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Emu is M is a good fit to be Kamen Rider. It’s all true, and you know it, but he’s still just an intern, and, more than that, a part of you is protective. You’ve seen him play, not competitively, it’s when that other side which now seems less separate comes out.
Over the years, it’s become both more and less separate. More, because it comes out less. Because when Emu was a teen he was angry and hurt and you could never do enough to counteract his terrible home life. The line was thinner. Less because you can never quite see the boy with the wide grin, anymore.
Hard to explain, unless…
It could be a coincidence, you tell yourself, and regardless, there is another candidate. A doctor, who knows what’s at stake, called a genius at just 26 years old. He’s on his way, he had the surgery already, and Kagami Hiiro is…
(Kagami Hiiro is not the boy you half took-in from the moment he first woke up and asked a simple, heartbreaking question that echoed straight through your heart.)
It makes sense, though. And worse, Asuna had mentioned it was Dan Kuroto’s suggestion, and vaguely, you think, Emu especially liked Genm games. Must have done their competitions.
But no.
Better to let it be someone else.
“When Asuna came in today, she mentioned you recommended a candidate for Kamen Rider,” you say, and Kuroto blinks.
“Did she?” He asks. “I was just wondering. Genius Gamer M won all of the Genm competitions he entered, before he disappeared.”
“And do you know who he is?” You ask. Kuroto merely shrugs.
“I’m not a stalker,” he says. “I just figured someone more familiar with games could get used to the technology faster.”
“This is about saving lives,” you respond. It takes more than it should to keep your cool.
“We both want that, Director,” Kuroto replies. “Of this I promise.”
Emu becomes Kamen Rider, regardless. You pass down the stamp of approval just in case. Because you know him, know that now, Emu will never let it go.
He’s driven. Hojo Emu has never left anything incomplete, for better or for worse. He’s a good person, and maybe, for years, it grew harder to tell certain things as gamer communities and his father’s ongoing neglect and verbal abuse got to him, but even that didn’t stop Emu from getting into medical school anyways. Choosing to change his attitude anyways .
It’s why, even if you wanted to stop this, Emu would likely become a Rider… well, anyways.
And the last thing he wants is another Snipe.
There’s a logic here, too. You know Kagami Hiiro. He’s incredibly skilled yet arrogant, despite his young age. You knew him being the sole Rider would only have worked so well. Emu will balance that, because he’s a genius with games, and few doctors care, or perhaps even want to care like you know he does.
With a new outbreak, you think, maybe a team of doctors will help.
“Director Kagami told me you were directly connected to CR,” Emu says bluntly. “Is this why you’ve been so busy lately?”
“I always have time for you,” you assure. “But yes.”
A little softer, when you aren’t on duty.
“Oh,” Emu says. “Were you the one to suggest Genius Gamer M?”
“No, I was not,” you admit. “But I think you can do it. Already, from what I can tell, you’ve helped a lot.”
“I’m just trying to live up to your example, Kyotaro-Sensei,” he says. And you turn to him seriously.
“I think,” you say. “You can do even more than that.”
things continue from there.
…You’re infected with Game Disease, and really, it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
But you trust Emu to handle this.