[Third Person Pov]
"Now, dear old dad," Tony began loudly, throwing an accusatory thumb over his shoulder toward Maria, "would you please try and convince dear ol' mother that she has officially lost her mind? She's trying to ship me off to an American boarding school!"
Maria, entirely unfazed by his dramatics, shifted her hips slightly and fixed Tony with a cool, unimpressed stare, one perfectly groomed brow arching upward in challenge.
"What?!" Melissa shouted, spinning toward them as the words finally registered. This was the first she was hearing of any of this. "What do you mean by that?!"
"Actually," Howard interjected calmly, his voice cutting cleanly through the chaos, "I'm in agreement with her."
Tony froze mid-motion, his expression flattening into pure disbelief as he slowly tilted his head toward his father.
"…Come again?" Tony asked, scanning the room as if half-expecting hidden cameras or someone to jump out laughing. "Because I'm pretty sure I misheard you."
"I said I'm in agreement with her," Howard repeated, his tone firm and unwavering. "Your mother and I already discussed this at length while you were undergoing your heart transplant." He folded his arms. "She made several valid arguments—arguments I couldn't dispute. You'd be closer to home, you'd be able to visit more often, and most importantly…" He paused pointedly. "You would be safer."
"What the hell is going on…" Tony muttered, dragging both hands over his face before bracing them on top of his head. "I'm in enemy territory. This has to be a dream." He shook his head. "Yeah—yeah, that's it. This is just some anesthesia-induced nightmare while I'm still on the operating table."
Maria looked positively pleased as she stepped closer to Howard, resting comfortably at his side before speaking again. "You're not dreaming, Anthony. Stop acting like a fool. And I thought we already came to an agreement in your bedroom."
"But that doesn't mean I like it!" Tony snapped, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Does my opinion seriously mean absolutely nothing in this family?!"
"Not when it concerns your well-being," Howard replied evenly. "That's an adult matter. One day, when you're a parent yourself, you'll understand exactly where we're coming from."
"You can't do this to me!" Tony exploded, launching into full theatrics as he flung his arms outward. "I started this company! Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed?!"
"What?" Howard asked, blinking at him in genuine confusion.
Tony winced. "Sorry. I got way too into the moment," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "But my point still stands."
"I'm sorry, Tony," Howard said firmly, his expression hardening. "But I'm putting my foot down on this. I've been lenient with you for most of your life because I believe people learn best through their own mistakes." He exhaled. "This time, I'm the one who learned something. Japan is dangerous for you. And I won't gamble with your life."
"…Can someone please explain what's happening?" Melissa asked softly, looking between them. She looked lost—confused, overwhelmed, and just a little frightened.
Tony sighed heavily and turned to her, quickly filling her in on everything—his conversation with Maria, the argument in his bedroom, and the decision that had apparently already been made without him.
Melissa's face paled. "Then… what about me?" she asked anxiously. "Where do I fit into all of this? Would I still be going to U.A., or would I be forced to transfer too, like Tony?"
Howard and Maria exchanged an awkward glance, sharing a brief, uneasy smile before turning back to her.
"Melissa, darling," Maria said gently, shaking her head, "as much as Howard and I love you, and as much as we already consider you our daughter and a part of this family… that decision isn't ours to make."
She softened her voice.
"Ultimately, it's up to David."
"If it were up to us," Howard continued, rubbing the back of his neck as he let out a slow breath, "we would have you pulled out of that school right alongside Tony. Unfortunately, we're not your legal guardians." He paused, scratching his head thoughtfully. "That said… knowing you, we're hoping you'll choose to transfer with him anyway. I seriously doubt you'd willingly leave his side behind, and frankly, that's the best-case scenario for us."
"Even so," Maria added, her arms crossing as a hint of frustration crept into her expression, "convincing David won't be easy. He has complete faith in your Uncle All Might. In his eyes, there's no place safer than Japan—as long as it's under your uncle's protection."
Melissa slowly lifted her hands and braced them against the top of her head, staring down at the floor like it might suddenly open up and swallow her whole. "Tony…" she muttered faintly, shaking her head. "I think you were right. This has to be a dream." She let out a humorless laugh. "No—more like a nightmare. We really are in enemy territory."
Tony crossed his arms and nodded solemnly in agreement, his face grim. Meanwhile, Howard and Maria both rolled their eyes in unison.
"Oh, stop exaggerating, the two of you," Maria said dismissively. "It's not nearly as bad as you're making it sound."
"It is!" Tony snapped immediately, spinning back toward them. "Need I remind you that I have another girlfriend back in Japan? Hello? Momo?" He gestured wildly. "We just started our relationship!"
Howard and Maria exchanged deeply awkward looks.
Howard pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Do you want to take this one," he asked quietly, "or should I?"
"Go right ahead," Maria replied, stepping closer and standing beside him.
"Great," Howard muttered under his breath before clearing his throat. "Tony, if the two of you truly love each other, then distance won't change that. A long-distance relationship won't magically destroy the bond you seem to have with Momo. And it's not as though we're forbidding you from seeing her."
"I'm deadass about to rip my hair out," Tony groaned, dropping into a crouch and gripping his hair with both hands. His entire body language screamed stress and emotional overload.
Maria glanced at Howard uncertainly, doubt flickering across her features as her maternal instincts threatened to take over. For a moment, she looked like she might relent. But Howard reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. His calm expression and steady gaze spoke volumes—silent reassurance, confidence, and resolve. It gave Maria the strength she needed to steel herself and push those instincts aside.
Meanwhile, Melissa had quietly pulled out her phone. She opened the class group chat and immediately began typing, firing off a frantic SOS message loaded with dramatic emojis.
The chat fell silent for a brief moment.
Then Melissa's screen exploded with notifications as messages flooded in one after another—each expressing shock, disbelief, panic, and outrage over the situation.
"Luckily," Howard interjected, reclaiming the room's attention, "you still have the rest of your summer break. Plenty of time to prepare—both physically and mentally. You'll have time to process everything." He looked directly at Tony. "I know this won't be easy. But you've always been adaptable. You're the kind of person who can adjust to almost any situation at the drop of a hat."
"Wow," Tony replied flatly. "Thank you for the words of confidence." He deadpanned, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm absolutely overflowing with teenage angst, desperately trying to prove you right and make you proud as I fulfill my secret dream of one day becoming exactly like you, Father."
"…That was completely unnecessary," Howard said, unimpressed.
"Sorry," Tony scoffed, running a hand roughly through his hair. "I'm just feeling a little bitter—if you couldn't already tell."
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