A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite

Ace pushes open the door to Takahashi Shoe Repairs. A small bell 🔔 above the entrance rings, announcing his arrival. The shop is cramped, overflowing with tools, leather scraps, and half-finished projects. The air hangs thick with the scent of polish and old leather. Hiroki looks up, his eyes weary and guarded.

"Welcome. Can I help you?" Hiroki asks.

"Just browsing," Ace replies, feigning casual interest as he scans the shop. He's hiding something. "I'm new to the area, thought I'd check out the local businesses."

Hiroki nods slowly, resuming his work on a worn-out boot. "Not much to see here. Just trying to keep the family business afloat."

Ace moves closer, examining a display of meticulously crafted shoes. "These are impressive. You have a real skill."

Hiroki sighs. "Skill doesn't pay the bills these days. Everyone buys cheap, mass-produced stuff. No one appreciates craftsmanship anymore."

"That's a shame," Ace says, his voice laced with genuine sympathy. "It's important to preserve traditions like this."

"Easy for you to say," Hiroki retorts, a hint of bitterness in his tone. "You probably don't have to worry about losing everything you own."

Ace hesitates, deciding how much to reveal. He doesn't want to scare Hiroki off, but he needs to gain his trust. "Actually, I know what it's like to struggle. I've been traveling around, trying to find my place. It's not always easy."

Hiroki pauses, studying Ace's face. He sees a sincerity in his eyes, a shared understanding of hardship. "Maybe you do get it," he concedes, his voice softening slightly.

"Tell me about it," Ace encourages gently. "What's going on?"

Hiroki hesitates, glancing around the shop as if afraid someone is listening. "It's… complicated. My family's ancestral home is about to be demolished. A real estate developer wants to build some soulless apartment complex in its place."

"That's terrible," Ace says, genuinely shocked. "How long has your family lived there?"

"Generations," Hiroki replies, his voice thick with emotion. "It's more than just a house, it's our history, our legacy. If we lose it, we lose everything."

"Is there anything you can do?" Ace asks, already knowing the answer.

Hiroki shakes his head. "I've tried everything. Taken on extra writing gigs, sold off whatever I could. It's not enough. The developer offered a buyout, but it's a pittance compared to what the house is worth. And even if I could match their offer, they'd just find a way to squeeze us out."

Ace clenches his fist, anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. The Imagin is preying on this man's desperation, twisting his desire into something destructive. "What's your wish?" he asks carefully. "What do you really want?"

Hiroki looks at Ace, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "I just want to save my family's home. I want to buy it back and protect it from those vultures."

"How much would that cost?" Ace asks.

Hiroki laughs, a hollow, humorless sound. "Astronomical amount. More than I could ever hope to earn in a lifetime."

Ace nods, understanding the depth of Hiroki's despair. "Can I see the house?" he asks. "Maybe there's something I can do."

Hiroki looks surprised, but after a moment, he nods. "Alright. It's not much to look at these days, but… I guess it's worth a shot."

Hiroki leads Ace through the winding streets of Musutafu, away from the bustling marketplace and into a quieter, more residential area. The houses here are older, with traditional Japanese architecture and small, carefully tended gardens. As they walk, Hiroki shares stories about his childhood, about playing in the nearby park and exploring the hidden corners of his neighborhood.

Finally, they arrive at their destination. Ace stops, his breath catching in his throat. The house is a magnificent structure, even in its current state of disrepair. It is a traditional Japanese house with a sprawling garden, a weathered wooden gate marking the entrance. The roof tiles are cracked and moss-covered, the walls are stained with age, and the garden is overgrown with weeds. Despite its dilapidated condition, it exudes a sense of history and grandeur.

Hiroki steps forward, unlocking the gate and leading Ace inside. The garden is a riot of overgrown plants and tangled vines. A stone lantern lies broken on the ground, and the koi pond is filled with murky water. The house itself is even more worn than it appeared from the outside. The wooden walls are peeling, the windows are boarded up, and the roof sags in places.

"This is it," Hiroki says, his voice tinged with a mixture of pride and sadness. "Takahashi House. It's been in my family for over a century."

Ace walks slowly through the garden, taking in the details. He imagines the house in its prime, filled with laughter and life. He sees the potential for restoration, the beauty that lies hidden beneath the decay.

"It's beautiful," Ace says, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I can see why you want to save it."

Hiroki smiles, a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. "It was once. My grandfather was a master carpenter, he built this place with his own two hands. He taught me everything he knew."

Hiroki leads Ace to a secluded spot in the garden, beneath the shade of an ancient cherry tree. They sit down on a weathered wooden bench, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves.

"My wish..." Hiroki begins, his voice barely a whisper. "I just want to bring this place back to its former glory. I want to see my family living here again, laughing and making memories. I want to preserve our legacy for future generations." He pauses, looking at Ace with a pleading expression. "But it's impossible. The amount of money needed is astronomical. I'm just a shoe repairman, I can't compete with those greedy developers."

Ace felt a pang of sympathy for Hiroki. He was just a normal guy, doing everything he could to save his family home.

Hiroki's face is etched with a mix of sorrow and determination as he gazes at the house. He dreams of a future where the Takahashi name is synonymous with the house again.

Meanwhile, blocks away, chaos unfolds. The Hippo Imagin continues its rampage, his mission clear: gather as much money as possible for Hiroki. He crashes through the reinforced glass of the Musutafu Diamond Exchange, scattering security guards like bowling pins. His massive warhammer cleaves through display cases, sending diamonds and jewels flying. [CRASH] [SMASH].

News of the unfolding chaos reaches the Pro Heroes. Glacier Hammer, still smarting from his earlier defeat, grits his teeth. "That monster again? This time, I'm ending this."

Electro Snap, zipping through the city on currents of electricity, echoes the sentiment. "We can't let him keep terrorizing the city. Not on my watch."

The Hippo Imagin isn't subtle. He smashes through the entrance of the Musutafu Central Bank, the warhammer a blur. He roars, a sound that rattles the very foundations of the building. "Money…must…be…found…"

Pro Heroes arrive in force. Cementoss raises concrete barriers, trying to box in the Imagin. Snipe fires precise shots, aiming for the Imagin's joints. But the Hippo Imagin is too strong, too resilient. The warhammer shatters the concrete as if it were mere paper. Bullets bounce harmlessly off his thick hide.

"Insolent…flies…" The Hippo Imagin's voice rumbles as he sweeps the warhammer in a wide arc, sending heroes flying. [WHOOSH] [CLANG].

News reports blare the Imagin's crimes across every screen. "The Mysterious Hippo Villain Strikes Again!" "Unstoppable Rampage Plagues Musutafu!" Panic spreads like wildfire. The Hippo Imagin's actions are shaking the very foundations of society, eroding public trust in the Pro Heroes.

The Hippo Imagin, oblivious to the growing panic, surveys his haul. A mountain of cash, diamonds glittering like stars, gold bars stacked high. He clutches a massive sack filled to the brim. This…should…be…enough…

He turns, lumbering away from the scene of destruction. The Pro Heroes are still recovering, their attacks futile. He crashes through a wall, leaving a gaping hole in the bank.

He disappears into the maze of Musutafu's streets. The warhammer is slung over his shoulder, a constant reminder of his destructive power. His mission is almost complete.

The Hippo Imagin thinks of Hiroki and the ancestral home that he so desperately wants to save. He picks up his pace. The contract must be fulfilled. Money…must…be…delivered.

He begins his trek back to Hiroki, leaving behind a trail of destruction and a city gripped by fear.

…

As they stand there, Hiroki turns to Ace, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips. "Thanks, Ukiyo-san. Just talking about it…it's like this boulder I've been carrying finally got a little lighter."

The weight of the world hasn't vanished, but a glimmer of hope now flickers in his eyes. He felt heard, understood. "I appreciate you listening to someone you barely know." He stares at the ancestral home. He sighs and thinks of the long road ahead of him.

As they stand there, a tremor runs through the ground. Hiroki's eyes widen as the Hippo Imagin appears at the edge of the garden, the setting sun glinting off the jewels spilling from the massive sack it carries. It's a grotesque sight: a monster standing amidst the delicate beauty of the traditional Japanese garden.

"I…brought…money…" the Imagin rumbles, its voice echoing through the tranquil setting. Hiroki stares in disbelief, his mouth agape. Mountains of cash, diamonds, gold, now sit where cherry blossoms once fell.

Relief washes over Hiroki, so potent he nearly buckles. His dream…it's finally within reach. He can save it. He can save everything.

The Hippo Imagin's unreadable face glows unnervingly. The soft light from within intensifies, casting long shadows across the garden. "Contract…complete."

A swirling vortex of sand erupts from the Hippo Imagin. It crackles with temporal energy. The vortex expands, enveloping Hiroki. The Hippo Imagin slowly dissolves, its sandy form flowing into the swirling portal. The entirety of the Imagin is sucked into Hiroki's body, disappearing entirely.

The portal snaps shut, the light extinguished.

But Ace knows better than to trust surface appearances. The completion of the contract is only the beginning.

Ace whips out a Rider Ticket, pressing it against Hiroki's forehead. The ticket flares with light, revealing a string of numbers that chills Ace to the bone. [4211.4.15].

"Hiroki, stay here!" Ace commands, his voice urgent.

As the DenLiner materializes, its sleek form shimmering against the backdrop of the Takahashi house, Ace quickly boards. The sliding doors hiss shut behind him, leaving Hiroki amidst the strange fortune. He races through the familiar dining car, the Taros' protests fading behind him. Ace slides into the pilot seat and revs the engine, the Machine Denbird coming to life with a mechanical roar. He slams the Rider Pass into the slot, the destination date blazing to life on the console. The DenLiner is hurtling through the sands of time, towards its destination: 4211.4.15.

***

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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz