"Mr. Stark, have you decided to abandon the arms industry?""Mr. Stark, have you been threatened into making this decision?"
The reporters pounced like starving hounds scenting fresh prey, shoving microphones forward in a frenzy for exclusive answers.
They were held back by Stark's bodyguards, but the press still pressed against the barricade like survivors clawing at the glass in a zombie film.
Hayashi felt uneasy watching the scene—it was chaos, more unhinged than he'd ever imagined. He hadn't expected reporters to be this rabid just for a few words.
Obadiah Stone arrived in time to hear Tony's public declaration about shutting down Stark Industries' weapons division. His already stormy expression darkened further.
Striding forward, Obadiah grabbed Tony's arm and addressed the press."Tony has just returned after being held captive for three months. He may say some shocking things, but I'll explain everything to you later."
"Hey, Stan," Tony greeted, his tone warmer than expected—after all, Obadiah was someone close to him. (At least, for now.)
"Tony, are you out of your mind?" Obadiah's voice was sharp enough to cut glass. "Do you realize how much Stark Industries' stock will plummet if you close weapons development?"
"Stan, I'm the head of Stark Industries. I make the calls. I don't need you telling me how to run my company."
Tony shoved his hand away and walked off, leaving Obadiah standing there pale with fury, eyes burning with the kind of rage that hinted at darker intentions.
Meanwhile, Hayashi was having his first encounter with S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Phil Coulson, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," said a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and an easy, faint smile that somehow still felt like an interrogation. He flashed his badge. "Can you tell me about how you and Tony escaped the terrorists?"
"Hold on—what's your agency called again? Homeland Attack and Defense something? Don't you think that's a mouthful?" Hayashi tilted his head, unable to resist a jab.
Sure, he'd seen this scene in the movie before, but hearing the name in English made it sound absurdly long.
"It's the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," Coulson repeated patiently. "And yes, I know—it's a bit of a nightmare to remember. We're considering a rebrand. But for now, could you answer my question about the escape?"
"Well, we—"
"Sorry, no comment," Ethan cut in firmly before Hayashi could say more. "If you want details, ask Tony. How we escaped is private."
Ethan didn't want Hayashi—still young and inexperienced—to be tricked into revealing anything dangerous. Hayashi's inhuman abilities—the bulletproof resilience, the powers he'd used in the cave—were too strange to risk exposing. In the wrong hands, they could land him in some lab as an experiment.
Hayashi blinked at the interruption, confused—until Ethan's reasoning clicked. He realized Ethan was trying to protect him, and the thought left him quietly touched.
Tony, fresh from his spat with Obadiah, spotted Coulson cornering Hayashi and felt a flare of irritation. In his mind, Hayashi might have extraordinary abilities, but he was still just a teenager—someone who'd shared his ordeal, saved Ethan's life, and even risked himself to buy Tony time in that cave.
Tony stepped in, pulling Hayashi behind him."He's just a kid. If you have questions, Stark Industries' legal team will contact you. Now leave."
Coulson sighed, recognizing a brick wall when he hit one. "Understood, Mr. Stark."
Hayashi, still partly shielded by Tony's arm, felt the warmth of his palm and the steel in his voice. A strange, long-forgotten feeling stirred in him—safety.
Tony led Hayashi over to Pepper and Ethan. "Let's go home."
"Home?" Hayashi echoed softly, as if the word belonged to another life.
In his previous life, he'd been little more than an accident to his parents—an obligation they paid a nanny to handle. They'd barely seen him a handful of times. He'd buried himself in the world of anime and games, the only place he could taste something like happiness. His naturally cheerful personality had saved him from total isolation, but the emptiness never left.
Tony's words had sparked something. And suddenly, a thought popped into his head—what if he gave Coulson the name S.H.I.E.L.D. right now? Would that make him its unofficial "founder"?
"Coulson!" Hayashi called out. "You know, your agency could just call itself S.H.I.E.L.D. Easier to remember, right?"
Coulson paused. "S.H.I.E.L.D., huh? That's… actually a good name." Seeing Hayashi's grin, he found himself smiling back. "Thanks. I'll suggest it to my director."
Soon after, Hayashi climbed into Tony's sleek luxury car. They drove to Tony's cliffside mansion—10880 Malibu Point—where the ocean stretched endlessly below.
As the car rolled to a stop, a smooth, masculine voice chimed through hidden speakers."Welcome home, Tony."
"Yeah, I'm home. Jarvis, give Hayashi and Ethan full access clearance."
"Access granted, sir," the AI replied.