Ch.24 - Day Off

A week having almost passed in the blink of an eye, in a wonderland of learning, discoveries and new ideas, I was eventually snapped out of my... near delirium by Yuri-okaasan suddenly coming into my lab and dragging me away.

"Ummm... Yuri, what's going on?" I hesitantly asked as I let myself be dragged without fuss due to me likely deserving it somehow.

"Your highness, you have spent the last 138 hours, 22 minutes and 39 seconds within your laboratory and have been ignoring the Highnesses and your young charges." She informed with a cold look. "You shall be washed, dressed and fed, following which you shall be banned from your laboratory for the next 48 hours as you spend time with them."

"But I sent out psionically wrapped astral clones to teach and spend time with them." I countered in a way which may be misconstrued as petulant.

"That does not count and you know it your highness. The young princess wishes to spend real time with you, while young misses Puceanu and Maximoff can feel the difference." Yuri shot down with precise arguments.

"...*Sigh* You're right." I admitted after a moment's thought. "I got too caught up and forgot my priorities.

Thanks Yuri."

"It is my duty your highness." She replied with a satisfied nod at having gotten her point through.

She was still dragging me by my lab coat though, but I feel like I deserve it, so I let her.

After said cleaning, dressing and feeding, I found myself in front of the girls as they lounged around after their lessons from Agatha.

They were each rather surprised to see me as Wanda looked up from her book and Saya and Maggan tore their eyes away from the flower Meggan was helping grow.

'Damn, I missed her first use of that. I really did screw up this week.' I inwardly scolded myself.

"Alright girls! We're going out today!" I declared as two of them became very excited immediately and the third was mildly torn as she looked at her book.

""Yay!!"" The younger duo yelled out as Saya-chan came over to hug me and Meggan mimicked her happily.

I laughed heartily at their happiness and lifted them both up with ease, causing giggle of happiness and little screams as I twirled.

"What's all this yelling about?" Michiko-kaasan asked as she came over from her nearby gazebo, only to smile warmly at us. "It seems Yuri truly can talk some sense into you young man."

"Sorry. I was too caught up in some new stuff, but I'll make it up to everyone. For today, I'm spoiling the girls. Anywhere in Tokyo, where they're allowed to go anyway." I apologetically replied.

That seemed to get Wanda's attention as I felt her perk up slightly.

The two younger girls in my arms began excitedly naming places.

'We can go to Kinokuniya~' I telepathically whispered in Wanda's mind.

The way her eyes snapped at me gave me all the answers I needed.

"Haha! Let us go forth and enjoy this day!" I declared mightily, channeling my inner Thor.

That made Wanda sigh and shake her head like the more introverted girl she his, but Saya cheered and Meggan did as well, so I count that as a win.

And since this was a spontaneous sortie around Tokyo, I decided to just go with Yuriko and Kwannon for this one.

Mariko and the Gatekeepers would be more than enough as security, effectively controlling the city and all that also didn't hurt.

But then Michiko-kaasan decided to include Janet in these plans as she was one of my only friends and pretty much THE only one in Japan.

So with our small-ish group of two teens, three pre-teens and two young women, we set off for downtown Tokyo using a less obvious car.

"Are you allowed to do stuff like this?" Janet asked a bit nervous and excited.

She hadn't had too much time to just have fun and relax while in Japan, mostly spending time with her mother and doing long-distance school.

"Not technically, but we're young and thus allowed to have some fun. My older brother certainly had and continues to have his." I answered with some disapproval.

I knew my brother was trying to drown out his inferiority complex through alcohol, drugs and sex, but it did still contrasted us more and then fed it.

"I've heard of that. Didn't he party with Tony Stark last month or something?" She carefully followed up as she glanced at me.

The two of us making sure the girls could simply enjoy their current window shopping as I manipulated those around us in order to be less noticeable.

"*Sigh* Yeah. Mother was pretty upset and they ended up in a yelling match over the phone before he hung up. It wasn't pretty." I informed her somberly at my older brother's actions.

He sought attention because he believed I stole it from him, but reacts aggressively whenever it isn't positive.

"Oh." Janet simply replied a bit awkwardly.

"But let's not speak of Naruhito. Today's about all of us having some simple fun, and as such..." I said as I put a smile on my face and turned towards the girls, "I want some ice cream, who's in?"

That made all pre-teens turn to me with intense eyes as I laughed.

"Good thing you're rich." Janet joked as she too was amused but also desired said ice cream.

"Indeed it is. But this is the best possible use of money, to make them happy." I told her with a wide grin as I took the lead to the nearby ice cream store.

Meggan took bubblegum due to its colors, Saya was a strawberry lover alongside Kwannon, Wanda picked chocolate with Yuriko, who was hard to convince to eat with us, Janet partook of cookie and cream, and I chose orange.

It was nice to see everyone just enjoying the ice cream together as they chatted.

Meggan and Saya needed extra attention due to the slight mess created from enthusiastic eating, this having been Meggan's first time eating ice cream and the immense amount of twinkles created in her eyes as she ate and tried everyone's flavors was worth every moment.

Kwannon and Wanda ended up swapping book recommendations as both seemed to have an interest in sappy romance novels and dramas. It was amusing to see Wanda being so shy about things while Kwannon was so open due to mildly twisted common sense and decency.

Kwannon strolling around naked or near it after a dip in our onsen was not uncommon. She also wasn't shy with skin tight clothing and letting others see her toned, sexy physique.

Janet was helping me keep an eye on the progressively energetic youngest while we simply chatted about the future.

"So you're thinking about becoming a designer like your aunt?" I asked for confirmation in interest.

"Yeah! Aunt Amelia and mom were always really creative and I've just felt close to them that way. So seeing all those awesome clothes that can be made just moves something in me, you know?" She confirmed excitedly.

"I do. It's not the same really, but seeing things wrong in the world, new discoveries or places, it's always inspiring me to create." I wholeheartedly agreed as people were moved by different things. "And when something I make, gives people happiness, it's one of the most satisfying moments one can experience."

"Woah... I kind of wish I could feel that." Janet responded almost a bit envious.

"I'm sure you will." I encouraged with a supportive smile. "Someday you'll be able to see people smile because of you, and for whatever reason that may be, it'll make all the work you put into getting that smile worth it."

"That's quite the pep talk." The blushing teen said after a moment of quiet.

I could also tell Wanda had been listening as she was a bit dazed and Kwannon was amused as she smirked.

"Well, I am a Prince. I'm supposed to be an example." I cheekily replied before swiftly moving to wipe the colorful mouths of Saya and Meggan.

The two girls giggled at their slight mischief of ice cream stealing from others being caught, but seeing everyone was done here, I went to throw the trash out.

With a happy group, we continued our trip.

Which somehow led to us visiting a live Kamen Rider show by the mildly sugar high duo.

They would have been more energetic but they were both quite a bit above normal humans and as such required more sugar to become hyperactive.

The two girls happily screamed in support for both hero and villain, not caring about some weird looks kids were giving them and just having fun.

Wanda rolled her eyes at them but still had a little smile on her face.

It was a good bit of cheesy, classic fun as I watched the beginning of a genre which would remain relatively popular for decades. I actually made a note to release much better animation software, film/sound equipment and maybe try and improve the acting, special effects and sets.

Sparking an early movie revolution and making a mint off of it doesn't sound too bad. I could even help bring anime and manga up a level, elevating my homeland's level of culture and subtly preparing people for 'monster girls' *Cough* Mutants *Cough*.

One should never underestimate the power of nerds/otakus.

But we eventually had to get moving, going to Akihabara to go look at the gathering of so many tech shops. The place truly earning its name of 'Electric City', showcasing quite a few more advanced pieces than would have normally been around during this decade.

Not yet the otaku center of culture, it was still an interesting experience as the girls enjoyed remote controlled toys, some of the earliest versions of console gaming and even some portable CD players Stark Industries seemed to have made along with corresponding music.

A nice little shopping trip with the girls.

Then we went back to the car so I could fulfill my little promise to Wanda and bring them to Kinokuniya, the largest book store in Japan.

My little Scarlet Witch in training was turning into a bit of a bibliophile, something I encouraged as a means of therapy. The girl needed a place to feel safe within her own traumatized mind, stabilizing her before I could actually start making her face a lot of her issues.

For now though, watching her actually trying to conceal her excitement with nonchalance was rather cute because she was just so bad at it.

"Saya and Meggan-chan, stay near myself or Janet, Wanda... your book limit is 12 for today." I told the little group as I almost laughed at the torn look Wanda gave me as we stood before the building.

It was a multistory building dedicated to literacy, filled to the brim with new and old books after all.

"Aannnd...go." I signaled as Sayako began excitedly dragging Meggan under our watchful gazes and Wanda disappeared quicker than a trained Shinobi.

"*Giggle* It was really cute seeing Wanda so excited about something." Janet spoke up in amusement matching my own.

"It's one of the few things she's really opened up on. I should spend more time with her." I told her with a nod a self-promise.

Yuri-kaasan was right, I took them in and had a responsibility towards them.

"I'm sure they understand that you're busy." Janet comforted gently as we watched the girls. "I mean, a royal genius inventor martial artist doesn't come around very often, and I know they all like you. More like adore for Saya and Meggan, but yeah."

"Thanks Jan. I just want to do right by them and not just lose myself in my own world. Those girls deserve a loving home and Sayako is my only sister." I replied with a grateful smile.

"Hey, what're friends for?" She smirked with a satisfied nod.

"*Chuckle* Moments like these I guess." I responded before we began casually looking around while keeping an eye on the girls.

It felt nice to see them both so carefree and feeling Wanda's own happiness from a floor above.

"Nii-sama! Look! They have a book with you in it!" Saya revealed as she ran over with said book in hand.

"Huh." I dumbly responded as I looked at the book itself.

'Most Important Medical Discoveries.' I read as I realized this wasn't specifically about me, but it did have a large section dedicated to my work due to it being some of the biggest medical feats in recent history.

"That certainly didn't take long." Janet commented.

"It is flattering though." I said as I quickly went through the section on me. "Not a bad simplification of everything.

Thanks for showing me Saya."

"No problem!" She replied with a bright smile. "Oh! Me and Meg-chan chose our books!"

I looked over to the little elfin blonde as she happily held a few western fantasy stories alongside poetry books.

Sayako's books were more in line with samurai stories and martial arts action.

"Ok. Go give them to the counter and then have some fun while we wait for Wanda." I told her as she nodded.

The two then made sure to do so very politely as they had been taught good manners, before going back to explore the large bookstore in a carefree manner.

I even picked up some books regarding history as I enjoyed finding differences from my past life. Janet got some art related stuff for her mom as Japan has a very deep relation with the subject and the Most Important Medical Discoveries book from earlier.

I did tease her a bit about it with a foxy smile.

"What? I just want to understand your work more! Not everyone can be a super genius." She harrumphed to hide her embarrassment.

"Haha! I don't mind, but if you ever want some help with that kind of stuff you can just call me. Just because I'm a genius doesn't mean I don't know how to explain myself." I heartily told her. "I mean, I do handle quite a bit of the education for the girls."

"I thought that Governess you hired was doing that now." She noted with an unasked question.

"Madame Harkness does do a lot, but I am much better in sciences, math and physical education." I informed her.

"That last one I could have guessed." She deadpanned but her lips still quirked slightly while blushing and peaking a my very well muscled body not exactly hidden by my black t-shirt.

"You'd be surprised how spry she is for her age." I knowingly told her as I thought of the 17'000 years Agatha Karkness had lived.

"She'd have to be to keep up with those two." Janet jokingly replied with a gesture towards the heads of black and blonde going through the manga section, discovering some of the earliest magical girls.

"Looks like I'll have to ready for costumes for them." I muttered under my breath.

"You really do dote on them." Janet giggled at the words. "It's kind of adorable."

"It's those kinds of memories which stay with people and shape them after all." I told her as I knew just how a few bright memories could help someone fight through innumerable darkness.

"I can get that." Jan agreed.

We enjoyed a comfortable silence until Wanda returned with books on occultism, romance and drama, not succeeding in concealing the latter very well as she was both blushing and excited to read them.

Paying for everything, it was about time for supper so I had us stop at a nice looking Ramen place for some broth-y goodness before heading home to Michiko and Yuri-kaasans.

Saya and Meggan began to rattle on as fast as possible to tell them what they did today, with both women looking at them with warm expressions over the sheer happiness they exuded.

It had been a good day.

_

Author Notes:

A sort of interlude between a whole lot happening in the last few chapters.

I'm probably going to slow doing events a bit and have a small time skip soon enough, but first we're going to have the Widows and Bucky wake up.

That's going to be fun.

But I hope everyone enjoyed a little wholesome family bonding time.

It allows for more showing than the telling I've been doing to not spend too long on all the stuff Kai was doing and going over everything he and Cerebra are actually doing at all times via telepathy and illusions controlled by his extremely powerful and flexible mind.

Kai is constantly using his powers at an impressive level after all.