A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite Vol 2 Ch 80

A few days trickled by. Inside Starry, Ace polished glasses behind the counter, his movements efficient and practiced. Sunlight spilled through the windows, painting the café in warm hues, but the usual bustle was absent. Ami was out, picking up supplies from the market. The regulars hadn’t begun their slow march toward caffeine and gossip. Only Ace and Asahi occupied the space, an oasis of calm before the day truly got going.

[NEWS REPORT]

The television flickered to life, showcasing the aftermath of the Yokohama incident. The screen showed images of overturned cars, shattered buildings, and weary Pro Heroes tending to the injured. A newscaster stood amidst the chaos, reporting on the rampaging Inves and Nomu, as well as the mysterious appearance of Kamen Rider Mach. The video footage showed the new Rider briefly engaging with the Inoshishi before destroying it.

Ace glanced at Asahi, who was perched on a stool near the counter, his gaze fixed on the screen. He was wearing his agency work clothes and looked tired. He had been working hard at the agency with Mt Lady.

"You handled yourself well out there," Ace stated, placing a newly cleaned glass on the rack.

Asahi blinked, startled by the sudden praise. "Huh? Oh, you mean… in Yokohama?" He scratched the back of his head, a sheepish expression on his face. "I just… I saw people needed help. I had to do something."

Ace studied Asahi’s expression, trying to gauge his sincerity. He did act without thinking... "Aren't you expecting me to be mad?" Asahi’s eyes were wide with apprehension.

Ace shrugged. "Not really. You were reckless, yeah. Could've gotten yourself killed. But you did save everyone and defeated the Inves. Can't fault you for that." He paused, leaning against the counter. "Just… know your limits next time, okay?"

He reminds me a lot of myself, a long time ago, Ace thought.

Asahi’s face softened, and a genuine smile spread across his lips. He slid off the stool and walked towards the counter. "Ace…" He hesitated, then bowed his head slightly. "Thank you. I'll do my best. I promise." The sincerity in Asahi's voice moved Ace. He really is a good kid, Ace thought.

Asahi's face lit up with curiosity. "Speaking of doing your best… how did that thing with Helheim go?"

Ace's expression turned serious. "Fruitful, actually. I found what I was looking for." He glanced around, lowering his voice. "I found a base belonging to Dai-Shocker inside the forest."

Asahi's eyes widened. "Whoa, seriously? Are we going to attack it? Level it? Show those guys who's boss!" Asahi asked, raising a fist in the air.

Ace shook his head, his face grim. "Too dangerous, Asahi. Not yet, at least. But, yeah, we'll need to shut it down someday. For now, we have to be patient."

Ace pushed away from the counter, walking towards a back room. "Besides, I managed to pick up a few… spoils, you could say, when I cleared out of there," Ace said, giving a little smirk.

Asahi, intrigued, followed Ace into the back. Ace gestured towards two bulky suitcases placed near a stack of coffee bean sacks. Ace knelt and flicked open the latches, revealing the contents. Asahi gasped, his eyes widening.

"Genesis Drivers," Ace said, lifting one of the devices. The white and black metal shone in the dim light, exuding power. Inside the suitcases, two distinct glowing fruits laid nestled in foam: a vibrant lemon, and a soft peach. "Along with a few Energy Lockseeds."

Asahi practically vibrated with excitement. "Amazing! What are they? Some kind of new power-up?"

"In a way," Ace said, lifting the lemon energy lockseed. "These are Genesis Drivers. Combined with the Energy Lockseeds, they can grant me access to new, much stronger armor."

Asahi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wait, new armor?! That's so cool! Can I see? Can I try one?" Asahi practically bounced on the balls of his feet, the hero-fanatic taking over. "Can I use one? I could use some stronger gear."

Ace smirked, setting down the driver. "Sure, Asahi. Knock yourself out." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "If you don't mind wearing female armor."

Asahi blinked, tilting his head. "Huh?"

Ace gestured to the Energy Lockseeds. "See, I'm taking the Lemon Energy Lockseed. It'll let me become a super form of Kamen Rider Baron."

Ace pointed to the remaining case, which housed the peach. "But this one? The Peach Energy Lockseed? It transforms the user into Kamen Rider Marika. A female Rider."

Asahi's face fell, his excitement deflating like a punctured balloon. He looked at the Peach Energy Lockseed, then back at Ace, his expression a mix of disappointment and mild horror. "Female… armor?"

The image of himself clad in frilly, feminine-looking armor seemed to flash through Asahi’s mind. A shiver went down his spine. "Oh. Uh… no thanks. I'm good." He backed away from the suitcases, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "Maybe I’ll just stick with what I've got."

Ace nods. “Alright. Your choice.” He closed the suitcases and hauled them towards the back, stowing them away out of sight. He dusted off his hands and turned back to Asahi.

"So, listen," Ace began, changing the subject. "Are you doing anything this weekend?"

Asahi, still recovering from the near-feminine-armor experience, looked up, a question forming on his lips. "This weekend? Nothing planned, no. Why do you ask?"

Ace reached into his pocket and pulled out two sleek, holographic tickets, displaying them with a flourish. "I got these from a friend." He tapped one of the tickets with his finger.

"The I-Island Expo. I had an extra, and I figured… why not invite you?" Ace admits. "I was planning on inviting Yu, or maybe even Ami, but… well, Yu has that promotional project for her agency all of a sudden. And Ami said something about needing to be at the cafe, because there would be no one else there."

Asahi’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. "I-Island Expo?! Seriously?" He had heard about it from the news and online forums. The expo was a legend among hero fans. It had the latest tech, the latest news on Quirk studies, and the most advanced research. It was basically Mecca for someone like him. His face lit up. "Yes! Yes, I would love to!"

Ace smirked at Asahi's enthusiasm. "Good, because we're not going there for purely entertainment, all right?" The lighthearted tone vanished, replaced by a steely focus. "While I was snooping around in Helheim, I found out that Dai-Shocker's base there… it’s connected to another base. And that other base is on I-Island."

Asahi blinked, trying to process the information. "I-Island? But that's… it's a center of scientific innovation! Are you saying…?"

Ace nodded grimly. "That the Yggdrasill Corporation isn't the only corporation in bed with Dai-Shocker. That other corporation could be a front for them? Maybe. That's what I think."

Asahi’s face paled. The I-Island Expo wasn't just a fun trip. It was a dangerous mission into enemy territory. He clenched his fists, his initial excitement replaced by a surge of determination. "So, what? Are we going to I-Island to investigate?”

"Yeah. That's right. Get information and figure out what Dai-Shocker is up to there," Ace confirmed, his gaze hardening.

Asahi's eyes burned with a newfound resolve. “I understand!” Without another word, he whirled around and sprinted towards the front door, his voice echoing through the cafe. “I’ll start preparing!”

Ace watched Asahi disappear out the door. He sighed. This is going to be a long weekend.