Hoshino's April Fool's line: "Shi~ba shi~ba shi~ba⤵︎ se~ki⤴︎ ra~men⤵︎"
Too cute, right?
Recap of Grandpa's Story So Far:
1. Waiting for his son after training, got zapped to another world.
2. Landed in a magic-less world where his son's a key figure.
3. Learned his son's a teacher with tons of friends, nearly cried (okay, cried).
4. Gained grandkid-like students, thrilled but worried—they're quirky.
5. Returned to his world.
I'm Regro Burnedead, a chic, elegant 75-year-old seriously considering a walking cane.
"Is Mash doing okay over there? A week already… time flies."
My pride and joy, Mash, is teaching in another world, saving its people. Makes me proud, but worried. If something happened to him… No.
"I trust Mash. He's fine."
He's strong, kind, honest—surely making friends and thriving. That said…
"Hope he's not breaking doors."
That boy never learns how to open them properly.
"Hm? This late already?"
Today, I'm heading out to buy magic books. Maybe they'll mention Kivotos or how to travel there freely.
Standing from my chair, I grab my self-defense cane and money, heading for the door—
Crack…
"!?"
Sudden dizziness hits—not magic. Can't… stay conscious…
Mash…
"…Where am I?"
Regro wakes on a sofa in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strange iron gadgets. This is Kivotos, he realizes.
"But where exactly? Not where I woke last time, nor Schale…"
As he ponders, a young woman's voice calls out.
"You're awake!"
"Are you a student here?"
"Yup, Utaha Shiraishi, Millennium Science School's Engineering Club."
Regro introduces himself.
"Regro Burnedead. Thanks for the help."
"Burnedead? Related to Mash-sensei?"
"He's my son."
"Mash-sensei's… father? Hm."
Utaha studies him, and Regro shifts uncomfortably.
"What?"
"No offense, but you're frail compared to Sensei."
"Well, yeah… gotta say it so bluntly?"
"Sorry, didn't mean to hurt you. But I'm curious."
"About?"
"Why you appeared here. I found you collapsed this morning."
Regro's puzzled but grateful.
"Thanks for saving me."
"No big deal. Coffee? Just brewed some."
"Don't mind if I do."
"This way—oh!"
"Waaa!?"
A scream startles them. Tiny robots are causing chaos.
"What are those?"
"Chibi Robots, developed by Kotori and Hibiki. Helper bots."
"Helpers?"
"Don't move! Stay still!"
"Let us help! HELP!"
"Wait, don't clean that! It's important!"
"That's not trash! I didn't ask you to clean!"
"They're going wild."
"Seems they turned into meddlesome bots instead of helpers."
"Meddlesome!?"
"They clean regardless of the user's wishes."
"Talk about a nuisance…"
"They can also do caregiving."
"Caregiving? Those things scare me…"
The robots spot Regro and charge.
"Caregiving! CAREGIVING!"
"They're coming!?"
"They think you need care."
"Caregiving! Stay still! Warm up!"
"They're really caregiving!?"
Regro panics as Utaha aims her gun, but he acts first.
"No choice… Hope this works!"
"Grandpa, what's with the cane?"
"Here goes!"
Regro swings his cane, lifting the robots into the air. Utaha, Hibiki, and Kotori gape.
"What's that!?"
"Ugh… floating things is… tough!"
"The robots are airborne!? That cane—what's its principle? Canes are walking aids, typically wood or bamboo, used by the elderly, disabled, travelers—"
"Kotori, focus! Stop the robots!"
"Right! Grandpa, hold on!"
Kotori and Hibiki shoot, disabling the robots.
"Phew…"
Regro lowers the robots and collapses, exhausted.
"Grandpa!"
"I'm fine, Utaha. You okay?"
"I'm good. What was that cane?"
"Magic. It's a magic wand."
"Magic? Like in fairy tales?"
"Yup. All I can do, though."
"Magic…"
Hibiki and Kotori approach, eyes gleaming.
"Grandpa, can we ask about that phenomenon!?"
"Let me study that wand… just a bit!"
"Calm down! We'll talk—wait, Utaha?"
"Let's check your body…"
"W-What? Why's everyone getting closer!?"
The trio, driven by curiosity about "magic," crowd Regro.
"It's fine, just a quick check!"
"Not fine! My body's got nothing!"
"More about magic!"
"Magic-based inventions… hehe!"
"Scary! These kids are scary!"
"Come, Grandpa Regro…"
"No, wait—where are you touching!?"
"NOOOO!?"
Minutes later
"Engineering Club, we need to talk…"
"I can't… get married anymore…"
"Sorry!"
"What happened? Grandpa?"
In the Engineering Club room, Utaha, Hibiki, and Kotori kneel in apology. Regro's ashen, and Mash tends to him.
"Sorry, I got carried away by the unknown."
"Too excited to think straight."
"I'm reflecting…"
"If you're sorry… Never thought I'd experience that at my age. Embarrassing."
"Seriously, what happened?"
Regro won't say, calling it unspeakable. Utaha changes the subject.
"Sensei, why're you here?"
"Game Dev needs help."
"Again? What now?"
"They're out of game ideas, want to see your inventions for inspiration."
"Fine by me."
"Thanks."
"Mash, what's Game Dev?"
"Important students I saved. Oh, I should introduce—'Sensei!'"
The door opens, and the Saiba sisters and Alice enter.
"What'd Utaha-senpai say?"
"All good."
"Yay!"
"Couldn't you ask without Sensei?"
"Uh…"
"Had an… unavoidable event."
"Thanks to Sensei, we cleared it!"
"Great."
"Who's that?"
"Sensei, who?"
"My grandpa, Regro Burnedead."
"Regro, nice to meet you. Twins, huh?"
"Mash-sensei's grandpa!?" The Saibas rush to greet him.
"Momoi Saiba! Sensei helped us tons!"
"Midori Saiba. Thanks to him, we're here."
"No big deal…" Smug.
"You saved them? Proud of you, grandson!"
"Heh."
"That girl too?"
Regro points to Alice, who touches him curiously.
"What's up? I've got nothing… Oh, my wallet's gone…"
"Grandpa, you're not jacked like Sensei?"
"Nope, just a frail old man."
"Alice is worried…"
"Worried?"
"Your body's shriveled, bones weak… like you'll collapse."
"Grandpa's old."
"No worries, everyone gets like this with age."
Regro pats Alice gently, certain she's a good kid.
"Still worried. You're like…"
"Like?"
"A skeleton."
"SKELETON!?"
"Alice!"
"Sorry, no malice!"
"She's just pure."
"Too pure—terrifying!"
"Not skeleton, I mean…"
"Living corpse!"
"Worse! Way worse!"
"At least make it Zombie Wizard!"
"Get off monsters!"
"Nice, Midori, more tsukkomi help."
"Happy… but not?"
Alice and Mash debate "Zombie Wizard" vs. "Skeleton Grandpa" seriously.
"Keep me human!"
The Engineering Club trio, with papers, skip off happily.
"What a story. Rough times."
"Seriously! Without Sensei, Game Dev would be gone."
"He got us through the worst."
"Meeting Sensei let me bond with Momoi and co.!"
"I just helped a bit. You guys did the rest."
"That's enough to be proud of!"
"I'll take it."
"So honest."
In the Engineering Club, Mash recounts their adventures. Regro praises him for saving Momoi and co.
"But teaching Alice about muscles? Reflect."
"I am."
"When fighting the game's final boss, she said, 'Alice fighting directly is faster… with muscles.'"
"Slipped out…"
"Glad you're doing well."
"Yeah."
Alice speaks up.
"Grandpa."
"What?"
"Don't you miss Sensei, being apart?"
"Only a week, but… yeah, I do."
"Then stay here—'No way.'"
Mash cuts Alice off. Kivotos is too dangerous for Regro, who could die from a single bullet. As Sensei's family, he'd be a target.
"Grandpa…"
"Sorry, it's sad not seeing you, but losing you would be worse."
"He's right. Sensei's abnormal, but this world's dangerous for non-halo people."
"Especially for an elderly like Regro."
"Right… Sorry, Grandpa."
"I felt it too. If Mash is this serious, it's bad, huh?"
"Yup."
"Got it."
"So, while you're here, I'll protect you no matter what. Stay close."
Regro smiles.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Alice will protect you too! It's a hero's duty!"
"Stay at Game Dev's clubroom! It's perfect!"
"Won't I be in the way?"
"Nah, we've got space and warm blankets!"
"Staying close reassures Sensei, right?"
"True, I've got Schale work."
"Settled! Grandpa, you okay with it?"
"Since you invited me, I'll take you up."
"Pan-paka-pan! Grandpa Regro joined the party!"
"Pan-paka… pan?"
"Let's go! Tons to show and tell!"
Alice drags Regro, who laughs, "Careful!"—like a grandpa with his granddaughter.
"…Game idea incoming!"
"Now?"
"Grandpa looks happy. Let's go."
Mash and co. follow to Game Dev's clubroom.
(Can't say Alice's grip nearly dislocated my shoulder!)
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