Kokyu had quickly gotten into the new rhythm of things around the house.
She didn't change Jeremy's room like she had joked but she did make a point to let him know that she had caught Yuki sneaking into the room a few times. After putting the preteen through an awkward talk she learned that the girl was having a hard time without Jeremy there.
'The bed still smells like him.' The preteen had told her.
So, Kokyu let it slide every now and then with Jeremy's permission. Her son had informed her that Yuki was messaging him every day complaining about her 'hard ass training methods'.
Which Kokyu wouldn't deny that she was being a bit tough on the girl and was also amazing at seeing her improvement during the last few weeks.
She helped train Yuki both physically and with her quirk while also making sure she was also keeping herself trained for her upcoming license renewal.
And then there was Matt who she had also started to train. He was mostly only trained by his dad but Takashita had asked her to help him out if she could.
Keiji Takashita was her oldest friend and was happy to help with his son. Which she seemed to be watching more often since Jeremy had started at UA.
All of her regular children were children that she had basically helped raise and created bonds with the parents. It was to be expected when they were all in sorrow situations.
Takashita was her friend at UA and had found her business online after his wife had passed away a year after his son's birth. She was a casualty in a villain attack.
When he had shown up on her doorstep to apply they were both surprised to see each other after her leaving UA.
"Kokyu?" Takashita's eyes were wide at seeing a friendly face from the past.
Her appearance hadn't changed too much. A maturity to her body adding a bit to her curves and her once long pink hair cut to just above her shoulders.
"Takashita?" Kokyu looked from the matured man and then to the baby in his arms, "Come inside."
Takashita stepped inside and followed her to the living area. It was late at night and was definitely an odd hour but her website stated they'd accept people at all hours.
Kokyu had gestured for him to sit on the couch and he did. She saw him look at the four baby monitors that sat on the table. A different young child on each one.
"Is it a bad time?" He asked.
"Not at all." She spoke, "I just had a few extra drop offs this evening. Some people were given extra patrols and their usual care centers were closed at these hours."
She saw his hesitation, "I promise it's okay. What can I help you with?"
Kokyu watched the pain in her old friend's eyes. When they started to water she saw how he started to hold and bring the baby tighter to his chest. She could feel that he was trying to control his tears to not hiccup and wake the child.
That first night she took baby Matt to the nursery for her friend and sat with him on the couch as he cried over his loss. He didn't need to speak. His tears said it all and when he fell asleep on the couch she covered him with a blanket.
The next morning Takashita met Jeremy and the look of surprise on his face when he heard the body call her 'mama' was picture perfect. There was a clear understanding on his face when he saw a 9 year old claiming her as a parent.
Kokyu had gotten Jeremy and Yuki ready for school and after they were off she explained what had happened at UA to Takashita.
He enrolled Matt into her care and she helped with more than just watching him but also helped give her friend resources for single parents and grief counseling.
Now she was training seven year old Matt with his quirk and there were times when it reminded her of Takashita when they were students at UA. Matt may as well have been a carbon copy of his dad.
Then again Yuki was so much like Majestic that sometimes it was a nice reminder of her other old friend.
There were days that she'd be doing pull ups with Gabe on her back with Matt and Yuki on either side of her.
She encouraged Matt and Yuki to spare against one another with parental permission.
Yuki had complained that he wasn't going to fight a 7 year old. While Matt was just ex it's to kick someone. They had children rules with no hit zones and no quirks.
Kokyu explained that sometimes if you have to defend yourself you might be up against opponents that have different age gaps and strength abilities.
The dark memory flashed over the children's eyes. She knew what memory it was. It wasn't spoken but their face did develop a seriousness to it.
After the said 7 year old managed to floor the 12 year old they had made ice cream floats.
The new routine was one that she made sure to balance and keep the fun in.
She was currently cleaning the house when there was a knock on the door. She looked at the security screen and didn't recognize the person at the door.
She pushes the button, "Hello, Thorn Residence, How may I help?"
The young man had a huge smile on his face and looked into the security cam.
"Hello Ms. Thorn. It's Mr. Togata." Kokyu groaned.
This was another development that had been added to her plate since Jeremy left. This Mirio Togata was trying to recruit her for his idea of a UA Quirk and Care Center.
He had called at least twice a week for the past three weeks. But this was the first time he had shown up in person.
She heavy sighed and opened the door. The young man was broad and had a really friendly face.
"Come in." She gestured to the living room that had Gabe playing with Yuki by means of pulling her hair.
"Hello Littles." The man waved at the two children.
"Who are you?" Yuki wrinkled her nose at the man.
The guy only laughed, "You can call me Mirio or even by my hero name, Lemillion. Why aren't you in school?"
Kokyu watched as Togata went to have a conversation with Yuki.
"There was a field trip today and I didn't want to go. My mom said I could stay with Aunty Kokyu."
"Where was the trip to?"
Kokyu watched the hurt flashover the young girl's eyes and without any emotion, "It was a magic show."
The man didn't ask anymore questions, understanding that he'd be pressing.
"Mirio and I will be talking in the kitchen."
Yuki just nodded her head and started to shift over to the coffee table to color on some paper.
In the kitchen Kokyu made herself some tea, "Would you like some tea Mr. Togata?"
"Yes, umm, may I ask?"
She poured another cup and sat at the table with him. "Yuki's father was Majestic."
Mirio didn't need any more elaboration. He had read that her niche with child care was young parents, single parents, and evening drop offs. He also remember the Fallen Heroes Ceremony and hearing that name.
He watched at she held her palm over the teacup and used her quirk to cool the liquid.
"I already told you that I'm not interested in working at UA and helping start up this Quirk & Care Center there. I don't agree with it." She deadpanned.
It was getting tiring to have to repeat the conversation. But she had to give the guy his props for being persistent.
"May I ask why you don't agree with it."
Kokyu looked into the living room through the doorframe. All the memories of caring for the different children through the years.
She thinks about how Majestic chose her and how Rock Lock chose her.
"UA is a very prestigious school. It's very hard to get in and it's known for the heroes that are alumni to it." Mirio watched at her eyes traveled through time, "It also turned its back on me when I was in my second year." Her head snaps at him,"I was a teenage mother and there were no options for me. I was alone and abandoned. Principal Nezu signed my drop out papers and you know what he said?"
There were tears in her eyes, " 'Maybe a sidekick trade school after you reconcile with the father.' He suggested that I reconcile with the man who groomed me into being with him."
She scoffed, "I understand that things were different 15 years ago. I understand that I should let it go and I can see that Principal Nezu is trying to make a change." Kokyu wipes the tears from her eyes before they can drop, "But I need you to understand Togata. I built this business on my own. People come here because its not UA. Now, let me ask you seriously. Why do you so badly want to pursue opening a Quirk & Care Center at UA?"
Kokyu watched at the blond took in her words. The emotion of them and the background behind who she was.
"Ms. Thorn, I know what it feels like to have your ability to be a hero taken away from you." She sees that his face is serious, "There is a young girl whose quirk both took my quirk away from me and after months of training her abilities was able to return it. I helped rescue this the girl and she helped rescue me."
He takes a moment to collect what he was going to say next.
"She has finally been adopted this past year and up till then UA had been her home. Because of that they now have a children section that is there for when children are rescued and it was used for kids during the evacuations."
Mirio looked up to check that Ms. Thorn was still listening to him, "Eri-chan's adopted parents had recently reached out to me about their struggle with child care and how many places won't talk her due to her being a hazard. I always wanted to do hero work but now I'm seeing more and more cases where children and parents struggle due to circumstances that are out of their control."
Kokyu heavy sighed. Was she really contemplating this?
Her phone started to ring as she saw the UA Administration on the screen.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Ms. Thorn, This is Principal Nezu. We need you to come down to the campus so that we can discuss disciplinary actions from the result of Jeremy Thorn fighting with another student."
Mirio couldn't hear the conversation but watched as the woman's eyes went wide and started to message her temple.
"I will be on my way."
"Everything alright?"
Kokyu collected herself, "My son seems to have had an altercation. So, I will be heading to UA."
"We're going to go see Jeremy?" An excited Yuki stood in the doorway.
"Looks like it. Want to help me get Gabe ready?" Yuki nodded in agreement and bounced off.
"I'll join you. It has been a while since I've visited UA?"
Kokyu plastered a smile on her face, "Great." She gritted through her teeth.