The Abydos girls, utterly charmed by Regro Burnedead's grandfatherly warmth, reluctantly peeled themselves from his lap to resume their regular meeting about repaying the school's debt. The room, a dusty old classroom in the heart of Abydos High School, buzzed with the girls' energy. Sunlight filtered through cracked windows, casting long shadows over worn desks and a chalkboard scrawled with half-erased budget calculations. Regro, his weathered face softening as he looked at the girls, felt a pang of nostalgia for his own youth, though it was far less chaotic than this.
"Alright, with an adult—Regro-san—joining us, let's start the meeting," Ayane announced, adjusting her glasses with a determined nod. Her voice carried the weight of someone trying to wrangle a room full of spirited teenagers. "Today's topic, as always: how do we pay off the school's debt?"
The debt loomed over Abydos like a sandstorm, threatening to bury the school's legacy. Regro, new to this world of halos and high school heroics, leaned forward, intrigued. "I might be able to lend a hand," he offered, his voice gruff but kind. "Count me in."
"Thank you! Any ideas?" Ayane asked, scanning the room. Her clipboard was already poised, pen ready to jot down anything remotely feasible.
"Yes! I've got a great one!" Serika raised her hand, her ponytail bouncing with enthusiasm. She stood, barely containing her excitement, and rummaged through her bag.
"Go ahead, Serika-san," Ayane said, hopeful but wary.
"So, this is a graphics card—" Serika began, holding up a shiny box with a flashy logo. Her eyes sparkled as she described its supposed potential to mine cryptocurrency and fund their efforts.
"Nope, vetoed!" Hoshino cut in, lounging in her chair with a lazy grin. Her halo glowed faintly, a sign of her relaxed confidence.
"What!?" Serika yelped, clutching the box like a lifeline.
"You got scammed again, Serika-chan," Nonomi teased, her golden hair catching the sunlight as she leaned forward, giggling. "Didn't you learn from the last time?"
"No way… I spent this month's paycheck on it!" Serika wilted, slumping back into her seat. The box clattered onto the desk, and she buried her face in her hands.
"You got played, missy," Regro said, gently patting her head. His calloused hand was surprisingly tender, and Serika's pout softened under his touch. "Happens to the best of us. Back in my world, I fell for a 'magic-enhancing crystal' scam once. Cost me a month's wages."
The girls chuckled, and Serika managed a small smile. Regro's stories of his magic world fascinated them, though they struggled to imagine a place where everyone wielded spells. To them, his tales were as fantastical as their own world of halos and talking dogs.
Next up was Nonomi, her hand shooting into the air like a rocket. "It's gotta be the school idol plan we scrapped before!" she declared, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "We'll get the Cream Puff Couple involved, add some cute flair, and it's a guaranteed hit! Imagine the crowds, the donations—debt paid off in no time!"
"Cream Puff Couple?" Regro asked, bewildered. The term sounded absurdly out of place in a debt-repayment meeting.
"This!" Nonomi donned a cream puff mascot mask, its cartoonish eyes wobbling as she struck a pose. The room erupted in laughter, though Regro flinched.
"Gah, that's creepy! And couple!?" he sputtered, his bushy eyebrows shooting up.
"Yup! Another student's playing the other half, Shu-chan," Nonomi said cheerfully, unfazed by the mask's unsettling grin.
"Did they agree to this?" Regro pressed, his paternal instincts kicking in.
"Nope," Nonomi admitted, her grin widening.
"Hey, that's not okay!" Regro scolded, crossing his arms. "You can't just rope people into things without asking."
Nonomi's enthusiasm didn't waver. "Why not have Regro-san join in? Maybe… Chic Elegant Gramps?" she suggested, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Picture it: you in a sparkly suit, charming the audience with your magic tricks!"
"What's with the enthusiasm? No way! I'm too old for idol nonsense!" Regro protested, waving his hands. The thought of him, a grizzled old mage, prancing on stage made his face flush.
"Vetoed!" Ayane declared, slamming her clipboard for emphasis.
"Aw…" Nonomi pouted, removing the mask and tossing it onto the desk.
The school idol plan was shot down, largely because Hoshino wasn't having it. She leaned back, smirking. "Let's not turn Gramps into a pop star just yet." Regro shot her a grateful look, though he suspected she was enjoying his discomfort.
Next, Shiroko raised her hand. Regro, noting her cool demeanor, felt a flicker of relief. With her silver hair and calm expression, she seemed the most level-headed of the group. She's a cool beauty, so she's bound to suggest something practical and reliable, he thought.
"Let's rob a bank," Shiroko said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion.
"VETOED!" Regro roared, nearly toppling his chair. The girls froze, startled by his outburst.
"No good?" Shiroko tilted her head, her halo flickering slightly.
"Of course not! I let it slide last time because of the circumstances, but robbing a bank for no reason is not okay!" Regro exclaimed, his face red.
"Look at this." Shiroko unfolded a detailed blueprint, complete with infiltration routes, guard schedules, and escape plans. "If we infiltrate via this route, we can—"
"Whoa, that's insanely detailed! Escape routes and all! That's not the point, Shiroko-chan!" Regro interrupted, half-impressed, half-horrified. The blueprint was a work of art, but its purpose was madness.
"I even made a mask for you, Gramps," Shiroko said, handing him a mint-green balaclava with a "G" patch sewn on.
"'G' for Gramps? That's way too on-the-nose! When did you even make this!? No crimes, got it?" Regro insisted, holding the mask like it was evidence.
"…Okay," Shiroko mumbled, her ears drooping. Her stoic facade cracked, revealing a hint of disappointment.
"Déjà vu," Hoshino muttered. "She's so honest with her feelings."
"Why not just crush Kaiser Corporation?" Mash piped up, his voice calm but firm.
"Not you too, Mash! Scams aside, you can't just pick a fight with a company to dodge debt!" Regro scolded, rubbing his temples. His grandson's strength was legendary, but his ideas were as reckless as the girls'.
"…Sorry, Gramps," Mash said, head bowed, his own halo dimming slightly.
"There's that déjà vu again," Regro muttered. "Did I raise siblings or something?" Shiroko and Mash's identical sulking—ears drooping, heads lowered—struck him as eerily similar. Their expressive silence felt like two peas in a pod.
"Ugh, be serious!" Ayane groaned, tossing her clipboard onto the desk. "How many times have I said that!?"
The room fell silent, the weight of their failed ideas settling in. Regro looked around, seeing the girls' determination mixed with frustration. He couldn't help but admire their spirit, even if their plans were absurd. "Maybe we call it a day?" Hoshino suggested, breaking the silence. "No good ideas, and we're not in the mood, right?"
"Yeah, since Gramps is here, let's show him around the city," Shiroko said, her voice regaining its calm edge.
"Good idea! Let's grab lunch first!" Nonomi chirped, clapping her hands.
"To the usual spot, then," Hoshino said, standing and stretching.
"Nice," Mash nodded, his expression brightening.
"The usual spot?" Regro asked, curious but cautious.
"Yup, my favorite ramen joint," Mash replied, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"R-Ramen? Well, alright… I'm kinda looking forward to seeing your city," Regro said, equal parts excited and nervous. The girls' wild ideas had him on edge, but the thought of exploring their world—a place so different from his own—sparked a flicker of adventure in his heart.
As they gathered their things, Regro watched the girls banter, their voices overlapping in a chaotic symphony. Ayane was still muttering about budgets, Serika was complaining about her scam, and Nonomi was humming an idol tune. Shiroko walked beside Mash, their steps in sync, while Hoshino led the way with a confident stride. Regro felt a warmth he hadn't known in years. These girls, so full of life, had accepted Mash as one of their own. For a man who'd spent his life hiding his grandson from a cruel world, it was a small miracle.
The group stepped out into the sunbaked streets of Abydos, the desert heat shimmering around them. The school's crumbling walls stood as a testament to their struggle, but the girls' laughter cut through the heaviness. Regro adjusted his staff, a relic from his magic world, and followed them, his heart lighter than it had been in decades.
As they set out for the ramen shop, Regro couldn't shake the feeling that this city, and these girls, held more surprises than he could ever imagine, each step pulling him deeper into their vibrant, unpredictable world.