Shocked Tatsuki looks towards Grandpa, who seems equally shocked seeing him in this state. Tatsuki asks Aiko in a polite tone.
"Tatsuki, Aiko, do you know what you are saying? Are you trying to say you've seen your Grandpa down there?"
Aiko, with a dumbfounded expression, nods. "Yes, I have, but as I said, it's smaller than yours."
Tatsuki, shocked, stammers, "You, you, you pervert! What the hell have you been doing to this poor girl?"
The devastated and shocked Grandpa opens his mouth but can't manage to utter a word.
Grandpa says, "Ooa na shi."
Tatsuki intervenes, "Enough! I'll ask her myself, you perverted man."
Grandpa says, "Ooa na shi."
Tatsuki addresses Aiko, "Aiko, can you tell me how this happened? I mean, about do about your perverted Grandpa's actions?"
Aiko, with a sad expression on her face, says, "Do you really want to know?" Tears fill her eyes.
Tatsuki, with a noble expression, assures her, "Yes, tell me all about it."
Aiko continues, "Okay, if you say so. When I was younger, he used to force me to bathe, and when I refused, he'd take me there." She continues, "Then he'd touch me and say evil things like, 'Now I have you all for me, bwahaha,' and then...," her voice trembles as she starts crying.
Tatsuki, angry, exclaims, "You creep! How could you do these unspeakable things to her?"
Grandpa insists, "No, I didn't do it, I swear."
Aiko counters, "You lied, you did."
Grandpa tries to justify, "Well, yes, I did, but it's not how she's putting it."
Tatsuki remains stern, "Don't lie. Have some shame, and at least now, admit your sins."
Grandpa starts to explain, "Really, it's not like how she's putting it, I swear."
Tatsuki presses, "Oh, then why don't you tell me how it is?"
Grandpa begins, "You see, it was about when she was just 4..."
Tatsuki interrupts, "You child-feeling, shameless prick, gorilla muscle jerk, bambity!"
Grandpa, being cautious, continues, "Anyway, as I was saying, she was only four back then..."
Tatsuki tries to speak again, but Grandpa insists, "Don't you dare, just keep quiet and listen."
Tatsuki obliges, "Aammmhmm."
Grandpa explains, "So, she was four, and back then, she didn't like to bathe. I used to take her to the family's traditional bathing area and play with her. She'd start playing tag, and when I caught her, I'd give her a soap bath, which required touching. She asked me to play the evil villain, just like in an old story. That's what 'bwahaha' was all about, I swear."
Tatsuki demands, "Aiko, you really think I'll believe that?"
Grandpa protests, "I'm telling the truth, I swear."
Tatsuki is adamant, "That's enough. From now on, I'll look after her. You better stay away from her."
Grandpa questions, "Hey, who gave you the right?"
Tatsuki retorts, "It's much better than leaving her in the care of a pervy gramps."
Aiko chimes in, "Grandpa isn't lashing out now. I guess he got used to being called 'pervy gramps.' I think it's cute," she smiles.
A few minutes later, Tatsuki turns around, but Aiko has disappeared. He sees the ground falling apart, everything surrounded by flames, and hears a strange voice.
Tatsuki is transported into a new world. As he awakens, he cries out for Aiko.
"A familiar voice is being heard by Tatsuki, Tatsuki! Tatsuki! Wake up, son! Wake up, Tatsuki!"
Tatsuki, sobbing, responds, "Aiko, my Aiko, where are you? Honey, come back, come back."
Familiar voice pleads, "Son, it's been more than a month since that realm was destroyed. How long are you going to continue like this? You can't go on like this. Please, stop."
Tatsuki recognizes the voice. "Oh, it's you, Father.
"A dark tall shadow is just standing with a lament and concerned look on his face"
Tatsuki mumbled to himself, You ask how long? I say until every memory of her fades away, until I lose myself, until my flesh is dissolved into the ground."
Father pleads, "Tatsuki, my son, I can't see you like this. Just ask me once, and I'll rebuild that world for you. I can do anything for you, my child. You just have to ask, and it shall be done."
Tatsuki responds, "Father, you are one of the four great elemental creators, and on top of that, you are the strongest one of them all, the Great Element Flame, 'the god Zinosa.' But even you can't give me what I've lost. Even if you build the same world, I could never see her."
Father acknowledges, "My boy, I know I'm not your real father. I'm just your oathed father.
"In this realm, forming a relationship through oath is a common practice."
Father reassuring Tatsuki, But have a little faith in me, my dear son. You have my word that you'll get to see that smile of hers, for which you've shed all this Time,tear and blood. But son, it won't be easy. You will still have to clear trials, suffer unexpected things, and face new events. Think you can handle it?"
Tatsuki replies, "If I can see her smile even once, all my trials are worth it, all the suffering is acceptable, and all new events shall be faced with courage. If only I can see her."
Father says, "Then, son, ask what you want, and you shall have it. Now, say it, my boy."
Tatsuki states, "Father, I was too weak before to protect her. So, I ask that you give me the blessing to learn any ability or technique as long as I work hard for it. I want all the skills you blessed me with before. Now, Father, please if it can be done send me to the time where it all began, where it all was meant to be..so that I can have what I was lacking previously."
Father responds, "Son, are you sure you want to relive that painful moment again? Just ask me, and you'll have whatever you seek."
Tatsuki, resolute, answers, "No, Father. I can't. This is something I have to do on my own. So, Father, take care. It's farewell now."
Father concedes, "You shall have it."
Tatsuki is transported to a new world, similar to the previous one. As he arrives, he relives the moment where his biological father, throws him into the mirrorverse when tatsuki was ten years old and says, "Remember this well, son. Be a man, and a real man always wears black and protects what is dear to him. Hahaahaaaaa!"
Tatsuki shouts, "Father!"
As father looks back,Tatsuki expresses, "I have many questions to ask, but for now, I'll be the man you want me to be and protect the one girl I loved. After that, I'll come back looking for you. Just you wait."
Tatsuki falls unconscious due to exhaustion from the journey.
Father, speaking in a low voice, says, "Humph, it seems as if you've already grown quite a lot. I wonder what happened to you in that life..."
After saying those words, Father leaves through the portal, and the portal closes.