"No way—this new move won't trigger energy spikes." Tony laughed, incredulous. "If it doesn't even make the radar blink, how are you supposed to beat me?"
Ryuuto grinned, that cocky, trash-to-legend smirk that had gotten him both beatings and wins. "We're not here to talk about winning or losing—this is for fun. But fine: tell me, Mr. Stark, how confident are you in your suit's thrust? If we both brace and shove, who do you think wins? You or me?"
Tony puffed out his chest. "I win. Don't forget my repulsor drive. If a train slammed into me dead-on, I'd take the hit straight and push it back."
"Alright, then let's play." Ryuuto bounced on his toes like a kid about to steal cookies.
Just then J.A.R.V.I.S's calm mechanical voice piped up from Tony's HUD. "Sir—incoming. Miss Potts approaching."
Tony's smile melted into a grin. "Alright, truce for a sec. Hide your copies, Ryuuto—my assistant is coming."
Ryuuto's replicates folded into nothing. Tony floated down toward Pepper Potts as she walked up, trademark no-nonsense expression in place. Pepper had that "I'll fire you if you don't act right" energy—exactly the kind of person who kept Stark Industries from burning the planet by accident.
Ryuuto stepped forward first, breezing in like a gust of bad intent. Pepper sidestepped a beat, amused and slightly annoyed. "You don't have to try so hard."
"I—I wanted to introduce myself properly." Ryuuto extended a hand. "I'm Ryuuto, I study at Axville Genius Youth School."
"Pepper Potts," she said. "Mr. Stark's—assistant."
Tony landed beside them and peeled open his faceplate. "You paperwork people having a fight?"
Pepper held up a folder. "Your signature required. Stark Industries is about to ship upgraded Leopard missiles overseas. It's a huge contract. I don't want us doing it."
Tony blinked. "We'll sell planes and farming tech—fine. But weapons?"
Pepper didn't blink. "If we sell this, even if the buyer says it's for defense, we risk arming oppressive groups. Profits aren't worth that."
Tony's smile faded. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, that rare, honest expression of someone torn between genius and conscience. "Pepper, stopping arms sales will tank the company. But… if people die because of our products, I can't eat it either. Fine—this is between you and me. We'll talk through options. For now, Ryuuto, let's finish our little test."
Pepper arched an eyebrow at Ryuuto and then clambered up onto a raised platform so she could watch safely. "Don't do anything reckless, Mr. Stark."
Tony powered up with a showman's flourish. "You sure this is just pushing?"
"Yeah—just a push," Ryuuto replied, serious for once. "If you don't try, you can't say I'd lose."
Tony's grin returned. "I'm betting everything you could ever want. Name it—an island, a vintage car, whatever. I'll buy it for you if I beat you."
Ryuuto's eyes twitched with amusement. "An island? That's tempting. But you know what—let's be practical. If you win, I'll tell you how to harness chakra properly. If I win, you promise to stop selling weapons to questionable buyers for six months. Fair?"
Tony's laugh echoed. "Deal. J.A.R.V.I.S, clear the field. Full thrust test."
Pepper crossed her arms and watched, the guardian at the top of the cliff. The wind off the ocean smelled like salt and opportunity.
Ryuuto stepped in, centered himself, and whispered to the empty air—half prayer, half smirk. "Let's see what your suit is really made of."
He cracked his knuckles, folded slightly at the hips, and braced.
Tony powered the repulsors up—full throttle lighting the sky—and the whole lawn hummed with contained thunder.
Ryuuto shoved.
It wasn't heroic poetry. It was brute, honed speed converted into a shove like a battering ram with human intent. The world seemed to blink as two forces met: metal and will. Sparks, a gust, then the steel truth of impact.
Tony's suit held. It shuddered, resisted, then screamed back. For a heartbeat the two of them were immovable, chest to chest—apparent victory hanging in the balance.
Pepper's mouth was a straight line. J.A.R.V.I.S reported metrics in a flood of numbers. Ryuuto grinned through the strain. "Not bad—pretty solid."
Tony's jaw clenched, then he grinned—equal parts admiration and challenge. "Okay, kid. Next round. Rematch."
Ryuuto's internal voice chimed, cheeky as ever: This is the kind of fun that breaks reputations and builds legends. Keep your guard up, Red Mirage—this world's fragile as glass.
And behind the glint in his eyes: a hint of hunger. He wasn't just here to test armor. He was cataloguing, learning, and planning. Every move taught him something new. Every knock brought him closer to the next leap.
The cliff wind carried Pepper's dry comment: "Don't break my office, Mr. Stark."
Tony laughed. "No promises."
Ryuuto's smile widened. The next test would be bigger. Faster. More embarrassing for someone in red metal.
He loved that.