Asahi's head was heavy on his shoulders, and his legs didn't seem to want to work anymore. Ace, recognizing his distress, knew they couldn't risk staying any longer. He moved with surprising speed, carefully scooping Asahi into his arms.
Asahi groaned, his body limp against Ace's. The armor creaked and groaned with every movement. Ace adjusted his grip, supporting Asahi's weight as he made his way through the back streets. He needed to find a safe place, somewhere to rest.
He spotted a shadowed alcove tucked between two buildings. It wasn't ideal, but it offered some concealment from prying eyes. Ace gently lowered Asahi, easing him against the cool brick wall. The young man slumped there, his head lolling to the side, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Ace hovered, concern etched on his face. He took a quick look at Asahi. The transformation was a danger to the human body.
"Asahi, are you okay?" Ace asked, his voice laced with worry.
Asahi's eyes flickered open, unfocused and glazed with exhaustion. He blinked slowly, trying to get his bearings. A weak smile tugged at his lips. "Ugh… I feel like I'm in a sauna…"
The words were slurred, barely audible above the distant wail of sirens. Ace knew he had to act quickly. Every second that Asahi remained in that armor, he was depleting the energy. He reached forward, his fingers finding the release mechanism on Gaim's Sengoku Driver.
The Gaim transformation dissolved. Ace pulls the mouthpiece of Mach's helmet up and back. A thick cloud of steam billowed out, obscuring Asahi's face. The air around them shimmered.
"Phew..." Ace let out a breath.
Ace tilted his head slightly, peering through the dissipating vapor. "Does that feel better?"
Asahi simply nodded, his eyes closed, his expression a mask of weary relief. Even that small movement seemed to take everything out of him.
"Okay, that's great… now you need to cancel the transformation," Ace told him, his tone firm but gentle. "I cannot cancel the transformation because this belt belongs to you, not me. Come on, kid. You can do it."
With a visible effort, Asahi reached for the Mach Driver, his fingers fumbling with the release latch. Finally, he managed to pull out the Signal Mach. [Click!] The armor around him disappeared in another puff of steam.
He felt drained. Yet, there was something else, a kind of satisfaction he couldn't deny. Wielding such power, even for a short time, was exhilarating.
"Was that how it feels?" Asahi asked, his voice thin.
Ace's expression softened. He knew that feeling, the rush of power, the almost addictive pull of the Rider systems. "Yeah," he confirmed, offering a small, understanding smile.
Ace crouched and helped Asahi up, supporting most of his weight. "Easy now."
Asahi leaned heavily against him, wobbling slightly. He looked at Ace, noticing the lack of strain on his face. "How come you're… you look fine?"
Ace shrugged, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Practice," he said simply. "I've been doing this longer. Plus, I try to keep my body in shape. You need to train yourself up. You just used that power for the first time, so it takes a lot from you."
Ace watched him carefully. "The Mach Driver is tough on the user, too. Not life-threatening, but… judging by how you are now, I'd say you'd be able to last maybe ninety seconds in intense combat."
"Ninety seconds?" Asahi looked horrified, then squared his shoulders, a spark of determination igniting in his eyes. "I'll train, then! I'll train the hardest I've ever trained before!"
Ace grinned, his earlier worry fading. "That's the spirit."
Asahi's face lit up. "Wait, so that Mach Driver... you gave it to me? Does that mean you finally accept me?!"
Ace's hand shot out, knocking Asahi lightly on the head. "No, you idiot!"
Ace frowned, his mind racing. He didn't give Asahi the Mach Driver. How did it appear? He remembered the moment, just before the belt materialized, a mysterious light emitted from his body. Could that have been a factor? It shot towards Asahi, and boom, Mach Driver.
And it wasn't just the Signal Bike, now that he thought about it. The Sengoku Driver practically appeared out of nowhere, offering him new combat opportunities.
Could there be something special about me? Ace considered. He remembered how Narutaki was impressed by his ability to use different Kamen Riders. Now a new rider is born and inspired by him.
He couldn't spend time worrying about that now. Ace needed to handle the situation with Asahi. It was far more pressing than analyzing his own mysterious… aura? Whatever it was, it could wait.
"Forget it. Let's just get you something to drink," Ace said, shaking his head slightly. "You look like you're about to pass out."
Asahi's face brightened at the offer. "Yes, please!" He was clearly parched.
They stumbled towards the nearest vending machine. Ace punched in a few coins and selected a sports drink, handing it to the fledgling Rider. Asahi cracked open the can, gulping down the liquid. Ace purchased his favorite Black Coffee.
They settled on a nearby park bench, the cool metal a welcome relief against Asahi's overheated skin. Asahi sat slumped, letting the caffeine seep into his muscles. Ace watched him. He was eager to help people. But being a Kamen Rider has major responsibilities, and Asahi needs to know this.
"This is amazing, Ace-san!" Asahi exclaimed, his voice still a little shaky but brimming with excitement. "With this power, I can finally become a true hero! I can help everyone!"
Ace frowned, the weight of his own experiences pressing down on him. "Don't go broadcasting that you have the armor, Asahi," he cautioned, his voice low and serious. "You need to be careful. You worked with me to take down that Crow Imagin. That means you're a vigilante now. You could get in trouble with the Pro Heroes."
The grin vanished from Asahi's face, replaced by a dawning realization. "Oh…" He hadn't thought of that. In his enthusiasm, he'd completely forgotten the legal implications of his actions. The Pro Heroes. The rules. He'd been so focused on saving Natsumi that he hadn't considered the consequences.
"But… but I had to save Natsumi!" Asahi protested, his voice laced with defensiveness. "I don't regret what I did!"
Ace sighed. "I know, I get it. But still. This isn't a game. Think long and hard about this if you want to continue as a Kamen Rider. It carries responsibilities."
Ace then told Asahi about his mission to stop Dai-Shocker, explaining he was from another world and that the Imagin are just one piece of a much larger, far more threatening puzzle. He described the stakes involved, stressing that continuing as a Kamen Rider would make Asahi a target, potentially costing him his life.
Asahi listened intently, absorbing the information. He'd assumed Ace was simply a hero with a cool Quirk. He looked at Ace, his mind spinning with the new reality. "Kamen Rider? Is that like…your hero name?"
Ace shook his head, explaining that Kamen Rider was more than just a name or a power. He explained that Kamen Riders are warriors, protectors of time and space. He described their origins, the technology they wield, and the battles they fought.
Ace summarized Kamen Riders are not unique to his world, they have existed in many worlds. Ace said that they are the heroes that stood up for what is right.
Asahi listened with wide eyes, the scope of Ace's explanation blowing his mind. He looked at Ace, then at his own hands. It was a lot to take in, but one thing remained clear: he had a choice to make. A serious choice, with deadly consequences.
"Then I'm in!" Asahi declared, his voice ringing with newfound conviction. "I want to help! No… I have to help!"
Ace raised an eyebrow, surprised by Asahi's immediate decision. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, testing the young man's resolve. "This isn't something you can just jump into lightly."
Asahi met Ace's gaze, his eyes shining with an intensity that belied his earlier exhaustion. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," he stated firmly. "I've always wanted to be a hero, ever since I was a kid, like All Might. But… but hearing about the legacy, the history of the Kamen Riders… it's like a whole new level of awesome! If you let me, I will live up to it." He then added, "Plus, if what you say is true about the Mach Driver, about Go Shijima… then I need to honor his name."
"Alright," Ace said slowly, his voice firm. "But if you're going to be a Rider, you need to understand this is a life or death situation. You can't run into battle without a plan, and you need to be smart, and listen to me or someone else."
Asahi's face broke into a beaming smile. "I promise!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "I won't let you down!"
Ace nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. It was a lot of responsibility to put on a kid, but he needed all the help he could get. "Alright, then. I'll be relying on you, Asahi."
Asahi's chest swelled with pride at Ace's words, a spark of something new igniting in his eyes. All he wanted was acceptance. "I'll do my best, Ace-senpai!" He declared, puffing out his chest a little. "I promise to follow your lead and do whatever it takes!"
The two then realized they were now on the same side. Both had the drive to protect others and knew what it felt like to want to be a true hero. Now, Ace just had to make sure Asahi got to be a hero and lived.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz