#even michinaga was considered xD

[iristial]

The belated part where I share the theories I had over the last week

Ace’s sly enough as it is; being the DezaStar merely justifies his behaviour. However, the staff changed everything up because they want to know what makes him tick - with the added bonus of giving other contestants a chance. They can't see him slip up if he's switching personas every other day. And surprisingly enough, setting up others for his own benefit...doesn't suit Ace's style? Sure, he won't give up his ambitions for his kouhai and yeah he endangered Keiwa that one time but he's obviously fond of them, is happy whenever they demonstrate ingenuity/progress (he was downright gleeful at Keiwa and Neon's penchant for scheming), and encourages them to never give up their ambitions. At worst he's indifferent, and that's only to players who are 1) despicable or 2) don't last long enough for him to really interact with them

Another contestant who’s too easy of an answer: Ginpen 3.0. I much prefer the non-DezaStar route where he seeds discord and makes scapegoats of other players. At least there's another player operating by schemes. Though he really took a gamble on framing Keiwa; highlighting that in contrast to Ace, he's overconfident to the point of disregarding drawbacks to his plans

Keiwa has consistently wanted everyone to get along and dislikes how the new rules enforce hostility/rivalry amongst the Riders. Whenever he partook in manipulating or attacking others, he did it with selfless intentions in mind. He even goes as far as to give up his own Buckles if it benefits someone else. While there's a possibility the DGP can draw out his nastier side, thus serving as commentary on moral degradation becoming entertainment for the privileged rich, there's a high chance they'll butcher the execution. Also he has literal children rooting for him. I refuse to let them down

On the fence with Lopo. As a newcomer, it's easy to give her a hidden sinister side, let alone disqualify her. Especially considering Yuya Takahashi's passing out character deaths like candy and Punkjack's unceremonious demise, despite being the one extra Rider popular enough to get his own merch. Plus she's kinda unremarkable compared to the others (though there's nothing wrong with her no-nonsense, straightforward and steady character). Being a backstabber gives her some much needed spice. However, she's the first extra Rider who isn't a Mary, Shirowe or Ginpen recolour, and her aforementioned personality positions her as someone more likely to be manipulated than to be the manipulator. That is, if she even budges from her convictions

Now Neon can't believe I suspected my sweet girl. While she doesn't have Keiwa's naivety, if there's one thing she hates it's outright hurting others. She holds the distinction of being the one main quartet Rider who hasn't attacked her fellow players (as well as the only one who hasn't been retired/eliminated pre-final round). It's why her pedestal for Ace was broken after he let Keiwa get injured, yet she refused to be a fox hunter - to the extent where she used her (loathed) connections to out Giroli and save Ace. But who says being a DezaStar means enjoying it? The guilt may very well eat her up, no matter what she does, and play into a rather sad exit from the DGP. I've also noticed that her interactions with Ace and Keiwa are sparse this time round. Instead she's gravitated to Lopo, a fairly recent addition who doesn't know her that well. Nothing wrong in of itself...except how she ended the previous arc on good feelings for the boys, and up until now her main mentor and confidant was Ace (and to a lesser extent Keiwa), so it's jarring to see her somewhat avoid them. On one hand she could be trying to avoid relying on Ace and is, you know, just being friendly with another player. On the other, gaining Lopo's trust means she has one less player to deceive when the time comes

Casting my vote before this week's episode drops: the DezaStar is either Lopo or Neon

[asknarashikari]

Hey, since its father’s day XD

Kousuke opened the door to his mansion only to see one Buffa, holding some flowers.

Michinaga dutifully handed Kousuke the bouquet of flowers and the card it came with.

Kousuke: wait a minutes, let me just read the card, just to make sure this is not some bad joke done by some others in the company who resents me.

Michinaga: Its fine.

Kousuke: *reads the card* Dad, Happy Father’s Day. You should be receiving my gifts to you with this card, in fact the delivery man is my gift to you.

Michinaga: What the Fuck?!

Kousuke: He has daddy issues too, do what you will with him, aren’t I so thoughtful that I sent him to you as a Father’s day gift?

MichinagA: I assure you, Na-go just told me to send you the flowers, it already came with the card.

----

Geats cast react? Considering Ace was somewhere recording the whole thing.

---

Sorry, I just saw this and was seeing red lol. So I had to the scenario lol

I have no words for the scenario so I'll offer my thoughts on the collection instead

When Kamen Rider has so many shitty dads even the ones who are considered heroic riders are shitty dads... 😑

I definitely don't count Sokichi as one of the good dads... I mean, the fact that Akiko didn't give a shit about his detective agency when she first arrived in Fuuto kinda proves how distant they were (apparently even phone calls were too hard for him to do?) And he wasn't even that good of a role model to Shoutaro either, his whole hardboiled persona reeks of toxic masculinity

I prefer to call Kurama Kousei "Neon's sperm donor" and his rider designation "Gago" (look up what that means in Filipino, you'll understand). And I think Geats botched his redemption arc, so he doesn't deserve to be counted even with that.

As for Kurenai Otoya... I don't think he ever got to be a dad, really? He died prior to Wataru's birth if I'm not mistaken, so I don't think we'll know either way.

Kudo Fuga had a good reason for being away from Rinne, but it was clear he did love her and had her best interests at heart. And I think he is trying to make it up to her in his own way, like by giving her the power to become a Kamen Rider.

And of course, Ogami Ryo and Igarashi Genta are Great Rider Dads who can be present in their kids lives, are raising them right AND kick ass.

I'd rather replace one of the shitty dads with Calibur since Fukamiya Hayato was proven innocent AND wasn't a shitty dad to Kento. Shinnosuke and Takeru as well, since both are most definitely heroic riders and are dads (though I guess including Takeru would give everyone heart attacks... even if the timeline of events actually does add up to say that his kid Ayumu's already been born)

Tldr: Happy Father's Day to Ogami Ryo, Igarashi Genta and Kudo Fuga only

[pulaasul]

Freeloaders or Squatters C5 - Kurama Neon

Neon is curious why her supporter wants to meet with her at Keiwa’s house.

A/N: Shoutout to @narashikari​ @askrikkaiandhyotei​ for coining the term “Berobaa-san” that I am using in this fic XD. Also shout out to @flaim-ita​ , @chancellorxofxtrash​ , @rainixdra​ , @tokuteasings​ and @maou-the-tree​ because a lot of their responses have contributed to this idea XD

C1 C2 C3 C4

FFN I Ao3

---------

Neon had a lot of questions. One of which was why was she meeting her supporter at Keiwa's house.

As far as Neon knew, Kyuun and Keiwa did not interact let alone meet. Sure, Kyuun was aware of Keiwa's existence but the only time Keiwa saw Kyuun was when he was escorting her out of the battle arena that Michinaga-san set up.

Thinking that she won't lose anything if she just knocked on the door, she did just that.

As expected, the person who answered the door was Keiwa.

The last time she saw Keiwa, there was this anger in his face that she doesn't think she has saw it before, and Sara-san was in danger before too.

To be fair, she hasn't seen his expression as it was covered by his helmet.

Although she could admit that Keiwa had the potential of being as ruthless as Michinaga-san.

The Keiwa she was seeing now seemed resigned. She couldn't sense any lick of emotion from the man before her.

"Neon-chan… can you give me your ID core?"

"My ID core?"

"I'm afraid once you'll see who's inside, property damage would be inevitable, I just want the apartment to continue standing by the time you leave."

"Property – it's not like Beroba's inside your house, right?" Neon asked.

Keiwa shook his head, sighed, and then nodded.

"Seriously? After all, she's done?!"

"I'm a bit like you now, Neon-chan," Keiwa admitted. "Someone the goddess of creation revived."

"She re- you died."

"After your last round of the Jamato Grand Prix."

"But why?"

"The reason nee-chan is a Rider now…"

"That seems unfair…"

It really was unfair. Sara-san agreed to become a Rider so that Keiwa won't be one, but he ended up becoming one anyway.

It was also unfair to the other participants, as selfish as it is think about it, Sara-san got her wish of getting her brother back even without winning the Grand Prix.

Just like her father was…

"I know…"

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry." Neon hugged the man before her. "You did not deserve this."

Keiwa did not deserve this kind of life.

Sara-san did not deserve this kind of life.

No one deserved this kind of life.

"Neither did you." Keiwa hugged back. "All things considered, I just tolerate her existence as she stays in the house full time."

"Haaaah?!" Neon exclaimed. "She's squatting?!"

Beroba's staying with the Sakurais full time, like a toxic mother-in-law, not that she knew any, who'd just invite herself inside the house, unannounced.

"Wait… why did Kyuun want me here then?"

"Kyuun-san is already inside, just; please give me your ID core."

"Okay, I'm giving Kyuun a piece of my mind."

Neon gave Keiwa her ID core as she hastily removed her sandals at the genkan.

"Wha-"

"Hello, Neon-chan!" Beroba cut off whatever remarks Neon might have.

"Konnichiwa, Obaa-san."

"Obaa-san?!"

"Keiwa called you Berobaa-san, why are you upset?"

"See, Tycoon? You won't let me have any fun?!"

"Do I have to ask Kekera-san how old you are again, Berobaa-san?" Keiwa fired back as he got a frying pan and began prepping it for his next dish.

Beroba simply pouted at the retort.

"So, why are we meeting here?" Neon turned his attention to Kyuun, totally ignoring the glare and pout that Beroba was sending her way.

"It's part of Beroba's sick game." Kyuun admitted.

"What does she get out of this?" Neon raised an eyebrow. "And why are we agreeing to her game in the first place?"

"She can hear you." Beroba decided to cut in.

"Then, maybe, leave?" Neon offered with a scathing smile.

"Told you, Berobaa-san, once people visit often enough, they'll get numb to the idea of you being here, free-loading off of me and my sister's incomes."

"Wait, they don't even pay rent?"

Like a toxic person indeed.

"Nope."

"But this is the first time Na-go's visited, she should be reacting differently."

"It was suspicious enough that Kyuun wanted to meet with me in Keiwa's house, and I was right." Neon glared at her supporter.

"Hai, hai, Neon-chan, what would you like to have?"

"You're cooking me, food?"

"Sure, since I'm already cooking for Berobaa-san and Kyuun-san."

"Do you even pay for his service?" Neon looked at her supporter.

"We don't have money, Neon." Kyuun admitted.

"It's some utopia where everything is according to their wishes," Keiwa added. "It's like everyone in their time is a Desire god in their own right."

"Money is so primitive." Beroba commented.

"So no money…"

"We have other means to trade away for something else, if not for that, the Desire Grand Prix wouldn't exist."

"So it's just a case of your currency not matching with ours." Keiwa hummed.

"And you don't call it money."

"The concept of it is the same." Beroba yawned.

"Actually, I might actually have an idea…" Kyuun actually smirked.

"So, Neon-chan?"

"I'm getting what they're having." Neon smiled.

"Kyuun-san, what would you like to have?"

"Can we have some Katsudon?"

"Berobaa-san?"

"Gyukatsu this time, please!"

"Then, can I have some Katsudon?" Neon asked, if not, I will get what Kyuun is having."

"It's no problem, I'm used to the supporters' weird requests for food," Keiwa shrugged. "Considering the things they have me cook, our finances have taken a beating."

-------

Everyone in the house was just eating silently. Neon found the silence a bit awkward while Keiwa did not seem to mind anything at all.

"That reminds me, has Kekera ever told you how you could support having two supporters around your house?" Kyuun broke the silence.

"No, and he hasn't told me of ways to keep our finances from taking a big hit."

"Neon, how about your father?"

"That's a great idea, Kyuun!"

"Nope, I'm not begging for money even if it's house two freeloaders." Keiwa immediately vetoed the suggestion.

"Who's saying you'd be asking for money, frankly, this is just compensation," Neon smirked. "Niram would definitely try to compensate you, even if it's to assuage my father."

"Compe-what are we?"

"I don't know, Berobaa-san, why don't you tell me what you are?"

"We'll just ask my father to ask Niram to get you hired as a DGP staff member." Neon laid out her plans.

"Niram's dead." Beroba yawned. "He died alongside Geats, turning into bubbles."

"If he died by … why's he working with Michinaga?"

"Beats me," Beroba popped another jelly in her mouth. "Niram's death was a sight to see, I have to admit."

"So both the Game Master and Producer are dead." Neon hummed.

"There's Samas." Kyuun offered.

"Samas?"

"She's the girl that's always tailing the producer like a lost puppy." Beroba supplied.

"Do they even hire people from this time period?" Keiwa couldn't help but ask.

"They do," Kyuun confirmed. "PunkJack was a man of this time period."

"Before Girori blew his brains out." Beroba chuckled as she popped another candy in her mouth.

"He was?" Neon's eyes widened as she looked at the supporters.

"You know there is another way," Beroba smirked. "You do know that I both Vision Drivers,"

"No," Keiwa immediately rejected the idea. "It's bad enough that you used sacrifices to revive me, I am not going to use a wish just to get more money, despite the situation."

"Sacrifices?"

"All the people we lost in the DGP have been used to fuel how the world was rewritten like my parents were."

Sacrifices?

People's lives were sacrificed for her to exist?

Neon couldn't process what she just heard, so she tabled the thought for later.

"You know, Tycoon, your parents were admirable." Beroba chuckled.

"What? They wanted a son so one of them made a wish and created me?" Keiwa raised an eyebrow.

"No, that would just be boring," Beroba grinned. "Despite being on death's door, they still cared for their daughter and asked for someone outside the Jamar area to get her to safety."

"We would have been happy if the four of us could live in a house, but no, the goddess of creation just had to take that away so that a Desire god would be happy."

No…

Keiwa's parents were sacrificed for her to exist.

Did her father know about this?

He didn't, right?

"I'm sorry…"

"Neon-chan, it's not your fault." Keiwa shook his head.

"But…"

"You're just an unfortunate result because of some very selfish people." Keiwa engulfed Neon in a tight hug, letting the woman cry on his chest.

"Ugh," Beroba gagged. "No one wants to see your love story.'

"L-love story?!"Kyuun exclaimed.

Keiwa looked at the two supporters with an unimpressed stare.

"Really? Now?"

Kyuun blushed in embarrassment while Beroba just stuck out her tongue.

[zaruba-needslove]

At the very last part of that "Michinaga did nothing wrong" ask.

I concur with the other anon. It appears Buffa's narrative underwent retconning subsequent to his rise in popularity. Initially, his impetus stemmed from seeking retribution against all the Riders, attributing fault to them for his friend's demise, even those unaware of the circumstances.

However, it seems his objectives shifted towards attempting to "rescue" each Rider from their arrogance? I find it implausible, especially considering his actions in the heaven or hell game.

Yeah i agree.

It's the part i disliked about his writing near the end part of Yearning arc and the first half of Creation arc. Like when he dropped Keiwa to their death death he practically gloated about it and felt no guilt for killing Keiwa and Ace later on.

And suddenly later on he act like he's all good by just destroying other players core IDs? I don't think Buffa's aware about the whole player who lost the game/got forcefully retired will lose their gleams/will to even wish for their lost desires. Or even if he did, he probably never considered the possibility of people like Taira who wished to be able to save their son to exist and how losing their gleams may affect them so I can't see his actions to be justified. To which, that was reasons why Michinaga would not be able to understand Keiwa's rage when he broke Sara and Neon's core ids or understand Keiwa's reasoning to pursue his 'world peace' ideals.

Also yes i agree on how badly the show try to force Buffa's redemption. Seriously the whole 'wanna protect other ppl's happiness while sacrificing himself' was kinda pretentious considering the things he did during the JGP. The duplicity... pfft.

Still, the show did make Michinaga apologise to Keiwa (and Sara) and get the guy bashed to pulp by Beroba so I can't complain abt that XD those are the parts i enjoy lots.

(Also I'm never aware at what point Michi's chara get popular and how that affect his writing so there's that. My eyes can only see KeiAce and TsumuWin 😂😂😂)

[asknarashikari]

What the hell, I'll jumping into this bandwagon for a bit.

Ace: Well, well, well.

Neon: Kyaaaaa! Ace!!!!

Keiwa: A-ace-kun! What the hell are you doing here?

Ace: In the changing are too?

Ace: Did not know you had it in you, Tycoon.

Keiwa: Shut up!

Neon: That's mean.

Michinaga: Tch, you're supposed to be an old man, and you're still teasing people when they kiss on the lips?

Michinaga: Are you sure you're not an aged up child instead?

----

Elsewhere...

Kadoya: Looks like the new supposed baby Rider has been corrupted.

Emu: C-corrupted?! He's not corrupted! That's what healthy boys like him do.

Sougo: Please... stop?

Takeru: Please don't tell me...

Shinnosuke: Don't worry, I had the shift cars scan your places and remove any and all bugs that this menace has planted.

Shinnosuke: Surprisingly, he's hasn't planted anything.

Kadoya: I'm not a voyeur, I'm an exhibitionist but never a voyeur, I simply hacked into the DGP's systems to let us watch what's going on there whenever they aren't with us.

Emu: Did you have to record that particular moment?

Kadoya: Record? This is live.

Kadoya: Kaito and I originally thought it'd be wise to get ahead of the game and spy on who's the actual game master.

Emu; If its someone like Kuroto...

Pfft Azuma XD

Ace does seem like the type to playfully tease his friends when they're having those kinds of moments around him lmao

Uh huh... Keep telling yourself that Tsukasa... Maybe it would've been easier to tag the staff instead? Like Tsumuri or Girori-in-butler-mode? Not like he couldn't have just conveniently "run into them" while visiting Ace...

And Keiwa isn't even a baby Rider, he's 22 in the series. He's older than Ace and Azuma (both of whom are 21, biologically in the case of Ace). Neon would be the baby Rider, as she's currently 18, but under Japan's current laws she's also considered an adult now.