[ He laughs sheepishly, cheeks a little pink. ] Well, I wouldn't say I haven't been thrown off at all... I've had my struggles here and there. But it helps that Izumi and the others were already here when I arrived. [ Or, well, some of the others, if he wants to be really accurate. His now boyfriend arrived a month later, bright and charming as always. ]

And I've gotten a lot of help from everyone I've met here. [ Not just on the magic front, but... in general. He thinks of Mary, the very first person he ran into in Avalon, then Minako, who's perhaps his loudest supporter outside of Kazunari himself.

As well as- ] - Oh! [ Tsumugi sits up suddenly, attention drawn by the cafe door swinging open.

To Rei: ] Sorry, my friend just arrived. [ And then to said friend who just walked in, who gets a warm smile and a wave beckoning him over: ] Ichiro-kun!