A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite Vol 2 Ch 75

The Lurkers Hero Agency wasn't quite what Asahi expected. He imagined a towering skyscraper, a monument to heroism that scraped the sky. Instead, it was a modest, four-story building, nestled among shops and restaurants. Still, it was a hero agency, Mt. Lady's hero agency, no less. Asahi grinned, his excitement bubbling.

The start of his internship had been met with disbelief, then envy, by his classmates. When the assignment roster went up, and Asahi's name was beside The Lurkers, the collective groan could have powered a small city. Interning for Mt. Lady was a golden ticket. Many thought his Quirk would land him at Recovery Girl's office.

He straightened his crisp, new uniform and pushed open the glass door. The lobby was clean and bright, with posters of Mt. Lady in various heroic poses adorning the walls. Asahi resisted the urge to snap a photo.

A woman sat behind the front desk, her expression warm and welcoming. "You must be Asahi," she said, her voice cheerful. "We've been expecting you."

Asahi beamed. "Yes, ma'am! Hikaru Asahi, reporting for duty!"

The receptionist chuckled. "No need to be so formal, dear. I'm Hana. Mt. Lady is eager to meet you. Let me just give her a call." She pressed a button on the phone. "Takeyama-san, Asahi is here."

Before Asahi could even take a look at a Mt. Lady bobblehead on the desk, a voice boomed from the hallway. "Asahi! Welcome to The Lurkers!"

Mt. Lady strode into the lobby, her smile as radiant as her celebrity status. She was even taller in person. "It's great to finally meet you!"

Asahi bowed, nearly tripping over his own feet. "Takeyama-san! It's an honor to be here. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I promise to learn as much as I can and not be a bother!"

Mt. Lady laughed, her hand finding Asahi's shoulder. "Relax, kid! We're gonna have a blast. Now, come on, let me introduce you to the rest of the team!"

She leads Asahi towards the elevator, her high heels CLACKING against the tile floor. "We're not exactly a HUGE operation, but we've got some seriously talented heroes working here."

The elevator opened onto a bustling floor, filled with desks and computers. A few other interns sat hunched over paperwork, while one struggled to operate a vacuum cleaner. Mt. Lady waved casually. "Hey, guys! Say hi to our new recruit!"

A chorus of tired "Hi's" greeted them.

Mt. Lady guides Asahi past the desks and into a spacious office. Two figures stood inside: Kamui Woods, whose wooden features seemed as stoic as ever, and Edgeshot, his gray hair as sharp as his gaze.

"Asahi, meet Kamui Woods and Edgeshot," Mt. Lady announced. "They're, like, the brains of the operation. Kamui Woods, Edgeshot, this is Hikaru Asahi, our newest intern!"

Kamui Woods inclined his head. "Welcome, Asahi. We trust you'll find your time here productive."

Edgeshot simply nodded, his expression unreadable.

Asahi couldn't help but gulp. He had read about these two heroes. "It's an honor to meet you both! I'll do my best!"

He glances at the other interns and back at Mt. Lady. "Um, will I be doing... desk work and cleaning, too, Takeyama-san?"

Mt. Lady's smile widened. "Nah, that's not really your style, is it?" She winks, and Asahi's face turns red. "You're coming with me, kiddo. We're going on patrol!" She glances at her watch. "And we're already late! Let's move, rookie!"

Mt. Lady grabs Asahi's arm and practically drags him back towards the elevator. "Time to show you what real hero work is all about!" The doors slide open, and they step out into the sunshine of Musutafu.

Days turned into a routine of shadowing Mt. Lady, a whirlwind of flashing cameras and towering presence. Asahi found himself relegated to cleanup duty more often than not. A stray punch from a villain demolishes a hot dog stand? Asahi heals the vendor's bruised arm. A collapsing building showers debris on fleeing citizens? Asahi mends scraped knees and elbows.

It was rewarding, sure, seeing the grateful smiles of those he helped. But a tiny voice inside him, a voice that idolized heroes in shining armor, yearned for more. He wanted to be on the front lines, trading blows with villains, not just patching up the aftermath.

His hand instinctively reached for his belt, where the Mach Driver lay hidden beneath his uniform. He imagined the wind whipping through his hair, the exhilaration of high-speed combat, the satisfaction of delivering justice with a well-aimed Zenrin Shooter blast.

But then reality crashed down. He remembered the hushed whispers circulating around the agency, the murmurs about a new vigilante with a penchant for speed and a futuristic motorcycle. It was him. Every bone in his body wanted to become Kamen Rider Mach again, yet he knows that he has to abide by Ace's rules. The words are still fresh in his memory: "Only use it when I'm around."

"Something on your mind, Asahi?" Mt. Lady's voice pulled him from his thoughts. They strolled down a bustling street, the scent of freshly baked bread filling the air.

Asahi sighed, kicking a stray pebble. "I just... I wish I could do more, Takeyama-san. All I'm doing is patching people up, and not in a cool, doctor way."

Mt. Lady chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Hey, don't sell yourself short, kid. What you're doing is important. Besides, I have seen many people come up to you and thanking you for your healing."

Asahi blinked, surprised. "Really?"

Mt. Lady nodded, her expression softening. "People may not remember the hero who threw the winning punch, but they sure remember the one who eased their pain. You're making a real difference, Asahi. Don't forget that."

A group of children ran past, one of them tripping and scraping his knee. Before Mt. Lady could react, Asahi was already kneeling beside the boy, his hands glowing with a soft, green light. The boy's tears subsided, replaced by a wide-eyed expression of wonder.

"Wow," he whispered. "It doesn't hurt anymore!"

Asahi smiled, helping the boy to his feet. "All better now! Go on, get back to your friends."

Asahi looks up and saw the adults, giving them a grateful smile. They start to thank him. Asahi starts to feel happy.

Mt. Lady clapped him on the back. "See? You're a natural, Asahi. A real people person."

Asahi smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. Maybe being a hero wasn't all about flashy moves and earth-shattering battles. Maybe, just maybe, he could find his own way to make a difference, one healing touch at a time.

"Thanks, Takeyama-san. I appreciate that."

The newfound contentment didn't last. Yu's phone BUZZED [VIBRATE]. Her face tightened as she read the message. The earlier lightheartedness vanished, replaced by a hard, professional edge.

"This can't be happening," she muttered, her voice low and dangerous.

Asahi's stomach dropped. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Her eyes, usually bright with amusement, now burned with fury. "Those damn monsters... the ones from the sports meet. They're back. Inves are back!"

The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. He felt a surge of cold dread. He knows the Inves meant something sinister was coming.

"Where?" Asahi asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yu’s jaw clenched. "Reports are flooding in, various locations. Musutafu's Central Business District is getting hit hard."

Without another word, Yu grabbed Asahi's arm, her grip surprisingly strong. She launched into a sprint, weaving through the crowded sidewalks with practiced ease. Asahi struggled to keep up, his mind racing.

They arrive at the epicenter of the destruction. The sight that greeted them was worse than anything he could've imagined. Buildings were scarred and ruined, and the air filled with smoke. Inves swarmed the streets, their grotesque forms tearing through cars and terrorizing civilians. But it wasn't just Helheim's monsters. Hulking figures with exposed brains and multiple limbs lumbered through the chaos, smashing everything in their path.

"Nomu?!" Yu exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief. She spat out the word like a curse. "What in the world is going on?!"

Asahi's eyes widened in disbelief. He has only heard of them in the news before, and to see them now? It felt so surreal. He looks at the monster and feels despair. He couldn't help in this state. He was weak.

"Those... those are...!" Asahi sputtered, his voice trembling. "This is bad. This is really, REALLY bad!"