Regro's warmth overwhelmed the Abydos students, who regrouped to discuss debt repayment.
"Alright, with Regro-san here, let's start the meeting," Hoshino said. "Topic: paying off the school's debt. Ideas?"
"I can help," Regro offered.
"Thanks! Anyone?" Hoshino asked.
"I've got one!" Serika raised her hand.
"Go ahead, Kuromi-san," Hoshino nodded.
"It's a graphics card—"
"Nope," Hoshino cut in.
"What?!" Serika gasped.
"Another scam, Serika-chan," Nonomi teased.
"No way… I spent this month's paycheck!" Serika slumped.
"Got played," Regro said, patting her head.
Next, Nonomi spoke. "School idols! We'll rope in the Cream Puff Couple and make it cute. Guaranteed hit!"
"Cream Puff Couple?" Regro asked.
"This!" Nonomi donned a Shu-kun mask.
"Creepy! And couple?!" Serika yelped.
"Yep, another student's Shu-chan," Nonomi said.
"Consent?" Hoshino asked.
"None," Nonomi admitted.
"No way!" Hoshino shouted.
"How about Regro-san as Chic Elegant Grandpa?" Nonomi grinned.
"What's with the enthusiasm? No idols for me," Regro protested.
"Rejected!" Hoshino declared.
"Muu…" Nonomi pouted.
Regro eyed Shiroko, expecting a sensible idea from the cool beauty.
"Bank robbery," Shiroko said.
"NO WAY!" everyone yelled.
"No good?" Shiroko tilted her head.
"Obviously not! Last time was an exception!" Hoshino scolded.
"Look, this route gets us in and out," Shiroko explained, showing a detailed plan.
"Wow, perfect blueprint and escape route! Not the point!" Nonomi exclaimed.
"I made a mask for Grandpa," Shiroko offered, handing over a light green mask with a "G" patch.
"G-Grandpa? Why's it made?!" Regro sputtered. "No crimes, got it?"
"…Okay," Shiroko sulked.
"Déjà vu," Hoshino muttered. "So honest."
"Why not crush Kaiser Corp?" Mash suggested.
"No, Mash! No attacking companies without reason!" Regro scolded.
"Sorry, Grandpa," Mash mumbled.
"More déjà vu. Did I raise siblings?" Regro wondered.
Shiroko and Mash's identical sulking struck Regro—they were like twins in expression.
"Get serious!" Hoshino groaned. "Enough for today. No good ideas, and the mood's off."
"Let's show Regro-ojiichan the town," Shiroko suggested.
"Good idea! Lunch first?" Nonomi proposed.
"The usual spot," Serika said.
"Nice," Mash agreed.
"Usual spot?" Regro asked.
"My favorite ramen shop," Mash said.
"Ramen? Sounds fun," Regro smiled.
Regro was excited to see Mash's town but teary over the girls' wild ideas.
Shiba Seki Ramen
"Welcome! Sit anywhere!" the dog chef barked.
"A talking dog cooking?! Deep voice!" Regro gaped.
"Hey, Shiba-taisho," Mash greeted.
"Teacher! And the gang… Who's the old man?" Shiba asked.
"My grandpa," Mash said.
"Your family? Gotta greet him proper," Shiba said, bowing. "Your grandson's saved us tons. Here's a coupon. Use it."
"Thank you. Regro Burnedead," Regro said, shaking hands, charmed by Shiba's waddling.
"Regro-san, over here!" Nonomi called.
"Where do I sit?" Regro asked.
"Next to me," Shiroko said.
"My side's free too!" Nonomi chirped.
"Grandpa, pick," Mash said.
"Hmm… tough choice. Never sat next to girls my age. Blood pressure's spiking," Regro thought, choosing Shiroko.
"Sit here," Shiroko said.
"Thanks," Regro sat.
"I'll do air-chair," Mash said.
"Sit down! You're blocking the way!" Serika snapped.
"If Grandpa says so," Mash complied.
"So obedient," Nonomi giggled.
"Order, please!" Serika called.
"Coming up!" Shiba replied.
Mash moved beside Nonomi. Orders placed, ramen arrived. Regro's eyes sparkled at his first ramen.
"Here goes…" Regro slurped. "Delicious! Rich tonkotsu broth, perfect noodles, great texture, lingering aftertaste. Never tasted anything like it!"
"Told ya! Shiba's ramen's the best," Serika bragged.
"You work here? Good choice," Regro said.
"Grandpa's a fan too," Mash said, digging in.
Everyone ate happily, Shiba grinning from the back.
"Shiroko-chan, soup on your face," Regro said.
"Thanks, Grandpa," Shiroko replied.
"Total granddaughter vibe," Nonomi laughed.
"Shiroko's tamed," Hoshino said.
"Like a pet cat," Serika added.
"She warmed to Mash fast too," Ayane noted.
"Took days," Nonomi said.
"I'm not that soft," Shiroko protested. "Grandpa, lift my sleeve, please."
"Sure," Regro obliged.
"No credibility!" Serika laughed.
"Nonomi, my protein's slipping," Mash said.
"Got it!" Nonomi fixed it.
"Why her too?!" Serika exclaimed.
Regro watched, heart warmed. Mash had found amazing friends, living his youth here.
The door opened.
"Hey, Handyman girls!" Shiba greeted.
"Long time, Taisho," Aru said.
"Finally, real food," Kayoko sighed.
"Worth the tough job," Mutsuki added.
"We can afford four bowls!" Haruka cheered.
"Al-sama! The teacher's there with Abydos!" Haruka pointed.
Handyman 68—Aru, Kayoko, Mutsuki, Haruka—rushed to Mash's table.
"Teacher!" Aru called.
"Hey, Aru-chan," Mash replied.
"Been a while, Countermeasure Committee!" Aru said.
"These are the Handyman 68 girls I mentioned," Hoshino introduced. "Regro-ojiichan, meet them."
"Mash's grandfather, Regro Burnedead," Regro said.
"Your grandpa?!" Aru gasped. "I'm Riku Hachima Aru. That's Kayoko Onikata, Mutsuki Asagi, Haruka Igusa. My precious team."
"Thanks for being Mash's friends," Regro said.
"No, we owe him," Aru replied. "Haruka, my card?"
"Why me?" Kayoko muttered.
"I'd lose it," Aru admitted.
"Ugh…" Kayoko groaned.
"Here!" Haruka scurried, slipping on a wet tile.
"Wah!" Haruka fell.
"Haruka!" Aru lunged.
Regro flicked his staff, levitating Haruka parallel to the floor, then set her upright.
"Phew, close call. I'm rusty," Regro said.
"Grandpa, what was that?!" Hoshino gasped.
"Magic," Regro said.
"Magic?!" everyone exclaimed.
"Grandpa's always used it—floating dishes, pots, boosting himself. Everyone in our world did. He's weaker now, so I handle heavy stuff," Mash explained.
"You're too strong," Regro chuckled.
The students, awed by magic—a myth in Kivotos—clamored for more. Regro showed simple spells, delighting them.
"Grandpa's amazing!" Nonomi cheered.
"First time seeing magic," Kayoko said.
"Mash's grandpa had to be epic," Aru said.
"They love you, Grandpa," Mash said.
"…Yeah," Regro replied, subdued.
"Not thrilled?" Hoshino noticed.
"A bit," Regro admitted.
"Gonna hit the bathroom," Mash said.
"Wait, Mash!" Regro opened the door with magic.
"Thanks," Mash said.
"Can't let him wreck more doors," Regro joked.
"You're used to this," Hoshino said.
"Since he was ten. So many doors…" Regro's eyes dulled.
"He fixes them now," Regro added. "Can't hate him."
"Grandpa, why so down earlier?" Ayane asked.
"Did we upset you?" Aru added.
"No! First time I've been praised for magic like that," Regro said.
"Isn't magic celebrated?" Serika asked.
"My world, the magic world, expects everyone to use magic. It's a divine gift. But I… I'm a failure there."
"Failure?" Hoshino asked.
Regro sipped water, his face darkening. "My story—and Mash's."
Born into the prestigious Burnedead family, my parents were powerful, skilled mages. I was a disappointment—weak magic, clumsy.
"Why can't you do this?!" my mother screamed.
"Sorry…" I'd say.
"Weak magic, useless… We don't need a failure like you!"
I left at twenty, seeking work, but failed there too.
"Can't even do this?!" my boss yelled.
"Sorry!"
"Another screw-up! You're fired! Don't come back!"
"Sorry…"
Mocked, unwanted, I thought I'd die unneeded.
"What happened next?" Ayane asked.
Resigned to end it, I climbed a hill to jump. Then I heard a baby's cry.
A child, abandoned, no magic mark—like your halos. A reject, like me.
That was Mash.
"Sensei was abandoned for no magic?" Hoshino whispered.
"That's awful! Who abandons their son?!" Serika raged.
"It's unfair!" Ayane cried.
"In my world, magic is everything," Regro said. "Weak magic means no value. No magic? God's forsaken you. No right to live."
"That's not true! Sensei's worth isn't…" Hoshino slammed the table.
"I agree," Regro nodded. "Every child deserves to live. But society didn't. Non-magic users, or those who lose it, are 'magicless.' Left alone, they're executed, despite no crime. So I decided—"
Regro smiled, shaking off gloom. "Blood or not, denied by the world, I'd be Mash's father, his family."
He looked at Mash's friends. "I failed him. He couldn't live openly. We hid in a forest, training for self-defense. I never thought it'd work against delinquents or magic enforcers. A dangerous life, limited education, no friends. I'm a terrible father."
"But you accepted him," Regro continued. "You brought him into this world, became his friends. That's a miracle beyond magic. Mash is kind, honest, my pride. Thank you for accepting him."
"No, we owe him," Hoshino said.
"Thank you for raising him so well," Shiroko added.
They shared gratitude, hands about to clasp when—
CRASH!
"Whoops," Mash said.
"MASH!" Shiba roared.
"Sorry, Taisho. I'll fix it," Mash promised.
"Fix it good… Never cried this much," Shiba sobbed.
"Was the door that special?" Mash asked.
"Learn to open doors!" Hoshino yelled.
"I know how to fix them," Mash said.
"OPEN AND CLOSE!" Serika shouted.
Laughter erupted, erasing Abydos' struggles and the Burnedeads' pain. Regro felt this place's warmth.
Leaving Shiba Seki Ramen, Regro glowed faintly.
"I'm… shining?!" Regro gasped.
"Fading?!" Serika cried.
"Back to your world?" Shiroko asked.
"Probably. Can't stay forever," Regro said.
"But we just met…" Nonomi whispered.
"…" Shiroko bit her lip.
Regro's body turned translucent, a sign of returning to the magic world. Sadness shadowed Mash and Shiroko's faces, mirrored by the others.
"Don't look so down," Regro chuckled. "We might meet soon."
"But…" Mash started.
"Mash, these kids need you. Protect them, even if it kills you—but take care of yourself!"
"I'll fight like hell," Mash promised.
"Grandpa, take this," Shiroko said, handing him the "G" mask.
"I'll remember you," Regro said, patting her head. "No crimes, okay?"
"…Yeah," Shiroko nodded.
"See you all… somewhere, someday!" Regro called.
"Bye, Regro-ojiichan!" they shouted.
"Till next time," Regro smiled.
Regro vanished, returning to the magic world. The students reflected on his and Mash's story, grappling with the sudden farewell. Mash, too, felt it.
"I won't cry, Grandpa. We'll meet again," Mash said. "I'll keep fighting here."
"Goodbye—no, see you, Grandpa."
Magic World, Burnedead House
"A dream? No, it was real," Regro said, holding Shiba Seki Ramen coupons and the "G" mask. He tried it on.
"Surprisingly warm."
In it, Regro felt the warmth of Mash's friends.