"Hey, you! What the hell are you doing out here?!"
Just as I began walking through a residential area that looked vaguely—or perhaps not at all—familiar, a recognizable voice barked from behind me. I turned to find my lackey standing there in his tracksuit. The bandages on his hands hadn't been removed yet. As for that terrifying expression on his face… well, that was the same as ever.
"Ah, my lackey. Excellent timing. Would you be so kind as to escort me to the school?"
"Why the hell is someone heading to school wandering around here in the morning?! Fix your damn sense of direction already!"
…What a noisy fellow so early in the morning. His attitude truly shows no sign of improvement. Even after being disciplined by my father and causing such trouble for his own family, he still acts like this? I am a little exasperated, to say the least.
Besides, you. Aren't you forbidden from contacting me? Ah, no, I suppose there was an exception if I were to get lost.
It was a little while ago—about half a month, I believe. I was "attacked" by my lackey. In reality, it was something else, but that is how it was framed. It turned into quite the ordeal. The Kaido and Bakugo families had to hold two separate formal meetings. In the end, it didn't turn into a catastrophe—specifically for his future.
Furthermore, I did not allow Himiko to participate in these discussions. Well, I let her sit in once as my "wife," but… I ended up chasing her away. She looked ready to stab the boy at any moment.
The negotiations with the Bakugo family concluded once both sides' demands were met. In exchange for my father not filing a police report, three conditions were imposed upon Katsuki Bakugo.
First: A ban on contacting me. However, he is permitted to interact with me if I am lost, or if it is necessary for school lessons or events.
Second: He had to apologize to me. A minor using their Quirk in public to harm another—that is not something easily forgiven. Personally, I didn't care for an apology, but he was forced to give one. After all, if a formal report were filed, he wouldn't be able to enter U.A. He did eventually apologize. Though…
"...Tch. My bad, okay...?"
What kind of apology is that? He didn't bow his head, his tone was foul, and the whole thing ended with Mrs. Bakugo smacking him upside the head. If I hadn't stepped in to "forgive" him immediately upon seeing that display, my father might have flown into an even greater rage. Later, when Himiko heard how it all went down, she was livid. It was a chore to soothe her. The more I tried to calm her, the more she pouted…
And finally, the third condition. This is the real issue.
"For the three years at U.A., you shall owe Madoka absolute obedience."
To tell him he is forbidden from contacting me, yet must serve me—what a contradiction.
…No, I understand what my father was trying to do. He was taking my feelings into account. After all, I am not forbidden from contacting him. It was his way of ensuring that if anything happened, I could, in the worst-case scenario, rely on this boy.
However, regardless of what anyone says, I intend to look after the lad. In fact, that was the reason I bowed my head to the Bakugos in the first place.
So, forcing the boy to swear absolute obedience was likely my father's desperate compromise. In their own way, my father and mother don't completely strip away what I am trying to do. They told me if I want to exorcise Curses, I should become a Hero, but they never told me I couldn't exorcise them in the meantime. In the first place, as a sorcerer, I fully intend to go against my parents' wishes where necessary.
Naturally, I was also given a punishment for this incident. Though, I wonder if it can truly be called a punishment. I remember the words Mrs. Bakugo said to me very clearly.
"Since he could do just about anything, people only ever praised the shallow parts of him. And that's how he ended up like this. The kids around him never really called him out on his crap. Neither did the teachers at school."
"But because Madoka-chan got angry at him, this kid… he's actually started calling me 'old lady.' Despite how he looks, he's actually pretty depressed about this whole thing. I feel bad leaving a guy like this to a girl, but… if you're okay with it, please keep educating him a bit more."
"Oh, and you can do whatever you want to him. As long as it doesn't turn into another mess like this time, feel free. Consider this request the 'penalty' our family wants from you, Madoka-chan."