Emu Hojo

Emu Hojo (宝生 永夢), also known as M, his gaming persona, is a 24 year-old pediatrics trainee at Seito University Hospital, and is one of the main characters in Kamen Rider Ex-Aid. He transforms into Kamen Rider Ex-Aid (仮面ライダーエグゼイド), tasked with eliminating the Bugster virus from an infected patient to save their life.

Childhood
When he was only eight years old, Emu was involved in an accident, leaving him critically injured. After receiving an emergency surgery, Emu was given a WonderSwan handheld video game device by one of the doctors as a reward for hanging on. This event would inspire Emu to become a doctor and help children like the one who saved him, Kyotaro Hinata.

During his childhood, he was doubtful with the career as a doctor and decided to take up the interest of playing games. He as well created the concept of the Mighty Brothers XX, stating that he does as such to lessen the burden of being alone.

Teenager
Emu would later on win numerous gaming tournaments under the gaming alias of M. Sometime in 2010, Emu participated in a gaming tournament and trained himself for it but this cost him his own health. He was soon operated by the Next Genome Institute but during that time, their leader Michihiko Zaizen created the very first Bugster Viruses and used Emu's comatose body as their first victim, turning him into patient zero of the Bugster virus. The experiment caused the Next Genome surgeons to vanish while Emu was treated shortly after without any recollections, only thinking of the incident as a dream. Following the incident, he decided to take a serious attitude in his entrance exam and interest as a doctor but the leftover Bugster virus in his body would create a split personality that represents his gaming interest. His infection predated the massive Bugster outbreak Zero Day in the year 2011.

Sometime later, his fame as "M" would earn the interest of Asuna Karino as a potential candidate for using the Gamer Driver.

Becoming Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
Sometime later, Emu went on and became a pediatrics intern at Seito University Hospital. After it is learned that his patient, Sota Suyama, is diagnosed with an unusual disease, he is restricted from knowing more by Director Haima Kagami. Emu deduces that Sota's stress may be related to being confined in the hospital and unable to see the release of the awaited video game, Mighty Action X. As a result, Emu takes him to see its release but is scolded by Asuna, telling him that he fails as a doctor for his unauthorized release of Sota. When Asuna tries to force Sota to return back, his condition worsens and he transforms into a golem-like creature.

Emu learns about Sota's condition of being infected with the Bugster Virus, a potential letahl computer virus that infects human, and can be prevented by someone who is capable of using the Gamer Driver to successfully operate on the patient. Determined to save his patient, Emu took the driver, the accompanying Mighty Action X Gashat without Asuna's consent to combat the Bugster. Much to Asuna's surprise, Emu was able to transform as he reveals that he was in fact, the prodigy gamer "M" that she was looking for.

He extracts Salty from Sota and transforms into Action Gamer Level 2, defeating the Bugster. After confirming Sota's health, he becomes part of the CR and Asuna reveals to him that her true identity is a Kamen Rider navigator, Poppi Pipopapo. She christened Emu as Kamen Rider Ex-Aid.

As the battle against the Bugster Viruses continues, Emu would later met several Kamen Riders like him, such as the genius surgeon Hiiro Kagami (Brave), former CR acquaintance Taiga Hanaya (Snipe) and the coroner Kiriya Kujo (Lazer). Although the three Riders as well fought against Bugster threats and infections, Emu is constantly at odds with them as each had their own viewpoints and ulterior motive. He also faced against Genm, a Rider who allied himself with the Bugsters and at the same time adding another Gashat, Gekitotsu Robots to his arsenal. In the final battle against Graphite, Emu acquired the Drago Knight Hunter Z and is able to work in synchronization with the other Riders through this power. During Christmas Eve, Emu and the others learned of Genm Corp.'s CEO Kuroto Dan being Genm's true identity, proving Kiriya's innocence after being fooled once by Parad. It was also at that time he renew his trust on Kiriya after going through several lies and obtain the Shakariki Sports from Genm but their renewed friendship cuts short when Kiriya was killed by Genm Zombie Gamer Level X in hopes of preventing the truth from being revealed.

Birth of Mighty Brothers XX and Becoming Double Action Gamer Level X and XX
In early 2017, Emu was promoted to the surgery intern by Haima Kagami himself. Kiriya's death affected his prowess in fighting the Bugster and was suspended by Hiiro to transform after the latter confiscated his Gashats. Parad approached Emu and gave the young intern his incomplete Gashat, which transformed into the Mighty Brothers XX Gashat, giving him the strength to counter Genm Zombie Gamer Level X with the same rank. He as well renewed his trust with Hiiro, but was cut short when both the latter and Taiga attack him due to being a Game Disease patient. His combat data as Mighty Brothers XX was utilized by Kuroto to create the Gashat Gear Dual that Parad utilized to assume Kamen Rider Para-DX, whose level outclassed even that of Genm and Ex-Aid.

Befriending a Burger Bugster and Becoming Burger Action Gamer Level 4
"I'll cook a hamburger with No Continues!"

- Ex-Aid's proclamation in Level 4 before battle

Whilst in the middle of a day off, Emu encountered the Burgermon Bugster while he was about to eat lunch. He chased it into a parking lot and encountered the one sick with the virus, before encountering Taiga and Parad. When questioned why it was he wasn't using the Mighty Brothers Gashat, Emu revealed that he left his other Gashats at home. The ill patient, a game developer who works at Genm Corp, supplied Emu with the Ju Ju Burger Gashat, which he promptly uses to transform into Burger Action Gamer Level 4. With his new form, Emu manages to fend Taiga off and save Burgermon in the process.

The Truth About His Game Disease, Finalizing the Gashat Gear Dual Beta
"Emu Hojo!!! How are you able to transform into Ex-Aid...without undergoing the compatibility surgery? How are you able to create Gashats?! Why does you head hurt after transforming?! There is only one answer. Emu Hojo! That's because...you were the very first person in the world...to be infected by the Bugster virus!"

- Kuroto Dan exposing the reason behind Emu's bizarre condition

"I have...Game Syndrome? That's a lie! You're trying to trick me!"

- Emu Hojo refusing to accept the truth that he is Patient Zero

In an effort to help Tsukuru after being infected yet again, Emu tries to defeat the spawned Bugster, Motors, only to be repeatedly interrupted by Kuroto, who is after his remaining Gashats, as he took away Taiga's. After another encounter, Emu is defeated by Genm, who demand for the remaining Gashats, to which the former refuses. Before he can kill Emu, Kuroto is attacked by Para-DX, who's fed up with his narcissism and how he looks down upon Bugsters. Finally defeated, Kuroto punishes Parad for his defiance by revealing to Emu that he is Patient Zero. After Emu denies it, the game disease inside him changes drastically, with Hiiro, Taiga, Asuna, and Nico watching in terror as Emu screams in pain.

Debut of Brave Fantasy Gamer Level 50
Much to the members of CR, Taiga, and Kuroto's surprise, Emu did not disappear after he learned the truth, but rather fell unconscious. When he awoke, he greeted the CR crew casually, acting in his Genius Gamer M persona despite the fact that he was not playing a game. He starts playing Poppy's game expertly, though she doesn't like it, and even scares Haima. Eventually, they receive word that someone has been infected with the Bugster Virus. Hiiro tries, and fails, to convince Emu to give him his Gaschat, in order to prevent him from transforming and suffering further from the effects of his own virus. When they arrive, Emu's eyes turn red, an effect common among Bugsters when they take hold of their host, which Hiiro notices immediately, and engages the Bugster when it emerges, transforming into Ex-Aid Robot Action Gamer Level 3 immediately. At first overwhelmed, he makes use of the power ups and turns the tables on his opponent, though he becomes agitated when it reverts back into its host to recover.

After returning to the CR, Emu once again plays Poppy's game, and when Hiiro questions him, Emu states that he doesn't care about the patient at all, even going on to say that this is who he was. However, Hiiro becomes angered and tells him that the person he should be is a doctor who invests in his patient in order to make them smile. This causes Emu to suffer from a headache. When the Bugster takes over and escapes, Hiiro takes Emu's Mighty Action X Gaschat and leaves to take it on. However, Emu takes it back and engages the Bugster, only to be attacked by Genm. The two easily overpower and force Ex-Aid back. Hiiro, however, manages to turn the situation around by using the same tactics as Ex-Aid earlier and use a Power Up to confuse the Fantasy Gamer, allowing him to take the Gashat Gear Dual β and transform into Kamen Rider Brave Fantasy Gamer Level 50 for the first time by using Taddle Fantasy. At first being taken over by its power, Hiiro manages to regain control and states what it means to be a doctor, something that causes Emu to falter and suffer from another headache. His transformation is cancelled, and returns to his previous self.

After the battle is over, Emu apologizes for the trouble he has caused, though Hiiro dismisses him, telling him he should do what he should do as a doctor.

Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider
It is revealed in the Heisei Generations film, that the Bugsters was actually born 16 years ago from the body samples of their very first victim and future Kamen Rider, Emu Hojo. Their birth from Emu's samples was the result of unrecorded experiments on Emu's body to breed stronger Bugsters before Emu obtains a Bugster antibody from Kyotaro Hinata's surgery on the young boy.

"Tricks": Kamen Rider Genm
Following the incident with Dr. Pac-Man, Emu is instructed by Dan to return the Kaigan Ghost Gashat. On his way to Genm Corp. with Asuna, Emu is met by a Collabos Bugster which wields the power of the Proto Gashats and easily overwhelms Ex-Aid when he assumes the Ghost Gamer Level 2 again. Is at this point where Dan arrives with a briefcase carrying further Kamen Riders' Gashats, providing Ex-Aid with the Full Throttle Drive which allows him to disarm the Bugster of Proto Gekitotsu Robots. When the Bugster switches to the sword-wielding Giri Giri Chambara and grazes Dan, Ex-Aid appropriately receives the Toukenden Gaim to engage it as Asuna takes Dan to safety. After disabling the Bugster, Ex-Aid is confused to see what he recognizes as the "black Ex-Aid" adopting the Wizard Gamer Level 2 before being swiftly defeated by the enigmatic Kamen Rider who announces that he has collected all the data he needs as he uses the power of the Legend Rider Gashats to complete his Ganbarizing Gashat. Using the blank Collabos Bugster as a conduit to harness the power of Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing, a game Emu is unfamiliar with, Genm brings forth manifestations of Kamen Riders Double, OOO and Fourze. Advancing on Emu, the three Riders are held off by the sudden appearance of Dr. Pac-Man, coming as a shock to both Emu and Genm as he presents his own three Bandai Namco Gashats.

Taken away by Dr. Pac-Man, Emu was met by Hiiro and Taiga whom were both intent on defeating this revived "Dr. Pac-Man" while Emu begin to trust him. 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 Emu receiving the Pac Adventure Gashat. Transforming, Ex-Aid Action Gamer Level 2 faces Kamen Rider Fourze in a brief skirmish before using his new Gashat to assume Pac Action Gamer, generating a Game Area in which he finds himself pursued by Kamen Rider Double before reaching a Power Pellet which allows him to turn the tables on Double who becomes a vulnerable ghost, performing Pac Adventure's Critical Strike to defeat the opponent Kamen Rider. Confused to be met with no Game Clear message, Ex-Aid returns to the real world where he saves Poppi Pipopapo from the berserk Collabos Bugster from whom he takes out the Ganbarizing Gashat which he inserts into his Gashacon Breaker, performing a Critical Finish to destroy the Bugster. Despite this, both Ex-Aid and Poppi find that a Game Clear message has still not appeared. The Ganbarizing Gashat then suddenly ejects from the Gashacon Breaker on its own before entering the Game Area from which a figure begins to emerge.

Personality
Emu Hojo is a very clumsy and yet a serious doctor to take on his job. However, his thirst for playing video games has a problem of Emu being absent-minded at times. An example of this is he sometimes fails to remember his work schedule properly and it makes the nurses scold him. He also has a habitual quirk of tumbling down in various comical ways.

As "M", his alias that he uses when playing video games, he shows a completely different side of himself. He displays a focused, calmer, and more confident demeanor. His grammatical persona also changes from 僕 into 俺, proving to be extremely skillful at video games, to the point where he has come to be known as the "genius gamer" who never leaves any game unfinished. This carries over to his battles as Ex-Aid, as his knowledge of video games has proven to be a definite advantage. Originally, when shifting to his Genius Gamer M personality, a wind blows through his hair and he makes a cocky smile. But during episode 10, Emu's eyes instead flash pink before turning a less intense, glowing red, after which, his eyes turn back to normal. Though he still makes the same cocky smile as before, showing that he can actually shift into his gamer persona at will. In the past, Emu's normal and "M" personalities were once one and the same, though following his surgery by the Next Genome surgeons, the leftover Bugster Virus in his body caused him to develop a case of, constantly switching from his naive side to his predative "M" persona. After learning that he was infected with the Bugster Virus, Emu's gamer persona took over as the dominant one, showing no concern for his patients and was instead only interested in playing the game, something which greatly angers Hiiro. However, after Hiiro states what it means to be a doctor, Emu regains control over himself, and becomes fearful of transforming into Ex-Aid.

Emu has a very idealistic attitude towards being a doctor: he invests himself in the well-being of his patient, hoping to help them both physically and personally. He will always try to help a patient in need, even if they are a criminal, an enemy, or refuse to get help. For him, a life is a life and it's worth saving, fitting the morality of a true doctor and their devotion to the. This mindset helped him connect stress as a catalyst for Bugster infection, but also hinders him if the enemy is smart enough to threaten the patient's life. His firm idealism has led to clashes with his fellow CR Rider, Hiiro. Hiiro views Emu as naive and inexperienced, while Emu openly opposes Hiiro's detached and callous approach, going as far to say Hiiro is not a real doctor.

However, Emu is not without a dark side. When pushed too far, Emu can lose control of his temper and when that happens his Gamer side becomes as vicious and selfish as his rivals. This was shown when Kyotaro is infected by Graphite. Emu become so frustrated into believing that he's the only one who can save Kyotaro, to the point that he'll do anything to capture the Hunter Gamer using a stolen Gashacon Sword. While this shows that Emu takes pride in his beliefs as a doctor, at the same time it demonstrates that as a Gamer he shares Genm's and even Taiga's ideals to some extent. However, after some enlightenment from his idol, Kyotaro Hinata, Emu decides to trust his fellow doctor Riders, although only Kiriya did believe in him so far.

Powers and Abilities

 * Skilled Gamer: Emu is a masterful gamer, particularly in terms of platform gaming. He has extensive knowledge of games in other genres, including Bang Bang Shooting and Bakusou Bike and can adapt easily when playing a new game. These skills are greatly enhanced when he enters a state of emotional rage or frustration, as shown when he effectively, in separate occasions, outmaneuvered both Genm and Snipe who are both at their Level 3 forms while Emu is only on Level 2. Furthermore, if his Genius Gamer persona is 100% active, his gaming skills skyrocket at a frightening degree evidenced on how despite being only at Level 3 he managed to overpower Gatton Bugster who is a Level 30, stating that one of gaming's thrill is figuring out how to defeat stronger opponents.
 * High Interpersonal Skill: Despite his clumsiness, Emu's kindness has allowed him to connect with all of his patients.
 * Natural Game Disease Immunity: Unlike all other Riders who had undergone a compatibility surgery to be immune from the Game Disease and able to transform into a Kamen Rider, Emu is capable of utilizing the Rider System even without the intervention of said surgery and seems to be unaffected by Bugster infection agents. Kiriya discovered the real reason behind Emu's condition but was silenced by Genm before he can reveal the truth. This unusual immunity is also what enabled the creation of the Mighty Brothers XX Gashat, as the blank Double Gashat injects a massive amount of the Bugster Virus, which will normally kill a Rider when used in the Gamer Driver, even when the Rider has already been immune to the Game Disease. He was the first person to be infected with the Bugster Virus as a kid, and was experimented on by Dr. Pac-Man to develop the later, more recent version of the virus. Which is why as Patient Zero, he has natural antibodies for the virus and such can use the Gamer Driver without the need for an immunization operation.
 * Separation: Due to the Bugster Virus in Emu's DNA, he is able to separate into two different Riders, though so far, this ability is exclusive to Mighty Brothers XX.

Devices

 * Gamer Driver - Transformation device.
 * Rider Gashat - Transformation trinkets.
 * Kimewaza Slot Holder - Carrier strap for the Rider Gashats.
 * Robot Gamer - Ex-Aid's Level 3 support robot.
 * Burger Gamer - Ex-Aid's Level 4 support robot.
 * Hunter Gamer - Ex-Aid's Level 5 support robot.
 * Pac Gamer - Ex-Aid's Pac Adventure support robot.
 * Game Scope -

Weapons

 * Gashacon Breaker - Standard sidearm weapon, can be a hammer or a sword.
 * Gashacon Sword - Brave's primary blade weapon that Ex-Aid borrows.
 * Gekitotsu Smasher - Robot Action Gamer Level 3's personal weapon.
 * Trick Flywheels - Sports Action Gamer Level 3's personal weapons.
 * Dragon Fang - Hunter Action Gamer Level 5 (Dragon Fang/Full Dragon)'s personal weapon.
 * Dragon Blade and Dragon Gun - Hunter Action Gamer Level 5 Full Dragon's personal weapon.
 * Gashacon Key Slasher - Double Action Gamer Level X(X) and Maximum Gamer Level 99's personal weapon.
 * Daidaimaru - Gaim Gamer's personal weapon.
 * Handle-Ken - Drive Gamer's personal weapon.

Vehicles

 * Kamen Rider Lazer Bike Gamer Level 2/Bike Gamer - Lazer's Rider Machine Mode that Ex-Aid can use to ride. Until his death, shortly after a dying Lazer gave Ex-Aid his Gamer Driver and Bakusou Bike Gashat for Ex-Aid's use as his personal Rider Machine.
 * Sports Gamer - Secondary Level 3 support robot/Rider Machine summoned by the Shakariki Sports Gashat. Formerly belonged to Kamen Rider Genm.

Ghost Eyecon
This Eyecon makes an appearance in the finale of Kamen Rider Ghost and in Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Rider. This Eyecon allows Ghost to transform into Ex-Aid Damashii.

Relationships

 * Seito University Hospital CR
 * Asuna Karino/Poppy Pippopapo: Asuna is a close ally for Emu and mostly acts as his main assistant nurse. He still calls Asuna by that name even when she is Poppi.
 * Hiiro Kagami: Emu and Hiiro develop a rivalry relationship as both have polar opposite ways on taking care of patients. Hiiro also becomes the second reason why Emu decided to not quit for becoming Ex-Aid. Hiiro in return sees Emu with animosity and sees his presence as an Intern and a No Thank You. However, Emu indirectly helped Hiiro to regain his confidence in his skill as Genius surgeon, while Hiiro also acts as a senior to Emu, once helping him to escape from Genm Zombie Gamer Level X's Critical Dead (but he still takes Emu's Gashats away as punishment). Emu also appears to have gained some respect for Hiiro when he agreed to help perform cancer surgery on a patient while he was curing the same patient's game disease.
 * Haima Kagami: Haima is a senior for Emu. Although Emu respects him, Haima initially acts tough towards him, although this is only a coy.
 * Taiga Hanaya: Emu and Taiga also developed a rivalry. However, Taiga is the only doctor that Emu won't get close into unless they encounter the same problem. Taiga also seems to despise Emu, although he does call him by his title, Genius Gamer. Taiga is one of the first to discover that Emu has game disease.
 * Kiriya Kujo: Emu was initially reluctant to get close to Kiriya. But ironically, Emu is the only one who believes Kiriya despite the many lies he'd given to him, which was for Emu's own benefit. Emu eventually felt that he got to understand Kiriya, but due to his death, Emu became enraged when he realized that Kuroto stole Kiriya's weapon for his own use.
 * Genm Corp.
 * Kuroto Dan: Emu had great trust towards Kuroto, unaware that Kuroto is his nemesis, Genm, until he finally revealed himself once he gathered all battle data from the doctor Kamen Riders, as Emu and three other doctor Riders are too late to notice and stop Kuroto's scheme. Later, Emu acts hostile towards him because Kuroto kills Kiriya, then a Bugster who befriended humans like Burgermon Burgster.
 * Graphite: Emu has been seen as Graphite's number one nemesis as Emu is the only Kamen Rider who is mostly able to take care of Bugsters easily. Especially, when Graphite infects his idol, Kyotaro Hinata. Ultimately, Emu destroyed Graphite with the help of his fellow Doctor Riders.
 * Parad: Parad took an interest in Emu. He at first mocked Emu that life is like a game and once humans die, it's game over for them (they can't come back). However, upon seeing Emu's determination to save lives, Parad gives him a blank Gashat, wanting to observe his fate. After Emu created the Mighty Brothers XX Gashat, Parad said that Emu is really exciting.
 * Ministry of Health
 * Kyotaro Hinata : Emu highly respects Kyotaro, to the point of debt-like respect because Kyotaro was the one who saved his life 16 years ago. In return, Kyotaro helps Emu by giving him some advice regarding his Doctor idealism.

Portrayal

 * Emu Hojo is portrayed by Hiroki Iijima (飯島 寛騎). As a child, Emu is portrayed by Rai Takahashi (髙橋 來). As Kamen Rider Ex-Aid, his suit actor is Satoshi Fujita (藤田 慧) in Level 1 & X, Seiji Takaiwa (高岩 成二) in Level 2, 3, 5 & XX R, and Jun Watanabe (渡辺 淳) in Level XX L.