Just as Tony brought Hayashi home….......
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in the Sanquay Building.
"Director, they've refused to cooperate with the investigation into Tony." Coulson looked uneasy under the weight of his notoriously cold-blooded boss.
"I understand. Keep shadowing them and mark this as Level 7 classified," Nick Fury nodded.
"In addition, dig up everything you can on the two people who came back with Tony."
Ten minutes later, Fury was frowning deeply as he studied the two profiles spread out on his desk.
Name: Ethan.......(details omitted)
Name: HayashiGender: Male (suspected female, but self-identifies as male)Origin: Unknown — no records found.
There was nothing. Absolutely nothing. For S.H.I.E.L.D., an agency that could dig up the tiniest trace of anyone who had ever walked the Earth, this was impossible. That meant one of two things: either some powerful group had scrubbed every scrap of Hayashi's past… or he wasn't from Earth at all.
Fury was hoping for the first, but his gut told him it was the second.
After dealing with Captain Marvel, Fury knew exactly how much trouble alien visitors could bring. A single misstep, and you had a catastrophe on your hands.(Hayashi: You're seriously overthinking this.)
"Looks like I'm going to have to meet this Hayashi in person."
Fury rubbed his smooth chin—just as bare as his head—and made up his mind.
.......
"Jarvis, lock down all data on this house. Make sure nobody can get access to it."
"Understood, sir."
Tony helped Ethan and Pepper settle in, then turned to Hayashi.
"Alright, kid, how about telling me where you really came from? You popped up out of thin air in that cave. Don't try to fool me—Jarvis ran a search on you, and you don't exist in any records on this planet. I'm not keen on having someone with an unknown background living under my roof."
He hesitated, then added, "Of course, I won't tell anyone else. You have my word."
Great Sage, what should I do?
Answer him, Host. My scans show he bears no malice toward you. Confessing now will likely earn you his complete trust.
"Alright… I'll tell him," Hayashi decided after a moment.
"Tony… I'm not from this world."
"I figured. The moment Jarvis came up empty, I suspected as much."
Tony nodded for him to go on.
"Strictly speaking, I used to be human. In my original world… I died. I don't know why, but I was reincarnated here. When I woke up, I saw you in that cave. I stayed hidden for a long time—I wasn't sure if you'd believe me—so I didn't show myself until the very last day you were about to escape."
Hayashi had no intention of mentioning the Great Sage. Not because he distrusted Tony, but because some secrets—even with the closest people—were too dangerous to share.
"You're not human? Wait—what are you now, some kind of soul?" Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Right now… I'm a slime."
"A slime? As in, those gooey green blobs from video games? Are you pulling my leg?"
Tony was honestly caught off guard. Hayashi didn't look like a slime, so why claim something so absurd? Was he lying?
"If you don't believe me, I'll show you."
Hayashi's form shimmered, his human outline shrinking and smoothing until, with a soft plop, a translucent blue sphere bounced lightly onto the table in front of Tony.
"Believe me now?" Hayashi's voice held a note of smugness. Watching Tony Stark—Mr. Arrogance himself—stand there slack-jawed was deeply satisfying.
"How are you talking to me? You don't have a mouth, and your voice is… in my head."
"I'm speaking directly into your thoughts. Notice how my words go straight to your mind?"
"That's… an ability of yours, huh? And in the cave, when you swallowed those bullets—how?"
"I have an internal space where I can store whatever I consume."
Hayashi answered every question without hesitation. He knew Tony wouldn't use the information against him.
"Alright… I think I get the picture. I won't pry any further. You can stay here, no problem."
Tony's mood noticeably lifted.
"Wait—you mean it? I can live here… for good?" Hayashi's voice wavered in disbelief. Happiness had come too quickly.
"Of course, Hayashi. Whatever world you came from, you don't have a home here yet. Until you find one, you can treat this place as yours."
"Now, Mr. Hayashi-the-Slime… can you please turn back into a human? I don't mind, but it's a bit… unusual."
"Of course. And thank you, Tony… thank you for giving me a home."
Hayashi morphed back into his human form and, without thinking, threw his arms around Tony, voice choked with emotion.
Two lifetimes, and this was the first time he'd truly felt what "home" meant.
"Anytime, kid. Stark's door will always be open to you."
Even Tony's voice wavered, touched by Hayashi's raw sincerity.(The protagonist's first real bond in the Marvel Universe—established.)
"Oh, Tony, what exactly are you doing? She's still a child—let her go!"
Pepper had been waiting outside, growing anxious, and finally peeked in… only to see the two locked in an emotional embrace.
From her angle, Hayashi—barely waist-high to Tony—looked every bit the delicate, tear-streaked young girl trapped in the arms of the infamous playboy.
"Tony, since when have you had an interest in underage girls?" (Despite previous explanations, Pepper still insisted Hayashi was female.)
She stormed over, pried them apart, scooped Hayashi off the table, and held him protectively.
"Pepper, it's not what you think—"
Given Hayashi's appearance and earlier behavior, Tony could see why she'd jump to conclusions.
"Don't talk." Pepper shot him a glare.
"It's alright, Hayashi," she said gently.
"Sister Pepper, you've got it all wrong. Tony just said I could have a home here. I was so moved I cried, that's all."
Hayashi wiped his tears and flashed her a bright, heart-melting smile.
Pepper's own heart practically melted on the spot.
"So cute… what a beautiful smile."