The group arrived at Shiba Seki Ramen, a cozy shop nestled in a bustling corner of Kivotos. The air was thick with the savory aroma of pork broth, and the clatter of bowls filled the space. "Welcome! Grab any open seat!" a gruff voice called from the kitchen.
Regro's jaw dropped. "A dog's walking on two legs and cooking! And that voice—so deep!" he gawked, staring at Shiba Seki, the canine chef, who wielded a ladle with surprising dexterity.
"Been a while, Shiba-san," Mash greeted, unfazed by the talking dog.
"Hey, Sensei! And the crew… Oh? Who's this old fella?" Shiba Seki tilted his head, his floppy ears bouncing.
"My gramps," Mash said simply, his tone warm.
"Sensei's family, huh? Gotta give a proper greeting," Shiba said, finishing prep and waddling over to bow to Regro. "Nice to meet ya, sir. Your boy's saved my hide more times than I can count. I owe him big. Here, take these—free ramen coupons. Use 'em anytime."
"Why, thank you kindly. Regro Burnedead," Regro said, accepting the coupons with a smile. He shook Shiba's paw, charmed by the dog's earnest demeanor as he returned to the kitchen, tail wagging.
"Regro-saaan! Over here!" Nonomi waved, bouncing in her seat.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Where should I sit?" Regro asked, scanning the crowded counter.
"Right next to me," Shiroko said matter-of-factly, patting the stool beside her.
"Regro-san, I've got a spot too!" Nonomi grinned, pointing to the seat next to her.
"Gramps, who're you picking?" Mash asked, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Hmm…" Regro muttered, flustered. "(Never thought I'd be picking seats next to girls at my age. I'm sweating bullets here—my blood pressure's through the roof!)" After some deliberation, he chose Shiroko's youthful energy. "Alright, Shiroko-chan, I'll sit by you."
"Thanks. Here we go…" Regro eased into the seat, his staff leaning against the counter.
"I'll take the air chair," Mash said, squatting with a straight face.
"Just sit down! You're blocking the way!" Serika snapped, her patience thin.
"If Gramps says so," Mash relented, sliding next to Nonomi with a sheepish grin.
"Such a good boy," Hoshino teased, winking at Mash.
"Hey, can we order?" Nonomi called, waving at Shiba.
"Comin' right up!" Shiba replied, his tail wagging furiously.
As the group ordered, Regro's eyes sparkled at his first glimpse of ramen. The steaming bowl arrived, noodles glistening in a rich pork broth, topped with a perfectly boiled egg and green onions. He took a tentative slurp, and a bolt of flavor hit him like lightning. "Delicious! The rich pork broth clings to these thin noodles perfectly! The texture, the aftertaste—it's incredible! I've never tasted anything this good!" Regro raved, chopsticks flying.
"Told ya! Shiba Seki's ramen is the best in the world!" Serika boasted, puffing out her chest.
"Oh, you work here, Serika-chan? You picked a fine place!" Regro said, impressed.
"Gramps is a fan too," Mash said, digging into his bowl. "Let's eat."
The girls followed suit, their chatter filling the shop with warmth. Regro noticed Shiroko struggling with a bit of broth on her cheek. "Hey, Shiroko-chan, you've got some broth on your face," he said, wiping it gently with a napkin.
"Thanks, Gramps," Shiroko mumbled, her cheeks faintly pink.
"Total granddaughter vibes," Hoshino chuckled, slurping her noodles.
"She's like a tamed kitten," Serika said, grinning.
"But she warmed up to Mash-sensei just as fast," Ayane noted, adjusting her glasses.
"Took, like, a few days for her to be all buddy-buddy," Nonomi added, twirling her chopsticks.
"I'm not that soft," Shiroko protested, though her ears twitched. "Gramps, my sleeves are stuck since my arms are full. Can you roll them up?"
"Sure, sure," Regro said, obliging with a chuckle.
"Zero credibility!" Serika laughed, nearly choking on her ramen.
The door swung open, and Shiba called out, "Hey, it's the Convenience Store girls! Been a while!"
"Long time, Shiba-san. We're here for some ramen," a confident voice replied.
Convenience Store 68's four members strutted in, led by Aru Rikuhachima. Spotting Mash, Aru forgot her outlaw persona and dashed to the table. "Sensei!" she exclaimed.
"Yo, Aru-chan," Mash replied, unfazed.
"Heya! Oh, Regro-san, these are the Convenience Store 68 girls I mentioned," Nonomi said, gesturing to the newcomers.
Regro stood, offering a warm smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Regro Burnedead, Mash's grandfather."
"Sensei's grandfather!?" Aru gasped. "A pleasure! I'm Aru Rikuhachima. Over there are Kayoko Onikata, Mutsuki Asagi, and Haruka Igusa—my precious comrades."
As introductions continued, Haruka slipped on a wet tile, pitching forward. "Eek!" she yelped.
"Gotcha!" Regro shouted, flicking his staff. Haruka's body floated gently, parallel to the floor, before he eased her upright.
"…Huh? I'm… floating?" Haruka blinked, stunned.
"Made it in time," Regro said, relieved. "I'm getting rusty, though."
"Gramps, what was that!?" Nonomi asked, eyes wide. "Haruka-chan was floating!"
"Oh, that? Just a bit of magic," Regro said casually, tucking his staff away.
"Magic!?" the girls chorused, leaning forward.
Regro demonstrated a few basic spells—levitating a chopstick, conjuring a faint light—leaving them awestruck. In Kivotos, where halos were the norm, magic was pure fantasy. Ayane, ever curious, bombarded him with questions. "How does it work? Is it like our halos?"
Regro's smile faded slightly. "In my world, I'm a failure," he admitted. "Everyone uses magic, but mine's weak. I was always the odd one out."
The girls listened intently as he shared his story. "The Burnedead family was prestigious, but I was a disappointment. Weak magic, no talent. I left home at twenty, failed at everything, and nearly gave up. Then I found Mash, abandoned for lacking magic. I raised him, hiding from a world that rejects the magicless."
The girls were outraged. "Sensei's life has value!" Hoshino cried, slamming the table. "Magic or not, he's our Sensei!"
Regro's eyes softened. "You brought him into this world, became his friends. That's a miracle greater than any magic." His voice trembled with gratitude.
CRASH! Mash broke the door, shattering the heavy mood. "Whoops," he said, scratching his head.
"SERIOUSLY!?" Regro roared, half-laughing.
"Sorry, Shiba-san. I'll fix it later," Mash promised.
Laughter erupted, sweeping away the tension. But soon, Regro began to glow, his body fading. "I'm going back," he said with a wry smile.
"Don't make those faces," he chuckled, seeing their sadness. "We'll meet again."
Shiroko handed him the "G" mask. "I'll treasure it," Regro said, stroking her head. "No crimes, okay?"
"…Okay," Shiroko mumbled.
"Until we meet again!" Regro called, vanishing with a wave.
Back at the Burnedead residence, Regro held the ramen coupons and mask, chuckling. "Surprisingly cozy." The warmth of Kivotos lingered in his heart, a memory he'd carry forever.
Through the mask, he felt the warmth of Kivotos, a place he hoped to return to someday, where his grandson had found a home and family beyond his wildest dreams.