A few days had passed since Asahi received the Mach Driver Honoh. A real Kamen Rider. The thought still made his head spin. He couldn't believe that he, Hikaru Asahi, was now part of that legacy. After learning about the Kamen Riders from Ace, he felt a burning desire to live up to the name. To be a symbol of hope, just like those heroes he admired.
That meant training. Lots of it. Asahi pushed himself relentlessly, focusing on cardio and strength. He knew his average physique was a limitation, especially with that pathetic ninety-second time limit. If he was going to be a hero, he needed to push past that. Ninety seconds wasn't enough to save anyone.
Today, he was meeting Ace at a café downtown. Not Starry—Ace had been oddly specific about that. Asahi bounced on the balls of his feet, his excitement bubbling over.
He spotted Ace through the window, already seated at a corner table. Asahi grinned and hurried inside. "Ace-sempai!" he called out, making a beeline for the table.
Ace nodded in greeting, a small smile playing on his lips. But Asahi's attention snagged on the woman sitting beside him. She had long blonde hair that cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, and her eyes were a striking violet-pink. She wore a simple cream dress, accentuating her curves. Asahi couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something familiar about her.
"Sorry I'm late," Asahi said, sliding into the empty seat across from them. "Got a little caught up with..." He flexed his arms, feigning muscles. "Training."
"That's good, Asahi," Ace says, a hint of approval coloring his tone. "You're going to need it."
The woman tilts her head, her gaze sharp and inquisitive. "So, this is the new guy you mentioned?" she asks, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
Ace nods, gesturing towards Asahi. "Yu, this is Hikaru Asahi. Asahi, this is Yu Takeyama."
Asahi's eyes widen, his mouth falling slightly open. Takeyama? The name clicked. Those violet-pink eyes, the blonde hair, the unmistakable curves... "M-Mt. Lady?" he stutters, his voice barely a whisper. His face flushes red. He couldn't believe it. Ace knew Mt. Lady?!
Ace chuckles, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah. Asahi, you can speak freely about Kamen Rider stuff. Yu knows all about it."
Yu winks, leaning forward slightly. "Pleasure to meet you, Asahi-kun. So, Ace has a sidekick now? How exciting." She taps her chin thoughtfully. "I must say, I'm a bit jealous. You seem to be a bit of a hero fanboy."
Asahi sputters, his blush intensifying. "I... I wouldn't say fanboy, exactly! It's just... well, you're Mt. Lady!" Of course, I admire her, he thinks to himself. What teenage boy doesn't?
Amazing! She is so much more stunning in person. He can't help but stare.
He tore his gaze away from Mt. Lady, forcing himself to focus. He was a Kamen Rider now, or at least on his way to becoming one. Time to act like it. Asahi straightened in his seat, trying to project an air of confidence he definitely didn't feel. "So, Ace-sempai," he began, trying for a casual tone, "what exactly are we doing here today?"
Ace's expression sobered, his eyes turning serious. "It's not just the Imagin we need to worry about, Asahi." He glanced at Yu, then back at Asahi. "The monsters at the Sports Festival? Those were Inves."
Asahi listened intently as Ace explained that the creatures at the Sports Festival were Inves, originating from Helheim Forest. Ace had stumbled upon a Crack recently, a gateway to that dangerous dimension, and warned that more could appear, unleashing more Inves into their world. These Inves can corrupt the land and turn people into monsters.
That raised the stakes considerably. Asahi already knew about the Imagin and time meddling, but an entire dimension of monsters was a completely new level of crazy.
Yu's eyes widened. "Helheim Forest? The dimension that turns ecosystems into alien jungles?" She leaned forward, her earlier playfulness gone. "That's... that's a whole different ball game. We're not just dealing with localized incidents anymore. We're talking about a potential invasion."
Asahi felt a knot forming in his stomach. The Inves alone were terrifying, but a Crack was a whole different kind of danger. This was far bigger than he imagined. "Wait, you mean that portal could just... open up anywhere?" He swallowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And those things could just pour out?"
Ace nodded grimly. "Exactly. Which is why I need to go back soon. See what's going on over there."
Asahi's eyes lit up. "Then I'm coming with you!" He blurted out, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and fear.
Ace's gaze hardened. "No, Asahi. You're not."
The words hit Asahi like a bucket of ice water. "But—"
"You're still too green," Ace interrupted, his voice firm. "Helheim is not the place for on-the-job training. It's too dangerous. You barely know how to use the Mach Driver."
Asahi bristled, his excitement replaced by frustration. "But I can help! I have my Quirk, and now I have the Mach Driver. I can fight!"
"I know you can, Asahi," Ace said, his voice softening slightly. "But this is different. I need to be able to focus on what's ahead, not on keeping you safe. And let's be honest, if things go south I can leave and go back to this world. I don't need to protect you in the middle of a forest."
Yu placed a hand on Asahi's arm, offering a reassuring smile. "He's right, Asahi-kun. You need more experience. And besides," she added, her tone teasing, "I doubt your teachers would be too happy if you suddenly went missing."
Asahi deflated slightly, the logic of their words sinking in. He hated to admit it, but they were right. He still had so much to learn. Plus, his grades would plummet if he just ditched school, and that was not an option. "Yeah, I guess..." He mumbled, his shoulders slumping. "I still have school and everything." It's hard to argue when it's the truth.
Ace's words reminded him about something else. "Speaking of school..." Asahi trailed off, suddenly remembering his upcoming internship. The deadline to pick an agency was fast approaching. He hadn't even started thinking about it.
He had been so caught up with training and his duties as a Kamen Rider that the more mundane aspects of student life had faded into the background. He had to choose a Pro Hero agency from a list of forty partners. The problem was, no one had particularly sought him out. With his late start and mediocre grades, he was hardly a top prospect.
"Actually," Yu interjected, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Asahi-kun, I've been meaning to ask. Since internship applications are due soon, why not come spend that time with my agency?"
Asahi's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "R-really? With the Lurkers?" His voice cracked, betraying his shock. "But... would that be okay? I mean, I haven't even filled out the form yet." The opportunity to intern with Mt. Lady was unreal. To learn from a Pro Hero, to get a first-hand look at the hero world, was a dream. But to do it with a celebrity hero?
Yu waved a dismissive hand. "Please, it's fine. I'm sure we can pull some strings." She winked. "Besides, you're a Kamen Rider, like Ace, so I know I can trust you." Her expression turned serious. "Plus, you have a secret identity to protect. I wouldn't want to jeopardize that by putting you in an agency where someone might get suspicious."
Ace nodded, a sense of responsibility washing over him. He felt a surge of gratitude towards Yu. "Thank you, Yu. I appreciate you taking care of him. I know he can be a handful." A twinge of guilt gnawed at him. He had dragged Asahi into this chaotic world, and it was his duty to help him navigate it.
Yu chuckled, her gaze softening as she looked at Ace. "As long as you go on a date with me, Ace, we'll be even." She winked again, her playful smirk back in place.
***
Leave a comment and review of your thoughts
Give some power stones to support this novel.
Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz