Chapter 92

Ace Ukiyo cruised down the streets of New York City, the Tridoron's disguised mode blending seamlessly with the flow of traffic. As he approached Midtown High School, a smile crept across his face - he was finally back after his stint working with SHIELD and exposing the Hydra infiltration.

Stepping through the familiar halls, Ace was greeted by a chorus of excited voices. "Ace-sama! You're back!" The students crowded around him, eager to welcome their resident Kamen Rider expert back to the fold. Navigating the throng, Ace made his way towards a pair of familiar faces - Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker.

Gwen's face lit up when she saw him. "Ace!" She bounded over and wrapped him in a warm embrace. Ace felt his heart skip a beat at her proximity. But just as quickly, Gwen stepped back, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "I-I'm so glad you're back," she stammered, averting her gaze.

Ace chuckled, finding her sudden shyness endearing. "It's good to be back," he replied, his tone warm and sincere. As the trio fell into easy conversation, Ace couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him.

Ace Ukiyo's eyes lit up as Peter Parker approached, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Peter! It's so good to see you, my friend." He clasped Peter's hand firmly, the warmth of their reunion palpable.

"Ace, we're so glad you're back," Peter replied, his own excitement evident. "Gwen and I have been keeping the city safe in your absence, but it's just not the same without you."

Ace nodded, his expression turning serious. "I heard you two have been quite busy. Tell me, how have the patrols been going? Any villains I missed?"

Gwen chimed in, a hint of pride in her voice. "Actually, we've taken down a couple of heavy hitters. There was this guy made of sand - Sandman, he calls himself. And then there was this guy in a Rhino suit, causing all sorts of chaos."

Peter nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was a real challenge, but we managed to hold our own."

Ace listened intently, his mind already whirring with possibilities. "Impressive, you two. I'm glad to hear you've been keeping the city safe."

Ace could sense the slight irritation in Gwen's voice as she asked, "Why didn't you call us to help?" He knew this moment was coming, but he still felt a twinge of unease.

Gwen and Peter had clearly been keeping up with the news, their faces etched with a mix of concern and frustration. "I saw the reports about Captain America being declared a fugitive. And that Kamen Rider was helping him escape?" Gwen's brow furrowed as she spoke.

Ace took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Gwen's. "I'm sorry, you two. I should have reached out, but everything happened so quickly. Captain America and his team were up against Hydra's infiltration of SHIELD. It was a delicate situation, and I didn't want to risk putting you in harm's way."

Gwen's lips pressed into a tight line, her arms folding across her chest. Ace could see the hurt in her eyes, and it pained him to be the cause of it. "We could have helped, Ace. You know we're more than capable." Her tone was laced with a hint of betrayal.

Ace nodded, his own expression softening. "I know, Gwen. I know. I was just...trying to protect you. But that was wrong of me. I should have trusted in your abilities and let you decide for yourselves."

Gwen's posture remained tense, her gaze fixed on Ace. Peter, sensing the tension, placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. Ace waited, unsure of how to proceed, his heart sinking as Gwen's pout deepened.

Ace watched as Gwen's expression softened, the initial tension dissipating. She let out a long sigh and uncrossed her arms, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"I know you were just trying to protect us, Ace," Gwen said, her voice tinged with understanding. "But we're in this together, remember? We're a team." She reached out and placed a hand on his arm, her touch sending a familiar warmth through him.

Ace nodded, relieved to see the anger in her eyes give way to forgiveness. "You're right, Gwen. I should have trusted you and Peter. I won't make that mistake again, I promise."

Gwen's lips curled into a small smile, but then her expression turned serious once more. "Good, because if you do..." She raised her fist, her eyes narrowing. "I'm going to need to punch you."

Ace's eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step back, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Gwen, you can't be serious. I mean, I know I deserve it, but-"

"I am serious, Ace Ukiyo," Gwen interrupted, her tone unwavering. "If you ever leave us out of something important like that again, I'm going to punch you. Just you remember that."

Ace glanced over at Peter, who offered an apologetic shrug, clearly amused by the situation. Sighing, Ace turned his attention back to Gwen, knowing better than to argue.

"Alright, Gwen. If that's what it takes to make you forgive me, then I'll... I'll accept it."

Gwen's lips curled into a satisfied smile, and Ace knew he had gotten the message loud and clear. He would never again leave her and Peter out of the loop, not when they were such an integral part of the team.

Just then, Ace spotted two familiar faces approaching - Mary Jane Watson and Ned Leeds, both of whom were beaming with excitement.

"Ace! You're back!" MJ exclaimed, her emerald eyes sparkling with delight. She quickly wrapped him in a warm embrace, her auburn hair tickling his cheek.

Ace chuckled, returning the hug. "It's good to see you too, MJ. And you, Ned," he said, turning to greet the lanky, bespectacled teen.

Ned's face split into a wide grin as he clasped Ace's hand enthusiastically. "Dude, we missed you! Things just haven't been the same without you around."

Ace felt a surge of affection for his friends. Despite his absence, they had clearly kept the city safe and held down the fort in his stead. He was grateful for their unwavering support and friendship.

Mary Jane Watson's emerald eyes sparkled with delight as she wrapped Ace in a warm embrace. "Ace! How was your trip to Japan?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

Ace's heart raced, his mind quickly scrambling to concoct a plausible excuse. "Oh, you know, just some matters I had to attend to regarding my property back home," he said, hoping his tone sounded casual enough to avoid arousing suspicion.

Inwardly, Ace cringed at the flimsy cover-up story, but he knew he couldn't risk exposing his true identity as Kamen Rider. The safety of his friends depended on maintaining the carefully constructed facade.

Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker exchanged a knowing glance, understanding the necessity of Ace's secrecy. Ned Leeds, ever the enthusiastic friend, simply nodded, his eyes brimming with excitement.

"That's so cool, Ace!" Ned exclaimed. "Did you get to see any interesting while you were there?"

Ace chuckled, relieved by the change of subject. "Unfortunately, no. I was busy sorting through papers while I was there."

As the group fell into an easy conversation, Ace couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. Being back with his friends, safe within the familiar walls of Midtown High, was exactly what he needed after his recent adventures with SHIELD.

...

Ace Ukiyo strode through the familiar halls of Nascita, his gaze fixed on the supercomputer's holographic interface. The underground base, his secret headquarters, hummed with activity as he delved into the latest reports from Destiny Star, the technology company he had founded.

Izu, his ever-reliable AI companion, approached with a steaming cup of tea, her movements graceful and efficient. "Here is your tea, Ace," she said, her voice calm and measured.

"Thank you, Izu," Ace replied, accepting the beverage and taking a sip, savoring the warmth that spread through him. He turned his attention back to the data, his brow furrowing as he reviewed the impressive figures.

"It seems Destiny Star has been performing exceptionally well in my absence," Ace mused, his tone tinged with a hint of pride. "The profits have increased significantly, and the product line has expanded."

Izu nodded, her large eyes conveying a sense of quiet satisfaction. "Yes, Ace. I have been overseeing the company's operations in your stead, and the team has been working tirelessly to meet the growing demand for our products."

Ace felt a surge of gratitude for Izu's unwavering dedication and competence. "Well done, Izu. I'm impressed with what you've accomplished." He paused, his gaze shifting to the schematics and blueprints displayed on the screen. "Now, we need to start planning for our next line of products. The competition is fierce, and we need to stay ahead of the curve."

Izu stepped forward, her hands clasped behind her back. "I've already begun preliminary research and development on several new concepts. I believe we have an opportunity to leverage the latest advancements in quantum computing and AI to create truly groundbreaking technologies."

Ace nodded, his mind already whirring with ideas. "Excellent. Let's dive in and see what we can come up with. The future of Destiny Star is bright, and I'm eager to see what we can achieve."

Ace leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on the armrest. "Izu, I have an idea for a new product that could complement our existing line-up at Destiny Star."

Izu's gaze sharpened with interest, her artificial expression conveying a sense of anticipation. "I'm listening, Ace-sama."

"You're familiar with the ZAIA Spec, the advanced wearable device developed by ZAIA Enterprise, correct?" Ace asked, and Izu nodded in acknowledgment. "I believe we can create a similar product, but with reduced capabilities to make it more accessible to a wider market."

Izu's brow furrowed slightly as she processed the suggestion. "Reduced capabilities, you say? What did you have in mind?"

"I'm thinking of something we could call the 'Destiny Star Glasses,' or DSG for short," Ace explained, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "It would retain the core functionality of the ZAIA Spec, such as the heads-up display and data analysis, but with a more streamlined design and a lower price point."

Izu's lips curved into a small, thoughtful smile. "I see. That would make the technology more available to the average consumer, while still providing a compelling product that aligns with our company's vision." She paused, her gaze turning inward as she began to formulate a plan. "I'll start the research and development process immediately. With our resources and expertise, I believe we can create something truly innovative and market-ready in a timely manner."

Ace nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression. "Excellent. I'm confident that the DSG will be a great addition to our product lineup and help expand Destiny Star's reach even further."

Ace watched as Izu's fingers danced across the holographic interface, her brow furrowed in concentration. She had already begun the process of bringing the Destiny Star Glasses to life, tapping into the vast resources and expertise of Destiny Star.

"Zea has provided the initial schematics and technical specifications," Izu reported, her voice calm and steady. "The Humagears from our engineering team are already hard at work on the prototype design and manufacturing processes."

Ace nodded, impressed by the efficiency and coordination of his trusted companions. "Excellent, Izu. I have full confidence in your abilities to deliver a product that will exceed our customers' expectations."

Izu's gaze met his, a hint of warmth in her expression. "Thank you, Ace-sama. I will ensure that the Destiny Star Glasses reflect the values and vision of our company."

Across the room, Naki, the Humagear overseeing Destiny Star's AI development, approached with a tablet in hand. "Ace, I have the latest updates on the AI integration for the DSG. Zea has provided invaluable guidance, and we're making significant progress in optimizing the user experience."

Ace took the tablet, his eyes scanning the information displayed. "Impressive. Continue your efforts, Naki."

As Naki returned to her workstation, Ace turned his attention back to Izu, a sense of pride and anticipation swelling within him. The Destiny Star Glasses were poised to be the next breakthrough in wearable technology, and he couldn't wait to see the final product take shape.

***

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