It was the weekend, and Ace made his way to the local music venue, eager to attend the band performance by Gwen and her friends. He had promised Nico and Berto that he would meet them beforehand, and as he approached the entrance, he spotted his two friends waiting for him.
"Hey, guys," Ace greeted them, a smile on his face. "Ready to check out the show?"
Nico nodded, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "Definitely. I've been looking forward to this all week."
Berto grinned, already moving towards the doors. "Then let's not waste any time. I can't wait to see Gwen up on stage."
Ace, Nico, and Berto made their way through the crowd and towards the entrance of the arthouse venue. The space was filled with people, mostly teens and young adults, eagerly anticipating the upcoming performances.
"Alright, let's do this," Berto said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I bet we can sneak backstage and say hi to Gwen and the others."
Nico raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on her face. "Sneak backstage? I don't know, Berto. I don't think we're supposed to do that."
Ace chuckled, already moving towards the side entrance. "Come on, Nico. Where's your sense of adventure? I'm sure the band won't mind if we say hi before the show."
Nico sighed, knowing she wouldn't be able to talk the boys out of it. "Fine, but if we get caught, I'm blaming you two."
The trio approached the side door, and Berto quickly scanned the area before pulling it open. They slipped inside, their hearts racing with a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
Ace, Nico, and Berto sneaked backstage, trying to act casual as they navigated the dimly lit corridors. Berto led the way, peeking around corners until they spotted Gwen, chatting with her bandmates Mary Jane, Betty, and Glory.
"Hey, Gwen!" Berto called out, waving enthusiastically.
Gwen turned, her eyes widening in surprise. "Berto? Nico? Ace? What are you doing back here?"
Mary Jane stepped forward, a playful smirk on her face. "Well, well, look who decided to crash our little party."
Ace smiled sheepishly. "We just wanted to come say hi before the big show. Couldn't miss the chance to see you all up on stage."
Gwen's face lit up with a warm smile. "Well, we're glad you made it! It's always nice to have some friendly faces in the crowd."
Nico stepped forward, a playful grin on her face. "Break a leg out there, you guys. Not literally, of course." She winked at the band members.
Mary Jane chuckled, crossing her arms. "Oh, you know the Mary Janes are gonna rock this place. This is our time to shine!"
Berto nodded enthusiastically. "Can't wait to see it. You're all gonna be amazing, I just know it."
Ace glanced at his friends, a hint of excitement in his eyes. "Alright, we should probably let you get back to rehearsing. Don't want to keep the crowd waiting."
The trio bid farewell to the band and made their way out of the backstage area, leaving Gwen and her friends to their final preparations.
Ace glanced over at Nico as they made their way back into the crowded arthouse theater. The first group of performances had already begun, and the trio settled into their seats, ready to take in the show.
Berto soon returned, holding a couple of sodas and offering one to Ace and Nico. "Here you go, guys. Figured we could use a little refreshment."
Ace accepted the drink gratefully, taking a sip as his eyes scanned the stage. The band on display was playing a lively, upbeat tune, and he couldn't help but tap his foot in time with the music.
Turning to Nico, he asked, "So, are you enjoying yourself so far?"
Nico shrugged, her expression somewhat neutral. "It's alright, I guess. You know I'm not really one for crowds, but the music is decent."
Ace nodded, understanding Nico's more reserved nature. He, on the other hand, found himself genuinely captivated by the performance unfolding before them. The energy of the crowd, the passion of the musicians - it all combined to create an atmosphere that Ace couldn't help but get swept up in.
"Ace…can I ask you something,"
Ace studied Nico's face, catching the somber shadows crossing her features. Something was weighing on her mind. "What is it, Nico?" he asked, bracing himself.
Her expression darkened, brow furrowing. Ace felt a twinge of unease as she leaned closer. "Be honest with me..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "You're hiding something. I can tell."
Ace blinked, caught off guard by her sudden change in demeanor. "What do you mean, Nico? I'm not hiding anything."
Nico leaned in, her eyes searching his face. "It's just... you've been disappearing a lot lately, and then you were gone for days. You said it was an accident, but I don't know, Ace. I'm worried about you."
Ace felt a knot forming in his stomach. He couldn't very well tell Nico the truth - that he was secretly Kamen Rider, a superhero fighting against monstrous Grongi creatures. The thought of revealing his identity made his heart race with anxiety.
"Nico, I..." Ace trailed off, unsure of how to respond. He couldn't lie to his friend, but the truth was something he simply couldn't share. "I... I don't know what to say."
Nico's expression softened, and she placed a hand on his arm. "Ace, you know you can trust us, right? Berto and I, we're here for you. Whatever it is, you can tell us."
Ace felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he was keeping such a big secret from the people he cared about. He wanted to confide in Nico, to let her know what was really going on, but the risk was just too great.
"I... I'm sorry, Nico," Ace said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't... I can't tell you. I wish I could, but I just can't."
Nico's eyes widened, and Ace could see the hurt and confusion in her expression. He hated himself for putting her through this, but he knew he had no choice.
Ace's attention was suddenly drawn to a conversation happening nearby. A couple was standing just a few feet away, their eyes glued to the screen of their phone.
"Did you see this?" the woman said, her voice laced with concern. "There's some kind of robot fight going on at a Stark facility. The damage is spreading!"
Ace felt his heart skip a beat. Robot fight at a Stark facility? That could only mean one thing - Iron Man was in trouble. Without a moment's hesitation, he excused himself from Nico and Berto and hurried towards the exit, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just overheard.
Ace felt a surge of adrenaline as he heard the news about the robot fight at a Stark facility. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned to Nico, his expression filled with urgency.
"I'm sorry, Nico, but I have to go. It's important," he said, his voice laced with a sense of purpose.
Nico's brow furrowed in concern. "Where are you going, Ace? What's going on?" she pressed, reaching out to grab his arm.
Ace hesitated, torn between his desire to protect his friends and the need to respond to the crisis. "I... I can't explain right now, Nico. I'm sorry," he said, gently pulling away from her grasp.
Berto, who had been standing nearby, stepped forward, his eyes filled with confusion. "Ace, what's happening? Where are you going?"
But Ace didn't have time to answer. With a muttered apology, he turned and hurried towards the exit, his mind racing with the implications of what he had just heard.
Nico stood there, stunned, watching as Ace disappeared into the crowd. She exchanged a bewildered look with Berto, unsure of what to make of Ace's sudden departure.
Without a word, Nico turned and walked away, her mind filled with a thousand unanswered questions. She needed to get some distance, to think things through. As she made her way to the bar, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ace was hiding something from them.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz