Kamen Rider Faiz Another Paradise

by Riccky 06

Rei Aizawa, a hacker by passion, finds himself involved in Smart Brain's machinations when he accidentally discovers their secrets. After finding the Hexa Gear, a special Belt that also allows humans to transform, he sets out Kamen Rider Faiz and Kaixa Gear, hoping to help them defeat Smart Brain. *AU starting from Kamen Rider 555 ep 13* *New Rider: Kamen Rider Hexa*

2. Ep 2 The hacker Rider

In The Previous episodes of Kamen Rider Faiz: Another Paradise.*

Rei: "In the city of Tokyo, where the young hacker Rei lives, a mysterious company called Smart Brain is conducting mysterious experiments on creatures called "Orphnoch", but this is where our heroes appear: The Kamen Riders!"

Takumi: "What heroes? I remind you that I'm just a guy with amnesia."

Rei: "After finding this mysterious Belt, the Hexa Gear, I went to look for the owners of the Faiz and Kaixa Gear. Huh? What? What? Why are you guys fighting among yourself?! Henshin!"

Takumi: "Wew. Those missiles were so close."

Rei: "So now…"

Masato: "Who the hell are you? Whatever, just die already."

Takumi: "Oh no! He's using cheat codes for infinite ammo!"

Rei: "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

*Kamen Rider Faiz: Another Paradise. Episode 2 - The Hacker Rider*

The air grew thick with tension.

Masato pressed his thumb against the trigger, ready to unleash another bombardment on Takumi and the mysterious Rider.

But just before he could fire— Beep!

A sharp digital sound shattered the silence.

Rei had pulled out the Hexa Phone, the sleek gray and emerald-green device, and with a precise motion, he punched in three numbers on the keypad.

0 – 1 – 1

Then, without hesitation, he pressed the call button. *Hacking Mode.*

The Hexa Phone lit up, its digital interface pulsing for an instant before an invisible signal rippled through the air.

Suddenly, the Side Basshar trembled.

Its weapons flickered for a moment, then— "Vehicle Mode." The onboard system of the Side Basshar announced the shift.

The missiles that were primed to fire immediately deactivated.

The battle configuration vanished, reverting the vehicle to its basic sidecar form.

Masato's eyes widened. "What?! What's wrong with this piece of junk?!" He frantically pressed the button to reactivate the "Battle Mode".

The bike's display flashed: *ERROR. SYSTEM LOCKED.* Masato clenched his teeth. His vehicle—his weapon—his combat advantage—was now useless.

All because of that guy.

Slowly, he turned his head toward Hexa. "You… what did you do?!"

Rei crossed his arms. "I disabled your bike—if you can even call it that—for a while."

Masato was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he stepped off the Side Basshar, his boots scraping against the asphalt.

He reached for his Blaygun. A compact yet deadly weapon—a hybrid between a gun and a blade.

"You know… in a way, this is better." He raised the weapon, aiming it directly at Hexa. "I was looking for a reason to tear you apart." He pulled the trigger.

Gunfire erupted, bullets streaking toward Hexa.

Rei sprang to the side, dodging at the last possible second.

Masato lunged forward. Raising the Blaygun, he swung the built-in blade at Rei in a brutal slash.

Rei blocked it with his arm, but even through the armor, he felt the impact reverberate through his body.

Masato twisted, delivering a swift kick aimed at his stomach.

Hexa raised his arms to guard, but the sheer force of the blow sent him skidding backward.

Masato didn't let up.

He pressed the attack, slashing relentlessly with his Blaygun, trying to break Rei's defense. "Let's see how long you last, third-rate hacker!"

Rei gritted his teeth. He understood something immediately: Masato was fast. And more than that, he was ruthless.

But Rei wasn't the type to let himself get cornered so easily.

Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath.

Then he prepared to counterattack.

Masato lunged forward with another strike from his Blaygun.

The golden blade whistled through the air, aiming straight for Rei's shoulder.

But this time, Rei didn't move to dodge.

Instead, he pulled out his Hexa Phone again, swiftly punching in a new three-digit code.

1 – 3 – 3

Then, he pressed the call button: *Hexa Cloak.*

A green light pulsed around his armor.

Then, in the blink of an eye—Hexa vanished.

Masato's Blaygun struck nothing but air. "Where the hell did he go?! Damn it, where are you?!" He darted his eyes around frantically, but there was nothing.

Only the echo of his own footsteps rang through the empty street. He spun on his heel, bracing himself for an attack from any direction.

And that's when he felt it.

A sharp strike to his back. "GH—!" Masato staggered forward.

Another hit to his stomach. Then another to his side. "Show yourself, bastard!"

But Hexa was nowhere to be seen.

Only invisible fists and kicks landing with pinpoint accuracy.

Masato tried to fight back. He brandished his Blaygun and fired wildly into the air, hoping to hit something—anything. Nothing. Hexa was untouchable.

"You're a damn coward!" Then, all of a sudden— Masato felt movement behind him.

And before he could react— A hand grabbed his Kaixa Belt. "What the—"

ZAC!*

With a swift motion, the Kaixa Phone was ripped from his belt.

The device slipped away, disappearing from his grasp. "NO—!" Immediately, the Kaixa Armor shattered into nothing. Masato was back in his civilian clothes. His vision wavered.

Adrenaline still coursed through his veins.

But now, he was disarmed.

And worse yet… Hexa had reappeared right in front of him.

Materializing from nothing, as if he had been carved directly from the air itself.

Masato stood frozen. He wiped the back of his hand across his lips, still shaken.

Then, slowly, he lifted his gaze toward Hexa.

The two locked eyes.

The air between them crackled with tension.

Masato clenched his teeth.

He had two options: Attacking or running.

And damn it, he was tempted to choose the first. But there was a problem—he didn't have the Kaixa Phone anymore.

Without it, he couldn't transform. And without his armor, he had zero chance of winning.

Hexa watched him in silence. Then, slowly, he brought a hand to his belt. "Hmpf." Rei pulled the Hexa Phone from the Hexa Belt. He took a breath. Then, he pressed the button to end the call.

Beep.*

The green energy surrounding his body dissipated. His armor faded away, leaving only his human form.

Now, standing before Masato, was just a nineteen-year-old kid. Rei tossed the Kaixa Phone back to Masato.

Masato caught it effortlessly. But he said nothing.

Rei stepped forward. "I just want to talk."

Masato remained silent. Then, slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. His eyes were cold. But within them—there was something else: Curiosity.

Kikuchi Laundry – Living Room, A Few Minutes Later*

The small living room of Kikuchi Laundry was silent.

Only the sound of the clock hanging on the wall filled the air.

Takumi, Masato, Mari, Keitaro, and Rei were sitting in a circle.

The couch and chairs creaked slightly as they shifted, trying to get comfortable.

As usual, Keitaro had prepared some hot tea, carefully pouring it into everyone's cups.

Rei, leaning back in his chair, absentmindedly spun his Hexa Phone between his fingers.

Takumi watched him with his usual skeptical gaze. "So?" Takumi finally broke the silence. "Who exactly are you?"

Rei looked up and stopped fiddling with his phone.

All eyes were on him.

Mari looked curious. Masato had his arms crossed, clearly suspicious. Keitaro… well, he just seemed excited to have a new friend.

Rei leaned back against his chair and took a breath. "My name is Rei Aizawa."

Mari tilted her head slightly. "Aizawa…? I don't think I've ever heard that name before."

"And you shouldn't have," Rei replied with a faint smile. "I'm no one important." Then, his expression grew more serious. "Truth is, I'm just a guy who… likes hacking."

Masato scoffed. "A hacker, huh? And we're just supposed to take your word for it?"

"I never said you had to," Rei shot back, crossing his arms. "But before you start judging me, let me tell you my story."

Everyone remained silent.

Rei took another breath before he began speaking. "At first, hacking was just a game to me. Breaking into security systems, cracking passwords, bypassing codes… I did it just for fun. Never for money. Never to cause harm."

Mari looked uncertain. "So… you were just a kid having fun messing with systems?"

"More or less." Rei shrugged. "But then… something happened." His expression darkened. "One day, while I was messing around with some servers, I stumbled upon a private network… a network belonging to Smart Brain."

The others' expressions changed immediately.

Keitaro swallowed hard. Mari clenched her fists. Masato tilted his head slightly. Takumi, however, remained completely still.

"Smart Brain…?" Mari repeated quietly.

Rei nodded. "It wasn't like any other server I had ever accessed." He leaned forward slightly. "There were files… documents… reports on the Orphnoch… Experiments on Orphnoch, to be precise. Modifications, tests, research on these 'Belts'."

Mari bit her lip.

"And then?" Takumi asked, his tone flat.

Rei took a deep breath. "As I kept digging, I discovered there were several abandoned labs in different locations. One of them caught my interest. So, I decided to take a look."

"And…?"

Rei laced his fingers under his chin as he answered Mari's question. "Inside one of those labs, I found a safe. And, well… it took me three days to open it."

Keitaro's jaw dropped. "Three days?!"

Rei let out a faint chuckle. "It was protected by one of the most complex security systems I had ever seen in my life." Then, he lifted his Hexa Belt and placed it on the table. "And inside that safe… I found this."

The metal of the Hexa Belt gleamed slightly under the room's light.

Mari and Keitaro stared at it intently.

Masato remained impassive.

Takumi crossed his arms. "Never heard of a Hexa Belt."

"I'm not surprised," Rei replied. "The project was scrapped."

"Why?"

Rei lifted his gaze to them. "Because this Belt can also be used by humans."

The room fell into complete silence.

Mari was the first to speak. "Wait… what? You mean it's not like the other Belts? You don't need to be an Orphnoch to transform?"

Rei nodded. "Exactly. Unlike the Faiz and Kaixa Belts, this one doesn't require the user to be an Orphnoch."

"Incredible…" Keitaro whispered, covering his mouth with his hand. Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Wait! That means I could use it too?!"

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Technically, yes."

Keitaro slammed his fists on the table in excitement. "Can I try it?!"

"No," Rei replied with a smirk.

Keitaro collapsed to his knees in despair. "Eeehh?! Why not?!"

Masato let out a heavy sigh. Idiot, he thought.

Keitaro started whining dramatically. "For once, I had the chance to be a Rider too…!"

Rei watched him for a few seconds. Then, he laughed. "Hahaha. Relax, I was just messing with you." He gave Keitaro a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Maybe I'll let you try it later."

Keitaro's head shot up. "Really?!" Rei nodded, still smiling. Keitaro cheered. "Woooooahhh! Thanks, Rei-san!"

Mari shook her head, chuckling softly.

Takumi, on the other hand, continued to watch Rei in silence.

Masato, arms crossed, muttered to himself. "A Belt that can be used by humans, huh…?" His eyes gleamed in the shadows.

The atmosphere was starting to relax.

But something told Rei that this was just the calm before the storm.

Rei glanced first at Takumi, then at Masato. "Tell me something." His voice was calm, but it carried weight. "You two… are you Orphnochs?"

The silence that followed was almost palpable.

Takumi didn't even flinch.

Masato smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Me? An Orphnoch?" he said, almost amused. "Come on, Aizawa-san, what kind of question is that?"

Rei didn't take the bait. "So that's a no?" he insisted, looking at them both.

Takumi shook his head. "No."

Masato did the same. "Not at all."

Rei didn't look away. "And yet… you both use a Rider Belt." He leaned slightly toward the table, tilting his head. "How? If the Faiz and Kaixa Gear can only be used by Orphnochs, then how do you transform?"

Mari crossed her arms, observing Takumi and Masato with a thoughtful expression. "Actually…" she began, looking at Rei. "We don't even know ourselves."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

Takumi remained silent.

Mari nodded. "Yeah. It's always been a mystery."

Rei tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.

Then, without changing his tone, he asked another question. "Kusaka-san."

The man in question looked up, his usual falsely friendly expression still in place. "Yes, Aizawa-kun?"

"Why were you attacking Inui-san?"

Masato's smile curled slightly. He took a moment, as if carefully choosing his words. "Takumi was protecting an Orphnoch."

Rei showed no immediate reaction.

He turned to Takumi. "Is that true, Inui-san?"

Takumi remained silent. His gaze stayed locked on Rei, but he didn't answer. That silence spoke for itself.

Rei sighed. "And why were you protecting them?"

Takumi looked away. He didn't answer this time, either.

Rei watched him for a few seconds, then leaned back in his chair, letting the topic drop. "I see."

Masato smirked, glancing at Takumi with amusement. "See? He's so stubborn he won't even answer."

Takumi didn't react to the provocation.

Rei, however, turned his gaze back to Takumi. "You know, Inui-san… you just gave me a reason to doubt you."

Takumi narrowed his eyes slightly. "If you say so."

"But I guess the feeling is mutual, isn't it?" Rei added with a small smile.

Takumi slowly nodded. "That's right." He fixed his gaze on Rei. "I don't trust you at all." His tone wasn't aggressive, but firm. "For all we know, you could be an enemy pretending to be an ally."

Rei didn't seem fazed in the slightest. In fact, he nodded with conviction. "You're absolutely right."

The group seemed surprised by his direct answer.

Rei leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers together. "If I were in your shoes, I'd probably think the same thing."

Takumi's eyes remained locked onto him.

"But I'll prove to you that you can trust me. I'll prove it to all of you." His tone left no room for doubt.

Mari almost looked impressed by his confidence.

Keitaro nodded eagerly. "I already trust you, Rei-san!" he said enthusiastically.

Masato smiled in his usual falsely cordial way. He leaned slightly toward Rei, resting an elbow on the table, and extended his hand. "Well, well. Then it'll be a pleasure working with you, Rei-kun."

Rei shook Masato's hand. "The pleasure is all mine," he said with a smile.

Masato's tone was sweet and friendly, but his eyes said something else. "It doesn't matter if he's lying or not… I'll use him either way."

However, Rei had thoughts of his own: "Something's off here. And I'll find out what it is."

The atmosphere in the laundry had become more relaxed again. Keitaro, with his usual optimistic smile, turned to Rei, clapping his hands together as if he had just come up with a great idea. "I got it! Rei-san, why don't you stay here at the laundry?"

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

Keitaro nodded enthusiastically. "If you stay here, it'll be easier for us to move as a group when the Orphnochs attack. You could help us with the work. In return, you'd get food and lodging!"

Mari seemed to agree, while Masato and Takumi remained neutral.

Rei thought for a moment, then smiled. "I like the idea."

"Really?!" Keitaro exclaimed, visibly happy. "Then it's decided!"

But not everyone seemed equally enthusiastic.

Takumi crossed his arms, scrutinizing Rei with a slightly displeased expression. "Hold on a second."

Rei turned to him. "Something wrong?"

Takumi sighed, looking away. "My room is already crowded enough with Kusaka."

Masato shrugged, his expression falsely accommodating. "As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't mind."

Takumi scoffed, while Keitaro kept smiling. "Come on, Takumi, the more, the merrier!"

Rei's smile widened, and he gave a slight bow. "I'll do my best to help."

He didn't seem bothered by the small clash with Takumi. In fact, he found it interesting.

*A little later…*

Takumi left the laundry, getting on his motorcycle.

Rei watched him without saying a word, then took a step toward the door, walked out of the laundy, pulled up his hood, got on his motorcycle, and set off. "Let's see where you're going…" he muttered as he followed Takumi.

*Somewhere in the forest*

Takumi stopped his motorcycle among the trees. The forest air was cool and damp, and the wind rustled the leaves with a constant whisper.

In front of him, a familiar figure emerged from the trees. Yuka.

The girl watched him with a mix of concern. "You…"

Takumi got off his motorcycle, looking at her with a calm expression.

Rei was hidden among the trees, a few meters away. Who is she? he thought, observing them closely. He made no sound. He remained hidden, listening.

Yuka lowered her gaze slightly as she leaned against a tree. "You… aren't afraid of me? I could transform into an Orphnoch again."

Takumi didn't hesitate. "No, I'm not."

Yuka looked surprised. "Why?"

Takumi shook his head. "You were the one who helped me when I was unconscious."

Rei tensed slightly. "Wait, what does that mean? Is this girl an Orphnoch?"

Takumi continued. "You took care of me. I have no reason to fear you."

Yuka seemed moved but also uncertain. "And yet… I've attacked people."

Takumi was silent for a moment. Then, he asked the most direct question of all. "Why did you do it?"

Yuka hugged herself, lowering her gaze. "Maybe… because I'm afraid of humans."

Rei's eyes widened slightly. "What? An Orphnoch… afraid of humans? That exists?" It wasn't something he had ever expected to hear.

Takumi studied her carefully. "Will you attack anyone again?"

Yuka shook her head. "No. I don't want to do it anymore." Her eyes filled with sadness. "Even if I'm afraid of humans… I want to live as one."

Rei remained completely still. The entire situation unsettled him. "That's impossible. Weren't Orphnochs all predators, according to the Smart Brain files I have? Then why does she seem so vulnerable?"

He felt the need to gather more information. Without making a sound, he raised the Hexa Phone. He aimed it at Yuka. Took a picture. The Hexa Phone's screen displayed her image for a second, then saved it.

Mission accomplished.

He slowly backed away from the two, leaving no trace of his presence. "An Orphnoch that attacks humans because she fears them… and who saved Takumi-san, huh? So, not all Orphnochs are evil? Very, very interesting." Rei thought.

…*

It was already sunset when Rei returned to the laundry. His mind was still occupied with the conversation between Takumi and Yuka.

"I want to live as a human." Those words kept echoing in his head. He never expected to hear an Orphnoch speak that way.

As he opened the laundromat door, he was greeted by an all-too-familiar face.

"Welcome back, Aizawa-kun." Masato Kusaka was there. Waiting for him.

Casually leaning against one of the washing machines, he had a look that hid something behind his usual fake smile.

Rei smiled back. "I'm home."

Masato shrugged. "I just wanted to have a little chat with my new friend."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to talk about?"

Masato didn't answer right away. He took a couple of relaxed steps toward him. Then, he said, "About Takumi."

Rei didn't flinch.

Masato looked him straight in the eyes. "What do you think of him?"

Rei took a moment to answer. "I think he's a complicated person. In every sense."

Masato chuckled, amused. "Yeah. That's exactly what I think too."

Rei remained silent, letting Masato continue.

Masato lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked back up at him. "I mean… you never really know what side he's on, do you?"

Rei tilted his head slightly. "What side he's on?"

"Yeah." Masato crossed his arms. "You never know if he's on the side of humans… or the Orphnoch."

Rei observed him carefully.

Masato continued, "Does it seem normal to you that someone like him would protect an Orphnoch?"

Rei knew exactly where Masato was going with this. He took a brief pause, pretending to think. Then, in a neutral tone, he said, "No, it's not normal."

Masato nodded, satisfied with the response.

Rei continued, carefully choosing his words. "But maybe… Inui-san had a reason for protecting that Orphnoch. It's possible that some Orphnoch are good, and that's why Inui-san was protecting her."

Masato's reaction was immediate. His smile disappeared for a second.

Rei noticed it right away.

"Aizawa-kun… really, you shouldn't even be thinking about something like that."

Rei remained expressionless.

Masato shook his head, as if speaking to a child who had just said something naïve. "If you start distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' Orphnoch… you'll end up targeting the wrong ones. There's no good Orphnoch in here, do you understand?"

Rei lowered his gaze slightly and let out a small sigh. "Yeah, I understand it. You're right." He didn't believe Masato was right. It was a lie.

But Masato believed it. "Good boy." His smile returned.
"You see, Rei-san, I fight for humanity." His tone grew more serious. "And to do that, I have to kill Orphnoch. Meanwhile, Takumi protects them."

He paused, then turned to Rei again. "And you?"

Rei remained still for a moment. Then, with a small smile, he said, "I stand with humanity."

A satisfied smile spread across Masato's face. "Great answer, Rei-kun."

Masato thought he had fooled him. He hadn't understood a thing.

It was Rei who was deceiving him.

The door suddenly opened.

Takumi, Mari, and Keitaro walked in.

Mari noticed them right away. "Hey, you two… what were you talking about?"

Rei didn't hesitate for even a second. "Ah, we were discussing what to make for dinner."

Keitaro immediately lit up. "Oh! Great idea! I vote for curry!"

Mari laughed. "Keitaro, you always vote for curry."

Rei gave a polite smile. "Alright then, curry it is."

Masato remained silent, his usual smile still on his face.

Rei knew this was only the beginning.

"Masato Kusaka… let's see who deceives who."

*Smart Brain building*
Yuji Kiba's room was wrapped in a suffocating silence.

The young man lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

It was then that his phone began to vibrate.

One ring.

Two.

Three.

Yuji blinked, confused. He didn't receive many calls. Who could it be?

Slowly, he sat up, grabbed the phone from his nightstand, and looked at the display. Unknown number.

He hesitated for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, he answered. "Hello?"

A male voice on the other end. "Kiba… Kiba Yuji, right?"

Yuji didn't respond immediately. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. "Who is this?"

There was a brief pause. Then, the man on the other end said, "I'm Morishita. Not sure if you remember me. I'm Chie Morishita's brother. You used to go out with her."

Yuji flinched, his heart stopping for an instant. "No…" The fingers gripping the phone went cold.

His breath caught in his throat. Memories crashed over him like a tidal wave. The last time he had seen Chie… Her terrified face. Her screams. The fear in her eyes.

And then… dust. Her turning to dust after Kiba had killed her.

"I killed her." A shiver ran down his spine. It was as if an invisible knot was tightening around his throat. He couldn't speak.

Morishita waited a few seconds before speaking again. "Uh… I know this is sudden. But I have something important to tell you."

Yuji remained frozen. Morishita's voice was calm. Too calm. "Does he know?" He couldn't tell. "Does he know it was me?"

Every passing second made it harder to breathe. Morishita continued. "I want to meet you as soon as possible."

Yuji clenched his teeth. His heart was pounding wildly. "What does he want from me?"

He couldn't decide whether to speak or hang up. Trapped between fear and guilt.

But one thing was certain. That phone call… was only the beginning.

…*
The night was wrapped in an almost unnatural silence.

The air was cool, with a gentle breeze brushing against the now-deserted streets.

Rei Aizawa walked slowly along the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the night sky.

The streetlights cast long, flickering shadows on the asphalt, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. "What the hell is going on here?"

He had arrived at Kikuchi Laundry less than a day ago, and he was already caught in a whirlwind of events that made him uneasy. Takumi. Masato. The Orphnochs. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to organize his thoughts.

He had never been a hero. But now, he was in the middle of something big. And there was no turning back.

That was when he saw two figures approaching. Under the yellow glow of the streetlights, he recognized Masato and Mari.

Their pace was quick, almost tense.

"Hey, what are you doing out here at this hour?" Rei asked, stopping in front of them.

Mari lowered her gaze, visibly troubled.

Masato crossed his arms, looking irritated just for being stopped.

It was Mari who spoke first. "Takumi left the laundry. He had a fight with Masato and took off."

Rei narrowed his eyes, puzzled. "He ran off after a fight?"

Mari nodded, worry clear on her face.

Masato, on the other hand, scoffed. "He didn't run off. He just proved how stubborn and irresponsible he is."

Rei sighed. "So they clashed again." Not surprising.

Masato and Takumi were like magnets with the same polarity. They repelled each other. But the fact that Takumi had disappeared didn't sit right with him.

"This is a bad sign." Rei looked up at Mari. "I'll help you find him."

"Thank you, Rei-san," Mari replied, relieved.

The three of them resumed walking through the semi-deserted streets, trying to figure out where Takumi might have gone.

Then, suddenly— A streak of blue energy shot through the air.

Rei caught it out of the corner of his eye.

A sharp whistle. A bright flash. Then—a scream.

A man, just a few meters away, fell to his knees.

For a moment, he was completely still.

Then, his body crumbled into a rain of gray dust.

Mari covered her mouth in shock.

Masato lunged forward, his eyes locked in the direction the arrow had come from.

And then, they saw it. A shadow.

A tall figure slowly advanced toward them. The Flying Fish Orphnoch.

Its slender, streamlined body was covered in iridescent scales, reflecting the city lights in shades of blue and silver. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light. In its right hand, it gripped an energy bow, still pulsing from the arrow it had just fired.

"Damn it…" Rei muttered, clenching his teeth.

The monster didn't wait. It fired another arrow directly at them.

Rei and Masato dodged to the side as the arrow struck the ground, cracking the asphalt.

Masato wasted no time. He immediately charged at the enemy.

Rei followed right after him.

"Mari, stay back!" Masato shouted.

The Flying Fish Orphnoch darted toward a pedestrian bridge, moving with impressive speed.

But Rei and Masato didn't let up. They chased it down the street, their footsteps echoing against the damp asphalt.

The monster suddenly turned. A new arrow formed between its fingers.

But Masato didn't give it the chance to shoot.

He pulled out the Kaixa Phone and input the transformation code. *9-1-3, STANDING BY.*

A golden-yellow light erupted around him. "Henshin!" *COMPLETE.* In seconds, the black-and-gold armor enveloped his body.

Kaixa had entered the fight. Rei didn't waste time either. He took out his Hexa Phone and entered a code. *8-9-1, STANDING BY.* "Henshin!" *COMPLETE.* A green vortex swirled around him. Digital circuits ran across his skin. Then, the armor materialized around him.

His body was clad in a black suit, decorated with glowing green hexagonal lines. His helmet, with a hexagonal-shaped visor, locked into place over his face.

Standing before the Flying Fish Orphnoch were now two Kamen Riders. Kaixa and Hexa. The battle had just begun.

The Flying Fish Orphnoch stared at the two Riders before him, his electric blue eyes glowing in the darkness.

Kaixa and Hexa stood side by side, both ready for battle. The air was tense, like the silence before a thunderstorm.

Then, the Orphnoch moved first. With incredible speed, he leaped into the air and unleashed a barrage of energy arrows.

"Watch out!" Hexa shouted, dodging with an agile roll.

Kaixa raised his left arm, activating the Shot Mode of the Kaixa Blaygun. The arrows struck the ground, erupting into bursts of blue light.

Kaixa took aim and fired, but the Orphnoch was too fast. In a single bound, he landed behind them, charging up a close-range attack.

"Damn flying fish!" Kaixa growled, raising his leg for a spinning kick. The Orphnoch blocked the blow with his armored arm, but Hexa seized the opportunity.

He lunged forward, charging his right fist. The punch struck the monster square in the torso, sending it crashing against the bridge railing.

The Orphnoch let out a distorted shriek but reacted immediately. With a swift motion, he formed another energy arrow and shot it at the ground.

The explosion created a dense cloud of steam, obscuring him from sight.

Kaixa and Hexa leaped back, shielding their faces. When the mist cleared… the Orphnoch was gone.

Kaixa snapped his head left and right, searching for him. Then, he saw it.

The monster was dashing toward the edge of the bridge.

"He's trying to escape!" Hexa exclaimed.

Kaixa aimed with the Kaixa Blaygun and fired multiple times, but the Orphnoch dove into the water below just before the shots could reach him.

A powerful splash, then silence.

Kaixa approached the edge of the bridge, gritting his teeth. He stared at the dark water below, disturbed only by the ripples of the enemy's escape. "Damn it!"

Hexa stepped beside him, his expression calmer as he watched the river. "He's gone."

Kaixa clenched his fist. Then, with a frustrated motion, he pulled out the phone from his Belt and pressed the call termination button. A golden glow enveloped his body, and the armor vanished, leaving Masato in his normal human form.

Rei did the same. The green energy dissipated, and Hexa's armor disappeared, revealing Rei's serious face.

Masato huffed. "We were so close to finishing him off."

Rei crossed his arms, watching the river's current. "We did a good job."

Masato turned toward him, raising an eyebrow. "A good job? The monster is still out there."

Rei nodded slowly. "Yeah, but we proved that we can fight him. And all he could do was run away."

Masato thought for a moment. Then, with a sarcastic smirk, he shrugged. "I suppose you're right."

Rei glanced at him from the side. For a moment, it seemed like Masato was satisfied. But Rei knew his new 'ally' wasn't the type to accept half-victories.

Masato didn't just fight to win. He wanted to dominate. And the thought of the Orphnoch still being alive burned inside him.

"Keitaro found Takumi!" Mari called out as she caught up with them.

"Should we head back?" Rei asked.

Masato gave a nod. "Yeah. But tomorrow… we'll find that bastard."

Rei didn't respond. He simply followed Masato as the two left the bridge behind them.

The Next day…*
Morishita walked with nervous steps. The wind rustled the leaves on the sidewalk. He held a crumpled photo of Chie in his hand. "Chie... I won't stop until I find who did this to you."

A blue energy dart pierced through his chest. "What—?!" The Flying Fish Orphnoch stood atop a building, its energy bow charged. With a leap, it dived down like a falcon.

Morishita fell backward. Was he dead, or merely unconscious?

A figure appeared in front of him. Kiba Yuji.

"Morishita-san!" he shouted upon seeing him on the ground, unresponsive. "Morishita-san, wake up! Morishita-san!"

*…*

The Flying Fish Orphnoch made its way to the port, likely searching for its next victim.

Suddenly, a roaring engine.

The Orphnoch was struck by the motorcycle and sent crashing to the ground.

Takumi dismounted, pulling out his Faiz Phone. *5-5-5. STANDING BY.* "Henshin!" *COMPLETE.*

A red digital glow enveloped his body, forming the black, silver, and red armor of Kamen Rider Faiz. Without hesitation, he dashed forward. Faiz unleashed a flurry of rapid kicks.

The Orphnoch dodged and retaliated with a wing strike, generating a shockwave. Faiz was slammed against a shipping container.

The Orphnoch charged up another attack.

*BZZZZZZZZ!*

An energy arrow shot toward Faiz, exploding inches from his face.

Faiz lunged sideways, but the monster caught him mid-movement with an acrobatic kick.

Takumi hit the ground, rolling. "He's fast."

The Orphnoch raised its bow, ready to finish him.

But another engine roar interrupted the fight.

In the distance, a sidecar sped toward them.

It was the Side Basshar.

The vehicle accelerated, heading straight for the monster.

The Orphnoch leaped away to avoid the impact.

The motorcycle skidded to a halt, kicking up dust.

A familiar figure jumped off the seat. Masato Kusaka.

Holding the Kaixa Phone, he punched in the code. *9-1-3. STANDING BY.* He lifted the phone. "Henshin!" He slotted it into the Belt. *COMPLETE.* A golden light engulfed his body, forming the black and yellow armor of Kamen Rider Kaixa.

Masato aimed the Kaixa Blaygun at the Orphnoch. "Now, let's finish the job." He opened fire.

The Orphnoch dodged the first shots, but a burst struck its chest.

Kaixa lunged forward and landed a punch.

The Flying Fish Orphnoch staggered, losing balance.

Masato followed up with a powerful kick, sending the monster over the edge of the port.

The creature plunged into the water, vanishing beneath the waves.

Kaixa stood still for a moment, watching. Then, slowly, he turned. Faiz had just gotten back on his feet.

Kaixa walked toward him... ...And punched him square in the face.

Faiz stumbled, reeling back. But he didn't fall.

He drew the Faiz Edge. A red glow ran along the blade.

Kaixa raised the Kaixa Blaygun, switching it to Blade Mode.

Their eyes locked. The hostility between them was undeniable.

Then, without a word... They attacked.

The energy blades clashed with a metallic clang, sending sparks flying.

Faiz and Kaixa moved swiftly, dancing between the containers and cranes of the port.

Kaixa lunged with his Blaygun in sword mode.

Faiz dodged, sidestepping, then countered with a slash from the Faiz Edge.

Kaixa raised his blade in defense, blocking the strike. Sparks flashed between them.

Kaixa rolled backward, then dashed forward and struck Faiz with a kick to the chest.

Faiz staggered but quickly regained his balance.

The metal staircases of the nearby construction site echoed as the two Riders rushed upward, continuing their battle.

From a distance, Rei Aizawa watched the scene. He gritted his teeth. "Ah shit! Here we go again!" He couldn't let this go on.

Rei strapped on the Hexa Belt and grabbed the Hexa Phone. He swiftly input the transformation code. *8-9-1. STANDING BY.* He raised the device. "Henshin!" He slotted it into the Hexa Belt. *COMPLETE.*

A green glow engulfed him. His armor materialized around his body. His helmet reflected the harsh industrial lights, and his hexagonal visor gleamed for a moment.

Now, he was Kamen Rider Hexa. But that wasn't enough.

He putted another code. *3-9-3. Hexa Shots.* Two compact pistols formed in his hands, their magazines pulsing with green energy.

Rei stared at them for a moment, then moved swiftly.

Another code was entered into the Hexa Phone. *1-3-3. HEXACLOAK.* Hexa's armor flickered—then vanished. Now, he was invisible.

Meanwhile, Faiz and Kaixa's duel raged on.

Takumi took a step back and swung the Faiz Edge.

Masato deflected the strike, then grabbed Takumi's wrist.

With a sharp yank, he forced him to lose his grip on the sword.

The Faiz Edge flew from his hand, landing on a scaffold.

Kaixa seized the moment. He raised the Blaygun for a decisive strike. "Game over, Takumi!"

But just as he was about to bring the weapon down— A gunshot rang through the air.

A green energy bullet struck the Blaygun, knocking it from Kaixa's grasp. "WHAT?!"

Masato spun around, trying to pinpoint the source of the shot.

Nothing. Just the echo of gunfire among the metal structures.

Then, out of nowhere… A figure materialized before him.

Kamen Rider Hexa. He appeared in an instant, his visor glowing coldly.

Masato stared at him, a mix of surprise and irritation on his face. "You…?!"

Rei raised one of his Hexa Shots, aiming it directly at Masato. "Enough, you two."

The air was thick with tension, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing against the docks.

Hexa stood firm, his Hexa Shots still aimed, his green visor glowing coldly.

Kaixa spun toward him, visibly irritated. "Why the hell did you stop me?!" Masato snapped, clenching his fists.

Hexa lowered his guns slightly, but his tone remained firm and authoritative. "The real question is: what the hell are you two doing? Are you trying to kill each other?"

Faiz was still on the ground, breathing heavily, his body battered from the blows he had taken.

Kaixa gestured toward him with a nod. "Kill him? I was just knocking some sense into him! He's too confused and doesn't understand which side he should be on, so I'm making it clear for him."

Rei clenched his jaw beneath the helmet. "Let me get this straight… You think 'knocking some sense' into someone means beating them to a pulp?"

Masato crossed his arms, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, sorry for not having your delicate touch. But when someone's being an idiot, sometimes they need a wake-up call."

Rei took a deep breath, trying not to be drawn into Masato's arrogance.

He glanced at Takumi, still on the ground, staring silently at him through Faiz's red visor.

Then, he looked back at Masato. "I get what you're saying. I also want to know what's going through his head."

Kaixa scoffed. "Oh yeah? Then why are you interfering?!"

Rei didn't back down. "Because violence isn't the right way to get answers. If you back him into a corner, he'll just do the opposite of what you want. If you really want to help Inui-san, then give him a chance to talk instead of forcing him with your actions."

Masato shook his head. "And what do you suggest, then? A heartfelt conversation? Wake up, Rei-san. Takumi is protecting the Orphnochs, and you're defending him."

Rei turned to Takumi for a brief moment, who still remained silent.

Then, he looked back at Masato. "I'm not defending him. I'm just saying that before attacking him, we should understand why he's doing what he's doing."

Hexa lowered his weapons completely. "Deactivate your transformation. I'll handle Inui-san."

Masato gritted his teeth. For a moment, he seemed to hesitate. He and Rei locked eyes for several long seconds.

Then, with an annoyed sigh, Kaixa pulled the Phone from his Belt and pressed the call-end button. The yellow energy surrounding his body slowly faded, and Masato returned to his normal form.

Rei did the same. Hexa's black-and-green armor vanished, revealing Rei's regular appearance.

Takumi remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he followed suit. His Faiz form disappeared in a cascade of red sparks.

Takumi struggled to stay on his feet.

Rei stepped closer and offered him a hand. Takumi looked up at him. There was a brief moment of hesitation. Then, slowly, he reached out and allowed himself to be helped up.

Rei slid an arm under his shoulder to support him.

Masato watched the scene with a skeptical expression but said nothing.

Rei sighed. "Let's go."

"Where…?" Takumi asked weakly.

"To the laundry. I'll treat your wounds, then we talk." Takumi didn't resist.

As they walked away, Masato watched them for a few seconds.

Then, he turned, shoved his hands in his pockets, climbed onto the Dise Basshar, and disappeared into the horizon.

Open your eyes for the Next Faiz.*

Rei: "You have to tell me what's happening, I'm on your side."

Morishita: "Take back what you said about Chie."

Yuji: "I... ...I have no right to fight him."

Rei: "Inui-san! Don't hesitate, please! I believe in you!"

Takumi: "If fighting is a sin... ...Then let me be damned!"

Episode 3: Re-Birth.*

Author Notes*

Hi, I'm Riccky06. What can I say, everything and more happens. I didn't expect to finish this chapter so quickly, and yet it is so. I thank those who follow me, those who comment, and those who support me in this undertaking, if you want to leave a comment, whether positive or negative, I am grateful, and we'll see you in the next chapter, bye!

P.S. The summary of the episode is a sort of reference to the summaries of Kamen Rider Build that they do at the beginning of every episode.