The kitchen fell completely silent for two seconds before Chika, You, and Hanamaru absolutely lost it in the background, desperately trying to muffle their laughter into their hands.
Yuki, a little girl with Kotori's soft, ash-blonde hair and large, innocent amber eyes, stood frozen in the doorway. She was clutching the hem of her mother's skirt, looking at Agung with a mix of wonder and absolute confusion.
"Mama," Yuki whispered loudly, her voice trembling slightly. "Am I still dreaming? Papa is back... but he became more like a marshmallow now?"
Kotori clapped both hands over her mouth, a tear escaping her eye as she let out a watery, joyful giggle. She knelt down next to her daughter and gently stroked her hair. "He does look a bit softer now, doesn't he, Yuki-chan?"
Agung couldn't help it. He threw his head back and let out a deep, booming laugh that made his round belly jiggle—perfectly proving Yuki's point.
"A marshmallow, huh?" Agung smiled, walking over and kneeling down so he was at eye level with the little girl. He didn't mind the nickname at all. It was leagues better than "ghost."
"You know, Yuki-chan," Agung said gently, "marshmallows are sweet. They're soft, they make you feel warm and safe when it's cold outside, and most importantly... they never, ever run away."
He held out his hand, palm open. "Hime-chan told me earlier that I missed two of your birthdays. And since I'm a Magician-Marshmallow-Papa now, I have some catching up to do. I believe I promised someone a dress made of clouds?"
Yuki's eyes widened to the size of saucers. She nodded slowly, too stunned to speak.
Agung snapped his fingers with a soft *click*.
A gentle breeze circled the kitchen, carrying the faint scent of vanilla. In his hands, a dress materialized. It wasn't just made of fabric; it looked as if it were spun from actual morning clouds and starlight. It was a beautiful, soft, pale-yellow dress trimmed with feathers that practically floated in the air, glowing with a faint, magical warmth.
"For my little bird," Agung whispered, handing it to her. "Happy late birthday, Yuki-chan."
Yuki gasped, dropping her mother's skirt to take the dress. It was lighter than air. She hugged it to her chest and suddenly threw herself forward, burying her face into Agung's soft, Mikan-apron-covered stomach.
"You *are* a marshmallow!" Yuki cried happily, hugging his waist tightly. "You're so squishy!"
Agung's heart completely melted. He wrapped his arms around her gently, looking up at Kotori, who was now openly weeping happy tears into a handkerchief.
"And I didn't forget you, Aoi-kun," Agung said, looking over at Umi's son, who was still scraping the bottom of his second bowl of *Bubur Ayam*.
Agung reached into the air and pulled out a stunning **wooden training sword (Bokken)**. But it wasn't ordinary wood—it was carved from ancient, dark mahogany that seemed to hum with a quiet, focused energy, perfectly balanced for a young swordsman.
"Three missed birthdays for the Discipline Master," Agung said, tossing it gently to Aoi, who caught it with one hand, his eyes shining with awe. "That wood will never splinter and never break. Use it to protect your mother and your sisters."
"I... I will, Papa!" Aoi said, bowing deeply, though he couldn't take his eyes off the magnificent sword.
The other kids in the doorway—Kanata's sleepy Kureha, Ai's bouncing twins Taiyou and Sora, and Lanzhu's proud little Reina—were now vibrating with excitement. A magician papa who gave out pianos, magical dresses, unbreakable swords, and made amazing chicken porridge? The "Ghost" was officially the coolest person in the world.
"Alright, little ones!" Agung declared, clapping his hands together as the kitchen filled with the happy chatter of the children. "The Bubur Ayam is hot, the tea is sweet, and the Marshmallow-Papa is taking orders! Who's hungry?"
Taiyou and Sora immediately sprinted forward, practically tackling his legs. "Me! Me! Give us the magic chicken rice!"