Back in the present, the aftermath of the Inves attack cast a long, grim shadow over U.A. High. The once vibrant stadium was now a scene of disarray. Debris littered the stands, emergency vehicles flashed, and the air hung heavy with the smell of smoke and ozone. Pro Heroes, their costumes torn and faces smudged with soot, assisted in the evacuation and treated the injured.
The immediate threat had been quelled. The last of the Inves had been defeated, but the questions remained, hanging in the air like a shroud.
In a secure conference room deep within U.A., the school's faculty gathered. All Might, his towering frame seeming diminished, stood alongside stalwarts like Midnight, Aizawa, Present Mic, Nezu, Recovery Girl, Vlad King, Power Loader, Cementoss, and Snipe. Each face bore the weight of the day's events.
"Report," Nezu commanded, his voice carrying an unusual somberness.
All Might stepped forward, his usual booming tone subdued. "The immediate situation is under control. All the monsters within the stadium have been neutralized."
Midnight ran a hand through her disheveled hair. "Extensive damage to the facilities, Principal Nezu. Several students and audience members sustained injuries, some critical. But thankfully," she paused, a flicker of relief in her eyes, "no fatalities."
Recovery Girl nodded grimly. "I'm tending to the most severe cases. Young Mineta is unconscious, but stable. He'll make a full recovery."
Aizawa, his expression as perpetually weary as ever, spoke next. "The students are safe, but shaken. Class 1-A and 1-B are being debriefed and receiving counseling."
Present Mic, usually a beacon of uncontainable energy, was uncharacteristically subdued. "It… it was a riot out there, Principal. Total chaos. Those things," he shuddered, "they were relentless."
Nezu steepled his paws together, his gaze sharp and analytical. "The fact that this happened at all is deeply troubling. Our security protocols are supposed to be airtight."
Power Loader grunted. "We upgraded the defenses after the villain attack a few weeks back. Installed new sensors, reinforced the perimeter…"
Cementoss added, "Hired additional Pro Heroes for crowd control and security. We followed every precaution."
Vlad King clenched a fist. "Yet, somehow, an army of… monsters… materialized within the very heart of U.A."
Snipe, his voice calm but laced with concern, spoke. "Whatever those things were, they weren't natural. Their movements, their aggression… it was like nothing I've ever seen."
All eyes turned to Nezu, the principal's brilliant mind already dissecting the events, searching for answers.
Nezu remained silent for a long moment, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his colleagues. Then, he spoke. "There is another… complication."
Aizawa's head tilted slightly. "Kamen Rider."
A collective murmur rippled through the room at Aizawa's words.
All Might frowned, his brow creasing. "He was present at the stadium, wasn't he? Before… all of this…"
"Indeed," Nezu confirmed, his expression unreadable. "Despite the number of Pro Heroes present, he managed to elude capture, again. A feat that is becoming increasingly… irritating."
Midnight sighed, running her hands down her arms. "That's not going to help U.A.'s reputation. A villain attack and a vigilante running wild? The press is going to have a field day."
Present Mic winced. "You can say that again. The 'listeners' are already calling for our heads. They want answers, and they want them now."
Vlad King crossed his arms. "And those monsters… what were they? I've never seen anything like it."
Nezu's eyes narrowed slightly. "That is also of great concern. The immediate aftermath will be damage control, of course. Reassure the public, address security concerns, and support those affected."
He paused, his gaze hardening. "But there's something about Kamen Rider… It's a hunch, perhaps, but his appearances seem… connected. I am not implying he caused this disaster," Nezu clarified quickly, seeing the looks of surprise on some faces, "but he knew more than he let on. His interventions, his knowledge of these 'monsters'… It's all rather suspicious."
Aizawa grunted in agreement. "He always seems to be one step ahead, appearing just when things get dicey. Convenient, to say the least."
"If only we could get him to talk," All Might muttered, frustration lacing his tone. "Maybe he's not an enemy."
Nezu chuckled softly, a hint of something unsettling in his tone. "Meeting this Kamen Rider, however, is easier said than done. That train appearing out of thin air… a perplexing event that is put on hold for now, for we need to fix the damage. And the Pro Heroes who saw it… I trust you all to keep this under wraps for the time being?"
All Might, Midnight, Aizawa, Present Mic, Recovery Girl, Vlad King, Power Loader, Cementoss, and Snipe look at each other and nod. They had to do damage control after the attack. Now wasn't the time to discuss the train that just showed up. They had a city to protect, and the public would need answers.
After the DenLiner came to a stop in a discreet alleyway, Ace hopped off the train and immediately headed back to U.A. High School to assess the damage. It seemed that everything was under control. Police and medics had already arrived, surrounding the area and tending to the injured. Seeing Yu among the crowd, Ace called out to her, "Yu!"
Yu approached, her expression a mix of concern and relief. "Ace! Are you okay? Those things—"
"I'm fine, Yu," Ace assured her, offering a tired smile. "It's over… for now."
"That Imagin... it's been taken care of?" Yu pressed, her eyes searching his.
"Yeah. It's done," Ace confirmed.
Yu sighed. "Thank goodness. What a mess. Those monsters came out of nowhere."
"I need to go," Ace said. "Ami must be worried sick."
Yu's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Ami? Oh, right, the cafe owner. Do you want me to go with you? It could be dangerous."
Ace hesitated. Having Yu, a Pro Hero, by his side would certainly be an advantage, but he also valued Ami's safety. "Are you sure? You're probably needed here."
"Nah," Yu waved a hand dismissively. "The other heroes have it covered. Besides, I want to make sure you're safe. And I have to know more about that 'train'."
Ace nodded, giving in. "Alright, let's go."
They made their way through the crowds, the sounds of sirens and worried chatter echoing around them. Ace kept his senses on high alert, scanning for any lingering threats. Yu stayed close, her presence a comforting reassurance.
They spot Ami sitting on a nearby bench, a medic examining her arm. A small bandage covered a minor cut. Ace rushed toward her, his face etched with concern. "Ami! Are you alright?"
Ami looked up, her eyes widening with relief. "Ace! Oh, thank goodness you're not hurt!"
"I'm fine, but what about you? What happened?" Ace knelt beside her, gently taking her hand.
"Just a scratch," Ami said, waving her other hand dismissively. "A kind boy helped me get away when those monsters attacked."
"Sounds like you had a good guardian angel."
"He was so brave and excited," Ami said, smiling. "He kept saying something about how lucky he is to meet Kamen Rider or something."
Ace chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you're okay." He glanced at Yu, who stood nearby, observing the scene with a curious expression. "It's been a long day," Ace said.
Ami beamed, her smile radiating warmth. "It has been, hasn't it? I'm just glad we're all safe." She glanced between Ace and Yu, her eyes crinkling with affection. "I think we should head back to Starry, maybe brew some coffee. A warm Cosmic Latte would do us all good."
Yu's face lit up at the mention of the café. "That sounds amazing, Ami," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I could really use a pick-me-up. And," she added, nudging Ace playfully, "I haven't had a chance to try that new blend you were talking about."
Ami nodded in agreement, already picturing the warm, inviting atmosphere of her café. "Perfect! It's settled then. Let's go home."
Inside a dimly lit chamber, a figure stood before a holographic display, its features obscured by shadows. The room hummed with a low, mechanical thrum, the air thick with anticipation.
"Did the Mantis Imagin succeed?" the figure asked, its voice a low rumble that echoed in the cavernous space.
Another figure emerged from the darkness, holding a Lockseed. The Summoner, the orchestrator of the Inves invasion at the U.A. Sports Festival. "Yes. The package has been safely delivered."
A sinister smile crept across the shadowed face. "Excellent. Our preparations are proceeding smoothly."
"Soon," the leader declared, turning to gaze out at the unseen world beyond their sanctuary. "Our home shall be revived. And all will kneel before the might of Dai-Shocker!"
***
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