As Monday arrived, Ace felt a pang of guilt weighing on him. The strained relationship with Nico and Berto troubled him, and he knew he needed to make amends. Ace resolved to speak with them during their shared lunch period, hoping to clear the air and restore their friendship.
Ace spotted Nico and Berto at the cafeteria line, grabbing their lunch trays. He took a deep breath and approached them, determined to clear the air.
As Ace got closer, Nico and Berto had mixed feelings. Nico's expression was guarded, while Berto seemed unsure, uncertain whether to welcome Ace or maintain their distance.
"Guys, I'm really sorry about the other night," he begins. Berto seems willing to listen, but Nico cuts him off.
"Save it, Ace. We don't need your excuses." She grabs Berto's arm and starts to pull him away.
"Nico, wait!" Berto pleads, but Nico refuses to give Ace the chance to explain himself.
Nico pulls Berto away from Ace, leaving Ace feeling even worse. He wishes he could get them to listen to him. Ace lets out a sigh, hoping for another chance to explain himself the next time. As he watches his friends walk away, his shoulders slump in disappointment. He wants to clarify everything, but he knows he must respect their space for now. Determined to make things right between them, Ace turns and heads to his next class.
Ace sighed as he took his seat in class, his mind still occupied with the strained interaction with Nico and Berto. Balancing his life as a high school student and his duties as Kamen Rider was proving to be a constant challenge. He wished he could be more open with his friends about his secret identity, but he knew the risks of revealing that information.
As the teacher began the lesson, Ace tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the confrontation in the cafeteria. He couldn't help but feel guilty for the way things had played out, and he vowed to find a way to make it up to Nico and Berto, even if it meant sacrificing time he could be spending on his Kamen Rider responsibilities.
Ace's phone buzzes with a notification, and he glances down to see that Tony Stark has started a press conference. Intrigued, Ace shifts his attention to the screen, his eyes widening as he watches the billionaire take the stage.
The classroom falls silent as the students turn their focus to the live broadcast. Ace leans forward, his brow furrowed in concentration, eager to hear what Stark has to say. The weight of his earlier confrontation with Nico and Berto momentarily forgotten as he becomes absorbed in the unfolding events.
Tony Stark, with a few bandages on his face, stepped up to the podium as the press conference began. The gathered reporters eagerly awaited his statement regarding the recent incident on the freeway involving the two robotic suits. Though the public did not yet know that Tony Stark was the one piloting the Iron Man armor, he prepared to address the media's questions with his usual poise and confidence.
"Mr. Stark, can you confirm reports that you were involved in a battle with a massive robotic suit on the freeway last night?" one reporter shouted.
Tony maintained his composure. "I'm afraid I don't have any information to share about that incident," he replied calmly.
"But eyewitnesses claim they saw a man in an armored suit called Iron Man fighting against another armored figure!" another reporter exclaimed. "Was this some kind of rogue technology you've been developing?"
"There are also reports of a mysterious armored figure, called Kamen Rider, who intervened and assisted Iron Man during the battle. Can you comment on this?"
The questions grew increasingly accusatory, as the press speculated wildly about the events they had witnessed.
Tony Stark stood behind the podium, his expression calm and collected despite the barrage of questions from the reporters. He maintained his composure, carefully avoiding any direct confirmations about the incident on the freeway.
"There have been many wild speculations about my involvement, but I can assure you that I am not the superhero type," Tony said, his tone level. "I'm simply a businessman trying to do my job and take care of my company."
A reporter in the front row spoke up. "But there was no mention of you being a superhero. Are you implying that there is someone else involved?"
Tony glanced briefly at Rhodey, who stood beside him. Rhodey leaned in and whispered, "Stick to the script, Tony."
Tony fell silent and gazed at the prepared speech card in his hand. But another idea came to him, one more in keeping with his personality. He glanced over at Rhodey, who gave him a subtle nod of encouragement.
"The truth is..." Tony paused, locking eyes with his friend. "I am Iron Man." The words hung in the air for a moment, and then the press erupted in a frenzy, shouting questions and demands for more information. Tony maintained his composure, ready to address the media's growing curiosity about this unexpected revelation.
As Ace watched the press conference unfold on his phone, a knowing smirk playing across his lips. The moment Tony uttered those four world-changing words—"I am Iron Man"—Ace knew history was being written in real-time. The declaration would not only mark the beginning of a new superhero era but would also set in motion a series of events that would reshape global dynamics.
Ace's fingers traced the edge of his smartphone screen, calculating the financial implications with the precision of a seasoned investor. Stark Industries' stock, which had nosedived during Tony's mysterious absence, was about to experience a meteoric rise.
The press room erupted with a cacophony of shouted questions, reporters competing to be heard. Tony stood resolute behind the podium, a picture of calculated confidence. Ace leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly beneath him, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
"Looks like the world is about to get a lot more interesting," Ace murmured, the words hanging in the quiet room like a prophecy waiting to unfold.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz