After changing into her newly purchased gown, finishing her makeup, and styling her hair, Kagura Hitomi was driven to the ball by Happy Hogan.
By the time she arrived, the event was already halfway through.
The "unexpected and uninvited" Tony Stark had also arrived ahead of her and was dancing with Pepper Potts in the center of the ballroom.
Though the red carpet welcome had long concluded, Kagura Hitomi's arrival still caught many people's attention.
Journalists, who were either wrapping up their work or preparing to head inside for more interviews, immediately pointed their cameras at the silver-haired girl.
The sound of camera flashes filled the air as soon as she stepped out of the car, dazzling her vision.
My eyes are going blind!
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Kagura Hitomi felt overwhelmed. After all, she was just a humble assistant — she shouldn't be getting this much focus.
"Hey, young lady! You're gorgeous!"
A gentleman with white hair, dressed in an elegant suit and wearing brown-tinted sunglasses, walked up and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Don't be so stiff. Smile! People will remember you."
"Thank you, sir. I'm sure people will remember you too," she responded politely.
So that's it, huh? I guess it's not about my job position — it's about me.
Looking down at herself, Kagura Hitomi took in her appearance.
Her elegant white gown was adorned with purple accents, the hem subtly highlighting her black-stocking-clad legs.
A beautiful floral ornament on her chest made the outfit even more striking.
A butterfly-shaped hair accessory added a playful and adorable touch to her otherwise graceful look.
Maybe this dress is a bit too eye-catching after all.
I probably should've chosen something more low-key... Oh well, I just picked the most expensive one off the rack without thinking.
Straightening her posture, she did her best to exude poise and confidence as she entered the grand ballroom.
The place was dazzling — elegant decor, luxurious furnishings, high-end cuisine, and fine wine.
Whether it was in her past life or this one, Kagura Hitomi had never attended a ball of this caliber.
Her first thought upon seeing the opulence was a bit embarrassing: This feels like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden...
Cough!
Stay calm, Hitomi. Keep your composure! Don't panic. Panic won't help!
But seriously, why am I even here? Is earning five measly QP really worth this embarrassment?
While silently venting her frustrations, she found a relatively quiet corner to stay out of the way.
Maybe I can just wait here until the ball ends.
I don't even care about this whole dancing and chatting nonsense.
Wearing this uncomfortable and embarrassing dress is already punishment enough.
Work and combat were no problem for Kagura Hitomi, but events like this, which were completely outside her comfort zone, made her feel extremely uneasy.
"Hey, Miss Kagura, long time no see."
A warm and refined male voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned around and saw a familiar face—it was Yinsen, someone she hadn't spoken to much since returning to the U.S.
"Mr. Yinsen! What a surprise to see you here."
At least it was someone she knew — that made things easier.
"How have you been?" she asked.
"Pretty well. After settling in the U.S., I was appointed as a professor at California State University.
It's a pretty relaxed job compared to performing surgeries and assembling weapons in a cave."
He chuckled but then paused, looking visibly troubled.
"What's wrong?" Kagura Hitomi asked.
"My village... Gulmira..."
He hesitated, seemingly lost in thought. "Oh, it's nothing. I just heard it was attacked by the Ten Rings again."
"Mr. Yinsen, everything will get better," she comforted him softly.
Don't worry. Justice will come to your village soon — Iron Man will make sure of that.
"Yes, you're right."
Yinsen took a deep breath. "Everything will be alright."
Kagura Hitomi nodded. "Have you seen Mr. Stark yet?"
"Oh, yes. But you know how Stark is. It was just polite small talk, no different from back in 1999."
Kagura Hitomi laughed, covering her mouth. "It looks like you need some serious charm to get his attention."
"That's true. Stark definitely prefers beautiful women over me."
Suddenly, Yinsen changed the topic. "By the way, do you have any plans later? There's someone here who wants to meet you."
"I don't have any plans. But who would specifically come to a place I'd barely show up at to see me?"
"You'll see. I'll go let him know. He'll come find you shortly."
"Alright. It was great seeing you, Mr. Yinsen."
"Likewise." He smiled. "Oh, by the way, you look stunning tonight. I bet plenty of people will be asking you to dance."
"Ugh, that sounds like trouble," she joked. "I think I'll just stay in the corner instead."
But who was this person who wanted to see her?
Before she could figure it out, a steady, composed voice called out, "Hello, Miss Kagura. We meet again."
It was a man in a suit with a receding hairline—Agent Coulson!
"So it's you, Agent Coulson!"
She smiled. "I'm guessing Mr. Yinsen was talking about you?"
"Correct." Coulson nodded. "You look absolutely stunning tonight — truly impressive."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Kagura Hitomi elegantly lifted her skirt and bowed slightly. "What brings you here tonight, Agent Coulson?"
"Well, we need a small favor."
He got straight to the point. "We're hoping you could provide some information about the battle in the cave."
"Huh?" Kagura Hitomi tilted her head. "Didn't you already investigate that?"
S.H.I.E.L.D. had already spoken with Tony, Yinsen, and herself about the incident in the cave. There shouldn't be any need for further inquiries.
"This time, it's specifically about you, Miss Kagura," Coulson clarified. "We're interested in your combat involvement."
"Me?" She widened her eyes in feigned innocence. "But I was the one being protected by Mr. Stark!"
"Well, according to our intel, that's not entirely accurate," Coulson said with a calm smile. "Mr. Yinsen has already confirmed that you were actively engaged in combat. Could you share more details?"
"Oh, of course. If there's any compensation involved, I'm all ears," she quipped. "After all, I'm a reasonable person, right?"
Seriously? How good is your intel network?
"I received military training, so I just did what I could," she offered, using her go-to excuse.
"Understood," Coulson nodded. "We respect your privacy, but I must inform you that we will continue to keep an eye on you. I look forward to working with you again."
Looks like I can't bluff my way out of this one... Is S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiting me now?
[TL Note]
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