Chapter Text
"Sanseaters?!"
No one in the room could believe it. But, as Ishiro played the feed from the security cameras from CR… nothing could change the fact that two of the Sanseaters were sitting in what had to be the break room, eating… cake. With a pink hair lady who he was told by Graphite was a Bugster like him and Parad, named Poppy.
And Poppy was smiling widely at the two of three Sanseaters, clapping at something they said.
Ishiro took a deep breath, looking over at Taiya.
He didn't have to say anything. Not with his voice, not with his eyes.
It was obvious. Taiya needed to tell them everything. If the Sanseaters were working with Naito… then Naito was working with the Hashiriyans in an incredibly close capacity to the point he could send two of the three bumbling idiots out to steal from them.
Taiya nodded, closing his eyes tightly. In the silence, the happy noises from Poppy somehow bonding with the two permeated each tiny millimeter of space. Each little twitch of muscle in his face told Ishiro everything. Every little thought, every little attempt to put words together, and failing.
In the background, the rest of the Boonboomgers crowded in around the feed, their words fading into white noise as Ishiro watched Taiya's face. How his jaw jumped, and how his eyelids twitched. Ishiro's phone rang, and he ignored it, watching Taiya fight himself on the truth. Naito was using him. Naito was working with the Hashiriyans.
Naito had never had his best interests at heart.
But… Ishiro watched Taiya's eyes crack open, looking away.
He helped me, the look said. He made me worth something, the way his eyes slid across the floor said.
Ishiro knelt, squeezing Taiya's knee. You were always worth something, the squeeze said. You were always a guy, and you were always worth something.
Taiya lips parted slightly, fear keeping his voice silent. But Ishiro could hear him screaming, pained as he tried to put together the man who helped him become Hando Taiya and the Sanseaters having gone to steal his blood sample, clearly on Naito's orders.
Ishiro's phone rang again, and he finally lifted it, looking. "Dr. Hojo," he murmured to Taiya. "Emu." He answered, sighing. Mira came closer, and he shook his head. "Meita Ishiro speaking."
"Hey, Chasshiro."
"My name is Ishiro."
"Nah." For some reason, Ishiro suddenly saw Parad's smile plastered on Dr. Hojo's face, and it disturbed him how natural it looked in his head. Jou and Sakito made their way over, curious as well. Ishiro considered putting the call on speaker before Dr. Hojo spoke again. "Anyway, Chasshiro, Parad told me what's going on and that Graphite should have let you know you already. What do you want to do with the thieves?"
Ishiro looked at Taiya, raising an eyebrow.
Taiya looked away, tapping his knee as his eyes darted around, then back, nodding.
"Let them go."
Taiya raised an eyebrow while the others turned to look at him, Genba echoing the raised eyebrow while Mira bit her lower lip.
Ishiro sighed. "Unharmed."
"Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't try to hurt them anyway. Something about those two…"
The way Dr. Hojo talked… it was almost as if Ishiro could hear the Kamen Rider in him, trying to save the Sanseaters from whatever they had gotten themselves into. Ishiro looked at the feed, then at Taiya. At the look on his face, as if there was a scream only he could hear.
Then back at the feed, and Poppy laughing at their antics while cleaning both of them up. A food fight of some kind? Or just messy eating? Their faces were covered in cake.
"Taiya's sample?"
"Safe. We asked someone if we could use his facilities."
"You are aware if you don't tell me who it is, I will track it down."
"It's fine, I promise. A literal god vouched for them."
"A what now."
Taiya looked over, eyebrow raised. Ishiro put a hand to his head, not even sure where to start. Dr. Hojo started laughing on the other end, loud enough that Jou looked over as well. "Don't worry. Anyway, I need a snack. Bye!"
That tone in his voice… it almost sounded like Parad, but almost not. It was Dr. Hojo Emu, clearly… but also not. Ishiro's brow furrowed, watching the feed as Emu walked into view, waving cheekily at the Sanseaters and Poppy before opening the refrigerator and pulling out a blood bag, biting into it and smirking as the Sanseaters stood and started panicking.
Ishiro switched to a different feed with a sigh. "Well. It looks like the sample is taken care of." He looked at Taiya, telling him that Dr. Hojo didn't disclose the current location. But assured it was safe.
Taiya nodded, worry still in his face.
"Dr. Hojo seemed… different," Mira said quietly. "On the camera. More like Parad."
Mira… was right. Dr. Hojo was still a rather young man, but despite that, he had been the one to keep his Bugster in control. Now… Ishiro flipped feeds back to CR, watching how Dr. Hojo grinned, blood bag to his lips as he drank with Poppy clearly scolding him with her hands primly on her yellow hips. But he couldn't figure out exactly what it was that was different about Dr. Hojo, other than the grin on his face looking very much like his Bugster's grin.
Whatever it was, Poppy didn't seem too upset by it, and she turned to talk to the Sanseaters, putting them at ease somehow. Ishiro flipped the feed again, closing his eyes.
"Taiya…"
"I can't believe it," Taiya said quietly. Ishiro could hear movement, and when he opened his eyes again, Mira was hugging Taiya tightly. Because of course she was. Their Driver had no fear, and even less care to fear when it came to her team. "He… he helped me. Why is he working with the… why is he working with the Hashiriyans? They want people to scream. I…"
Mira only hugged him tighter, Jou joining in. After a moment, Sakito grinned and joined the hug in his usual over the top and enthusiastic way. Genba walked closer as Ishiro knelt before Taiya again.
Just tell me what you want us to do, he told Taiya, squeezing his knee. I'll do anything to protect you.
Taiya freed one hand, squeezing Ishiro's as Genba started petting Taiya's hair. He wanted answers, Ishiro realized. And for them to not get hurt. He's fine, Taiya told Ishiro. But he needed answers. He wanted Naito to tell him what was going on.
And slowly, Taiya inhaled deeply. "It's Naito Raita," he said quietly. "He's the one that… that…"
Ishiro leaned over to cup a hand over Mira's mouth briefly, knowing Taiya needed to say it himself. Not Mira for him. He lowered it as she glared at him, but Mira didn't say anything, just leaned into Taiya again.
A massive sob escaped Taiya, rocking the entire hug pile. "He killed me," Taiya finally said, his voice lost. "Naito killed me. And he… how many lies…" His hands tightened on Ishiro's as Mira, Jou, and Sakito hugged him harder and Genba slid a clawed hand into Taiya's hair, scratching lightly.
It's okay, Ishiro told him. They love him.
"He made me a man after I died," he whispered. "Legally, I… I was already a guy. I got the surgery. But he said men weren't… virgins… and since I wasn't a girl anymore…"
"Um," Sakito said, his face smashed into Taiya's shoulder.
"I'm… trans."
"No idea what that means."
"I'll explain later," Mira told him. "And… oh, Taiya…"
Another massive sob shook the pile. "I let him kill and rape me because I was so eager to be a guy, and be an adult," he said, his voice shaking so hard it barely sounded like words. "I don't believe… it was payment for… for helping… but he was working with the people trying…"
Five hands slapped over Taiya's mouth. "It's okay," Genba told him, his voice a soothing purring rumble. "We're not going to judge you over this. I've seen people believe far less trustworthy people." The look on his face said he had been one of those who had believed someone he shouldn't, which…
When did Ishiro start being able to read their mysterious Procurer so well?
"Naito is going to know," Taiya gasped as they lowered their hands. "He's going to know we know. CR… the Kamen Riders…"
"Dr. Hojo most likely already warned them," Ishiro told him as Mira nodded.
"And if he tries to hurt them, I know Sachi's going to kick their ass," she said. "Along with her part-timer and her boyfriend and her part-timer's boyfriend. I know Kamen Rider Bubble and her boys won't stand for anyone she knows getting hurt."
Taiya nodded, eyes still wide and dancing around. Ishiro squeezed his knee again, making him look at him. It's okay, Ishiro told him. The Kamen Riders were clearly used to take care of themselves, and if anyone tried to hurt them… Ishiro smiled just a little, telling Taiya it was going to be okay.
"I…" Taiya shook his head. "I think I should go talk-"
"Nope." Mira hugged him even tighter.
"Our Pink-chan's right," Sakito said, joining her in hugging tighter.
"It's going to be okay," Jou murmured. "We'll bring Naito to justice."
Or more, Genba said silently, one white ear flicking.
We won't let him get away with this, Ishiro told him with his lips against Taiya's hand.
Taiya finally sagged in their hug, the sobs coming fast enough to be proper crying now.
"You can call us whenever you want, Miss Itaasha."
"Really?" Itaasha squirmed slightly. The man, Dr. Hojo Emu, had introduced himself while drinking an entire bag of blood. He had said it wasn't Taiya's, but… brr, she had just watched someone drink blood in front of her! But… at the same time… he wasn't mean. Just really rude. And drank blood while having fangs and red eyes.
Which was really weird.
But he was being so nice now…
"Mm. Poppy chewed me out and let me know being M right now wasn't appropriate." He laughed a little as Itaasha and Yaiyai looked at each other, confused. "It's… hard to explain. But it's fine. You two needed someone to talk to that wanted to listen and be kind, didn't you?"
"Car…" Yaiyai said, drooping slightly. Itaasha reached over, patting his head as she looked down at the floor. Yeah, but…
Why were they being so nice to her and Yaiyai?
"Here." Poppy handed a wrapped package to Itaasha. "You mentioned your friend. It's the rest of the cake we didn't eat." She smiled as Itaasha took the package, stepping back. "And… my number is in there. I'll bring a cake over whenever you want!"
"Poppy, your Dan Sakurako is showing through."
"Shh!"
Itaasha peeked into the package, smiling excitedly at the half eaten cake inside. "Decotrade's going to love this," she said, grinning at Yaiyai.
"He is, car! It's good cake!"
"And…" Dr. Hojo clasped her shoulder, his red eyes intense on hers. "Listen to me. If you're ever in trouble… I mean, instead of the trouble you get yourself into, you little thief." But he was smiling at that, no malice in the words. No, there was… a humour. Slight teasing with warmth. Itaasha felt her cheeks start to burn ever so slightly as Dr. Hojo squeezed her shoulder slightly. "But actual trouble that you can't get out of… Poppy can teleport right to you, and she can let the other Riders know if we need to come help you. So don't hesitate to call us, okay? And I'm a doctor. If you or anyone you care about gets hurt, I can get Parad to teleport me there right away and help."
Itaasha nodded very slowly, not sure what that was about… or why he cared enough… "Okay."
"Okay, car."
Dr. Hojo nodded, giving her a close lipped smile. "You should get going. See you around, Miss Itaasha."
"Come on," Poppy told her quietly. Itaasha looked at Poppy, wondering why this beautiful and wonderful Bugster wanted to give her cake. To… offer to be there if she needed it. Poppy placed a hand on her arm, and Itaasha looked at it for a moment before giving Poppy a wobbly smile. Because Poppy was nice, and kind, and pretty, and…
"Okay."
"Okay, car."
… she really liked that smile on Poppy's face.
She wanted to steal it and keep it for herself.