(—Hey, everyone. I'm Regro Burned. Lately, my grandson's made tons of friends and even become their teacher—overwhelmed with emotion, a sleek, elegant 75-year-old… but now's not the time… Why?)
"Snff… Uhh… Please… forgive meee…!!"
(Right now, a fox-eared girl is bawling in front of me…!)
"Calm down!? I'm fine—not upset!"
"Release me!! Pointing a blade at your family, your benefactor… Uuu…! I'll die to atone!!"
"Heavy! Everything's heavy!! And 'your esteemed'—what's that!?"
"Uuuuu…!!"
"Hey!! Grandpa's super healthy! No injuries!! See~ all good~ (…W-Why… this… It started as a misunderstanding…)"
Regro Burned. Mash's grandfather, the foster parent who picked up the abandoned child. Raised Mash into a strong, kind young man.
"…Never thought I'd suddenly wander into another world… Just napping."
Regro awakens in Kivotos—specifically, Schale's office, Mash's workplace.
(This mark… Mash's office… Yes, Rin-san mentioned. Federal Investigation "S.C.H.A.L.E. Schale"… So Mash works here daily.)
Third time in Kivotos, but first in the office*¹. Curiosity leads him to tidy documents, a group photo on the desk. Seeing his grandson—once struggling to live publicly—surrounded by friends, working… cheeks loosen with sentiment.
(—Oops, almost died of emotion… Time… 5 AM… Awkward timing… If Mash's here, make cream puffs. Kitchen first—)
"Don't move?"
"—!?"
"Sudden noise—checked… Exhausted new Arius transfers still asleep at dawn, yet an intruder… How'd you enter? —Prepared?"
Gun to his back, unfelt killing intent. No presence until now—shocked by the sudden girl. But priority: reveal identity. Regro calmly raises hands.
"…Who're you?"
"Federal Investigation "S.C.H.A.L.E. Schale", 3rd-year Kosaka Wakamo. Known in Kivotos as 'Calamity Fox' by many."
"Calamity Fox… ominous nickname…"
"Now, you? —Answer decides immediate judgment."
"I-I'm Regro Burned. Your club advisor, Mash Burned—I'm his… grandfather."
"Yes, but that person's grandfather—GRANDPA-SAMA!?"
"Yes, Mash's— …Huh?"
Gun lowered—Regro turns. Wakamo: Federal Student Council-like uniform, revealing, fox mask. But her behavior stands out. Clearly shaken.
"Ah… What have I…!?"
"U-um… One question… 'That person' means—"
"Pointing gun and intent at his family, his benefactor—stupid…!!"
"Uh… Calm down first."
"—Atone with this body!!"
"No need!? Value your life! That body's yours alone."
"W-What… merciful heart… —Uuu…!!"
Wakamo collapses, drops mask, sobs. Regro: Where's the tough act!? But as a parent, he knows kids. Priority: stop tears, calm her.
"Calm down!? I'm fine!!"
"…Pointing gun at his family, benefactor… Uuu…!! Die to atone!!"
"Heavy! All heavy!! And 'that person'—why!?"
"Uuuuu…!!"
"Hey!! Grandpa healthy! No wounds!! See~ okay~… Huh?"
As Regro coos like with a toddler, door opens—waking members enter.
"Wakamo, what's the ruckus… Who?"
"Uh? Stranger."
"…Old man?"
"Human male."
"Hey, grandpa."
"—GRANDPA!?"
"Oh, Mash! Looking good—'UWAAAA MY BELOVED…!!' —Help calm her first!?"
Regro Burned in Kivotos, third time… Weird reunion for the Burned family.
"Whew~ Mash, healthy—relief!"
"Doing okay."
"What what" "Sensei's grandpa" "Gentle-looking."
Regro pats Mash's shoulder, strokes head/cheeks—confirms safety. Mash beams at reunion. Hearing of Mash's family, ex-Arius prep tea, gather.
"Oh, Mash—these kids friends?"
"Yeah, recent. Lots happened."
"I see… New friends… Touched!"
"That's… Sensei's grandpa…"
"…Kind-looking."
Regro holds back tears, greets Saori et al.
"I'm Regro Burned, Mash's grandfather. Names?"
"Y-Yes… Jomae Saori. Right: squad members Tsuchinaga Hiyori, Kainoo Misaki, Hakari Atsuko. Current Schale includes us ex-Arius transfers… Endless debt to Sensei—picked us up, truly grateful."
"I see."
"…But we're not yet friends… Not true ones."
"Told you don't mind."
"Can't… Sorry, Sensei."
"Some story… If not friends, what?"
"Yes…"
Saori pauses, then casually drops bombs.
"Sensei's spear—vanguard clearing his path."
"Spear?"
"Shield guarding his side in crises."
"Shield?"
"Cream puff buddy."
"Cream… puff buddy?"
"Tool."
"TOOL!!?"
"Not quite… All precious friends, grandpa."
Regro: What happened!? But Mash's confident declaration—no doubt. Flustered Regro calms, reassured.
"And this is Kosaka Wakamo-chan. First permanent Schale member."
"S-Sorry for earlier…"
"No no… Don't mind, Wakamo-chan. Thanks for supporting Mash."
"Honored… First meeting, Grandpa-sama… No, Father-in-law-sama."
"Meaning off?"
Mask off, Wakamo bows—lifts face… dead-eye love for Mash, drops nuke.
"And please… I'm Mash-sensei's future bride."
"Fiancée!?"
"Not… held hands properly yet ♡"
"Eh?"
"Regro-san, delusion—ignore."
"Not delusion—FACT!!"
"Wrong?"
Bride, tool—eccentric. But Regro sees: they adore Mash. …So he asks.
"…Mash, something happened?"
"—Yeah, long… exhausting."
"If okay, tell me?"
"Everyone?"
"No issue… Must tell Regro-san."
"…Okay. —Recent incident."
Mash recounts Eden Treaty—inter-academy peace tangled events. Denser, harsher than Abydos/Millennium. His toughest fight—all to grandfather. Including loneliness, anxiety, results.
"—So… here now."
"…I see. Saved two schools… No, Kivotos crisis."
"Yeah… Long, but fulfilling… Ended with reconciliation—fun."
"Saved lives, futures… My boy's a hard worker."
"Ehen."
"Great job~ Mash!! Full marks, gold star!! —Best grandson!!"
"All thanks to you raising me."
"Not all. I raised… but you shone—proud."
"…Embarrassing."
Regro strokes Mash, praises endlessly. Any grandparent would. But as parent, must scold.
"…But Mash, for others—reckless, ignoring safety, pushing limits—no good."
"…Reflecting."
"Heard you got scolded… Won't pile on… But Mash, your absence saddens many here. You're still a kid—no need to carry all."
"—Etched in heart."
"Good… Ho ho ho."
Strokes again—ultimate reward. Saori et al approach awkwardly.
"…Regro-san, we—'Saori-san or'—"
"No need. You carry nothing more."
"B-But—I… Sensei—your family…!"
"Yes, you hurt Mash—fact. But Mash forgave. The victim…"
"Regro-san… nothing?"
"Not nothing… No grandfather silent on grandson's harm. But yelling here wrong—hating you nullifies Mash's life-risk save. As parent, can't."
"…"
"…I'm angry at her—tormenting, subjugating you, targeting Mash."
"…Beatrice."
Regro's rage: Beatrice, not ex-Arius.
"Stole kids' hope, purpose… Vile adult wielding title like pardon—boils my blood."
"Same."
"—Hate adults, untrusting… But one word… You… endured… so well—**
Great job…!!"
"—!!"
Regro tears up. Arius suffering, adult injustice—how much pain… Can't not cry.
"…Sorry… My tears out of place."
"N-No…"
"Especially you—toughest? Saori-san… Fought solely to protect family."
"…Not… that much…"
"No, you endured. Risking life for family/juniors—rare… Splendid." pat
Regro gently strokes Saori's head. Adult to child—comforts.
"Great endurance… Saori-san, Misaki-chan, Atsuko-chan, Hiyori-chan, Nina-chan… Rest with Mash now."
"—Thank… you."
"You all… truly endured—Glad you live… Wakamo-chan, always thinking of Mash… Thanks… All gold stars!!"
"'—!!!!'"
Then, Saori et al understood: Mash's kindness, care, self-sacrifice—all from Regro's humanity.
'Gold star'… Truly saved.
*1: Technically teleported
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