A day drifted by, marked by the rhythmic clatter of cups and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee at Starry. Ace, ever the diligent barista, moved with practiced ease, fulfilling orders, wiping down counters, and offering polite smiles to the customers. Business was booming, thanks to the buzz surrounding Kamen Rider.
Find that Imagin, Ace thought, his focus split between frothy lattes and the ever-present threat looming over Musutafu.
No luck, partner, Momotaros replied, his mental voice tinged with frustration. The damn dirt-sniffer is too good at hiding. I can't pick up a trace.
Ace sighed inwardly. The Mole Imagin was proving to be a slippery foe, and Puncture's involvement only complicated matters. He needed to find a way to draw them out, to expose their plan before it could cause more harm.
The cafe regulars, as usual, had taken residence at their normal spots. Ozaki was scribbling in his notebook, Miura was mumbling to himself about some "celestial alignment", and Montana was nursing a black coffee. Today's topic of discussion? Female Pro Heroes.
"Alright, people, let's settle this once and for all," Ozaki declared, snapping his notebook shut. "Who is the top female hero? And I mean based on looks, fighting prowess, and marketability."
"Uwabami, no question," Ozaki declared, adjusting his glasses. "She's got the looks, the snakes, and the endorsements."
"I think it's Midnight," Miura countered, his voice dreamy. "Her Somnambulist Quirk, her costume, everything is hypnotic!"
"Ryukyu," Montana stated. "That woman is strong and knows how to fight. Plus, dragons are awesome."
"I can't believe you haven't said Mt. Lady!" Ozaki exploded. "She's tall and pretty! What's not to like?"
"Overrated," Montana retorted. "All flash, no substance."
Miura stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What about Mirko? That woman knows how to fight and looks good doing it!"
"That woman is a wild animal!" Montana retorted. "But she is also the only woman who can handle my brand of cowboy charm," he continued, giving a wink.
Here we go again, Ace thought. Their obsession with heroes was a constant source of amusement and a stark reminder of the world he now inhabited. But it was a distraction, nonetheless, and a small slice of normalcy in the face of chaos.
"What do you think, Ace?" Ozaki asked, turning his attention towards the young barista. "Who's your pick for the ultimate female hero?"
Ace blinked, momentarily taken aback. He hadn't been paying much attention, his mind preoccupied with Imagin and time distortions. The names flew over his head. All Might. Endeavor. Those were the heroes he recalled, but the nuances of the female hero hierarchy escaped him. Truth be told, his impression of them came from news reports and the very little time he spent here.
"Uh…" Ace stammered, caught off guard. "I don't really... follow it that closely."
"Give us something, kid!" Momotaros demanded. "Don't leave us hangin' here."
"Easy there, Momo," Urataros chided. "Give the boy a minute. I'm sure he has some thoughts on the matter."
"We all know Mirko is the best!" Ryutaros stated. "She's strong and cute!"
"What about Dragon Hero Ryukyu? I heard that she took down a villain with one hit!" Kintaros stated.
"Oh, so now you are all of a sudden Pro Hero fans?" Ace asked.
"Of course we are!" Momotaros retorted. "What else are we supposed to do in the DenLiner? Besides watch all your fights in this world?"
"What can I say? Boredom makes people do a lot of things," Urataros replied.
"We made a list of rankings for the Pro Heroes based on how strong they are and how they look!" Ryutaros said cheerfully.
Ace was incredulous. You guys made a ranking? When did you even have the time?
We make the time, Momotaros declared. Don't underestimate the power of boredom, partner.
"I guess... Mirko is pretty strong," Ace offered, seizing on the name he had heard most often. "And she's dedicated."
Montana nodded approvingly. "See? The kid's got taste."
"That is a good pick, Ace," Miura nodded.
"Thanks," Ace replied, turning to deal with another customer.
A new customer came through the door, 🔔 Ding Dong 🔔 chiming, and Ace automatically greeted them, "Welcome to Starry, what can I get—" His words caught in his throat. Standing before him, radiant and smiling, was Yu Takeyama.
What the hell is she doing here? Ace thought, his heart rate spiking.
Before he could formulate a coherent thought, Yu rushed forward and enveloped him in a hug, her perfume filling his senses. "Ace!" she exclaimed, her voice bright and cheerful.
"Well, this is unexpected," Urataros commented in his head, his tone a mix of surprise and amusement. "Looks like our little fling has taken a serious turn."
The regulars, who had been engrossed in their earlier debate, abruptly fell silent. Their eyes widened, and jaws dropped as they watched the drop-dead gorgeous beauty run up to Ace and hug him like they were old friends. They thought she looked familiar.
Ami, ever the gracious hostess, approached the counter with a warm smile. "Welcome to Starry," she said, her gaze shifting between Ace and the newcomer. "I don't think I've seen you here before. Are you a friend of Ace's?"
Yu beamed, her grip on Ace tightening possessively. "A friend? Oh, I'd say we're much more than that." She winked at Ami, her tone playful, but also with a certain conviction. "Ace here is a very special person in my life."
"Oh, I like her!" Ryutaros cheered, "But I don't like that she is hugging you!"
"She sure is pretty," Kintaros acknowledged.
"This is just getting better and better!" Urataros chuckled in Ace's mind. "You truly are one popular guy, Ace!"
"Shut it, you," Ace retorted mentally, his frustration growing. It was your stupid fault I'm in this mess.
Aloud, Ace managed a strained smile. "Yu, what are you doing here?"
Yu simply grinned, pressing herself closer to Ace. "I wanted to see you, of course. I was missing you a whole lot, Ace. We haven't had a chance to hang out since you left my apartment."
"How long are you two together?" Momotaros wondered.
Ace gritted his teeth. This was going to be a long day. He could feel the eyes of the regulars boring into him, their collective jealousy practically radiating off them in waves.
Ozaki leaned closer to Montana, whispering, "How does a guy like him get a girl like that? I try everything, and nothing works!"
Miura nodded in agreement, muttering about karmic imbalances and the mysteries of fate. He wondered what kind of ritual he needed to do to find a bombshell beauty like Yu.
Montana sighed, taking another swig of his coffee. "Some guys have all the luck," he grumbled, thinking about his own unlucky streak with women. He gave Ace a side-eye. What did this kid have that he didn't?
Ace was oblivious, his focus solely on damage control. This situation could not have come at a worse time. Not only did it threaten to expose his secret identity, but it also risked drawing unwanted attention from Dai-Shocker. He needed to get Yu out of here, and fast, before things spiraled further out of control.
"Time to reel in the damsel," Urataros suggested. "I have a few ideas of what to do to make you two closer."
Shut up! I don't need your help! Ace thought.
"That's sweet of you, Yu," Ace began, trying to carefully extract himself from her grasp. "But I still have to work. Ami is counting on me."
Yu's smile didn't falter. "Nonsense! We can hang out here!"
Before Ace could formulate a response, Ami chimed in, her voice warm and genuine. "Ace, it's okay, really. You can take the rest of the day off. We don't have many customers, and I can handle the rest."
Ace turned to Ami, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Are you sure, Ami? I don't want to leave you shorthanded."
Ami nodded, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Positive! You deserve a break. Go have some fun." Ami glanced at Yu, then gave her a subtle wink, a silent message of encouragement passing between them.
"What was that wink for?" Ace wondered.
Yu, catching the unspoken exchange, squeezed Ace's hand, her heart overflowing with gratitude towards Ami. "Thank you so much, Ami-san!" she gushed, her voice practically dripping with sweetness. "You're the best!"
Before Ace could protest further, Yu grabbed his hand and began tugging him towards the door. "Come on, Ace! Let's go!"
With a final, apologetic glance towards Ami, who simply waved him off with a knowing smile, Ace allowed himself to be pulled along, Yu's infectious energy sweeping him away. They stepped out of Starry, the 🔔 Ding Dong 🔔 of the door chime echoing behind them.
Inside the cafe, Ozaki, Miura, and Montana watched the pair depart, their faces etched with varying degrees of envy and resentment. The once lively atmosphere had been replaced by a palpable tension, thick with unspoken thoughts of unfairness and missed opportunities.
Across the street, masked by the cafe's awning, Masahiko Sato watched them. His heart pounded with a venomous mix of jealousy and rage. He had been following Yu, hoping for a chance encounter, a moment to play the hero. Seeing her with another man, a nobody like Ace, shattered his carefully constructed fantasy.
That should be me! he thought.
Unnoticed by passersby, sand began to seep from Masahiko's pores. The gritty substance swirled around him, solidifying into the familiar form of the Mole Imagin. His eyes glowed with malevolent intent, reflecting Masahiko's twisted desire.
"Kill the man with Mt. Lady," Masahiko hissed, his voice a distorted rasp. "Make him suffer."
The Mole Imagin, ever compliant, chuckled, "As you wish."
With a burst of sand, the Imagin burrowed into the earth, vanishing without a trace, leaving Masahiko alone, consumed by his obsession, ready to see the results. His hands curled into fists, nails digging into his skin, drawing blood.
***
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