Hiiro Kagami

Hiiro Kagami (鏡 飛彩) is Kamen Rider Brave (仮面ライダーブレイブ), the secondary Rider of Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. He is a surgeon of Seito University Hospital, considered by many to be a genius in his profession, and is the son of Haima Kagami.

Past
Hiiro was inspired to become a doctor by his father Haima, the director of Seito University Hospital despite the man's own clumsiness. By the age of 19, Hiiro was a medical student at Seito University, and in a relationship with fellow student Saki Momose. Despite Hiiro's cold (and as a result, hurtful) personality, Saki deeply cared for him, going so far as to leave him so that he could prioritize his studies. When Zero Day occurred, Saki became infected by the Bugster virus and created Graphite, a Bugster so powerful that not even Taiga Hanaya (as Proto Snipe) was able to defeat him. By the Hiiro learned of Saki's condition, Graphite had emerged as a complete Bugster. Saki only had enough time to ask that Hiiro become the best doctor in the world before vanishing into data.

Hiiro was strongly affected by Saki's death. Knowing his cold attitude worsened Saki's condition, he blamed Taiga for her death in an attempt to suppress his guilt. He also began eating pastries in between operations (despite his dislike for dessert) as a memento to Saki, who often offered him sweets to refuel.

Sometime in between the Bugster outbreaks, Hiiro saved the lives of Mizuki Nishikikoji and Satsuki Ogimachi, both of whom would assist him as nurses, vowing to be the best aid for the best doctor in the world.

Becoming Kamen Rider Brave
Hiiro was working for a prestigious hospital in the United States before being called back by his father to handle the new Bugster outbreak. Given the Gamer Driver and the Taddle Quest Gashat, he had just arrived in Japan when a second candidate, pediatrics intern Emu Hojo, had been chosen to join the CR as Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. Because of their different point of view, the apathetic Hiiro would always find himself at odds with Emu's idealism and care for patients, responding to the latter's presence with "No thank you". As three more Kamen Riders emerge, Hiiro finds himself facing against Graphite, the Bugster that spawned from Saki and almost went sidetracked from his job as a doctor had not for Emu's intervention, allowing him to regain his resolve and add the DoReMiFa Beat Gashat into his arsenal. In a final encounter against said Bugster, Emu tricked the other Riders (including Hiiro) into fighting him, allowing the Drago Knight Hunter Z's power to be equally distributed and joining forces in their final encounter against Dark Graphite Bugster. Despite having avenged Saki's death, Hiiro found it meaningless as it would not revive his lover. During Christmas Eve, Hiiro and the others discovered the identity of Kamen Rider Genm, who frequently antagonizing them being none other than CR's benefactor, Kuroto Dan, doing so to collect the data of Gashats. Although finally gaining Kiriya's trust, the latter was quickly killed by Kuroto in order to prevent the truth from being revealed.

Level X and emergence of Para-DX
"I won't let anyone take control of me. The strong resolve to accomplish a mission...is the sign of a doctor entrusted with people's lives! I am.. The world's best...Doctor!"

- Brave overcoming Taddle Fantasy's dark magic.

By his second year of employment, Hiiro found himself mentoring Emu after the latter promoted to surgical intern. As time passed, the two slowly grew a mutual respect on each others, to the point where Hiiro kept Emu's status as Game Disease patient as a secret and vowed to find a way to cure the intern. The loss of his Gashats and Emu succumbing to "M" after his virus outburst puts Hiiro at wit's end until he managed to steal Gashat Gear Dual β and suppressing control from its power, allowing him to obtain Fantasy Gamer Level 50 and recovering Taddle Quest and Drago Knight Hunter Z from Kuroto. His words as well allows Emu to regain his old self sometime before losing the new Gashat to Taiga. After fighting against Kaiden Bugster, Hiiro and the other Riders learn too late that their actions were used to further Kuroto's plan once more, this time with the completion of Kamen Rider Chronicle. After finding Kiriya's research of rewriting the Bugster Virus, Hiiro puts the research to use in conjunction with the blank Gashat that Taiga purchased from Tsukuru Koboshi. This, combined with Emu's natural Bugster Virus brings forth the creation of Maximum Mighty X, and provided the Riders with the advantage to surpass Kuroto's immortality before defeating him for good.

Betraying CR
The plans of CR and the Bugster were derailed by the arrival of Masamune Dan, who became Kamen Rider Cronus and defeated both sides with ease. In the next encounter, Cronus whisked Brave away, offering him a place as his right-hand man. Hiiro initially refused, and transformed to Brave Level 50 in a fruitless attempt to fight Cronus. However, once he was subdued, Brave learned that Cronus was the thief of the Proto Gashats, forcing him to cooperate in order to save Saki.

Return to the Side of Good
"You're the cancer of this world and I will eliminate you!"

- Hiiro to Masamune

Hiiro panicked, running away from the dying Taiga rather than help. Later that night, Haima called Hiiro in desperation: Taiga's heart had suffered significant damage, presenting a surgery only Hiiro could successfully perform. Masamune overheard the call, and gave Hiiro a proposition: Hiiro would go to the operation and sabotage it, or Saki's data would be erased. Hiiro went to do the operation, making Emu and the others glad but not for long after Kiriya came to tell the news that Hiiro might kill Taiga because of the blackmail. Hearing that, Emu went alone and trusted Hiiro for the operation so Emu can save Saki while Hiiro can save Taiga. But Emu's effort went to nothing and Hiiro came to Masamune, revealing that he had saved Taiga, unable to revoke his integrity as a doctor. Masamune subsequently deleted Saki's data. In retaliation, Emu and Hiiro transformed and fought Cronus, which ended with Masamune retreating. After Emu left at Hiiro's request, Hiiro broke down, weeping bitterly as he accepted that Saki was gone for good.

Unlocking the Last Boss
Standing alongside Ex-Aid and Snipe in the face of Super Gamedeus and his Bugster Virus horde, Brave Legacy Gamer engaged the Bugster bosses summoned by Masamune while taking care not to harm infected civilians, defeating Aranbura before being confronted by an infected and rampaging Kiriya. Soon enough, the infected were cured by Poppy as she sacrificed her own existence to neutralize Super Gamedeus's virus through Doctor Mighty XX. Among her last words, Poppy told Hiiro not to eat too many sweets. Brave joined Ex-Aid and the other Riders in the fight against Super Gamedeus but was unable to affect the behemoth until Emu remembered Asuna's advice and rallied his fellow Riders in reverting to Level 1, allowing them to seperate Masamune from Super Gamedeus, which was neutralized by Doctor Mighty XX through the sacrifice of Parado. Masamune, however, still held the power of Cronus and, with the access to Emu's Muteki Gamer gone, declared that the doctor Riders would face a "Bad End."

At his strongest Level, Hiiro engaged the elder Dan in one final stand with the other Riders only to be swiftly overwhelmed with their strongest Gashats flying loose. Initiating Pause, Cronus, seemingly victorious, was shockingly beaten back by Ex-Aid, who revealed that Parado's sacrifice had weakened him. Reverting to Level 2, Brave and his fellow Riders ultimately succeeded in finally defeating Cronus, however, they were unable to stop Masamune from destroying the Rider Chronicle Master Gashat with himself in a final act of spite, robbing them of their chance to retrieve the Game Disease victims from the Proto Gashats. Back at CR, Hiiro saw the televised speech given by Emu speech on behalf of the Ministry of Health; the mention of Saki among those who succumbed to the Game Disease visibly upset his father, through Hiiro would choose to say "no thank you" to grief. Later, Hiiro demonstrated a surgical technique on a cream puff to two new interns at the hospital; he quietly promised to the picture of him and Saki that he would bring her smile back.

Kamen Rider Ex-Aid "Tricks": Virtual Operations
Frustrated over having been defeated by Genm twice, Hiiro would confront Dan alone as he visited CR, demanding that he give him a VR simulation. Dan explained to Hiiro that Genm used the Proto Mighty Action X Gashat, stolen on Zero Day, which essentially had the same parameters as Ex-Aid. Knowing this, Hiiro became more flustered and demanded that Dan simulate him right now to which he complied Dan. Simulating the Quest Gamer, Hiiro faced Genm as opposed to a Bugster Virus. Instructed by Dan, Hiiro transformed into Kamen Rider Brave Quest Gamer from Level 1 to Level 2 before activating his Taddle Critical Strike finisher using the Kimewaza Slot Holder. Though clearing the simulation, Hiiro was not satisfied since he knew that the real Genm was not that weak. To evade further questions, Dan decides to leave for checking the new Gashats. When Hiiro checks the screen, it shows that Dan had set the difficulty level to Easy, which confuses Hiiro.

The Dr. Pac-Man Incident
With his fellow doctors and Kamen Rider Ghost's allies, Brave fought the Next Genome Institute.

Assuming the Famista Gamer
"It's game, set for you."

- Brave's proclamation in Famista Quest Gamer Level 3 before a finisher

Hiiro along with Taiga confronts the revived "Dr. Pac-Man" who had taken Emu away from Genm, both vowing to defeat him again. When the three doctors are met by Genm and the three copy Kamen Riders that he had summoned, "Dr. Pac-Man" provides the trio with the Bandai Namco Gashats, with Hiiro receiving the Famista Gashat. Transforming, Brave Quest Gamer Level 2 faces Kamen Rider Double in a brief skirmish before using his new Gashat to assume Famista Quest Gamer, generating a Game Area in which he finds himself as a pitcher facing off against the batter Kamen Rider OOO and his baseball team of Bugster Virus. Ultimately prevailing in the match, Brave performs Famista's Critical Strike to defeat the opponent Kamen Rider.

Alongside Snipe, Brave soon caught up with Ex-Aid as he recovered the Ganbarizing Gashat, both intending to claim it for themselves only to be eluded by "Dr. Pac-Man" who snatched the Gashat as quickly as he arrived, adding it to his quartet of Bandai Namco Gashats. It was at this point that Hiiro realized that the three of them had been used as guinea pigs, a deduction immediately confirmed when "Dr. Pac-Man" was joined by the black Ex-Aid who, using the Ganbarizing Gashat to bestow upon himself the power of the first seventeen Heisei Riders, took the three doctor Riders by shock as he was able to defeat them with a single Critical Strike Rider Kick before taking his leave.

Chou Super Hero Taisen
"So you are the real me?" "And you are the game me?"

- The two Hiiro confront each other When Poppy Pipopapo was pursued by the, Hiiro engaged them alongside Emu and Taiga, briefly fighting with and  before the fight was interrupted by the Galaxian ships.

Hiiro would come face to face with a doppelganger of himself from the Game World, who assumed the Legacy Gamer Level 50 to become Kamen Rider True Brave. Engaging him with his own Fantasy Gamer, Hiiro ultimately bested his mirror self who then relinquished to him a cache of items which would allow him to conclude the Chou Shocker Taisen in which he would fight with various Kamen Riders and against the Shocker army of the Game World led by Shocker Leader III. These items were the Galaxian Gashat, whose Galaxian Gamer he wielded in battle, the Chou Super Hero Cards, which he used to summon Riders and Rangers from the Game World to assist, and an Energy Item which he provided to Ex-Aid Maximum Gamer, enlarging him and allowing him to join the Kyurangers in vanquishing the Oogumo Great Leader.

The Bugster Horde
When Kuroto Dan's plot to revive in the Game World caused an army of Bugsters to perpetually revive and emerge into the real world, Brave and Snipe shared the Gashat Gear Dual β as they fought back the endless horde while Emu was sent from CR to the Game World to stop Dan. Brave assumed his Fantasy Gamer first before being beaten back, leaving Snipe to endure alone with the Simulation Gamer before rejoining him with the Hunter Gamer, at which point the horde ultimately dissipated in an instant as the destruction of the Game World brought about by Kazuma Kenzaki thwarted Dan's ambition to revive.

Confrontation with Takeshi Asakura
"My scalpel is justice!"

- Brave's proclamation in Level 4 before battle

Hiiro's talent would be recognized by the world in February as he won the Doctor of the Year award, which would be acknowledged as he flew to New York to receive it. On the 20th, where he was faced with a conference, examination and a surgery, he was given the plane ticket by Mizuki and Satsuki, whom he scolded when they admitted that a PET scan still needed to be rexamined, citing that the smallest margin of error could cost a patient their life.

Despite an assault committed on Satsuki that night, Hiiro was prepared to leave on the following day, noting that the bones in her arms were shattered but nothing worse beyond that. Hiiro's departure from CR was covered by Mizuki who assured Emu and Poppy that she would take care of things, later explaining to Poppy that she and Satsuki took their work under Hiiro in stride as they aspired to be the best nurses to support the world's best surgeon. Ultimately, however, Hiiro chose to return while on his way to the airport. Finding an unconscious and savagely beaten Emu, Hiiro recovered the Night of Safari Gashat that had been left on his person before rescuing Mizuki as he confronted the perpatrator, Takeshi Asakura. Initially transforming to Quest Gamer Level 2, Brave engaged Asakura's Beast Rider Squad, defeating Kamen Riders Tiger and Dark Kiva before being beaten back by Asakura himself as Kamen Rider Ouja. It was at this point that Brave Level 4 Safari Gamer, which allowed him to defeat Ouja despite his use of Sasword and Beast as human shields. As Asakura passed on again, he told Hiiro to continue to fight lest his life would not be worth living only for Hiiro to note that he was not the best authority on life advice. Following this, Hiiro, having lost Night of Safari on the way, proceeded to personally tend to the wounds sustained by Mizuki and Satsuki, who would thank him for helping them while canceling his trip to America, noting it as the second time he had saved their lives. Hiiro, however, preserved his cold demeanor as he justified his sacrifice by assuring that he would have many other opportunities to be acknowledged in the future.

Personality
Hiiro is intelligent and capable, yet cold and arrogant. Hiiro firmly opposes personal involvement with his patients, believing that personal feelings will interfere with his performance. He initially looks down on Emu, deeming him unworthy to work in CR due to his inexperience and conflicting ideals, although he warms up to the intern over time. He is the only one to question Kuroto's somewhat dubious behavior, showing some level of perceptiveness. Hiiro has a liking for desserts, mainly cakes or pies, which he claims is to increase his energy in between operations. This quirk is later revealed as a legacy of his late girlfriend, who always gave him desserts when he studied. While remembering Saki, Hiiro begins to question if revenge was really worth it, showing he had his doubts about vengeance instead of being utterly consumed by it like Taiga was.

Hiiro treats his fighting with Bugsters as an operation. He has a habitual quirk of raising his hands in the position most surgeons use when they are about to operate on a patient, and refers to the Gashacon Sword as his "scalpel". He often also speaks in a mannerism akin to his civilian job after transforming. (Ex. "Commencing Bugster removal operation"). He will cancel his transformation if he deems the situation too risky (primarily when his Rider Gauge is almost depleted). Whenever he encounters someone he doesn't like or doesn't feel belongs in the situation, he will respond to their presence by saying "No thank you" (ノーさんきゅうー Nō san kyū).

Due to Hiiro referring to anything that can be used for cutting as a scalpel, his habit with words will sometimes be used with people that may not understand what he means. This was shown when eating at a public cafe, he asked for a scalpel instead of a knife. Though he quickly corrected himself after realizing his mistake.

Somehow upon learning the extent of Kamen Rider Chronicle in regards of reviving those who died of the Bugster infection, including Saki; Hiiro is curious about this to the point he continued to think about bringing Saki back to him, which in turn was his fatal flaw. Masamune Dan takes advantage of this and blackmails the surgeon into working for him, which results in him having an internal conflict between his profession as a doctor and his love for Saki. This ended with him committing to his profession and saving people as his first priority, but he still regretted for being unable to save Saki so much that he cried.

Abilities

 * Genius Surgeon: Although he is only 24, Hiiro is a skilled surgeon, considered by many to be a genius in his field. He specializes in heart surgery, although he is capable of performing other operations.
 * Swordsmanship: Hiiro is shown to be capable in using swords, comparing them to scalpels. This can be seen when he decapitated a Giant Bugster using a generic sword. This also shown as when he sliced a cream puff in episode 6, he didn't bring the knife in contact with the cream puff, but still equally cut into 4 pieces.
 * Acquired Game Disease Immunity: As a result of the standard compatibility surgery for CR candidates, Hiiro Kagami is immune to the Game Disease, and able to transform into a Kamen Rider to fight the Bugsters. Unlike Taiga, Hiiro's initial uses of higher-level Gashats inflicted physical damage, and strained his body until he acclimated to the power.

Devices

 * Gamer Driver - Transformation device.
 * Rider Gashat - Transformation trinkets.
 * Gashat Gear Dual β - Level 50 transformation trinket, initially shared with Snipe before the creation of the second.
 * Kimewaza Slot Holder - Carrier strap for the Rider Gashats.
 * Beat Gamer - Brave's Level 3 support robot summoned by the DoReMiFa Beat Gashat.
 * Safari Gamer - Brave's Level 4 support robot summoned by the Night of Safari Gashat.
 * Hunter Gamer - Brave's Level 5 support robot summoned by the Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat.
 * Fantasy Gamer - Brave's Level 50] support robot summoned by the Taddle Fantasy side of the Gashat Gear Dual β.
 * Legacy Gamer - Brave's Level 100 support robot summoned by the Taddle Legacy Gashat.
 * Famista Gamer - Brave's support robot summoned by the Famista Gashat.

Weapons

 * Unnamed generic sword - Initial blade weapon, destroyed and replaced after first usage.
 * Gashacon Sword - Primary blade weapon.
 * Reversal Shield - Personal shield.
 * DoReMiFa Turntable and Watts Up Sounder]] - Beat Quest Gamer Level 3's personal weapons.
 * Dragon Blade - Hunter Quest Gamer Level 5 Dragon Blade's personal weapon.
 * Dragon Fang and Dragon Gun - Hunter Quest Gamer Level 5 Full Dragon's personal weapons.

Relationships

 * CR:
 * Emu Hojo: Although they often partnered during their battle with Bugsters, Hiiro sees Emu as nothing but an Intern (研修医) and also 'No Thank You', in return Emu didn't really like him either, going so far to say that Hiiro isn't a real doctor twice. Hiiro has slowly warmed up to him, showing concern when he learned that Emu was infected with the Bugster virus and even saying that he "wanted to cure the patient right in front of him" in regards to Emu. This got extended to when Emu wakes up as "Genius Gamer M", Hiiro is greatly angered and choked on Emu so he can snap out of his delusions. Later on, he recants what he thought about Emu before, saying he was very harsh on him before. When Emu first know that Hiiro defect CR and become Masamune right-hand man, Emu acknowledged that Hiiro was blackmailed, rather than defecting on his own free will to get Saki back. Emu also believe that Hiiro will return to CR eventually, and when Hiiro ask Emu to fight alongside with him once more, Emu complies.
 * Asuna Karino/Poppy Pipopapo: Hiiro's usually apathetic towards her but in return, she develops some fear toward Hiiro. She even obeys several orders from him such as when he asked Poppy to use her knife to cut an apple pie.
 * Haima Kagami: Despite being a family, Hiiro acts cold toward his father, once scolding him to not talk too much, but Haima always does his best to help him. Haima was willing to risk his life and his title as Director by becoming a Ride-Player and being infected with the Lovelica Game Disease strain in order to clear Kamen Rider Chronicle and revive Saki Momose. When Haima's identity is revealed, Hiiro tells the others to retreat for his father's safety. When Asuna comments that Haima can be serious at times, Hiiro confirms her statement and reveals that his father is his motivation to become a doctor. Upon hearing Kiriya info about Masamune last order to Hiiro (Which is to sabotage his operation to reclaim Saki), Haima believed that his son will never do things that lowly, which proved by Hiiro himself.
 * Taiga Hanaya: Hiiro holds a grudge against him, since Taiga is responsible for letting his late girlfriend die from Graphite's infection. Taiga, in return also hates Hiiro, often provoking him if necessary. His resentment of Taiga's actions were enough for Hiiro to claim that Taiga was "not qualified to be a Kamen Rider". When Taiga takes the Gashat Gear Dual β from Hiiro after suffering the strain of his own Level 50 form, Taiga reminds Hiiro that he might end up becoming the broken and bitter man he is now if Hiiro is not careful with his pragmatic methods, and also tend his wounds Hiiro later pay his debt by choosing to save Taiga after he get beaten up by Graphite, instead of killing him. They both finally rekindle their comradeship and no longer hold grudge to each other.
 * Kiriya Kujo: Kiriya seems to hold no ill feelings toward Hiiro, but Hiiro distrusts him due to his liar nature, right up until Kuroto revealing himself to be Genm, which Kiriya had previously warned about. Later on, some time after Kiriya's death, as Hiiro found the data that Kiriya had left behind, he finally realized that Kiriya's true intentions were to find a way to stop the Bugster threat once and for all. Coincidentally, after Kiriya's revival as a Bugster, both of them now become Masamune Dan underlings.
 * Kuroto Dan: Although somehow dubious from Kuroto's behavior, Hiiro seems to respect him, unaware that Kuroto is actually Genm until Kuroto revealed himself as Genm, whereas both Hiiro and the three other Doctor Riders were too late to notice and stop Kuroto's first plans, such as his manipulation of the Riders and the creation of death data from the Dangerous Zombie Gashat through clearing 10 produced Gashat games from succeeding. Even worst part, ones Emu found out full infos in regarding of his status on how he became a progenitor to Bugster Viruses and the viruses' further origin in Y2K from Kuroto's father Masamune, Hiiro and the detective Heiji Uesugi found out that Kuroto was the one who infected Heiji's son and Saki as the result of one of the Bugsters like Graphite completely manifest the infection progress and the hosts disappeared into nothingness.
 * Civilians:
 * Saki Momose: Saki deeply loves Hiiro, although Hiiro didn't reciprocate her feelings in order for him to continue studying. Saki's death is the one thing that motivates Hiiro to become a Kamen Rider. Hiiro also said that he'll do anything to see her one more time. This is also the reason why Hiiro decides to betray his fellow teammates in CR, as Masamune Dan promises to revive Saki (which he actually does, albeit without her consciousness), implicating that Hiiro actually really loves her in return. At first, Hiiro was determined to bring her back at all cost. But, after Taiga was beaten up by Graphite and had a severe Hemorrhaging, Hiiro remembered Saki last word and decide to Save Taiga instead of killing him. Saki data then get deleted, and after Hiiro, along with Emu defeat Masamune in Legacy and Muteki Gamer respectively, Hiiro mourn her loss amidst the rain.
 * Mizuki Mizoguchi and Satsuki Ogimachi: Both of them was saved by Hiiro several years ago, and thus they both willingly become Hiiro personal Nurses to aid him to become the best doctor in the world. Hiiro often acts cold to them, but they already understand and put their faith on him. Hiiro also saved them when they both are badly assaulted by Takeshi Asakura, although he refused to admit it.
 * Bugsters:
 * Graphite: Hiiro holds a grudge against Graphite, since Graphite was born from his late girlfriend. After receiving Emu's plea, Hiiro holds a determination to finish Graphite off. Graphite in return sees Hiiro as nothing before, but after his defeat, he swore to destroy him using his own hands. Hiiro finally gets to avenge Saki with the help of the other Doctor Riders, but refuses to admit it.
 * Genm Corp:
 * Masamune Dan: Masamune takes interest in Hiiro after revealing his identity as Cronus. He successfully manages to blackmail Hiiro by showing him the Proto Drago Knight Hunter Z Gashat, which contains the data of Hiiro's late girlfriend, Saki. Later, Hiiro betrays CR and becomes Masamune's right hand man. Hiiro feels uneasy around Masamune even after he revives Saki (albeit without her consciousness). He later becomes agitated by Masamume, as the latter confiscates his Gashat Gear Dual β without explanation. It is then revealed that Masamune used the data of Taddle Fantasy to create the Taddle Legacy Gashat. Upon Masamune first defeat on Ex-Aid Muteki Gamer, Masamune unleashed his Anger to Hiiro and ordered him to Kill Parado in order to make Emu unable to transform, or Saki data'll be permanently erased. Although this make Hiiro fortify his resolve and able him to use Taddle Legacy, this starts to drive a wedge in their partnership. Later, as Taiga was beaten up by Graphite and had severe hemorrhaging, Masamune order him to sabotage Taiga's operation. But, remembering Saki's last words, Hiiro saves him instead. Thus, their partnership ends after Masamune deletes Saki's data. Hiiro then said that Masamune is the world's cancer, and he will end him once and for all.

Portrayal
Hiiro Kagami is portrayed by Toshiki Seto (瀬戸 利樹). As Kamen Rider Brave, his suit actor is Jiro Uchikawa (内川 仁朗) in Level 1 and Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳) in Level 2.