Chapter 70: Are you thinking of retiring?

After a couple of days playing at sea with the yacht and a conversation between the girls and Principal Nezu, the little vacation ended. So everyone returned to their usual routines, giving Kai the opportunity to talk to Nemuri about what happened with Ryuko. Although she hadn't done anything unusual during the trip apart from that conversation, it was better to be prepared.

"So that's what happened... and what did you tell her?"

After hearing the whole story, Nemuri murmured thoughtfully, then looked at Kai and asked in a serious tone, who was sitting across from her on one of the cozy sofas in their comfortable home.

"Well, she caught me off guard, and since I couldn't talk about us, I simply said the future was uncertain and things like that, and she replied that she would try to win me over..." Kai responded with a complex expression on his face, to which Nemuri nodded calmly before commenting with a smile.

"Looks like I need to talk to her."

"Yeah, it's for the best, though it’ll be a bit complicated, but I guess it was bound to happen eventually. By the way, when will we do it?" Kai commented thoughtfully, prompting Nemuri to tilt her head cutely while asking.

"Do what?"

"Talk to Ryuko." Kai couldn't help but roll his eyes at the distracted Nemuri, who commented with a sly smile on her face.

"Oh, I'll talk to her. You don’t have to worry about that."

"What do you mean I shouldn’t worry? This is something that involves both of us; I won’t let you face the tide alone." Kai replied in a serious tone while looking intently at Nemuri.

Upon hearing her beloved's words, a beautiful smile couldn't help but form on Nemuri's face. She quickly stood up, then sat on her boyfriend's lap, hugging his neck and giving him a loving kiss on the cheek. As Kai's fateful 15th birthday approached, she lost more of her inhibitions, and it became more difficult to contain her impulses.

"Fufufu, you don't need to worry. Let me handle this. I want to talk to her woman to woman."

"Are you sure? Things could get pretty complicated when she finds out." Kai asked, not entirely convinced, while holding Nemuri's slim waist. She smiled confidently as she replied.

"I'm absolutely sure. Leave it to me, and if things get complicated, I'll call you immediately."

"...I suppose that’s fine then..."

Not looking entirely convinced, Kai responded while gazing at Nemuri, who was smiling happily like a schoolgirl in love, so much so that she couldn't contain herself and gave her beloved a quick kiss on the lips. She then stood up and left the living room with hurried steps, leaving the blue-eyed boy confused, feeling her leave the house in one of the cars shortly after.

After a moment, Kai could only shake his head while smiling somewhat amused, before grabbing his computer to start working on his new project—one he wanted to have ready by the time Nejire graduated, as it would be the next major upgrade for the girls' equipment.

A couple of hours later, Kai could feel Momo and Keiko return, carrying a bunch of bags with the help of the guards. He quickly set his computer aside and went out to meet them, while Salem, who had at some point arrived at his side, jumped onto his shoulder.

"Welcome back." Kai greeted the mother-daughter pair with a smile, who responded with cheerful smiles on their faces.

""I'm back.""

Seeing little Salem on Kai's shoulder, Momo quickly kidnapped the poor cat, who immediately began meowing in protest, while Keiko asked the guards to leave all the items on the floor and return to their positions, which they quickly did.

"What did you buy?" A bit curious, Kai asked upon seeing the large number of bags, to which Keiko responded with a smile.

"Fufufu, just some unimportant things for the house and some clothes. We'll check them out now."

While several panthers appeared out of nowhere to start picking up the bags, Keiko took one of Kai's arms and led him inside the house, followed closely by Momo, who was happily 'torturing' Salem with petting and kisses.

Upon reaching the house, Keiko and Momo sat on the sofa while Kai went to prepare some tea, since Mrs. Yoshiko was on vacation. They then put on the episode of the drama they were hooked on, just as Kai returned carrying a small tray.

"My ladies," Kai spoke playfully while imitating an elegant waiter, which made the mother-daughter pair smile as they took their cups.

"Fufufu, thank you, young man," Momo commented playfully, trying to act elegant, which made Keiko smile, who added while patting the spot on the sofa between the two of them.

"Mrs. Yoshiko is truly missed."

"True, but she comes back tomorrow." Kai commented while sitting between the mother and daughter, just as Salem took the opportunity to escape from Momo and jump onto his shoulder.

"By the way, where's Onee-chan?" Momo asked while looking around, to which Kai responded with a shrug.

"I don't know, she left a while ago and didn't say where."

"Well, she must be busy with something. Let's keep watching the drama; it's about to end." Keiko commented as she resumed her favorite drama episode, hugging one of Kai's arms, looking really excited.

"Yeah, Azumi is about to find out Haruto loves her." Equally excited, Momo hugged Kai's other arm, her eyes glued to the TV.

Meanwhile, Kai couldn't help but shake his head in amusement at the mother-daughter duo addicted to dramas, a habit they picked up several years ago, which somehow brought them closer together. So much so that school was no longer as important for Momo, and it wasn't uncommon for her to skip school to accompany her mother abroad—something that Kai couldn't help but be thankful for since he only attended for her.

...

"That was a great ending..." Several hours later, Keiko commented while wiping her tears as the TV displayed the drama's credits, to which Momo added, doing the same.

"Yeah, Azumi finally got to be happy with the love of her life..."

Kai, for his part, just rolled his eyes, as if they had ever watched a drama with a different ending, but Momo recovered rather quickly before commenting excitedly, as if she hadn't been crying just moments before.

"Well, it's time to try on the new clothes!"

"Fufufu, you're right. Do you want to go first, or shall we both go?" Keiko responded playfully, looking at her beloved daughter.

"Mmm... let's go one at a time!" After thinking for a moment, Momo answered cheerfully, to which Keiko asked with a smile.

"Alright, so do you want to go first?"

"Yes, I'll be right back."

With her answer, Momo quickly searched through the bags in a corner, grabbed some, and ran to her room, which only made Keiko smile amused. She then rested her head on Kai.

"By the way, Aunt Keiko, is it just me, or haven't you been going to the office lately?"

"Fufufu, you're only noticing now? I've only gone to the office one day this week." Keiko commented with a soft laugh, her eyes still closed, which made Kai ask, somewhat surprised.

"Are you thinking of retiring?"

"Honestly, yes. I feel I've achieved enough in my career, and I've been preparing for this for years. Moreover, Momo has been missing many classes to accompany me, but if she gets into UA like she wants, that won't be possible, and I want to enjoy my time with my little one before she grows up."

As she hugged Kai's arm, Keiko responded with a tender and determined tone, which made Kai nod, who then commented while using his other arm to stroke his beautiful aunt's silky black hair.

"If that's what you want, you have all my support. Besides, it's also good for you to retire early and enjoy life. We're already rich enough to live multiple lifetimes, so even if your company goes bankrupt, it won't affect our lives much."

"Fufufu, thank you for supporting me, Kai, although if my company goes bankrupt, I might have to live off you." A beautiful smile formed on Keiko's face as she opened her eyes to look at Kai with a playful glint, to which he responded, half amused and half serious.

"Hehehe, don't worry. I have more than enough for you to live like a queen. Besides, you're talking to a renowned blacksmith, so money isn’t a problem."

"Oh great blacksmith, thank you for accepting this poor woman, fufufu." Keiko commented happily, though Kai's words made her heart skip a beat, which led her to hug his arm tighter, pressing it deeply into her voluptuous chest.

"Hehe, you have nothing to thank me for. As long as I exist, my family won't lack anything." Kai commented cheerfully while taking the remote to put on a song on the TV—after all, Momo was approaching.

Keiko, for her part, had to lower her gaze to hide the deep blush on her face, just as Momo returned to the living room, wearing a red skirt and a simple white blouse, accompanied by an elegant black purse. Runway music started playing.

With a cheerful smile, Momo began to show off her new clothes, spinning several times and looking like a real professional model—something she learned from Yumiko and Nejire—which led Kai and Keiko to applaud amusedly.

"You look beautiful, Momo." Kai commented with a smile, which made Momo smile cheerfully and then respond a little shyly.

"Hehehe, thank you. But now it's your turn, Oka-sama."

"Well, I suppose you're right. I'll be right back." Keiko responded with a smile, although her cheeks were slightly flushed. She then got up, took a couple of bags, and went up to her room.

After that, a fun fashion show began, where the girls showed off their new clothes and various accessories they had bought, something that lasted until Nemuri arrived, who had a big smile on her face, looking quite excited. It was then that they ordered some food and started a harmonious chat full of smiles.

...

"Oh, by the way, Kai, Principal Nezu contacted me and said he wanted to meet with both of us." In the middle of dinner, Nemuri remembered something and turned to tell Kai, who quickly asked confused.

"What does he want with us?"

"I don't know. He didn't tell me." Nemuri shook her head as she replied, to which Kai commented with slight annoyance.

"He probably wants me to heal someone, how annoying..."

"Well, it’s possible, but I don't think that's the case. Nezu has no family, so unless it's something of All Might's level, I highly doubt he'd seek you out. Furthermore, he has a lot of influence and contacts around the world, so he’d exhaust those options first, and I would have found out." Keiko commented in a serious tone, which led Kai to ask, confused.

"Then what does he want?"

"Maybe to recruit you both for UA?" Momo asked with a slight smile on her face, which secretly made Nemuri and Keiko nod, to which Kai casually commented.

"Well then, he's wasting his time. I have no intention of joining."

"Well, for my part, if he really wants to recruit me for UA, I wouldn’t mind considering it. I'd like to contribute to the next generation of heroes." Nemuri commented with a smile before taking her chopsticks to her mouth, prompting Kai to ask.

"So, you'll meet with him then?"

"Yes, I want to see what the meeting is about. Will you join me?" Nemuri asked casually while looking at Kai, who could only sigh before replying resignedly.

"I guess it can't be helped then..."