Mari's father sat frozen behind his massive mahogany desk, the obsidian card shimmering under the study's chandelier like a fallen star. He stared at his daughter, then at the card, then back at her radiant, "Shiny" smile.
To him, Mari was still the impulsive girl who would disappear in the middle of the night—usually, he assumed, to hide away at the Takami Ryokan or the Kurosawa estate with Kanan and Dia. But to have her march in at dawn, not just with her usual energy, but with the financial backing to buy out a piece of the family's own portfolio, left him completely speechless.
"Mari..." he finally managed, his voice a mix of confusion and weary affection. "You want to buy... Uranohoshi? Why would you buy what is already yours? You are the sole heiress. Everything I built—and everything your mother and I own—will pass to you and the three little ones eventually."
He gestured vaguely toward the door, where the faint sounds of the triplets' laughter could still be heard.
"The school, the land, the hotels... it's your legacy, Mari. You don't need a black card for this."
Mari stepped forward, leaning her hands on the desk. Her expression was uncharacteristically serious, though her eyes were bright.
"I know it's mine *someday*, Father," Mari said softly. "But 'someday' isn't today. And the man who owns this card... he isn't interested in legacies or waiting for retirement. He's interested in making a home **now**."
She picked up the card and tapped it against her palm.
"He's back, Father. The 'Ghost' has finally come home, and he's... well, he's a bit more 'marshmallow' than we remember, but he has the power to turn that empty school into a sanctuary for all of us. Nineteen mothers, fourteen children, and a whole lot of magic."
Her father leaned back, his eyes widening. He had heard the rumors of the "Panda" at the ryokan, but hearing Mari confirm it changed everything.
"He's truly back?" the elder Ohara whispered. "And he's... providing for you like this?"
"More than providing," Mari smiled, her voice thick with emotion. "He's reclaiming us. So, don't think of this as a business transaction, Father. Think of it as a father-in-law giving his blessing to a very strange, very rich, and very magical son-in-law."
She scooped the card back up and blew him a kiss.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go help a Magician-Panda move his kitchen into a high school! Ciao, Papa!"