Hiiro, Ophelia and Emu are watching Ren's live broadcast as he announces to everyone. "Good morning, everyone." He greeted them with his charming smile while Ophelia cringed at his expression. "This is GENM Corporation's Representative Director... Amagasaki... Ren." He introduced himself as the new CEO of GENM Corporation.
"He's creepy and I don't trust him even one bit." Ophelia commented and lowered her cup. She couldn't help but feel suspicious about him for some reason.
"Fee-chan, have you met him before?" Emu asked her curiously.
"No." She answered truthfully. "Zilar warned me to stay on guard if he's around Kanade or myself."
"Your brother has good intentions to warn you, Ophelia." Hiiro spoke up while crossing his arms. He remembered Zilar investigating the disappearance of Poppy and Luna as Ren was involved with it before.
Ophelia's eyes widened in surprise before nodding her head. The former goddess assumed they encountered Ren before and kept their warning in her mind.
"A few days ago, the Ministry of Health announced a recall of our new game, Kamen Rider Chronicle." Ren explained. "However, that is a temporary feature to let you enjoy this thrilling game and not a defect of our product."
"That's rubbish." Ophelia couldn't help but scowl. "He's lying so no one would know their dark true intentions!" She exclaimed in anger and clenched her hands in anger.
"Calm down, Ophelia." Hiiro rubs Ophelia's arm to soothe her anger and she exhales softly before holding his hand.
Emu smiled behind his drink to see their small interaction and watch the live stream. "When every Bugster has been defeated and all game clear tokens have been collected... and when the ultimate Bugster, the last boss has been beaten... the players who have vanished... will be revived!" Ren exclaimed and revealed the game's true purpose, shocking everyone.
Emu accidentally dropped his cup to spill his coffee and Ophelia cried out in shock at the coffee stain on her white nurse outfit.
"What're you doing!?" Hiiro asked Emu in annoyance at his clumsiness.
"It's hard to wash this stain." Ophelia whined before excusing herself to change her clothes.
"Even if you're poor at studying or physical activity... even if work or your relationship aren't going well... you can still be a hero!" Ren exclaimed happily and stood up. "Level up and beat the game... and you can save mankind. That is..." He spins around with the Gashat in his hand. "... Kamen Rider Chronicle!" He transforms into a Ride player.
"Enter the game! Riding the game!"
"Become a hero... now!" Ren declared before ending the live broadcast.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the sale goes high again, after the interview." Ophelia comes back in her spare nurse clothes.
"They still want people to play that game!?" Hiiro exclaimed in shock and agreed with Ophelia's opinion.
"Can the vanished players be revived without using Fee-chan's healing?" Emu asked curiously.
"I can't revive someone who's vanished, Emu." Ophelia pointed out. "I can revive dead people with their bodies. Without it? I can't. I promise someone not to use it again." She glances at Hiiro discreetly before looking at Emu.
"Impossible!" Hiiro yelled and remembered Saki and Kiriya's death in front of his eyes. "There is no way to bring back a lost life! Absolutely not."
Their game scope blared as it alerted Bugsters. "Let's go." Ophelia informed them.
————————————————————
They're in the amusement park to see Revol is back and fighting against the Ride players.
"Are you alright!?" Emu asked the woman worriedly as he kneeled to check her condition.
Hiiro took his game scope ready and examined the woman's condition. "A Revol strain of Game Syndrome?" The genius surgeon asked curiously.
"Don't worry." Emu assured the woman with a smile. "We'll treat you right away."
"Okay..." The woman is relieved they are coming to save her and the others.
Hiiro and Emu activated their Gashats while Ophelia's body glowed.
"Taddle Quest!"
"Mighty Action X!"
"Skill Level 2!"
"Dai Henshin!"
"Gashatto! Gacchaan! Level up! Taddle Quest!"
"Gashatto! Gacchaan! Level up! Mighty Action X!"
"𝑲𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓!"
They transform into their respective form and get themselves ready to fight against Revol.
"Hold it!" They stopped and turned around to see Nico without having Taiga at her side. "Leave Revol to me." She declared.
"What?" Emu asked in surprise while Hiiro and Ophelia wondered what she meant. Nico smirked and showed them the Gashat of Kamen Rider Chronicle while they looked shocked at her possession. "That's....!"
"Kamen Rider Chronicle!"
"Game Start!" Nico activated the Gashat.
"Enter the game!"
"Transcendent!" She placed a sticker with a name on it on her Ride form.
"Riding the end!"
"Strongest! Genius!" She wears her backpack and usual hat. "Ride Player... Nico arrives!" Nico declared and pointed to herself.
"What are you thinking!?" Hiiro asked in annoyance.
"Nico, do you even know the consequences once you gain and access it?" Ophelia asked worriedly about her well-being.
"Stay back, rare characters!" Nico warned them.
"Hey, wait!" Emu and Hiiro tried to stop Nico but she jumped over their heads and pushed them away.
Ophelia analyzes Nico's battle skills to observe dealing with the Bugsters. She's impressed at Nico's plan and defeating the Bugsters without using any weapon but bumping against each other.
"Not bad." Revol is impressed at Nico's skill as none of the Ride players outsmart them. "In that case..." He gets his weapon ready.
"Reflect get!" Nico uses the energy item to deflect Revol's attack. Revols pulls the trigger to shoot her. "Pow!" She summons the shield as it bounces back at him.
Revol cried out in pain as he took the hit. Nico approached the balloon station. "Alright, I'll use these!" She took the balloons and floats.
Ophelia blinked her eyes in shock before she shook her head. "It's hard to believe— too many balloons can make the person fly." She muttered under her breath.
"You're not going to help her, Ophelia" Hiiro asked seeing Ophelia stay put and watch their fight.
"She handled it well for her first try, Hiiro." Ophelia answered calmly. "I can only intervene when it's necessary." She glanced at him. 'I wanted to see how well she battles like us.'
Nico finished Revol without their help as she performed her final attack.
"Game Clear!" It declared Nico ended the game.
"I did it!" Nico cheered happily at her first battle without relying on them.
"Gashuun!"
"Gashuun!"
Hiiro, Emu and Ophelia revert to normal seeing there's no enemy.
"Amazing!" Emu was amazed at Nico's skills.
Nico accepted the Gashat to reveal Bang Bang Shooting similar to Taiga's original Gashat. "What's this?" She asked in a confused tone while examining it.
"You called?" Poppy and Luna showed up. "Poppy Pipopapo and Luna will navigate you through the game!" Poppy exclaimed happily. "That's proof that you beat a Bugster and cleared it!"
"You're the first Ride Player in the country to have ever defeated a Bugster!" Luna commented while Nico's eyes widened in shock at their words.
"Yay!" Poppy holds the cone confetti and pulls the string to pop out. "Congratulations!"
"I did it! Yay!" Nico jumped happily while the others stared at them blankly.
"Collect the rest to challenge the last boss! Let's game!" Poppy and Luna commented in sync before they disappeared.
"I see." The female genius gamer reverts to normal.
Ophelia kneels and examines the Gashat. "Ma'am, can we ask why you play this game? The game is dangerous and the Ministry of Health banned it for a reason." She pointed out to the woman bluntly.
"I'm sorry." The woman apologizes. "My boyfriend got a game over from this game... " She explained her reasoning for entering the game. "I want to save him! He'll come back if the game gets cleared, right?" She asked them.
Ophelia glanced back and sensed Hiiro's regret and sadness at Saki's death. The former goddess knew Hiiro was taking their relationship seriously, however, he's still blaming himself for her death. She patted his shoulder softly to comfort him while he looked grateful at her gesture.
"Well..." Emu lost his words and glanced at them to help him, but no one could speak for reassurance. "Anyway, it's good that you're alright." He dodges the question and pulls her up. "Please leave the rest to us at CR."
"I'm counting on you." The woman bowed her head politely at Emu.
Hiiro approached Nico with a stern look. "Explain yourself." He wasn't pleased with her involvement and became a Ride player.
Nico looked at Hiiro in annoyance. "You got a probl—" She grunted in pain while clutching her chest.
"Nico!" Ophelia cried out her name worriedly and approached Nico.
Hiiro sighed in annoyance. "Man... more unnecessary work." He commented bluntly.
"Hiiro, now it's not the right time to say it." Ophelia snapped at her boyfriend angrily before looking at Nico worriedly.
"Nico-chan!" Emu kneels right next to Ophelia as he's worried about her condition.
Nico scowled at Emu's closeness to her. She didn't mind if it was Ophelia given they respected each other's terms. "Let go!" She shoved Emu hard.
"Nico, we need to check you out to CR, please?" Ophelia asked Nico in a worried tone and feared losing her.
"Fine. I'll come since you asked nicely." The female genius gamer agreed to take her to CR.
————————————————————
Ophelia wasn't surprised to see Taiga barge in the quarantine room after she informed him about Nico's condition. Taiga was swearing on Ophelia's phone about Nico's recklessness in participating in the game. She got infected by Game Syndrome for a second time.
"Nico-chan caught the Vernier strain of Game Syndrome." Emu explained Nico's condition to Taiga.
"Vernier?" Nico muttered the name of the Bugster.
"Why you...!" Taiga is fuming in anger at Nico. "What were you doing!?" He asked angrily.
Nico pulls herself up. "What do you mean!? It's my turn to shine!" She snapped at the unlicensed doctor. "Up till now, I've done nothing but watch." The female genius gamer remembered the times they got in a tight situation while she watched them helplessly. "Up till now, I've done nothing but watch. With this, I can also become a hero." She grips her Gashat. "No one else can clear the game faster than me."
"You know what kind of game that is." Taiga pointed out in a stern tone. "If you get a game over, you'll vanish!"
"What?" Nico couldn't believe Taiga didn't trust her enough to finish the game if she entered it. "There's no way I'd get a game over!" The unlicensed doctor didn't know what she could do when it involved games. 'He underestimates my game experience! Why can't he be like Ophelia!? No matter how much of a nuisance she is, Ophelia trusts me to do what I want and scold me if necessary!' She thought angrily.
Taiga exhales heavily at her stubbornness. "Give me your Gashat!" He tried to take it back from her.
Nico slaps his hand away. "Hey! Go away!"
"Just give it to me!"
"Stop it!" Emu intervenes and pushes Taiga away as Nico's stress triggers her Game Syndrome illness.
"Taiga, you're causing her more stress if you tried to take the Gashat." Ophelia reminded the unlicensed doctor.
"Being unable to play games is what stresses her the most." Hiiro pointed out and Taiga looked at him.
"What?" He asked in a whispered tone while looking at Nico.
"What the hell?" Nico asked angrily and looked at Taiga with a furious look. "All you have eyes for are Gashats. I'm the only Kamen Rider needed? Bullshit!" She crawled over the bed and shoved Taiga angrily before jumping off. "You act like my doctor, yet you can't defeat M! Why are you sticking me!? Is it because Ophelia asked you to be my caretaker!?" The female gamer shook the unlicensed doctor.
Ophelia grabs Nico behind before Taiga can hurt her. "Nico, that's enough—"
Taiga shoved the two females as Ophelia protected Nico from crashing the wall and hurting her back. The former goddess bites her lip from screaming in pain but Emu and Hiiro see her reaction. Both of them were worried about her but she assured them with a smile. "You're the one who walked in uninvited! I even refused to look after you when Ophelia passed her responsibility to me!" He called Ophelia's proper name instead of Fairy.
"Yeah, right." Nico scoffs in annoyance. "If you're the only one needed, then why don't you stay alone?" She asked coldly while Ophelia looked at her surprised. "Whatever I do is none of your business!" The female genius gamer goes back to bed.
"Nico!" The former goddess called her name in shock.
"Why you—" Taiga growled furiously and was about to approach Nico.
"Taiga-san! Calm down!" Emu yelled at Taiga worriedly and stopped him from hurting her.
"Come with me!" Hiiro snapped at Taiga and had enough of his violent actions and hurt the females. He dragged the unlicensed doctor out of the quarantine room leaving Nico, Emu and Ophelia.
————————————————————
Hiiro successfully kicked Taiga out of the quarantine room. "We will treat her Game Syndrome." He vowed as they will to save Nico's life.
"It's no use!" Taiga snapped at Hiiro angrily while looking away. He punches the wall. "You may cure her, but she'll play Kamen Rider Chronicle again and Ophelia knows that. She'll get infected again."
"Why did you let her out of your sight?" Hiiro asked calmly and didn't expect Taiga to show his rare caring side towards Nico.
"It's none of your business." He turned his back without looking at Hiiro.
Hiiro sits down. "It's no surprise she lost her patience. With your attitude, you ignored what she wanted to do and didn't try to understand how she thinks." He pointed out and scoffs. "I don't understand why Ophelia trusted you to look after her."
"Shut up. That's between me and Fairy." The unlicensed doctor grumbled and walked away.
————————————————————
"Nico... behind Taiga's anger— he's worried about your well-being." Ophelia spoke to Nico after Hiiro took Taiga out of the quarantine room. The former goddess wanted Nico to understand Taiga's reasons behind his cold behavior.
"Tch, worried my ass." Nico rolled her eyes at Ophelia's words. "Why did you ask him to be my babysitter in the first place!?" She sometimes couldn't understand Ophelia's action at all.
Ophelia exhaled softly and looked at her while Emu silently excused himself to give them privacy. "The last thing I need is for you to nag me all the time about my powers before you and the others knew about our past. I'm not asking you to forgive him but he's trying to hide his care and worry for you. Nico, you're one of the people who trust Taiga despite revoking his license as a doctor."
"Ophelia..." She only frowned in anger while listening to her words.
"Taiga never had someone to rely on until you came into his life." She holds her hand. "All I ask is to hear him out when he's ready. He... has difficulties to express himself other than his short-tempered."
"Whatever." She grabbed her bag and left the quarantine room leaving Ophelia alone. 'Is Ophelia right? He cares about me?' Nico thoughts.
————————————————————
"Don't let the patient come in here." Hiiro warned Emu after Nico barged into their office.
Nico placed her bag on the table. "There's a date about Vernier here, right?" Nico changed the subject as Ophelia joined them.
"No, you can't. You need to rest in the quarantine room." Emu insisted to Nico and tried to take her back to the room.
Ophelia shook her head. "Good luck with that. Once she sets her mind on something, no one can change it." She warned them.
"She's right." Nico glances at Emu. "I don't need treatment. I'll cure myself." She assured them before snatching the cake from Hiiro and eating it. "Your cake is still delicious, Ophelia." She complimented her bakery skills.
"Ho-how?" She stuttered in shock while Hiiro wasn't impressed at Nico's stealing and lost his appetite to eat the cake. "You know what? Never mind. Given your game experience and knowledge about it, we thought you'd say that."
"Truly a genius gamer, to have defeated Revol." Hiiro commented after seeing Nico's battle with Revol.
"That was nothing special." Nico brushed off the compliments. "And yet that punk Taiga... I'm sick of him!" She growled and lay down on the couch with a game console in her hand. "Gaming is my life. How dare he try to take it away from me! It's like telling me to die."
"He's not taking it away from you, Nico. Or telling you to die." Ophelia defended on Taiga's side. "We spoke about this."
"You're also taking his side, Ophelia." She glared at her while angry that Ophelia was taking Taiga's side instead of her.
"I'm on no one's side and you two need to communicate! Communication is the key to hearing both sides." The former goddess corrected the female genius gamer.
"Fee-chan is right." Emu approached Nico. "But at least understand his concern for you."
Nico glared at the fellow genius gamer in annoyance before kicking his knees. "I do!" Emu whimpered in pain and Ophelia sighed in annoyance. "I do... but why is it only who has to understand his feelings?! It makes no sense! It's not fair!"
"Life is not fair, sweetheart." Ophelia pointed out while Nico stared at her in anger and pain. "All I can say is... there's more to it behind his tsundere attitude."
Hiiro sighs softly while shaking his head. "You're one of the people who can tolerate his behavior, Ophelia."
Ophelia smiles lightly at his comments. "Taiga reminds me of someone from my world. They may have similar actions and attitudes that you think are related."
Their game scope blared because the Bugsters and Nico snatched it from Emu and answered it. "Hello, this is the Computer Rescue Center. Vernier!?" She gasps in shock hearing the Bugster's name while the others look at her surprised.
————————————————————
"There he is!" Nico leads them toward the fountain area while Vernier is battling with the Rider players.
"Nico-chan! Please try to rest!" Emu begged as he was scared for Nico's well-being to join in the fight despite having the virus within her.
"No way!" Nico snapped angrily at Emu before she shoved him.
"We need to complete the operation before she gets stressed." Hiiro reminded them while Nico and Emu ignored him.
Ophelia nodded her head with a determined look to save Nico. "Let's not waste anymore—"
"I've been waiting." They turned around to see Ren appearing out of nowhere with a mirror in his hand while staring at his face.
"GENM's CEO?" Emu is surprised to see him while Ophelia narrows her gaze at the new GENM CEO.
"Why are you here?" Hiiro asked Ren in a wary tone at his appearance.
"Because I was the one who made the call, of course!" Ren answered the question and returned the mirror to his coat, smirking in amusement. "I'm here to help you." He pointed his hand at Nico while Ophelia scowled in anger.
"Eh?" Nico gaped in shock while pointing at herself. "Me?" Ophelia placed herself in front of the female genius gamer. "Ophelia?"
"I don't trust him even one bit." Ophelia whispered under her breath while her eyes flashed blue.
"I will take care of your pests!" Ren exclaimed and pointed to himself. "Enjoy the game to your heart's content." He smells the rose before throwing it in their direction.
It scattered around them to separate Nico from them while Ren readied his device similar to Graphite. "Cultivate!"
"He's finally showing his true colors." Ophelia whispered in a grim tone while the others looked at her. "He can fool anyone but he could never fool Zilar and I because we could identify them through their aura."
Hiiro's eyes widened and he understood Zilar's mistrust towards the new CEO because he's one of them. The new CEO of GENM Corp. is a Bugster.
"Let's game! Bad Game, Dead Game! Whatcha name? The Bugster."
Ren laughs happily at their reaction after showing his true self in front of them.
"Now, show yourselves, my lovely girls." He summons the maid Bugsters with Poppy and Luna involved.
"The game begins!" Poppy and Luna exclaimed in sync while drawing heart shapes.
"What in the world?" Ophelia whispered in shock and cringed at their feminine squeals.
"Poppy and Luna-san too?" Emu whispered as he and Hiiro activated their Gashats.
"Mighty Action X!"
"Taddle Quest!"
"Let's do it!" Nico declared and activated her Gashat.
"Kamen Rider Chronicle"
"Skill Level 2! Henshin!"
"Dai henshin!"
"Gashatto! Level up!"
"Gashatto! Level up!"
"Game Start!"
"𝑲𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓!"
"Wait, Nico!" Emu yelled as he, Hiiro and Ophelia tried to stop Nico but someone intervened to stop them chasing her.
Ren laughs in amusement. "You guys will be going up against me."
"Don't get in the way of the operation!" Hiiro snapped at the Bugster in annoyance.
"Move!" Emu yelled.
Ren moves back to let the maid Bugsters fight them. "Now, go!" In his command, the maid Bugsters are attacking them.
Ophelia narrowed her eyes and attacked in one slash as they cried out in pain. Ren smirks in amusement at her abilities and wraps the vines around her weapon. The former goddess twists her hologram sword and cuts the vines successfully.
"You're such an interesting human, Moon Knight." Ren complimented Ophelia's battling skills. "For someone who isn't like them, they don't deserve you."
"If you're trying to sway my beliefs for them— you're sadly mistaken." The former goddess grips her weapon and it glows bright. "I'd rather die than betray them."
"She's right about your loyalty to them." The CEO Bugster commented and referred to Luna's explanation about her. He sensed Taiga showed up to help Nico but stopped him using his vines. "No, no. You can't go there!" He throws him far away from Nico.
"Taiga!" Ophelia called out his name worriedly.
"You cocky bastard!" Taiga growled and shot him but Ren deflected it and hit Hiiro, Emu and Ophelia.
"Oh, dear!" Ren gasped in shock and didn't intend to hurt Ophelia. "I never intended to hurt a Moon Goddess like you." He approached the former goddess and stroked her cheek. "Your beauty took my breath away." He tried to hypnotize Ophelia to put a spell on her
Ophelia slapped his hand away in anger and sensed he was trying to manipulate her. "I won't be swayed to be your slave." She declared in a cold tone and gasped in shock.
Ren hanged Ophelia while she watched the others helplessly. She tried to break the vines with strength, but it made it tighter, screaming in pain. "Ah, ah!" The CEO Bugster waves his finger. "If you're trying to free yourself, my vines will tighten it more, Moon Goddess." Ophelia glared and clenched her hands tight in anger.
"Ophelia!" Emu cried out her name to see her being captured by Ren. "Give her back to us!"
"Oh?" Ren smirked in amusement to see him go overprotective towards the Moon Knight. "Come at me, all at once." The maid Bugsters squeals while he approaches them.
"Lovelica-sama!" Poppy and Luna yelled at Ren's true name.
"Now, dance!"
"Don't look down on me!" Emu growled at Lovelica's taunt and slashed him but it didn't hurt him.
"Miss!"
"Miss!"
"Miss!"
Their attacks won't land a hit on Lovelica as it keeps missing. Ophelia frowned in wonder at how their attacks wouldn't affect him as it was similar to Revol's situation before. Lovelica spins as his attacks push them back.
"You're making my heart pound!" Lovelica commented and was disappointed at their strength while bowing his head.
"Don't be too cocky!" Hiiro retorted back as he and Emu attacked together.
"Miss! Miss!"
Lovelica pushed them back. "More! More!" He posed and Ophelia cringed in disgust.
"Our attacks aren't working." Emu pointed out and sensed their attacks were useless against him.
"Only ruffians resort to violence." He stares at Ophelia and winks at her. "Except for you, my lovely Goddess." The former goddess remained stoic and ignored his flirt.
"Boo, boo!" The maid Bugsters, Poppy and Luna cross their arms and agree with Lovelica's words.
The three Kamen Riders looked at their chests to see an X mark with Boo's words. They feel disappointed after taking it. Ophelia narrowed her eyes and observed their battle.
"I'm Lovelica." He introduced himself using his real name. "Tokimeki Crisis is a game where you use your charm... to appeal to the opposite gender winning their hearts." He explained the game.
'It looks like he's against LGBTQ since the game is focused on the romance of a boy and girl.' Ophelia thought while remaining silent. 'It's going to be difficult to defeat Lovelica knowing these three have no chance against him but only us.' The former goddess closes her eyes and tries to summon her powers discreetly without hurting herself.
"Her wish to play the game is pure." Lovelica explained about Nico's love for her games. They noticed her is struggling to fight against Vernier. "To that innocent girl... I love you!" The maid Bugsters squeals and gushed at his declaration.
"Lovelica-sama!" Poppy and Luna yelled his name.
Lovelica laughs and gathers the love from his fans. "Here I go! I'll share some with you!" He throws hearts from them as they grow big and carry towards the fountain. It exploded and forced them to revert.
"Gashuun!"
"Gashuun!"
"Gashuun!"
"Guys!" Ophelia cried out worriedly to see them back to themselves and got wet by the water.
"Just what happened!?" Hiiro asked in annoyance and felt anger for not helping Ophelia.
"It was an attack!" Emu answered and looked at them. "That spell uses words with a high level of charm! Fee-chan can swoon—"
"I refuse whatever you're plotting, Emu!" Ophelia cuts him off and refuses to flirt with Lovelica if it means her attacks can stand against him. "There's a way to figure things out and trust me on this." She pleads and silently gives Taiga a look to fix the problems with Nico.
Nico shoved Vernier and looked at Taiga in annoyance. "Taiga! What are you doing!?" She asked angrily.
"You're looking the wrong way!" Vernier reminded Nico and shot missiles at her.
Ophelia immediately transforms into Dark Moon form and destroys the missiles before they land on Nico. Nico gasps to see Ophelia saved her life. "Ophelia..." The former goddess smiled and patted Nico's head. Her eyes are telling Nico to listen to Taiga's side. "Why the hell should I listen to his pathetic words!? It's his fault!" Ophelia shook her head in denial. "It's true!"
Lovelica laughs at Taiga's expression. "Look! How pathetic!" He mocked their situation while the others were laughing. "If you're feeling frustrated, how about raising your charm? Well, smug ruffians like you will never be able to do so, even if you tried your whole life!"
Ophelia reverted herself and looked at Taiga worriedly. She stares at Nico. "Nico, please... hear him out."
Taiga silently thanked Ophelia for being persistent and understanding his behavior. "I don't fight because I like to." He breaks the silence.
"What?" Lovelica looked at Taiga curiously.
"Everyone has their future. That's why..." He sits down and sees Nico is listening to him. "...I'll be the one to fight since I have nothing left to lose. No matter how painful it may be or whoever hates me for it... I'll fight alone."
"Taiga..." Nico whispered and looked at him surprised.
"But..." He stands up and faces the two females. "Even though I'm without a license, you said I was your doctor. That made me happy." Taiga's lips twitched upward while Nico stared at him in shock. The unlicensed doctor approached them. "If being unable to play the game stresses you, then I won't stop you anymore." He glares at Vernier. "Just... don't leave my side."
"Taiga cares about you, Nico." Ophelia whispered in a low tone and Taiga looked at her with an unreadable expression. "We just need to understand their actions because it has a reason behind them."
Lovelica scoffs at Taiga's declaration. "What are you talking about?" He grumbled while the maid Bugsters gushed at Taiga.
"Ophelia, leave Vernier to me." Taiga informed Ophelia and she nodded her head.
"Good luck, Taiga." Ophelia wishes him luck.
The unlicensed doctor holds his Level 50 Gashat. "Tactics Level 50." He activated it.
"Bang Bang Simulations!"
"Henshin!"
"Dual Gashatto! Gacchaan! Dual up! Bang Bang Simulations! Take off!"
Taiga looked at Nico. "You're my patient. I'll cure your Game Syndrome no matter how much you get infected." He vowed to save Nico from her game virus.
"Don't make me laugh!" Vernier snapped at Taiga angrily and punched him.
Taiga blocks his fists and punches back before activating his final attack. "Gacchaan! Finisher! Gacchaan!" He readied his arms as the weapon was pointing at Vernier. "Bang Bang Critical Fire!" The unlicensed doctor defeated Vernier and Nico cheered happily at the successful attack.
"You did it!" Nico cheered happily and hugged Ophelia tight off guard as they fell towards the fountain soaking wet. "Taiga did it!" She didn't bother the wet all over her body.
"Yeah, and he has fans now too." Ophelia commented and referring to the maid Bugsters are gushing at his skills.
"Game clear!"
"Gacchaan! Gashuun!" Taiga reverts himself to normal.
"Why are you all so charmed by that man?" Lovelica asked the maid Bugsters.
Ophelia pulls Nico as they both stand up. Emu approached them and was relieved Nico was cured of Game Syndrome. "Thank goodness, Nico-chan!"
Nico gives him a pointed look before pushing Emu away. She runs towards Taiga and ignores Ophelia's nervous laugh at Emu's misfortune. "Please forgive me for bothering you, doctor!" The female genius gamer apologized for her behavior.
Ophelia shook her head in amusement before crossing her arms. "I'm glad they made up." She muttered under her breath before pulling Emu. "I thought Nico and I would stay dry when we watched Taiga's battle but I was wrong. We all are soaking wet."
Emu moans in sadness. "Nico-chan treats me differently unlike you, Feee-chan." Ophelia laughs nervously and shrugs her shoulders.
Taiga scoffs at Nico's behavior and looks away. "Just don't do it too much."
Poppy smiles relieved to see Nico is cured after defeating Vernier. "Thank goodness." She whispered while Emu and Ophelia noticed her strange behavior.
Luna frowned and gripped her chest. "Wha-what is this feeling?" She whispered after witnessing the bond between Nico and Taiga.
"𝙻𝚞𝚗𝚊, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘𝚝." It echoes through the female android's mind from a soft voice.
"Poppy? Luna-chan?" Emu whispered and noticed their different reaction.
"Enough! Stop it! Stop it!" Lovelica pleads and stops the maid Bugsters from fawning over Taiga. "You're the same! You've no taste in men!" He snapped at Nico angrily.
"You're just jealous, Cassanova Bugster!" Ophelia retorted back angrily while Nico nodded her head.
"You're super lame!" Nico insulted Lovelica and he gasped in surprise.
"That's right! Your actions have no originality and it's getting boring hearing about it." His charms decrease, and he squeaks in surprise to see Ophelia. She smirked with a mischievous look before her right fist glowed in the purple aura and sent him an uppercut to the sky.
"Ah! Heartbreak!" Lovelica yelled in pain as Ophelia distanced herself away from him and stood right next to Hiiro. "Am I falling!? Am I flying!?" He crashes into the fountain and reverts to normal.
Nico laughs at Lovelica's priceless reaction to being defeated by their insulted remarks and Ophelia's punch. "Ha! It serves you right! Nice punch, Ophelia!" She complimented Ophelia's skills and she smiled in response.
Lovelica shrieked in shock, soaking wet from head to toe, glaring at them. He laughs nervously while flipping his hair. "Dislike me all you want, but you two will soon fall for me!" He declared and Ophelia cringed.
Ophelia shook her head in denial. "The day I fall for you is the day I die." She commented bluntly and Lovelica flinched at her harsh words.
Hiiro looked at his girlfriend with an amused look. 'She's always been blunt and wouldn't be afraid to speak up.' He thought while watching their banter.
Lovelica gritted his teeth before he and the others disappeared out of their sight. Nico chuckles in amusement. "What's with him? He uses way too many hearts." She commented.
Emu approached them. "Taiga-san. Nico-san." He called their names while they looked at him. "From now on, let's work together to fight against the Bugsters!"
"Huh?" She glares at Emu in annoyance while pointing at him. "There's no way I'd co-op with you. I can tolerate Ophelia but you? NEVER!" Nico shoved him.
"Eh!?" Emu yelled in surprise.
"We'll beat Kamen Rider Chronicle." Taiga declared referring to himself and Nico to stop the ultimate game.
"Right!" Nico agreed as they left them. "Hey, let's go eat something hot."
"Looks like you weren't the one to retrieve her smile." Hiiro pointed out as he and Ophelia joined Emu.
"But..." Emu stands and smiles softly. "If Fee-chan trusts him... I can probably trust Taiga-san to look after her."
"It seems like you guys enjoy swimming." They look up to see Kanade and Zilar. "Hello!" The red-haired woman greeted them happily while waving.
"Kanade-san and Zilar-san!" Emu is surprised to see them.
"Let's get you guys to dry first before we talk." Zilar suggested and they wondered what he meant behind his words.
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"Zilar-san, you're leaving!?" Emu yelled in shock after hearing Zilar's announcement.
Zilar nodded his head. "My job is observing and examining how you fought with Ophelia and Kanade. There are few times that I join in to help but now— you guys are capable without my support."
Zilar's objective is to observe their fight without intervening unless it's needed. He sees a lot of potential despite not being in sync with teamwork. The Knight believes they'll be able to handle the problem without him for a while. To leave them behind and return to their world because of Universe Knight. The Universe Knight seeks Zilar's assistance and he can't turn it down because his tone is urgent. An urgent that only he could make the mission successful without revealing it.
Ophelia looked down at the table and Zilar smiled softly before patting her head. "Don't worry, sister. I still have the access to travel." He assured her knowing she always worried for their safety.
The former goddess nodded her head. "I know that but— somehow I feel uneasy once you leave, Zilar." Ophelia feels uneasy about Zilar leaving when they're still dealing with the Kamen Rider Chronicle and the Bugsters.
"I'll be fine." He glanced at the others. "You guys have each other's back despite masking their hidden emotions." His eyes twinkled in amusement and looking at Hiiro while he narrowed his eyes. "Humans can't stay true to themselves sometimes."
Emu laughs nervously at the way Zilar taunts Hiiro while he glares at him. "Zilar-san, don't worry. We always look after each other." He intervened to stop Zilar from taunting Hiiro before it escalated more.
"I know. May our paths cross again someday." Zilar disappeared out of their sight.
Kanade sighed heavily and missed his company. "Man, we're down to one Knight now. I wonder what the Universe Knight wants him?" She asked out loud while crossing her arms.
"Who knows?" Ophelia shrugged her shoulders. "Zilar has more experience of traveling than we do."
"Don't worry about him, Fee-chan." Emu comforted his childhood friend with a reassuring smile. "Zilar-san is strong and he'll come back."
Hiiro nodded his head in agreement. "You shouldn't underestimate Argent's skills and he's capable of taking care of himself."
Ophelia nodded and couldn't stop thinking of Poppy and Luna's reaction. 'I believe... there's a chance we can still save them. The question is how?' She thoughts.