they were finished attacking between two columns each, they switched to rows, Witch carrying the top half and Zero-Two the bottom. When all was said and done, each of them reappeared at opposite ends. The result? A signature explosion of mana.
Still, the ghouls weren't vanquished yet! More, and more appeared out of the fray.
"Uh-oh!" Poppy exclaimed, stepping back to narrowly avoid the piercing ends of their enemy's weapons. The ghouls have decided to target her, the one who stood alone. In the blink of an eye, a ruby-coloured stream of light shot throughout the sky; breaking through the line of defense, and stopping only a few inches away from Poppy, so as to not crash into her.
"Thanks for the save!" Poppy said with a joyous voice. "Could you do me a favour?" She asked, pointing to the ground.
"Affirmative." Zero-Two understood, sweeping her friend off her feet. While in the arms of her robot companion, Poppy removed the buggle visor and applied it to her arm, the sounds of a chainsaw revving around the battlefield!
Round, and around, and around, and around we go!
Spinning each other like a tornado, Poppy cheered as her blade cut through the ghouls surrounding them. When that attack ceased, the Kamen Riders gathered down the beginning of the field.
"That's most of them." Witch declared, glancing around. "We're almost at the end!"
"Then let's finish it off with something special!" Poppy requested, smashing her fist into her palm.
"We'll follow your lead!"
Splintering off into three groups once more, Witch took the left, and Zero-Two on the right. So, now the spotlight was on Poppy, and it was up to her to enact the final move! Taking a deep breath, she took a moment to recall this particular combo. As the memory flowed into her starting steps, cherry shaded electrical currents vibrated all throughout her!
CRITICAL CREWS AID: PIPO-PARALYZING-PUNCH!
Forward. Stop. Down. Down forward… Triangle!
"DORYA!" With the might of a thunderbolt, Poppy dashed forward and crashed a devastating fist straight into the remainder of the enemies; the force being so great that lightning crackled out from her fingertips, creating a giant gap between the ghouls and the ground.
SHIMMER, PLEASE!
The back part of Witch's costume opened up, her cape turning into a set of beautiful, glistening wings. Spawning from the fantastical chitin, a horde of crystalized blades of energy shot out at the monsters, piercing each and every one of them. No stone left unturned, not this time!
ZERO-TWO: BIG BANG!
Straight towards the Heavens, glowing beyond the stars, in a beautiful spiral, Zero-Two curved with amazing grace, moving like a super drill before unleashing the ultimate kick! A javelin descending from another world, Zero-Two striked.
Then, before she could touch base with the ground, the battle was over.
Once the battle had been settled and victory was declared for the Kamen Riders, each of them transformed, with the exception of Zero-Two, who briefly leapt behind a bush; careful, so that no one could see her. When things were clear, Izu reemerged to find her companions surveying the area.
"What kind of power was that?" Mayu asked, smiling towards the bugster. "Your movements were so swift – it was like lightning shot out of you!"
"A bit of something special I've been working on!" Poppy said, returning the grin. "A friend introduced me to these fighting games, and it was too addicting to pass up." It was Emu, who first showed her Tekken – he mentioned once that he was a champion; used to run in local tournaments, but quit shortly before his big exams for med school. Actually, that was around the same time Parad was born, and shortly she became a complete bugster.
In circles, Poppy began wavedashing. This technique was borrowed from the main antagonist of the franchise, or was he an antagonist? Either way, he had the look of a demon. Although, she found herself more drawn to his character than others. As Emu would say, 'Play someone that looks cool. Whoever it is, you'll learn them eventually if you love them enough, even if you think they don't suit you.'
Eventually, she got a little dizzy, taking a spill. It was Izu who caught her. "Games like that take a lot of practice… I still have work to do."
Turning to the Gate, who looked spooked out of their mind, the girls ensured that there was no one else around. As it turns out, her name was Asuka. Gotō, Asuka, to be precise. Fair, chestnut dyed hair, and wearing two different headbands, she was quite the colourful one. Red and blue, opposing colours, with wristbands of the same colours. Other than that, Asuka was wearing a standard school uniform. Standard as one could get, for a cushy private university like this one.
"Thanks," Asuka said, taking up on the offer from Mayu's hand. "Without any of you, I don't want to imagine what would've happened."
"No need, it's our job." Mayu shot an earnest grin. Anytime she heard a variation of those words, a little part of her felt new all over again.
"Now, that's all settled…" Asuka started, clasping her hands. Then, she turned and started to walk off. "Sayonara!"
"W-wait!" Mayu shouted, the three of them chasing after her. "Hold on, this isn't over!"
"Why not?" Asuka asked, tilting her head. "Monsters are gone, I'm still standing, and I have places to be!" The young, peppy woman handed her a thumbs up. Convincing with a sincere charm, but it wasn't going to be enough. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have a competition to win."
"Competition?" Izu was confused.
"Yep, and if I don't hurry now, I'll miss the deadline!" Asuka cheered, throwing her arms excitedly into the air as she continued to stroll on by. "Catch me up on stage, first place! Be there, or don't!" Scurrying down the road, the riders had no choice but to follow. Given how dire her presence was, Asuka's mild skip along the well-lined gray path of brick quickly turned into a full on sprint. The three of them chased the Gate, pleading for her to consider what they had to say.
Izu, who was a Humagear, did not lag behind like the other two. Although, just because she was gaining the lead, it didn't mean she was getting any closer to having Asuka stop. As a matter of fact, she might've had the opposite effect.
Clop, clop, clop, clop.
The sounds of black heeled boots smashing against the concrete swirled around in Asuka's ears. Each one getting louder, and louder.
"What's with you?!" Asuka screamed, now sprinting in fear. One has to understand, a robot running leagues above anyone she's ever met, with such an empty, corporate expression didn't exactly invoke feelings of comfort!
"Stop at once." Izu declared, well-meaning in her words, but her request appeared more like a demand.
Clop, CLOP, clop, CLOP, CLOP!
"N-not a chance!" Asuka said, occasionally glancing over her shoulder. Regardless of how fast the student ran, Izu's expression refused to change. Weightless, dark eyes glaring down her way. The absence of a smile isn't what terrified her, it was the absence of everything plastered over her pale face! "Lay off, damn it!"
CLOP, CLOP, CLOP, CLOP, CLOP.
"Please, for your safety, it is in your best interest to come with us." The Humagear said, speaking in a mild voice – the kind that an electronic train station announcer would show before telling you that it would be half an hour beyond the deadline that a scheduled departure to home would commence.
"Like Hell I will!" Asuka shouted, picking up the pace. As she did, Izu matched hers with little effort. After all, our hero was built with a ton of horsepower; more than what was needed to rival a car, if she desired – but that is not what she desired. No, what she desired was getting this Gate to a safe spot, which didn't seem to be happening anytime soon.
"Do…" Poppy started, but unable to finish, given how out of breath she was. "D-do you have a spell… to slow them down?"
Eventually, the chase stopped. Coming to the end of the road, and quite literally at that, a humongous theater sat before them. It was once a gymnasium that had been renovated into a space for performance, an auditorium of plentiful size fit to host a wide array of audiences. A vast number of clubs fought to reserve this space, but for one week in a year, there was no competition – because of this competition, of course. Now, that's a work of Aruto! Around them, smaller groups were dispersed and travelling in-and-out in smaller, interconnected networks of traffic. Perfectly aligned, Mayu and Poppy were caught in a sea whose currents had no time for them.
Izu, on the other hand, turned and spinned effortlessly past each of them. By the time the other two caught up, they were ready to collapse. Riding a bike would've been so much easier. So dangerous, and so tempting given their lack of stamina.
"W-wait… We… We have to speak to you…" Mayu said, trying to motion her hand outwards to reach the Gate, but it was of no use. The young magician was drained entirely.
"Yeah, yeah. Save it." Asuka groaned, wiping some sweat from her forehead. She was blazing red, especially underneath this heat. Barely, could the student comprehend her surroundings – it all appeared to be some sort of haze, but she grasped out towards the table before her.
A booth enveloped in a navy blue silk curtain. In a line, three Humagears sat with eager smiles present across their faces. Greeting the four of them, their blinking ears beeped a cheerful tune. "Are you here to sign up for the competition?" One of them asked.
"You betcha!" Asuka said, a determined look taking hold. Like a boxer who was doing up the final strap around their glove before stepping into the ring, she held nothing back in her firm demeanor. Some might consider it delinquency, others indecent, but she would consider it a necessity. "Where do I sign up?"
"Here, on this sheet." The second Humagear instructed, handing them the slip of paper. "List the name of your competing team and all of its members below."
"Team?" Asuka asked, raising a brow.
"Yes." The first one spoke up. "This is a team dance competition. The rules dictate you must have a team, no less than four in order to be eligible."
"Actually," Asuka chuckled, scratching her cheek with an index finger. "Running this solo is what I was thinkin' of doing." She laughed, but no one was joining her. "N-now, I'm aware it's quite the longshot, but that's just my choice, ain't it?"
"I'm sorry." Replied the first Humagear. There it was, that orderly voice which held no capacity for looking outside the rules. "This is non-negotiable. A team of at least four is required to compete."
Just as Asuka was about to start shouting, the laugh of a jackal echoed throughout campus. Turning around, a troupe of six approached her. Each of them were wearing stunning outfits. Cute, multi-coloured and custom tailored idol outfits with white vests that had crimson buttons, neatly tied bow ties, finishing off with golden skirts. Sharp, but even if it hurt to stare, you couldn't look away.
"How sad," The obvious Queen Bee stepped forward. Long, well-kept black hair that flowed down to her back. Akira Ito was her name, and just from the way both Asuka and Akira stared at each other – as if their world would explode if either of them dared to blink; vindictive, callous scowls present over the other, and fantasizing only the worst. Without exchanging so much as a simple glance, our heroes could feel the imposing aura enveloping them both. "No one to prance around with, Asuka?"
"Ito-chan." Asuka curled her fists.
"Is that all you have to say?" Akira asked, tilting her head. She pursed her lips, looking back over her shoulder towards the looming posse. Poppy could only dare watch the drama unfold; it was something straight out of an old sports movie! Could this be where a dance number breaks out?
"Here I was, figuring you had something more profound." Akira brandished a sickening grin. "Then again, you were never exactly one for finesse. Tell me, are you planning on getting dropped from another tournament, or are you skipping the wait and letting security drag you out before you get the chance to embarrass yourself under a spotlight?"
"The conflict is escalating." Izu said, glancing over at the other two. "Should we intervene?"
"Yeah, this is getting bad." Mayu nodded.
"Then let's not wait!" Poppy declared, charging forward. Making the first move, she stomped ahead with gritted teeth. "Hey! Are you going to stand around holding up the line, or can you sign the paper already?!"
"My, my. Who is this?" Akira interjected, intrigued. "Is this clown part of your crew?"
"Clown?!" Poppy replied, taken aback. It was such a childish insult, but it cut deeper than she would've expected. Could it have been the way she was dressed? Well, the others didn't look any more mundane than she did. "What kind of competition do you think this is?! If you're so bent on putting someone else down, maybe that means you should practice some m–"
"Stop." Asuka said, holding her arm out in front of Poppy. "Last thing I need is some stranger getting all angry on my behalf." She smiled. "Are you entering this?"
"Of course." Akira replied. "Why, is that fear I hear?"
"No." Asuka crossed her arms. "I'm glad, actually. Front row seats are where I want you when I win. Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Sure." Akira placed her hands on her hips. "Dreams only happen when you sleep, so do yourself a favour and wake up sometime. If somehow, someone, somewhere wants to dance with you, then I'll see you there." Finishing off the signature, Akira tossed the pen to Asuka, who just barely caught it. "Break a leg, Asuka."
Then, the others left.
"Yeah." Asuka sighed. "Yeah, like I could show her. Who am I kidding, where will I find a team?"
"We're not invisible, are we?" Poppy asked, tapping Asuka's shoulder. Reeling in the other two riders, she redirected the lost lamb to her guiding salvation. "Great news has arrived, we will be your team!"
"N-no way," Asuka shook her head. "I'm grateful and all for saving my life, but this isn't something I can pull people into. Besides, you people aren't dancers. Are you?"
"Are you kidding?!" Poppy grinned ear to ear. "Dancing is my specialty! Rhythm is in my blood."
"Yeah, okay. What about the other two?" Asuka asked, glancing at them.
"These two are some of the best you can get." Poppy spoke for them. "Besides, there aren't a lot of choices here, are there? You need four to get in, and we're four!"
"Are you sure about this?" Mayu whispered. Pulling the other two into a huddle, they thought over their strategy. "Truth be told, I actually haven't danced before."
"Nonsense." Poppy said, waving off any sort of concerns. "Doesn't matter who you are, everyone can dance! With the right amount of spirit that is, and this'll help us stick with the Gate, right?"
"Well, I can't argue there." Mayu nodded. "Okay, this is our only option."
"Excuse me," Izu removed herself from the huddle. "Asuka-san, was it? How much does this contest mean to you?"
"Pfft, more than anything!" Asuka stated, and rather loudly. "If it meant getting pierced by one of those monsters back there, I'd still crawl my way right here to sign up!"
"So, it's your hope." Mayu said. There really wasn't a way out of this.
"We'll do it!" Poppy declared.
"We are the most optimal team." Izu chimed in. "Please, accept us as your partners. We will provide the best service we can, and carry you to success."
"Better than nothing, I suppose."Asuka said. "Alright, come on. Let's get that signed!"
"I'm sorry, but this competition requires a minimum of four participants for a team." The first Humagear, who had been waiting patiently, spoke up once more.
"Yeah, there's four of us." Asuka chuckled. "Come on, let's not play any games here. There wasn't a team before, and now there is."
"Once again, we apologize–" Before they could offer their condolences, Izu cut her off.
"Humagears cannot compete." Izu spoke with a flat tone, as if she was reading off terms and conditions. "Is that correct?"
"It is." The third Humagear stated. "Humagear Law – Page 4, subsection 2. Humagears are not allowed to participate/compete as professional athletes. This includes regional, national, and international tournaments. However, this does not disbar them from coaching, or judging."
"Why?" Mayu asked, appalled.
"Each Humagear designed and integrated for public service contains a varied set of specialties." Izu replied, explaining as best as she could. "However, due to this wide array, it is possible that participating Humagears could possess a physical advantage over others – this would saturate the pool for athletics with dozens of competitors who have unfair edges over humans, and therefore the integrity of sport must be maintained with the absence of Humagear athletes."
On top of that, there was the added displacement of Humagears due to the convergence of the worlds. Many of their business records were now outdated, incomplete or missing. This has landed Hiden Intelligence in a bit of trouble over the past two years. She and Aruto have worked tirelessly to help ensure the company's reputation, but how does one even begin to speak about the merging of multiple worlds, much less in a manner that would convince the general public?
"So, Humagears can help run an event. Yet, they can't partake in it?" Mayu asked, feeling defeated from that statement alone.
"No one is ever perfect either." Poppy frowned. "Not people, not a machine – and dance is about expression. We can say things we might not be able to with words. What kind of advantage is possible with that?"
"Memory, rhythm. Steps, synchronicity," The first Humagear started explaining, listing off all the possible ways that a Humagear could outwit a human. Fortunately, they ceased out of request of our heroes before the list went on, and on, and on.
"These are the rules." Izu said. With that, the four of them were back at square one. Trailing back down campus, there seemed to be no chance at getting inside. Not without a team – and not without one that adhered to all the conditions.
"Ah, man! How am I going to find another group?!" Asuka shouted, gripping at her hair. "Registration closes today!"
"Perhaps, we could aid in seeking help around campus." Izu suggested. "Surveying the area, the probability that someone out there would be of help is not impossible."
"That might take too long." Poppy shook her head. "Besides, we're the best shot at that trophy. Our team is in it to win it!"
"There is one way." Mayu spoke up. Suddenly, the others stopped in their tracks. A smirk ran up her lips. Just like that, no more being stuck at zero. "I still have a trick up my sleeve."
"THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S ARUTO!"
A HUNDRED MILES UNDERGROUND
"Sound the alarms, sound them far and wide!" The vexatious bark of a mutt who needed a muzzle echoed throughout the empty chasm. Like a siren screeching an infectious song, one that invokes the decay of each bit of one's flesh as it beckons you to a slow demise, their voice carried out towards the now trenchant air. "Rejoice, for I've brought gifts. Tons, and tons!" Tossing said gifts into the air, the Humagear raced to catch them.
"These are not toys." Azu spoke through gritted teeth. "Unless, such an animal can't tell the difference. In which case, my pity is shared."
"I'll do as I damn well please with them." The magician snickered. "Don't forget. The very reason you have these is because of my power." He grinned, a horrifying smile turning upright like a sick hyena that could no longer comprehend sorrow during the most fitting circumstances. Or, perhaps this thing simply couldn't bring itself to care. At least, about anything but itself. "How is our Lord?"
"Resting." Their associate stated, placing the samples out on the workbench. Behind them, the enormous machine – its size larger than a building, and more circular than the Sun itself, sat soundly behind them. The reserves were activated, but it wouldn't last as long as either of them would prefer. "Preparations are still incomplete. Until now, we've had to stall for time."
"You call my 'fun' stalling?" The magician sneered.
"Yes, child's play. Nothing more than that." Azu replied, grateful that he was on the same page. "Our Lord requires some necessities still to be gathered, and so as long as you comply, there is no issue. Do as you wish, I only have one request."
"You, requesting something?" He sighed. "Why is that not a surprise?"
"The Hiden plaything." Azu turned over her shoulder, glaring back at her useful asset with crimson rings running loops in her eyes. "Leave her for me."
The Humagear packed the samples and delivered them towards the outer corner of the room, where each piece of stolen equipment from Hiden Intelligence sat neatly. The device whirred and beeped, nearing completion. All that was left to do was plant the seeds of malice, and tend to a fruit of purity. Paradise was only one step away. Pressing her head against the firm glass of the 3D printer, she watched with delight as her greatest creation emerged from the light. "The key to realizing anew. In this world, I welcome you." Azu whispered. "Kamen Rider: Zero-Three."
AUTHOR'S NOTE (03/03/24)
Hello there, how is everyone? Sorry for the delay, this chapter is now out and ready for you to read! Hope you liked it, and I hope the wait wasn't too long. My other stories, Ex-Aid World's Strongest, and Connect To Server: Please! Will be updated sometime soon, I haven't abandoned those, I'm just getting back into the groove of things, and I ought to keep this story rolling!
Oh, have you heard that Outsiders is getting more episodes? As of today, they dropped a new trailer! Speaking of new content, Gotchard has me really excited. I still haven't watched the episode that released this Sunday, but every new episode makes me smile ear to ear with delight. I'm also currently watching Fourze, and it's so good! Maybe I'll write a story about Fourze, or Gotchard in the future, but I have plenty more stories to finish before then! Some of which, you all don't even know about.
Anyways, have fun reading! If you have any suggestions, comments or critique, leave them down below.
