Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider (東島丹三郎は仮面ライダーになりたい)

Hey, mister!

I knew it was you!

Great to see you again.

You were at the festival!

You got some time to spare?

ODEN

You wanna be Kamen Rider?

Yes.

Like... seriously?

Seriously!

I-I see.

It's been on my mind from the first day I watched Kamen Rider...

And I've trained my body for the task this whole time.

That explains how you were so damn fierce.

When faced with a threatening opponent or superior numbers,

he would never run away.

He never gave up!

I admired him for it.

That's why I wanted to become Kamen Rider.

I see!

Well, as long as you hold onto that love,

I bet your dream will come true someday!

Keep at it, buddy!

The truth is... right now, Shocker is—

Room for one more?

Sure! Have a seat.

It's you!

Can't believe I keep running into you.

You're just gonna sit down?!

Put a sock in it! What business is it of yours?!

And scoot over, damn.

I'll have a beer.

Sure thing.

You know this fella?

That's one way of putting—

Hey, you're that takoyaki guy. You been good?

I kinda feel bad about what happened.

But you shouldn't have tried to short us on your fee for the stall.

I hear the Matsunoshita-gumi is on the verge

of being broken up now that the boss is dead!

Serves you right.

Yeah.

Which is why...

I'm a Shocker combatant now!

And I'm the real deal.

Oh, hell!

This isn't like you and your little mask.

This is the real thing.

I-I'm just as—

Tell your friends not to try anything stupid.

If they mess with real monsters, it's gonna get you all killed.

What?!

Listen up.

An imposter can't beat the real deal.

You'd better remember that.

Then someone really is purging combatants whose brainwashing has worn off.

Yeah. I heard about it from a fellow fan of the Combat Girls.

His friend was heading home with him when this built lady approached...

And the friend hasn't been seen since.

A female combatant?

There's been plenty of other combatants who've gone MIA, too.

And this woman was the one behind all their disappearances?

Couldn't tell you. But she's definitely supposed to be strong as hell.

But... why is the brainwashing wearing off, anyway?

They all found something to love.

The mind control on Shocker combatants breaks when they experience love.

I get it! So mine wore off because I love Mitsuba so much!

Yay!

We were actually discussing how that's apparently dangerous, Yukarisu...

Is she even listening?

They'll be coming for us, too, sooner or later.

Let's both be careful.

Not a problem!

The power of love will let me kick her ass!

Like she could ever stack up to us! Isn't that right, Mitsuba?

It sure is, Yukarisu.

Mitsuba!

There, there. Let's buy some cake on the way home.

You Takahashi-kun?

So, this assassin combatant is much stronger than the typical examples...

She's more in line with what you'd expect from Gel-Shocker.

I don't get the example. Another Rider thing?

Well, it's the best comparison.

And she's been exterminating combatants whose mind control has worn off?

I'm probably on her list, too.

I was supposed to surveil Mitsuba,

since he had realized the truth about Shocker's existence...

But at some point, I ended up falling in love with my target!

And now that I know love, I'm free of their control, and...

Fated for extermination.

N-No way... is it you?!

That's right. I'm the Shocker assassin.

Explain what's become of your mission.

I suppose I don't even need to ask, though.

M-My love for Mitsuba gives me overflowing power...

And I'll show you!

You'll be fighting me.

Sensei?!

Who are you supposed to be?

Electro-Wave Human, Tackle.

And what is that?

Tackle, from Kamen Rider Stronger. Haven't you heard of her?

Why would I have?

I have no business with some oddball cosplayer. Step aside.

No.

As long as I'm here...

you won't lay a hand on her.

S-Sensei!

Now...

Bring it on!

HELP

AT THE USUAL EMBANKMENT

UNDER THE BRIDGE