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Their grandson had grown into a fine young man. Joseph was 19 years old now, and had earned enough of his own money to treat his three grandparents to dinner in a decent restaurant in New York City. He had dressed himself nicely for the occasion and was very polite when ordering, just as they had taught him. Despite that, he didn't always think before he spoke.
"You guys are pretty old now, right? You'd think you would've retired by now."
"Joseph!" Erina snapped. "You know you must never insult a person's age."
"What? No, it's not an insult, I swear!" Joseph implored. "I just mean most people can't wait to stop working. Besides, it's not like you're desperate for money."
Joseph wasn't wrong. Erina, Jonathan and Speedwagon were all in their 70s now, each having worked for decades in their respective careers and gathered a healthy fortune. On top of that, they often went on missions to fight all sorts of supernatural threats together. Jonathan often shared his Hamon energy, keeping all three of them physically active, but it could only do so much against time itself.
Erina had become a teacher some 20 years earlier, once nursing grew too demanding on her body between Hamon boosts. She spent most of her workdays at a desk, but made a point to keep going on missions as much as her aging body allowed. She had also found genuine joy in teaching, helping children build the foundations needed to become the best people they can be.
Speedwagon also worked a desk job. Running his eponymous foundation was difficult, juggling all the resources and people and so much else. But the foundation did a lot of important work, from researching new inventions to donating to those who lived like he did so long ago. He sometimes felt that his work was endless, but that was all the more reason to keep going.
Jonathan honestly didn't feel like he had aged much at all. Having Hamon himself, he was kept the most youthful by its power. He constantly went on expeditions and excavations all over the world, doing all sorts of physical tasks without so much as a twinge in his back. Archaeology was his passion, and he was grateful that he could still pursue it.
As they each considered Joseph's words, they each find themselves coming to the same conclusion.
"I don't see why we should have to stop," Jonathan said simply. "We all enjoy what we do, both together and apart. I think that we should keep doing what makes us happy for as long as we can. Don't you agree, my loves?"
Erina and Speedwagon nodded and hummed in agreement.
Joseph shrugged. "Fair enough." He smirked. "As long as I don't have to drag you all to a retirement home."
"Oi, cheeky," said Speedwagon, trying to hide his own smile. "I'm not too old to give ya a clip 'round the earhole."
Joseph just laughed at the empty threat and they all continued eating.
The evening continued pleasantly until the trio had to leave. They needed to get to sleep early, which prompted one last light-hearted jab from Joseph. The next day, they would begin their journey to Mexico to start their latest adventure – investigating rumours of an enormous man who had emerged from stone.