--Saturday, July 4, 2172
[Who is it?] Kai asked with a cold tone, his thoughts racing at full speed. Sage, creating several more holographic screens, replied in a similar tone.
[Naoki Tanabe, a technical worker at UA, recently divorced and childless. He was added to the target list because he had been in contact with one of the two rats who caused the security system failure during the USJ attack.]
[Is he related to the quirk stealer?] Kai asked with a thoughtful tone. Sage responded while generating more screens.
[It's possible, but we've heavily infiltrated the quirk stealer's systems, and I found nothing related. Therefore, the quirk stealer's organization might be larger and more complex than we expect, or it could be a different force altogether.]
[I see. Save a copy of the information he sold on my personal server and keep an eye on him. But avoid alerting anyone; let everyone think we didn't notice. Something tells me this isn't as simple as the quirk stealer pulling another one of their stupid stunts.] Kai replied coldly, to which Sage nodded with an equally cold and emotionless expression.
"Is something wrong, Kai?" At that moment, Kai heard Keiko's slightly concerned voice beside him, so he turned to look at her and responded with a calm smile.
"Nothing, just remembered something. Let's get back to what's important."
A curious and understanding expression formed on Keiko's face as she pieced together the implications behind Kai's words. The blue-eyed boy turned to look at the man in front of him and spoke in a steady tone.
"Mr. Kaito Moriyama, as you know, the situation in Ayanami Mode is quite complex. Therefore, in the spirit of resolving issues as quickly as possible, several significant changes will be made to the company's business model. You already have a copy of these changes and their implications, so let's discuss something more specific.
"As you were informed initially, starting now, you will be the new CEO of Ayanami Mode and responsible for all operations. However, the ultimate authority will remain with Ayanami Yumiko, here at my side. She will now be known as the president, though she will focus more on the artistic and strategic aspects.
"Meanwhile, Yaoyorozu Keiko, here beside me, and I will handle the complete overhaul of the technical and technological aspects of the company. We will implement several major changes regarding production plants, administrative IT systems, and more. Additionally, we will act as a sort of technological consultants for the new hero department mentioned in the documents.
"Lastly, and most importantly, the spirit of Ayanami Mode has always been to create a united and supportive work team, akin to a family, to the point that we have people here who have been with us for over a decade. So, while we understand the need to implement performance-based cutbacks and similar strategies, it is of utmost importance to us that these be kept to a minimum.
"We are not interested in fostering a toxic competitive spirit or anything of the sort within our company. I hope that is very clear. Furthermore, due to the unpleasant situation the company has gone through, an independent and ongoing fiscal review model will be implemented to prevent such incidents from happening again, and we expect your full cooperation on this matter."
Kaito stared for a few moments at the handsome and imposing young man with blue eyes before him, then glanced at Yumiko and Keiko beside him, analyzing the interaction between the trio with keen eyes. Thanks to his years of experience in the corporate world, Kaito could easily see the young man's importance to his 'bosses,' so he quickly responded in a serious and professional tone, befitting his experience and position.
"I understand perfectly, Saito-sama. If it's alright with you, I can send you a comprehensive report on the various strategies I plan to implement, as well as the administrative restructuring I have in mind. Additionally, we can establish a dismissal protocol that requires the approval of the president or the board of directors."
"Good idea. I'd like to review your strategies, though the protocol isn't necessary. At the end of the day, you will still be the CEO; the decisions are yours to make. I'm just pointing this out because the spirit within the company is something we will heavily consider when evaluating your performance." Kai replied with a calm expression, to which Kaito nodded seriously.
"I understand, Saito-sama. I will keep that in mind and align my strategies with that spirit."
At the same time, Yumiko glanced at Keiko and nodded, visibly satisfied with the new CEO's attitude. Serious, diligent, and observant enough to give her Kai the necessary importance. Keiko, for her part, smiled with satisfaction, knowing she had made the right choice in selecting him.
"Well, with everything said, let's take a short tour of the company before the official presentation in front of all the employees."
Yumiko commented with a calm smile as she looked at Kaito, who secretly let out a sigh of relief for having guessed correctly, noticing Keiko's faintly approving smile, and responded seriously.
"I will follow your arrangements, Ayanami-sama."
With Kaito's response, Yumiko, Kai, and Keiko stood up from their seats and headed toward the door, closely followed by Kaito, who couldn't help but gaze at the backs of the trio with a thoughtful expression. Especially at the stunning woman with black hair and an orange suit.
Although he was being paid a fortune—far more than in his previous job—the real reason he accepted was because it was a request from none other than Keiko Yaoyorozu herself. That woman was practically a living legend, having built a technological empire capable of rivaling and even surpassing Western and Asian giants. There were even rumors that she was currently the largest technological supplier to I-Island, home to the world's greatest geniuses.
But beyond that, there was something even more enticing than working for this woman: almost everyone who had worked closely with her had achieved success in one way or another. Some created multi-billion-dollar companies, others built careers within her empire with enviable wealth, while still others lived relaxed lives as high-level consultants. In short, none of them were nobodies.
However, while the potential benefits of working for this woman were obvious, nothing in life came for free, and for something this good, the price was certainly not cheap. Keiko Yaoyorozu, in addition to her title as the most prolific technological genius in Asia and likely the world, was also known for something else. She was ruthless, vengeful, and didn't hesitate to use all her power and wealth to destroy anyone who crossed her.
Therefore, it was well known that working for this woman was like dancing on the edge of a blade—extremely dangerous but incredibly lucrative if you could 'survive.' So, it was best to stay on her good side whenever possible, and it seemed he had passed the first test. From now on, he'd better take the words of this blue-eyed young man as if they were Keiko Yaoyorozu's own—a message he understood with perfect clarity.
…
"Yumiko-sama." Upon exiting the office, the group encountered Reina, who bowed respectfully and greeted them.
"We'll take a short tour of the company before heading to the showroom. Is everyone informed?" Yumiko asked calmly as she looked at Reina, who stood straight and replied seriously.
"Everyone has been informed, Yumiko-sama."
"Perfect. Join us on the tour." Yumiko nodded with satisfaction and said, to which Reina nodded back and then joined the group.
Soon, the group moved through the facilities while Yumiko explained the layout and introduced the executives they encountered along the way. Meanwhile, Keiko, who confidently hooked her arm around Kai's, leaned in and whispered near his ear in a more serious tone, ensuring the others couldn't hear.
"What happened earlier?"
Kai looked at Keiko for a few seconds, hesitating whether to speak, but at that moment, the beautiful black-haired mother squeezed his arm tightly and looked directly into his eyes with seriousness and firmness. Seeing her stunning dark eyes focused on his, Kai couldn't help but think of how unconditionally supportive and complicit Keiko had been with him. Even when he revealed his relationships with the girls, she immediately took his side firmly, even before standing by Momo, her most precious treasure.
Keiko was undoubtedly the one who understood him best. She was always by his side, and honestly, he couldn't recall a single moment when she had criticized him for anything. It was as if, naturally, Keiko and he always ended up on the same side—a connection he didn't even share with his girlfriends, who, though they truly loved him, were heroes at the end of the day, and their worldviews differed greatly from his.
"…Sage found a rat at UA."
Having made his decision, Kai whispered back, ensuring the others couldn't hear. Keiko's eyes widened in surprise, but soon a dark, ruthless glint shone in them as she asked.
"Information?"
"On the entire class."
Kai nodded and whispered into the beautiful woman's ear. She quickly took out her phone and typed hurriedly. At that moment, a holographic screen appeared in front of Kai with a text message.
[Let me help you deal with that rat. I have some ideas to extract all the information possible and make him disappear.]
Kai's eyes widened slightly, and then he turned to look at Keiko, who nodded back at him with seriousness and resolve before sending another message.
[I'm not, nor do I want to be, a hero like the others. All I care about are my Momo and you. If that rat dared to sell information on the loves of my life, then I'll make sure it's the last mistake of his life. What happened to Alisa was a lesson I'll never forget and never want to relive. I'll protect what I love at any cost.]
As Kai's gaze seemed to stare into the void while Yumiko introduced another person, Keiko squeezed his arm tightly, silently awaiting his response. Though she was inevitably a bit nervous, at the same time, Keiko felt a certain confidence that allowed her to express her thoughts in that moment.
She remembered with perfect clarity something the others had tried to gloss over: Kai had killed a man without hesitation on that damned island that nearly took him from her. That decisive action told Keiko something—Kai wasn't a sanctimonious type like the rest of the family. Kai was a real man, capable of being ruthless when the situation demanded it. And with his well-known hatred for rats, she could easily imagine the darker side of her beloved.
But that darkness, rather than repelling or disappointing her, only made her feel closer and more aligned with Kai. She had seen and lived through the ruthlessness of the real world; 'good men' rarely had good endings. Therefore, in the real world, to protect what you loved, you had to make tough decisions without hesitation, and she knew her Kai was exactly that kind of man.
That's why he was the man of her dreams, the love of her life, her destined man to whom she had given her heart, her future, and what she loved most—her daughter. Only he, someone loving, decisive, and loyal to the death, could love them, care for them, spoil them, and protect them for life.
That's why she would be his greatest ally and confidante, the one who would step forward to help him bear his burdens and support him in moments of weakness, because she was Keiko Yaoyorozu, the woman of Kai Saito.
[Let's talk about it at home… There's a lot at stake, so we need to be cautious.]
After nearly a minute of silence, during which Keiko simply walked beside Kai with a calm expression, a message arrived on her phone. Upon reading it, a smile couldn't help but form on her face. She could feel it—she had just taken the first step to delve deeper than anyone into her Kai's life, and she would not waste this opportunity for anything in the world.
[I understand, I'll wait then. Just remember one thing, Kai. I am your most steadfast ally. I always have been, and I always will be. If you need anything from me, you can count on me for anything. I will never refuse anything you ask of me, no matter what it is.]
Quickly, Keiko sent a message that seemed to leave Kai deep in thought. After a few seconds, he turned to look at her and whispered in a calm but assured voice.
"I know."
Kai soon turned his gaze forward, following the group, while Keiko, despite the short response, could perfectly sense the emotions and decisions her Kai had made. This inevitably caused the beautiful mother to show a warm smile and squeeze Kai's arm tighter, walking by his side with her head held high.
***
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