Chapter:23 Good or bad father??

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Itachi blinked, caught off guard yet again, before a rare, genuine smile crossed his face. "I'll keep that in mind."

Erika winked at him, turning to leave. "Goodnight, Itachi."

"Goodnight, Erika," he replied, watching her go with a quiet sense of appreciation for her lighthearted nature.

Time Skip to 4 years later.

It was a quiet Sunday morning, and Itachi, now sporting jet-black hair pulled back in a low ponytail, was doing push-ups. He, having opened up more over the past few months, was no longer as stoic as he once was. His toned arms flexed with every movement, sweat dripping from his brow as he maintained a steady pace. Erika, sitting on top of him, was counting each rep with a playful smirk.

"82... 83… 84…" she counted, casually enjoying her perch on his back.

As Itachi pushed up again, his breathing steady but labored, he quirked an eyebrow and teased, "Erika, have you been eating more lately?"

Erika immediately shot him a glare, her cheeks puffing slightly in annoyance. "Let me remind you, my weight is exactly the same as last time!" she snapped.

Itachi chuckled, continuing his reps effortlessly. "Feels like you've gained some weight. My arms are going numb."

"Liar!" Erika retorted, crossing her arms indignantly.

Still amused, Itachi pushed himself through more reps. "Relax, I'm just messing with you."

Erika pouted but couldn't help a smile from creeping onto her face. "Well, today's Momo's quirk test, right?" she asked, shifting the conversation.

Itachi nodded, his tone becoming more serious. "Yeah… sometimes it worries me. I hope her quirk manifests well."

Erika looked at him, her teasing demeanor fading into something more empathetic. "I know you're anxious… but I have a feeling she'll get an amazing quirk, Itachi. She's strong, just like you."

He finished his final push-up and stood, wiping the sweat from his face with a towel. "Yeah, she will."

Erika stood up as well, brushing her clothes off. "You should get cleaned up before we head out."

Itachi nodded, draping the towel over his shoulder. "Will you be coming with us for the quirk checkup?"

There was a moment of hesitation before Erika replied, her eyes shifting slightly. "Uh... no, I have something to do today."

Itachi, sharp as ever, narrowed his eyes. "Something to do? If it's work around the mansion, the other maids can handle it."

Erika quickly stammered, trying to cover her tracks. "No, no! I... I'm meeting someone."

"Who?" Itachi asked, his gaze steady.

She hesitated again before blurting out, "A friend."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "A friend, huh? Who's this friend?"

Feeling cornered, Erika crossed her arms defensively and shot back, "Are you my mom or something?"

Itachi sighed, knowing she was avoiding the question. "Fine, I won't ask anymore," he said, heading towards the bathroom. But just before entering, he glanced back at her with a smirk. "But Erika… work on your lying skills."

Erika's eyes widened in surprise, her face heating up as she realized he had seen right through her. "He saw through me..." she muttered to herself, sighing in relief that he didn't push further.

After a quick shower, Itachi returned to his room and found a neatly folded set of clothes on the bed—a black hoodie and matching track pants. He smiled faintly to himself, knowing Erika had laid them out for him. Dressed and ready, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. "Not bad," he mused before heading downstairs.

As he descended, he noticed Erika slipping out the door in her maid's uniform, carrying a small bag. She was gone before he could call out to her. His mother, Yana, was seated in the living room, wearing a beautiful green dress adorned with delicate jewelry.

"Mother," Itachi greeted, "where's Momo?"

Yana looked up from her book and smiled warmly. "Oh my, Itachi, you look good. That hoodie suits you," she remarked.

Itachi offered a small smile in return. "Thank you. So, where is she?"

"She's with your father, playing," Yana replied. "Takashi's been entertaining her all morning."

Itachi nodded approvingly. "That's good. He's great with her."

Before Yana could respond, a high-pitched voice interrupted them. "Brother!"

Momo came running into the room, her excitement palpable. Itachi dropped to one knee and caught her in a hug, smiling as she clung to him.

"Today's the quirk test!" Momo beamed, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Itachi smiled gently, brushing a hand through her hair. "That's right. My little sister is going to get a strong quirk."

Her face lit up even more. "I'll get a quirk just like my big brother!"

Itachi's smile faltered slightly at her words, and he glanced over at Takashi, who was watching them from across the room with a stern expression. Itachi quickly refocused on Momo, placing his hand gently on her head. "No, Momo. You'll get a quirk even more powerful than mine."

"Really?" Momo asked, eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes," Itachi replied softly. "You know why?"

"Why?" she asked eagerly.

"Because our father has a strong quirk," Itachi teased, a playful glint in his eyes. "Like All Might. He could wipe out everyone with one punch."

Yana, unable to suppress her laughter, covered her mouth while Takashi's expression tightened. Momo, stars in her eyes, turned to their father with awe.

"Really, Father?" she asked, pure admiration in her voice.

Takashi struggled to keep his composure, his annoyance barely hidden. "Yes, Momo. But we should get going, or we'll be late for the appointment," he said, his voice strained.

Momo nodded happily, and Itachi lifted her into his arms. As they prepared to leave, Yana walked beside them, glancing at Itachi thoughtfully.

"You've changed a lot, Itachi," Yana remarked, her voice soft but full of warmth.

Itachi smiled softly. "Yeah, I guess I have." Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "Mother, do you know where Erika went?"

Yana shook her head. "She mentioned meeting someone, but didn't say much more."

Itachi sighed. "She told me the same thing… and I know it's a lie."

Yana chuckled softly at Itachi's comment. "How can you be so sure?"

Itachi, with a faint smirk, replied, "Because she's not exactly the best at lying, Mother."

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