Having heard Hina and Makoto's grievances and resolved their problems, Regro and Mash departed Gehenna. Their next destination was Trinity General School.
For Regro, who had been thoroughly briefed on the issues concerning Arius Branch School and the events surrounding the Eden Treaty, it was the place he most wanted to visit to ascertain the relationship with Arius.
Trinity General School was an all-girls mission school, one that emphasized discipline and refinement, unlike Gehenna. Young Regro, being from a certain kind of prestigious background—though his parents had practically abandoned him—was accustomed to atmospheres that demanded grace and manners.
Mash had been hoping to meet Nagisa and Mika, but it seemed they were swamped with work and currently in a tea party. So, while waiting for them to free up, Regro and Mash found themselves in the Justice Task Force's clubroom.
"Tea Party, Justice Task Force, Remedial Knights, Sisterhood. And then there's the Trinity Vigilante Corps and the Afterschool Sweets Club... Gehenna isn't the only one with unique clubs, huh?"
"The Tea Party also has... what was it... a 'discernment'?"
"It's 'factions,' Sensei, 'factions'."
"Ah, that's it, factions! There are three of them: the Pater Faction, the Filius Faction, and the Sanctus Faction."
"As the names bestowed upon each faction suggest, the school's structure, comprised of numerous organizations clustering around these three factions, is indeed the origin of the school name 'Trinity'."
"Hoho... surprisingly well-structured, aren't they? So, I heard all the Trinity kids have wings... is that true?"
"Yeah, some don't, but the ones who do, they're all... how should I put it... beautiful."
"Well, if a girl has wings, that's only natural."
"Though some of them are a bit dark-hearted."
"Oh dear, I'm starting to get a little worried... nobles who are also dark-hearted, that doesn't paint a very good picture, does it?"
In the magical world too, there were upper echelons who wielded influence through bribes, schemes, and their own magical prowess. Thus, he couldn't form a good image at all and was growing anxious.
"...But everyone, they're all my precious students, my irreplaceable friends. So, it'll be fine."
"Sensei is absolutely right. The era of backstabbing and mutual hatred is over. It will surely be fine."
"...Is that so? If Mash and Delta-chan say so, then I'm relieved—after all, Mash wouldn't recognize anyone bad as a friend."
"That's a lot of trust."
"There's no parent in this world who wouldn't believe in their own grandchild."
"...Thank you, Grandpa."
"I merely stated the obvious."
Regro placed his absolute trust in Mash, thinking, "There are no bad people among the students Mash recognizes as 'friends'." Mash was an honest and good boy, and his judgment of people was never wrong... Of course, Delta and Echo, who were present, were no exception. Therefore, he had no worries at all.
CLANG...!
As Mash and Regro were talking, the door slowly opened, and someone entered. Regro eagerly turned, looking forward to meeting a student, but who stood there was—
"...Huh?"
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!!?!?"
"Whoa...!?...!?" "...—Kensaki, Tsurugi."
"It's Tsurugi-san, hello."
Tsurugi appeared, likely fresh from a battle, splattered with blood, wearing an expression utterly unbecoming of a young lady. Regro, astonished by Tsurugi, instantly moved to Mash's side.
"Mash!? Wh-Who is that girl!? What is that girl!?"
"She's Tsurugi Kensaki, the third-year chairperson of the Justice Task Force. She's a reliable senior for us and this committee."
"I know it's rude to ask, but is that girl really from Trinity!?"
"Yeah, see? She has wings, right?"
"She certainly has wings, but still!! Are those even wings!? Are they!? Aren't they more like thorns or barbed wire!?—And, she's bleeding a lot!? Is she okay!?"
Regro was flustered by Tsurugi's appearance, which was far removed from his image of Trinity, but he still worried about her condition. In response, Tsurugi, thinking "Who is he...?", slowly opened her mouth to reply.
"No need to worry, it's just splashback—Sensei!?"
"Yo."
"Ah, ah... ah...! Um...!"
(Huh, did her face just suddenly change...?)
(Did Tsurugi Kensaki have such a side to her?) (Eh, she becomes this meek in front of Sensei? That Tsurugi Kensaki?)
"L-Long time no see... And, who is this gentleman?"
"He's my grandpa. His name is Regro Barndead."
"I am Regro Barndead, Mash's grandfather, who raised him... N-Nice to meet you... Tsurugi-san."
"Sensei... Grandpa... Sensei's... family—k..."
"K?"
"KYAAAAAIIIIIYAAAAAAAH!!?!??!?!?"
"Whoa, that scared me!!?!!?"
"Seriously, can you not with that scream? It's really bad for my heart."
"It's tough, Echo-chan, but bear with it. You can rest easy when we get back."
Tsurugi kicked open the door and ran off somewhere... Mash and Regro peeked their heads out into the hallway through the gaping hole.
"F-First I need to wash off the blood... a-and it smells too, right...? P-Perfume is... oh, it's all used up!!! T-Then detergent... n-no!! Before that, I need to wash my body...!!!"
The sound of something breaking and something tearing echoed even into the hallway, and the students walking there were terrified. Regro was confused, and Delta and Echo huddled together, trembling, but Mash was completely at ease, thinking, "She's always like this~."
After finishing her preparations, Tsurugi sat across from Regro and Mash in the room and began to speak. Delta and Echo, having witnessed Tsurugi's frenzy, seemed to have been so worried they might be killed that they were now utterly drained, slumping beside Mash and Regro respectively.
"P-Pardon me for the wait..."
"Y-You're welcome."
"The blood splatters and your messy hair are all clean now."
"W-Well, to remain in that state would have been... rude, I thought... And, it's embarrassing... hehe."
(Where did that expression from earlier go...?)
"I apologize for the late introduction... I am Tsurugi Kensaki, a third-year at Trinity General School and Chairperson of the Justice Task Force. Sensei has truly, truly taken care of me in so many ways..."
"That's good to hear."
"Um... well..."
"?"
In front of Regro, Tsurugi started to fluster and panic. Just meeting and talking to Mash's adoptive father was nerve-wracking enough, but when that person was of the opposite sex, the tension increased even more.
(W-W-What should I do!? What should I talk about first? Wasn't my first impression absolutely terrible!?—Calm down, for now, a topic of conversation... T-The weather today... no, that's too mundane!! Then... right, talk about Sensei... What about Sensei should I talk about? In front of his adoptive parent? In front of someone who has been with Sensei for over 16 years, when I've barely known Sensei for a year? What? What should I talk about...!!!?)
"Tsurugi-san, Tsurugi-san."
"KYAAAAAAH!??!"
"Your face was looking pretty wild, you know."
"!!! (Aaaahhh...!! Embarrassing, embarrassing, embarrassing!!) —Ahh..."
(I-I see... So this is what they call a 'gap moe'... But still, isn't her intensity and facial muscle movement incredible? Mash's face could never make movements like that!)
Regro felt a slight 'gap moe' towards Tsurugi, who was blushing with embarrassment. Reading the atmosphere, he initiated a conversation topic.
"S-So, that blood splash earlier... what happened to it? Also, the blood on your clothes doesn't seem to have come off yet."
"W-Well, there were some students causing a ruckus in town, so I went to stop them. They were the usual Helmet Gang, but..."
"I-I see... (Attacked enough to get covered in blood...? Well, but she's a good kid trying to keep the peace—)"
"This blood has been there for a long time... it became a stain."
(...She must be a good kid, yes!)
"You always work so hard."
"Thank you very much... And I'm sorry, to be in such a state in front of Sensei's grandfather..."
"No, no, it's perfectly fine. Isn't that your job? Then you don't need to worry about a stranger like me."
"Ah—Thank you...! ...Um..."
Tsurugi bravely spoke her honest feelings about Mash's presence from the perspective of the Justice Task Force.
"Everyone in the Justice Task Force looks up to Sensei intensely. Part of it is because he's the hero who saved Gehenna and Trinity... but simply, there are many students who were attracted to his humanity and strength..."
"Oh my, how embarrassing."
"I-I myself... am captivated... by Sensei's strength and humanity... so much so that...! ...I..."
"Mash, an object of admiration!? And from students like Tsurugi-san who are aces at a prestigious girls' school...—I might cry..."
"Even from Trinity's perspective as a whole, Sensei's presence has brought considerable benefits... but especially the students in the Justice Task Force, I believe they harbor many special feelings..."
Mash was greatly admired by the students of the Justice Task Force, thanks to his strength, gentle humanity, and cream puffs, which allowed him to stand alongside his original idols, Tsurugi and Hasumi. Just knowing his grandson was popular was enough to move Regro.
"...I feel a little out of place saying this in front of you, Regro-san, as his adoptive father, but..."
"?"
"Sensei—no, Mash... is a little, no... quite too kind, I think."
"Hmm, I can't really deny that... maybe."
"He's too lenient on others, yet too strict with himself... It's, well... painful to watch."
"Ugh."
"Too lenient on others... he's become even more so since coming here, hasn't he~."
"P-Personally, I—I want Mash to take better care of himself. Mash is a beloved junior to me, a friend, a Sensei... and... and...!!"
"And...?"
"—No, I'll stop there... It's still too early to convey that."
Holding back the feelings she kept hidden in her heart, Tsurugi spoke to Regro as Mash's senior and as Mash's friend.
"Mash is called a hero and a champion of justice... but I think he just did what he wanted to do... and perhaps he himself doesn't particularly like being called a hero."
"Yeah, honestly speaking, that's true."
"But I wish he would be prouder... because he's done that much—but we've praised him enough, so... I want you, Regro-san, as his adoptive father, to praise him more."
"...Indeed, Mash has done nothing but things to be praised for—I understand. Thank you for telling me, Tsurugi-san."
"N-No, no...!!"
"...Being praised by Tsurugi-san makes me feel somehow happy. I wonder why."
"—KYAA!?"
"Whoa, your face is getting wild again."
Tsurugi expressed her feelings about Mash, who was called a 'hero' and 'champion of justice,' saying that she wished he would be prouder of the magnitude of what he had left behind in Kivotos, and that he should be praised more. Regro readily agreed... and at the same time, began to sense something.
(Whether it's Wakamo-chan at Schale, or Hina-chan at Gehenna... everyone gets shy when Mash is around... Could it be, my grandson—is he popular? Not 'like', but 'love'...!?)
"I must confirm," thought Regro, and he asked Tsurugi a straightforward question.
"Tsurugi-san!"
"Y-Yes!?"
"Do you like Mash?"
"—K-K-K-KYAA!? L-Like as in, no, I mean, I do like him, but—ah, no, that's not it... um, well...!!"
"I like you too, Tsurugi-san."*1
"...—Thump." Thud
"Oh my."
"T-Tsurugi-san!?... I've done it now."
Tsurugi collapsed, her face flushed crimson. "Did I rush things?" thought Regro, but he was certain. Mash was popular in this world... unlike himself, he was quite liked by the opposite sex from a young age.
"—Mash."
"?"
"No matter what kind of girl Mash brings home, I'll accept her!!"
"...Eh, what are you talking about?"
"...Hey, Sensei, when do you think he'll notice the feelings of those around him?"
"I don't know now, but... isn't it our duty to watch over him?"
Knowing that there were students who admired Mash, many who liked him... Regro genuinely thought, "I'm so glad I came here."
"I apologize for the ruckus caused by the Chairperson... As Vice-Chairperson, I offer my apologies."
"Oh, no, no, it's perfectly fine... Well then, allow me to introduce myself again, I am Regro Barndead. Might I ask for your name, young lady?"
"I am Hasumi Hanakawa, a third-year at Trinity General School and Vice-Chairperson of the Justice Task Force. This is Toriko, a first-year junior on the committee."
"N-Nice to meet you!"
"It's a pleasure. So... is Tsurugi-san alright?"
Tsurugi remained stiff and unresponsive, emitting steam with her face still a deep red. Hasumi, who had arrived in the clubroom, moved the frozen Tsurugi to a nearby sofa bed and was checking on her.
"No need to worry. She'll return to normal after a little rest... Regro-san, please don't worry and enjoy your time at Trinity."
"I-Is that so? Then I won't hold back... And that girl over there... is she from the Afterschool Sweets Club?"
"Y-Yes! Um, Sensei has helped me so much... And as for Regro-san, Sensei's grandfather, I'm at a loss for how to thank you, being so bad with words myself..."
"No, on the contrary, I must thank you."
"Ehh!?"
"—Thank you, for saving my grandson's life."
The students of the Afterschool Sweets Club had repeatedly helped Mash. Regro was deeply grateful to them for saving his grandson's life.
"W-I just contacted everyone... and, well, Mobue-chan and the others were the ones who said 'let's go'."
"Just contacting us was a great help. Back then, I was quite in danger in two ways... So go on, you can puff out your chest with pride."
"Y-Yes..."
"That's right, Toriko. Your efforts are recognized within the Justice Task Force and even within the Tea Party... Of course, everyone in the Afterschool Sweets Club is also recognized. Even Pandemonium has publicly declared they 'like it'!"
"This is the first I'm hearing of this!?"
"We hadn't mentioned it, had we... Now, we'd love to talk longer, but we have some work to do, so... we'll be taking our leave."
Hasumi, carrying Tsurugi, exited with Toriko. Mash couldn't help but feel that her busy schedule and workload were making her rush a little too much.
"..."
Upon closer inspection, she was even sweating slightly. So Mash carefully observed Hasumi's body—and then noticed.
"Hasumi-san—have you gained weight again?"
"!!!...!!?"
"Mash!?"
"If you're ever worried, just tell me. I'll always join you for training."*2
His words, spoken without malice, pierced Hasumi's heart. Hasumi was also a young maiden living her youth... to have someone of the opposite sex close to her age realize she had gained weight was quite embarrassing.
"Hey, Mash! What are you saying to Hasumi-san!?"
"Sensei, tact!"
"...Ah, I messed up."
"Heh... heh... It's fine... Weight, after all, can increase any amount throughout one's life."
"That's probably because you ate a super-sized parfait late at night. Sensei and Regro-san, don't worry about it too much."
"Tsurugi!? You were awake!?"
"I just woke up—Anyway, eating parfaits late at night is forbidden for a while."
"No way...! What am I supposed to eat late at night now!?"
"Don't eat anything late at night in the first place."
"No way!?"
"—You two, goodbye then."
Afterward, Tsurugi, in turn, carried the nearly collapsed Hasumi and exited the room. The Barndead family once again spent time in the clubroom with their two escorts.
"Excuse me... Oh, Sensei!"
"Hmm, as expected, you were here. Delta and Echo look well too."
"Long time no see, Sensei~."
"H-Hi, long time no see! Who's that person...?"
"Everyone from the Remedial Knights, long time no see."
Next to visit Mash and his group were the members of the Afterschool Remedial Class. These were the individuals who had forged bonds and deepened their friendship through various incidents and commotions before the Eden Treaty signing ceremony, and they were also the children Regro had been concerned about.
"Sensei, who is the old man next to you?"
"He's my grandpa."
"He's Mash's grandfather~."
"Grandpa... Grandpa!?"
"W-Wait a minute!? Sensei's grandpa lives outside Kivotos, or rather, in another world, right!? Why is he here!?"
"I don't know."
"I don't know either."
"I thought Sensei's adoptive father would be muscular, but... he's not, he's like a skeleton."
"Azusa-chan!? That's rude to say!?"
"Hahaha... Well, it's the truth, isn't it? I'm just skin and bones from old age. I can't be like Mash, so don't worry about it. Once again, I'm Regro Barndead. Nice to meet you."
After a brief greeting, the members of the Afterschool Remedial Class sat in front of Regro and Mash. Koharu and Hifumi were so nervous at their first meeting with Mash's family that they couldn't speak, but Azusa was perfectly calm, and Hanako's expression was as usual, yet somehow also seemed serious.
"—Regro-san, I have something I'd like to ask you... Is that alright?"
"I don't mind... What is it?"
"Regro-san's educational policy is undoubtedly perfect, and I believe that it is thanks to Regro-san raising Sensei that we are here today."
(H-Hanako is more serious than ever...)
"D-Doesn't that sound a little exaggerated...?"
"However—there is just one thing I have wondered about."
"H-Hoh?"
"A question... Hmm, a question about Grandpa's upbringing?"
"Yes, just one thing... Regro-san... why, how could you..."
Without a forced or ingratiating smile, Hanako faced Regro head-on. Mash, Hifumi, and the others held their breath at the serious expression she hadn't shown since the treaty signing ceremony. Regro also braced himself, recalling his own actions and wondering if he had "done something wrong."
"Why didn't you give Sensei...—————"
"SEXUAL EDUCATION!?"
"What is this girl suddenly saying!?"
"What on earth are you saying, seriously!?"
"Hanako-chan!?"
"...?"
"I feel like something incredible just flew at me."
"More than incredible, it was a straight-up fire-ball... or rather..."
"Sensei, you shouldn't listen too seriously... or should you...? But... anyway, don't listen now. Let's think about it later."
Startled by the abrupt question, everyone involuntarily stood up (Hifumi and Mash remained seated). It was only natural for anyone to react this way when such a question was thrown out of a serious expression.
"Are you an idiot!? A smart idiot!? What are you fooling around about!?"
"No, Koharu-chan, this is a very important and serious matter!"
"It doesn't sound like it to me!?"
"Kissing, caressing... all of those, Sensei knows absolutely nothing about—in fact, he considers kissing itself to be the most "sacred" thing!"
"Hanako-chan!? Um, you shouldn't shout so loudly!!"
"You shouldn't be shouting such things so openly as a girl your age!?"
"Sensei is also a boy of age... Not knowing about "those" things, I worry if it might be dangerous in the future!"
"Your statement right now is the most dangerous one!?"
Mash and Azusa remained bewildered throughout, but Hanako had a point. It was a bit dangerous for a 16-year-old boy to have absolutely no knowledge of "those" things. Such knowledge was indispensable for a person's growth and life.
"A purely innocent Sensei... I think that's wonderful—however, I believe it would be dangerous if Sensei were to have a girlfriend in the future without such knowledge!"
"W-Well, that's true... but... is it?"
"Hah...! Could it be that Regro-san was also too embarrassed to teach Sensei about such things? —Are both father and son innocent!? How cute!!"
"Isn't this girl scary!?"
"This is bad, Hanako is about to go out of control—Sensei, doctor's orders. Delta and Echo, prepare yourselves."
"Understood." "Leave it to me." "...I'm not thrilled."
Mash subdued the rampaging Hanako with a very light chop, and the situation was temporarily settled. However, Azusa and Mash remained bewildered, unable to grasp the intent behind Hanako's statements.
"I am truly sorry... I couldn't suppress my nervousness and questions..."
"W-Well, I was surprised, but you were worried about Mash, right?"
"Yes..."
It was true that Hanako was deeply concerned about Mash. However, her nervousness in front of Regro, combined with the question of "Why wasn't he given education in that field?", overwhelmed her thoughts, and as a result of the extreme tension, she made impolite statements.
"...Ah, why didn't I give Mash that kind of education... was it?"
"Y-Yes...! It's been bothering me so much..."
"Is that really so important?"
"It's important enough to absolutely have to remember it in life... I suppose."
"That much?"
"...Actually... you see, I did give Mash that kind of education a long time ago... and for quite a long time too."
A shocking truth was revealed from Regro's mouth. Regro had given Mash sex education, including knowledge about emotions and reproduction. But if so, why did Mash currently lack such knowledge...? The answer was simple.
"The day after I taught him, the information would be completely gone from his head."
"What... did you say...!?"
"Mash always had a tendency to focus too much on baking and training, and didn't remember other things well. It was common for him to forget most of what I told him about important matters by the next day."
"S-So that means..."
"Yeah... all that knowledge, and such, was just overwritten by cream puffs and muscle training. So I figured it was useless no matter what I said... and gave up. Living in the mountains, there was no place to use what he learned, and not having opportunities to interact with girls probably didn't help either..."
"—I apologize, Regro-san, it must have been so difficult for you... and I..."
"No, no, it's fine... That process led to the Mash he is now, didn't it?"
"I don't know, it's kind of hard to understand... but I get that Grandpa went through a lot of trouble."
"Same here."
Regro didn't give up, teaching Mash that knowledge every day. However, Mash, from his perspective, couldn't find interest in something that couldn't be trained like muscles, and most of it didn't stick in his memory. The next day, his memory would be completely erased, replaced by cream puffs and muscle training, and that's how he grew into the muscle-brained young man he is today.
"...B-But! All his other education has been a success, I think? Because Regro-san properly faced Sensei and raised him... that's why we are here now!"
"That's right... Besides, even without that kind of knowledge, Sensei is Sensei... and Regro-san also worked hard on teaching him to properly tackle things he's not good at."
"The fact that we are all here now, enjoying ourselves... Heh, it's also thanks to Regro-san."
"N-No, I don't think that's the case... Everyone is here because everyone worked hard. It's because your strenuous efforts bore fruit."
"Everyone really did work hard, didn't they?"
Upon hearing that, the members of the Afterschool Remedial Class felt somewhat embarrassed. It could be said that, like Makoto and Hina, they had never been praised directly by an adult before.
"Speaking of which, the same goes for you... Mash."
"...Hmm, well, I get told that a lot."
"To study things he was bad at... that Mash studying for everyone—that muscle-brained, cream puff-obsessed idiot Mash!! Studying!!"
"Are you going that far?"
"Yes!!—And, overcoming hardships with friends his age... such an experience is rare... and through that, Mash grew stronger and bigger... I am truly grateful to all of you who made that happen."
"Rather, I'm grateful to Sensei... no, I'll stop there. Anymore and it'll loop."
"Loop?"
"...We were saved by Sensei, and Sensei was saved by us—it's because we saved each other that we are here now... Is that what you mean?"
"Exactly."
"...I see, so this is mutual love."
"Azusa-chan, that's a little different ♡."
The Afterschool Remedial Class avoided the crisis of expulsion thanks to Mash, and Mash, through his interactions with the Afterschool Remedial Class, grew both mentally and physically, taking a step closer to adulthood. Mash and the Afterschool Remedial Class realized that it wasn't a one-sided act of helping or being helped, but rather a mutual process of giving and receiving aid.
"To me, Sensei is a benefactor, a teacher, a friend, and a fellow Peroro-sama fan."
(The last part I have no recollection of at all.)
"He's kinder than anyone, stronger than anyone, more reassuring... and dependable—I don't regret meeting Sensei... in fact, I'm certain I never will!! That's how much I love him!!"
"Oh my ♡ Hifumi-chan, you're so bold~—Of course, I love him too."
"M-Me too..."
"—Well... what can I say... I'm embarrassed."
"...Everyone, let's continue to get along from now on."
" " " "Yes!" " " "
Dazzling smiles, radiant expressions... This happiness seemed destined to last for a while.
*1: Meaning "as a friend."
*2: Without ill intent.
The Grandpa arc continues a little longer.
-------------------------------
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