• 18 years post chapter 32 •

Katsuki's POV:

To think that 18 whole years had gone by so quickly. All four of our kids were growing up way faster than Shōto and I wanted them to.

Both Akatsuki and Shirayuki already had mates. Akatsuki mated at the age of 16, but it didn't come as a surprise to anyone as she and her mate, Yui Shinsō, had been inseparable all their lives. Yui was Denki's daughter, so they'd literally known each other since Yui was born. Even though they mated at such a young age, they were both very sure of their decision. Akatsuki was now 20 years old and was happily living together with Yui, enjoying every second they spent together.

Shirayuki on the other hand, didn't have a sweet and convenient love-story. He, as usual, had the worst luck, and recently met his soulmate in school; the day she transferred to his class... The bond made both of them lose control and give in to their instincts. Shirayuki's mate, Izumi Aizawa, didn't even have time to introduce herself to the class before the bond made her attack him. Shirayuki was so affected by her pheromones that he instinctively removed his collar, and she bit him in front of the whole class.

It had been nine months since then, and neither of them had fully come to terms with their accidental mating yet, but that was to be expected. They were both only 18 years old and bound for life to a stranger. Heck, they didn't even get along as Shirayuki was a very loud, hot-headed person with a sharp tongue while Izumi was pretty quiet, gloomy and snarky.

Shirayuki definitely had started to catch real feelings for Izumi, but she wasn't really on the same page yet. I had a feeling their feelings would eventually become mutual, but it would probably take a while.

Shōto and I had two younger daughters as well. Our second youngest daughter, Amaterasu, was 14 years old. She was a very social, honest and easygoing girl unlike the rest of the chaotic Todoroki family members. She was our significantly necessary peacemaker. Despite being so young, she'd already started her dream career as an actress. Katsuki and I were hesitant about the whole child actress thing in the beginning, but seeing how hard she worked and how fond of acting she was, how could we possibly say no? Of course we, as her parents, kept a close eye on her so that she wouldn't end up taking any sketchy or harmful jobs.

Our youngest's name was Nadeshiko. She was only nine years old, but she was nothing like the other kids her age. She was the definition of introverted; completely uninterested in making friends or socialising at all. She did have a huge interest in martial arts though, and that was an interest she'd had since she was just a toddler. Shōto and I let her join a kendō club for kids when she was five years old, and she instantly got attached, wanting to join more martial arts clubs. She was currently training three kinds of martial arts; kendō, iaido and jujutsu.

Our three daughters were all alphas, Akatsuki and Nadeshiko both even being dominant alphas like Shōto. Shirayuki was an omega like myself, but he had the build of a normal omega unlike me. Nadeshiko hadn't grown taller than him yet, but Amaterasu was already taller and Akatsuki was even taller than me. We all knew Shirayuki already had stopped growing and would stay 166 centimetres tall, but he stubbornly clung to the hope of him one day growing taller... It had to be hard for him to be born an omega when his dad and sisters were all alphas; poor thing.

I sighed thinking about the past 20 years. How did time fly by so quickly?

"What are you thinking about?" Shōto asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

He was in the middle of putting his silky, waist-long locks up in a messy half-up bun as I shifted my attention to him.

Him with long hair was indescribably hot. His unique half red-half white hair was like made for being long, and frankly I couldn't even picture him with short hair anymore.

"I was thinking about how the past 20 years have flown by and how big the brats have gotten. Now I'm thinking about how handsome my husband is though." I replied, pulling him into a quick, slightly suggestive kiss.

He chuckled, leaning in for a few more kisses, but our romantic moment was quickly interrupted by a very familiar voice.

"Oh my god.. Get a room!" Shirayuki loudly exclaimed, rolling his crimson eyes as he walked into the kitchen.

Shōto and I didn't let go of each other, but our kisses definitely came to an abrupt end.

"Don't talk to your parents like that. You're just jealous because Izumi-chan won't kiss you as lovingly." I teased, knowing he'd turn red and defensive.

As expected, his cheeks turned bright red and a flustered frown took shape on his features.

"Huh?! Why would I want that gloomy ass woman to do that?! I'd rather die!" He shouted in embarrassment, making his feelings for her very obvious.

He angrily stomped over to the fridge, grabbed a juice package and chugged almost all of it down in one go.

"Hey, Shirayuki! Don't drink straight out of the package! How many times do I have to tell you, damn brat?!" I yelled after him as he stormed out of the kitchen with the juice package.

I growled in frustration. That hot-headed, stubborn kid was a hopeless case! He never listened to anyone!

Suddenly I felt a flick on my forehead, and I instantly met Shōto's disappointed gaze with an annoyed expression.

"What the hell was that for?!"

He shook his head with a long sigh.

"You went too far by poking on his so far unrequited love for Izumi-chan. Of course he'd be upset when even his own mother is mocking him for it. He's very sensitive, just like this certain parent of his he heavily takes after."

I knew what Shōto was implying to, and he was completely right about Shirayuki taking after me with the shitty attitude, unreasonable stubbornness and his very fragile feelings.

Now that Shōto had properly explained my fuck-up to me, I started to realise what a serious dick-move I'd just pulled. How could I have done such a terrible thing to my own damn son?

"You're right.." I sighed. "I'm a fucking horrible parent..."

Shōto shook his head in disagreement.

"No. You're not a horrible parent; you're just not very good at seeing things from different perspectives."

His words were soothing, but I couldn't fully take them to heart.

"I'll go and apologise to him. I really didn't mean to hurt his feelings. I was too busy defending my own pride, so I didn't realise how painful my words must have been for him to hear." I admitted, feeling truly ashamed of my actions.

Shōto nodded and let go of his grip around my waist.

"Do that. However, he's definitely going to deny having feelings for Izumi, and he's probably not going to admit you hurt his feelings either. Just like you, he's obsessed with seeming stronger than he actually is."

Once again, Shōto was right. Shirayuki's desire to be strong was probably even greater than mine, being the only recessive omega among three alpha siblings, an alpha father and a dominant omega mother.

Shōto's POV:

Amaterasu entered the kitchen with a smile on her lips and was just about to greet me when she was interrupted by a loud, angry voice.

"SORRY; MY ASS! I TOLD YA! I DONT CARE ABOUT THAT LAZY BASTARD! SHE'S TOO DAMN STUCK-UP!" Shirayuki shouted from his room not even five minutes after Katsuki had entered, startling Amaterasu.

"HUH?! DO YA THINK I'M FRIGGIN' BLIND AND STUPID?! IT'S COMPLETELY OBVIOUS YOU'RE INTO HER, SO JUST LET ME APOLOGISE, DUMBASS BRAT!" Katsuki shouted back.

"SHUT UP! YOU'RE SO FULL OF SHIT!"

I rubbed my temples. I was so tired of their constant fighting...

"Hey, dad? What's up with mom and Shirayuki? Are they fighting again?" Amaterasu asked with an uneasy expression on her face as she tucked a long, ash blonde curl behind her ear.

I nodded with a sigh. It really wasn't rare for Katsuki and Shirayuki to argue, at least they'd never gotten into a physical fight.

"Yeah, they're at it again. Mom apologised this time though; not that it helped, but at least it's something." I admitted with a shrug.

At this point, I'd just given up trying to stop them as no matter what I said, neither of them listened.

"Jeez.. Those two hotheads really need to chill before they manage to piss Nadeshiko off with their loud shouting."

She was right. Nadeshiko was generally a calm, quiet and patient girl, but ever since she was a toddler, she'd been absolutely terrifying in her angered state. Luckily, she very rarely lost her tem-

Suddenly, a door was thrown open, the sound of it slamming into the wall behind it with great force being heard throughout the whole house, light, but clearly angry footsteps following.

"Eek! N-Nadeshiko..! Will you please put that bokken down, honey? It's dangerous to swing that thing arou- WOAH! NO?! OKAY!" Katsuki shouted as I suspected he'd only made her even more pissed by trying to sweet-talk his way out of confrontation.

I couldn't blame him since I'd probably react just like him if our super cute, but straight out terrifying youngest daughter was pointing a bokken at me.

"You're being too fucking loud, you annoying maggots! Can't you losers just put a damn sock on it before I lose my bloody mind?! Neither of you ever have anything to say that's worth listening to anyway, because not a single soul wants to listen to two barbaric idiots who doesn't even know how to have a normal fucking conversation without getting butt-hurt, loud and defensive, destroying for everyone around them without giving a shit! You're both more pathetic than worms!" Nadeshiko yelled, definitely making a good point which I had to agree with.

However, she really swore way more than a nine year old should. Well, that was without a single doubt Katsuki's fault.

"Hell yeah, sis! You go! Teach them where they stand!" Amaterasu shouted to Nadeshiko from where we were standing on the lower floor, listening in on their fight.

"Hey~ Aren't you going a bit too far? She's already given them the scolding they needed, so don't edge her on further."

I glanced over at Amaterasu, trying to hide my amusement and act like a proper parent should.

"Don't even try. You thought it was funny too, dad. I can see it in your eyes." She replied with a confident grin.

She was right, but I still had to keep up my parental attitude in order to raise her as well as possible.

"It may have been a bit funny, but no need to pour gasoline on the fire. Mom and Shirayuki are simply too similar, so they're clashing a lot now, but once Shirayuki's grown a bit older, he'll start to understand mom's intentions better."

My voice was soft as I spoke, but I was confident in my words.

"Yeah; I think so too. Their personalities are almost identical. Nii-chan is a bit more aggressive and sensitive than mom though. He's painfully bad at expressing himself." She stated with a slightly concerned look on her face.

He sure was, but that was partly what made him so precious after all. All of our four kids were absolutely amazing. The only thing I wished for now, was for them to always be in good health and I hoped they'd all find something that would bring them everlasting happiness.