After deciding how to deal with Hamr, Kagura Hitomi sent Natasha Romanoff on her way, returned Bucky Barnes to his residence within the Rhodes Island industrial complex, and then headed ho alone.
After a shower and so quiet ti, the silver-haired girl sat on her soft bed, hugging her knees as she sank into deep thought.
The world around her had fallen into a hushed stillness—so silent that it was almost unsettling.
Humans are social creatures, and despite her chanical nature, Kagura was no exception.
In front of others, she could be cheerful, playful, and effortlessly charming.
But when everything fell silent, when she was truly alone, even she couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of lancholy.
"Sigh..."
She let out a soft breath.
It had been over a year since she arrived in this world.
Most of that ti had been spent rushing from one responsibility to another, leaving little room for true rest.
Whether it was working at Stark Industries or managing Rhodes Island, her life had always been driven by necessity rather than contemplation.
The "Infinite Concept Skill System" within her had always guided her actions, charting her course without her needing to question or choose.
But... was that really okay?
What was the aning of her existence?
Could she truly steer this world toward a better future?
Was she being too idealistic?
Fear, uncertainty, confusion, loneliness—
A storm of negative emotions surged through her, threatening to drown her fragile heart in the depths of the night.
Indeed, automatons were strong.
They could act purely on logic, completely devoid of emotion.
But Kagura had a human soul.
She had a human heart.
And at the end of the day, she was still just a girl.
She wanted to believe that her presence in this world mattered.
That her actions carried aning. That her kindness could make a difference.
But the early appearance of the Winter Soldier, Hydra's growing influence, and Ivan Vanko's disappearance were all shifting the future beyond her control, making her doubt herself more than ever before.
"Ugh..."
She tightened her embrace around herself.
"Is there anyone who can tell if I'm doing enough? Should I be doing more? Have I made mistakes? I... I'm scared..."
The night remained silent.
There was no one to answer her whispers.
She sniffled, blinking away the tears welling in her eyes.
Even the strongest people have monts of vulnerability.
And she was just a girl walking this path alone.
If only soone were here to hold her, to tell her, "Everything will be okay"—
How wonderful that would be.
But no one was here.
And she didn't want to bother Tony Stark with her troubles.
In the end, she was alone.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, shimring like strands of silver silk.
[Do not waver. Do not fear.]
[Do not doubt your choices.]
[Do not regret your decisions.]
A sudden stream of text appeared in her holographic UI.
"Huh? So you can talk like a person?" she murmured in surprise.
"Are you alive? Hey?"
But the words disappeared as quickly as they ca. The UI returned to normal, quietly fulfilling its usual functions.
"Hmph. Ignoring again, huh..."
She pouted, wiping away her tears.
"But you're right. I shouldn't doubt myself. I can't regret the past."
She bit her lip, determination flickering in her eyes.
"I just have to do my best. No matter what the future holds, I won't let others down. And I won't let myself down!"
The world is unpredictable, always shifting in ways no one can fully control.
If she faltered at every twist and turn, she would never reach her destination—even if she was on the right path.
She had to keep moving forward.
Kagura took a deep breath, steeling herself.
She couldn't afford to stop.
"As long as I keep walking, the road will keep extending—"
Wait... did I just say sothing weird?
She shook her head.
No matter. What's important is to be strong, to be confident!
Brushing away her lingering doubts, she picked up her phone and pulled up Tony Stark's number.
There was still work to be done.
She needed Iron Man to appear at Hamr Industries' upcoming weapons expo, drawing Ivan Vanko into remote-controlling the drone suits and exposing his location.
But after a mont of consideration, she hesitated and canceled the call.
Kagura had three different identities.
As Kagura, the administrative assistant of Rhodes Island Industries.
As "Bruce Wayne," the elusive CEO of Rhodes Island Industries.
And as "Flashblade," a superhero and mber of the Avengers Initiative.
Her CEO identity was best kept hidden. There was no real downside to maintaining that secrecy.
As for "Flashblade," that would inevitably be revealed to other heroes. There was no need to hide it from them forever.
But now was not the ti for Tony Stark to know that Kagura and "Flashblade" were the sa person.
Which ant explaining Hamr Industries' connection to Ivan Vanko would be tricky.
From Tony's perspective, "adorable Miss Kagura Hitomi" hadn't been involved in any investigation regarding Vanko.
Personally, she wanted to talk to soone—to confide in family about her fears and loneliness.
But in the end, she resisted the urge to call Tony directly.
Instead, she switched to her CEO identity and sent Stark an encrypted ssage:
"Ivan Vanko is alive."
"Hamr Industries might be working with him. Keep an eye on their expo."
"There may be danger."
After all, "Bruce Wayne" was known for being mysterious and eccentric, never revealing his true identity.
A warning from such a "fortune teller" figure wouldn't seem out of place.
Besides, she and Tony were close business partners now.
Monts later, a reply ca through:
"ssage received. I have similar intel. Everything's under control. Iron Man will be there."
That was Tony Stark for you—always confident, always reassuring.
Kagura smiled softly, feeling a bit of warmth in her heart.
If Stark was this certain, then he had likely finished developing his new arc reactor—the one powered by an energy source akin to the Space Stone.
With that, neither Hamr's drones nor Vanko's electrified whips would pose a real threat.
The net was cast. Now, it was only a matter of ti before the prey walked into the trap.
Letting out a deep breath, Kagura curled up under the covers.
She didn't know what the future held.
But she knew one thing:
She would keep moving forward—toward the future she believed in.
............................
[TL Note]
Hey there! If you're enjoying this, be sure to check out
p-atreon/InsomniaTL
Please remove the hyphen to access the page normally! Just a heads-up, there will be new advanced chapters every week in there! And thank you so much for reading!
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