The next morning was supposed to be peaceful.

Kenji sat at his kitchen table, drinking green tea.

Across from him, Poyo-chan stood on the table wearing tiny sunglasses.

A beat blasted from a small speaker.

"Yo! Yo! Poyo in the house!
Saving worlds is what I'm about!
Sparkle left! Sparkle right!
We're defeating Gloom tonight!"

Kenji slowly lowered his teacup.

"...Stop."

Poyo ignored him.

"I'm fluffy! I'm pink!
I'm quicker than you think!
Magic! Justice! Cosmic crew!
Everybody say—"

Kenji switched off the speaker.

Silence.

Poyo pouted.

"My artistic vision..."

"It's eight in the morning."

"Inspiration doesn't wait."

"My neighbors do."

A loud knock echoed through the apartment.

Kenji sighed.

"That's because of you."

He opened the door.

Standing outside was his sixteen-year-old granddaughter.

"Morning, Grandpa!"

Yuki marched inside carrying two shopping bags full of snacks and manga.

"I brought—"

She froze.

Poyo waved enthusiastically.

"Hi!"

"..."

"..."

"...WHAT IS THAT?!"

Poyo floated proudly.

"I'm Poyo-chan! Cosmic mascot! Guardian recruiter! Amateur rapper!"

"I wasn't asking it!"

Yuki pointed at the floating creature.

Kenji calmly answered,

"It crash-landed in my petunias yesterday."

"...Grandpa."

"...There's a flying stuffed animal in your apartment."

"Correct."

"...And you're acting like that's normal."

"I've had twenty-four hours to adjust."

Yuki slowly walked around Poyo.

"...Can I poke it?"

"No!"

She poked it anyway.

Poyo squeaked.

"I'm real!"

Yuki's eyes sparkled.

"...You're adorable."

"I know."

Kenji muttered,

"Overconfident, too."

Yuki looked around.

"Grandpa... why are there glitter marks all over your floor?"

"...Craft supplies."

"Why is your back-scratcher glowing?"

"...Arthritis treatment."

"Since when does arthritis treatment glow?"

"Medical science has advanced."

Yuki narrowed her eyes.

"...Suspicious."

Poyo floated beside Kenji.

"Tell her!"

"No."

"She's family!"

"No."

"She'd make a great assistant!"

"No."

Yuki blinked.

"...Tell me what?"

"Nothing."

"Something."

"Nothing important."

"Definitely important."

Kenji sighed.

"No."

Poyo crossed tiny arms.

"You're no fun."

Before anyone could continue—

The television suddenly flickered.

Static filled the screen.

A news reporter appeared.

"We're receiving reports of unusual incidents throughout downtown. Witnesses describe people suddenly becoming overwhelmed with hopelessness. Authorities are asking everyone to remain calm."

Poyo's ears stood straight up.

"...Another Gloom."

Kenji sighed.

"I haven't even finished breakfast."

The mascot flew in circles.

"We have to go!"

"My tea is still warm."

"The city is in danger!"

"My tea."

"The city!"

"My tea."

Yuki looked between them.

"...Grandpa."

"...Who are you talking to?"

Kenji froze.

Poyo slowly turned invisible.

"..."

Yuki blinked.

"...Where did the pink thing go?"

"What pink thing?"

"...Grandpa."

"...I'm not blind."

Kenji coughed.

"Perhaps you're tired."

"..."

"...You know what?"

Yuki pointed accusingly.

"You're hiding something."

"I'm hiding several things."

"I knew it!"

She leaned forward dramatically.

"Grandpa..."

"...Are you secretly dating?"

Kenji nearly dropped his teacup.

"What?"

"It explains everything!"

"It explains nothing!"

"The glowing back-scratcher!"

"It does not."

"The glitter!"

"No."

"The talking to yourself!"

"I was talking to the television."

"The floating hamster!"

"..."

Kenji looked toward the ceiling.

"Reiko..."

"If you're somehow watching this..."

"...your granddaughter has inherited your imagination."

Inside the invisible barrier, Poyo whispered,

"Actually, she's getting warmer."

Kenji glared.

"Not helping."

Another wave of dark energy rolled across the city.

The cups rattled.

The lights flickered.

Poyo became serious.

"No more delays."

Kenji stood.

He grabbed his jacket.

His magical back-scratcher rested beside the front door.

Yuki raised an eyebrow.

"...Going somewhere?"

"Grocery shopping."

"...With the glowing back-scratcher?"

"It has excellent reach."

Yuki watched him leave.

The apartment door closed.

Silence.

She folded her arms.

"...Grandpa is absolutely hiding something."

Outside the apartment—

Poyo became visible again.

"I can't believe she almost figured it out."

Kenji adjusted his glasses.

"She's smarter than you."

"...That's kind of mean."

"It was an observation."

Poyo sighed.

"Ready to save the world?"

Kenji looked toward the supermarket across the street.

"After we stop the Gloom..."

"...we're buying discounted salmon."

Poyo groaned.

"Can you think like a magical girl for once?"

"I am."

"...A practical one."

Together, the world's most unusual magical duo walked toward the growing darkness.