Chapter Text
“You’re fired.”
There was a long pause before the waterworks began. “What? I t-texted and told you I would be l-late and I overslept and I’m s-so sorry I just—“
Katsuki checked his watch. “You didn’t mention having a comprehension issue on your application. You’re fired. Your last check will be mailed to you. Security will see you out the front gates.”
The sound of the nanny’s tears filled the hallway as they ran out of the door. He simply rolled his eyes and turned on his heels, the sound of custom leather shoes echoed through the halls.
“You know, that’s the third nanny you’ve fired in two months,” Mina commented. “I’m starting to think you don’t want someone to actually take care of your kid.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember putting “giving unsolicited opinions” in your fucking job description. I do remember putting hiring and firing in it, however.”
As his personal assistant, Mina Ashido graced the very short list of people who could deal with her boss’s attitude. She also graced an even shorter list of those who could give attitude right back without harm.
“You have to give a person a chance Kitty Kat!”
“This isn’t a fucking second-grade spelling test, Mina, and I told you to stop calling me that!” The pair walked through his home as he pulled his suit coat on and shouted for his daughter.
“This is my child we’re talking about here. Kids get second chances to make up their exams when their stomach hurts. I don’t give people second chances with my child’s life. You fuck up once, you’re done, simple as that.”
Mina sighed, but she understood. He was fiercely protective of his little girl above everything. Straightening her spine, she launched herself into PA mode.
“You have 4 meetings today, one with Masanori Tanaka, CEO of SALT Industries. This is to discuss the new factory in Okinawa. Following you have a working lunch with David Leinstein, we’re still trying to shake him down to close the deal on the Texas acquisition, so really lay on the charm and lose the fucking attitude for once Katsuki. Then you have a call with Nasir Asghar, the geologist from Yemen that we discussed last board meeting, and his colleagues, regarding our recent purchase of zirconium that we weren’t happy with. Be firm, but not disrespectful. Eijirou will join you for that meeting but he has two site tours this morning with potential investors. You know he’s a little more charming than you. Last, you have dinner with your mother at 6 at Suppai.”
Kira skipped into the hallway just as Mina finished rattling off today’s agenda.
“Mornin’ daddy!” Kira yelled.
“Good morning sweetheart,” he bowed and planted a soft kiss on his daughter’s head. “Go ahead and cancel that last meeting Mina.”
Mina grinned and ruffled Kira’s blonde hair as she walked past to head to the car. “Oh how I wish I could,” she sang. “Come on Kira, ready to hang with Yochio today?”
By now they were all used to Katsuki’s antics. Kira knew not to get attached to a nanny. With every fired attendant came a day with her best friend, and a hefty tip for Eri, Mina’s nanny.
Kira skipped along and grabbed her plush bunny. “Bye Daddy!”
Picking up his daughter in his arms, he planted a kiss on her forehead before setting her back down. “Don’t say bye, say see you later. Be good for Eri. I want you to practice your handwriting with her. She’s the only lefty I know.”
Hanta Sero strolled up to the front door with the same goofy smile as always. “Ladies, your chariot awaits.”
Sato, his chef, handed Kira a wrapped spicy breakfast burrito, her favorite, before she walked out of the door. His driver tipped his hat and stuffed his hands in his slouchy pants pockets before strolling off behind them.
“Get some better fucking pants Sero, I pay you enough.”
“That’s $20 in the swear jar Daddy!” She yelled on her way out.
For his daughter, he would burn the world. When Mitsuki announced the terms of her leaving the company, he was infuriated.
“Within the next ten years , I will begin to step down as Chief Executive Officer of Dynamight Industries. This decision has not been made lightly, but I believe it is time to live out my glory days with my husband. After months of careful planning, I have decided to name my son as the next executive, should he meet the requirements I have set forth for him. These are private and do not involve the company. They are personal steps that I believe my son needs to go through to evolve as both a man and a leader before taking on this role. For now, he will take on the role of Area Director. As he completes the personal requirements to my satisfaction, I will promote him within my rights as CEO, and within accordance with our hiring policy based on his education, experience, and positive recommendations from supervisors. Thank you.”
Her announcement stunned the board who believed Mitsuki would reign with an iron fist forever.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mitsuki dismissed everyone with the exception of her son and her personal attorney.
He stood at the end of the table, fuming in his suit. “What fucking personal steps are you talking about?! You promised me that I would be the CEO once you resigned!”
“Oh get the fuck over yourself. You’re almost 30 years old Katsuki, you can barely wipe your own ass let alone run a whole company. I’m giving you ten years, ten whole years to get your shit together. If listen and learn for once in your life, maybe just maybe, you’ll be half as good of a CEO as I have been.”
His mother always knew how to strike him where it hurt. His entire life he had been striving for perfection, striving for her approval. He earned perfect grades in primary school. He studied abroad in secondary school and albeit he had issues with Izuku Midoriya, he came out second in his class. Katsuki graduated summa cum laude from university with a bioengineering degree and received his MBA just a year after, a feat that his professors said was impossible.
And yet, there she was reducing him to nothing. Above being a mother, she was CEO, and that is how their relationship functioned. They worked well as business partners— not as mother and son.
“What are your terms?”
Her attorney, Mariko Aimoto, opened the folder and placed the documents before him.
“As you are 28 now, you have 1 year to find a wife. Your playboy ways have cost us a fortune in PR coverups over the years. You need to settle down for good, Katsuki. Within a year, you must be married. That is step 1.” She smiled at him gently, as if the news she just dropped didn’t alter the trajectory of his entire life.
“Are you fucking insane? How is this legal? How do you know if I’m even straight?! I don’t want to fucking be married!” By this point , he was fuming with anger.
“Simple. If you don’t agree, you don’t get the company. We will find a perfectly suitable candidate elsewhere Katsuki. You’re in my playground. You play by my rules. Which brings me to step 2. Within a year of being married , I expect you to produce a child. I prefer if the child is biologically related to you, and so if you are unable to conceive within 6 months of being married, then I will acquiesce to other forms of intervention or adoption.”
“Fuck this.”
“M-maybe we should stop and revisit this another time?” Mariko whispered. It was jarring to see her so timid knowing she was such a shark in the courtroom.
Mitsuki held up a red manicured index finger to her and uttered the words she knew would draw her son right in.
“I’ve never known you to back away from a challenge. I guess you can’t handle it.”
Famous last words.
The smooth feeling of the leather interior of his car calmed his nerves as he sat outside the restaurant. After a day of brutal negotiations, the last thing he wanted to do was see his mother. Her transition out of her role was nearly complete, but her insistence upon micromanaging her exit was truly testing the patience his therapist worked so hard to build.
Before making his way to the table, he stopped at the bar to grab a drink. “Old fashioned,” he mumbled. The bartender nodded and prepared his drink quickly. As soon as the drink was placed before him, Katsuki knocked the contents back. An old fashioned was meant to be sipped slowly, the flavors and bitters meant to be enjoyed languidly on your tongue over time. But he didn’t have the luxury of time as he needed the liquid courage to course through his veins before putting his head in the lion’s mouth.
After depositing a large bill on the counter, he murmured, “Keep the change,” before slinking off to his table.
“Mother,” he greeted her as he sat down. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Mitsuki rolled her eyes at his fake attempt at pleasantries, but still placated her son. “Good evening son. I thought we would sit down and talk about my precious granddaughter.”
He cleared his throat and adjusted his suit, yet remained calm. Fierce ruby eyes stared right back at his own. She knew every sign, every tell, because she created him in her own image.
“What’s there to discuss? She’s doing well in kindergarten, as you are aware. She’s begun piano lessons twice weekly, her ballet instructor said her form has improved significantly since we hired her private coach whom she is with right now.”
“Right.” Mitsuki took a small sip of water and snapped to call the waiter over. The action infuriated Katsuki. “You don’t snap at service staff.”
“Well, they are doing me a service, are they not?”
“It’s fucking disrespectful.”
“As is your tone,” she said with narrowed eyes. With patience, the waiter took her order, while Katsuki declined to order anything. “Well, I see you’d rather just leave instead of sitting here and dining with me. Let me just cut to the chase. I’m amending the agreement.”
“You cannot unilaterally make changes to our existing contract! You know this.” He kept his voice low but it flowed with fury and venom.
“That’s why you’ll be agreeing to the changes. This is the last change I am making to the contract, which is outlined here.” She drew the contract out from a portfolio in her purse and pointed to the specific section she referenced.
“Within the next year, you need to find a new wife. I’m not asking you to have another child, but this person needs to be able to care for your daughter and ensure her upbringing is up to par. You have fired every single nanny that has walked through your doors. I cannot trust you to find a new nanny anymore, but, your selection for a wife the first time around wasn’t horrible. I trust that this time you will make an even better choice and truly settle down. The contract also states you have full right to do whatever you wish with the marriage once you are named CEO, but you should truly think about keeping her. Kira needs a womanly figure around. I didn’t do well with you. I wasn’t a good mom, hell, I was good as dead to you too. But I can’t see my granddaughter deprived of a mother as well. My reign ends in 1 year, 11 months, and 23 days. Sign it, Katsuki. For Kira.”
As a businessman, Katsuki Bakugou was known as being ruthless. World leaders have bowed before him. His portfolio and their assets spoke for themselves; Dynamight Industries was one of the largest companies in the entire world, with diverse projects across six continents, three of which he tapped into upon becoming Executive Director. He was cocky, brash, and resolute. Katsuki Bakugou bent for no one.
Except his daughter.
And thus, with her best interest in his heart and mind, he signed himself away on the dotted line.