Ace weaved through the morning traffic on his Trychaser 2000, his mind focused on the task at hand. Now that he knew the Maggia had their sights set on Midtown High, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
As he approached the school, Ace spotted Detective Watanabe's car parked across the street, her keen eyes scanning the area. He resisted the urge to acknowledge her presence, knowing it was best to maintain a low profile. Ace was grateful for Yuri's support, even if they couldn't openly collaborate.
Pulling into the student parking lot, Ace quickly secured his bike and made his way towards the school entrance.
Ace entered Midtown High, his eyes scanning the bustling hallway. He spotted Nico and Berto by their lockers and made his way over to them.
"Hey, guys," Ace greeted, trying to sound casual. "What's up?"
Nico eyed him suspiciously. "You're here early. What's going on?"
Berto chimed in, "Yeah, man, you're usually running late."
Ace hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I, uh, just had some things to take care of before class." He glanced around nervously, hoping Nico and Berto wouldn't press him further.
Ace made his way through the morning classes, trying to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the weight of his secret mission. As the lunch bell rang, he met up with Nico and Berto at their usual spot in the cafeteria.
"So, what's the plan for today?" Berto asked, his eyes scanning the crowded room.
Nico shrugged. "Same old, same old. Unless you've got something exciting up your sleeve, Ace?"
Ace hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Well, actually—"
"Hey, guys!" a familiar voice called out.
The trio turned to see Peter Parker approaching them, a friendly smile on his face.
"Mind if I join you?" Peter asked, clutching his lunch tray.
Ace brightened, grateful for the interruption. "Not at all! Come on, pull up a chair."
Peter settled in next to Ace, and the four of them began to chat, the earlier tension momentarily forgotten. Nico and Berto regaled Peter with tales of their latest video game exploits, while Ace listened intently, his mind still focused on the task at hand.
As they ate, Ace couldn't help but steal glances towards the school's entrance, wondering if Detective Watanabe was still keeping watch.
Ace's eyes narrowed as he spotted the group of men entering the school, their janitor uniforms doing little to disguise their true identities. He recognized them as the Maggia members he had confronted weeks earlier, the ones responsible for the arson at the local restaurant.
"Guys, I need to excuse myself for a bit," Ace said, his voice low and urgent. "There's something I need to take care of."
Nico and Berto exchanged a puzzled glance, but before they could question him, Ace was already on his feet, weaving through the crowded cafeteria. Peter watched, his brow furrowed with concern, as Ace disappeared through the double doors.
Ace moved swiftly through the hallways, his eyes trained on the Maggia members as they made their way towards the boiler room. He knew he had to be careful, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. Reaching the door to the boiler room, Ace paused, his hand on the handle as he took a deep breath, preparing himself for what lay ahead.
Ace peered through the window of the boiler room door, his eyes narrowing as he watched the group of Maggia members tampering with the school's heating system. They moved with a sense of purpose, clearly intent on sabotaging the boiler.
"This should do the trick," one of the Maggia members said, tightening a valve. "By the time the school realizes what's happening, it'll be too late."
"Yeah, and with the boiler out of commission, the whole place will have to shut down," another member chimed in. "That'll send a message to the principal not to mess with the Maggia."
The group shared a sinister chuckle, unaware of the watchful eyes observing their actions.
Without hesitation, Ace pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Detective Watanabe's number. The line connected, and Ace spoke in a hushed tone.
Yuri Watanabe answered the phone, her voice sharp. "This is Detective Watanabe. Who is this?"
"Hello, Detective. My name is Ace," he replied, his voice hushed. "I'm at Midtown High, and I've spotted some suspicious-looking people tampering with the boiler room."
Yuri's eyes widened, and she gripped the phone tighter. "Stay where you are, Ace. I'm on my way." She quickly signaled to her partner, barking orders to dispatch backup and head to the school immediately.
Ace glanced nervously at the boiler room door, his heart pounding. "They look like they're up to no good, Detective. I think they're planning to sabotage the school's heating system."
"Don't engage them, Ace," Yuri warned. "Wait for me and the backup to arrive. This could be more dangerous than you realize."
Ace's fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles turning white. "I can't just stand by and do nothing, Detective. I have to do something."
Yuri's voice was stern. "Ace, I need you to stay put. Your safety is my priority right now. Just keep an eye on them and let me handle this."
Ace grips his phone tightly, determination etched on his face. "Don't worry, Detective. I can handle this." He ends the call before Yuri can protest further.
Quietly, Ace slips through the door, his footsteps light and stealthy. He approaches the closest Maggia member from behind, his movements quick and precise. With a swift strike to the back of the neck, the Maggia thug crumples to the ground, unconscious.
The sudden commotion catches the other Maggia members off guard. They whirl around, eyes widening at the sight of their fallen comrade.
"What the—?" one of them exclaims, reaching for his weapon.
Ace doesn't hesitate. He darts forward, his body flowing like water as he dodges the Maggia's clumsy attacks. With a series of well-placed blows, he takes down another thug, leaving the remaining two scrambling to regroup.
The Maggia members retaliate, their fists and kicks fueled by desperation. Ace weaves through their assault, his agility and reflexes allowing him to stay one step ahead. He lands a devastating kick to the first Maggia's gut, doubling him over in pain.
The final Maggia member, a burly man with a scarred face, lunges at Ace, his meaty fists swinging wildly. Ace ducks and sidesteps, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the Maggia thug overextends, Ace seizes the opportunity, delivering a flurry of punches that leave the man reeling.
The sound of sirens in the distance spurs Ace into action. He quickly ties up the incapacitated Maggia members, ensuring they won't escape. Just as he finishes, the door to the boiler room bursts open, and Detective Watanabe rushes in, her gun drawn.
"Freeze!"
Yuri Watanabe is surprised to find all the Maggia members already incapacitated when she bursts into the boiler room. She quickly holsters her weapon and turns to the young man standing amidst the tied-up criminals.
"You again? I thought I told you to keep yourself out of trouble," Yuri says, recognizing Ace from their previous encounter at the café.
Ace offers a sheepish grin. "Hehe... Sorry, Detective. I couldn't just stand by and let them do whatever they wanted."
Detective Yuri Watanabe watches as the police officers swiftly arrest the incapacitated Maggia members. She turns to Ace, her brow furrowed in surprise.
"So, you're working with Kamen Rider, huh?" Yuri asks, her tone a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Ace rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, not exactly. I was actually saved by Kamen Rider once before, and ever since then, I've been a big fan. When I heard he might need help, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Yuri considers his explanation, impressed by his bravery but concerned about his safety. "I see. Just try to stay out of trouble, okay? This is dangerous work, and I don't want you getting hurt."
Ace surveys the captured Maggia members, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Detective Watanabe, will the police be able to catch the leader of this group? I have a feeling their boss is Silvio Manfredi."
Yuri nods grimly. "We suspect Manfredi is behind this too, but we don't have any solid evidence to link him directly. It's going to be difficult to take him down without proof."
Ace's eyes light up with determination. "What if Kamen Rider could sneak into Manfredi's lair and get that evidence for you?"
Yuri shakes her head. "Even if Kamen Rider could obtain that kind of evidence, it wouldn't stand up in court. We need to do this by the book."
Ace's shoulders slump, disappointment etched on his face. "But isn't there anything we can do to deal with Manfredi and his organization?"
Yuri sighs heavily. "I wish there was, but without the proper legal means, our hands are tied. Manfredi is a slippery one, and he's got the resources to avoid prosecution."
Ace sulks, his shoulders slumped in disappointment. Detective Yuri Watanabe observes his dejected expression and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"I know it's frustrating, Ace, but the law has its limitations," Yuri says, her voice soft and understanding. "The best thing you can do is lead these kinds of problems to the police. We'll handle it from there."
Ace looks up at her, his brow furrowed. "But Kamen Rider could have made a difference."
Yuri shakes her head gently. "I appreciate your desire to help, but you need to focus on being a regular high school student. Leave the heroics to Kamen Rider."
Ace nods reluctantly, realizing the wisdom in Yuri's words. "Okay, Detective. I'll try to stay out of trouble."
"Good," Yuri says with a small smile. "Now, go enjoy your school life. You've got your whole future ahead of you."
Ace returns to his friends, Nico and Berto, who greet him with wide-eyed amazement.
"Dude, did you really take down those mob guys?" Berto exclaims, his voice filled with awe.
Nico elbows him playfully. "Of course he did, you dummy. Ace is a total badass."
Ace chuckles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aw, come on, guys. It was nothing."
Berto shakes his head in disbelief. "Nothing? Dude, you're like a superhero or something!"
Nico grins mischievously. "Yeah, Ace. Maybe you should start wearing a mask and fighting crime on the side."
The three friends laugh, their camaraderie and playful banter filling the air as they head back to school, leaving the Maggia confrontation behind.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz