A White Rapunzel | Chapter 1 | My Promise

When I was a little, I used to walk with my father to my cousins' house.

We'd always pass a beautiful school.

One day, out of curiosity, I asked who lived there, but my father would chuckle and say, "Nobody lives there. It's a school."

Of course, I'd argue back, seeing the child I was.
"But daddy, it can't be a school, it's a castle."
"Sweetie, it's a castle school."
"Castle school?" I would reply confused.
"Yes." He would say laughing. He ruffled my hair and smiled fondly. "One day, I'd like you to go there, okay?"

I nodded my head. "Of course daddy."
"That's my girl."

And by the end of that conversation, we had reached my cousins' house.

Little did I know, that promise would be the hardest one to keep.

…

"Miss Grace?" said a demanding voice. I shot my head up immediately, hearing it. What's happening?

I scanned the room, the black hood on my head. There was no-one there except the teacher.

"I don't like students taking naps during classes." Said the teacher sighing.
"Sorry." I mumbled under my cloak, looking down to my desk. I had slept during class?
"You're an excellent student. You have even come tie with the scholarship student, Fujioka. I have no complaints about your work, but don't sleep through class. This is the second time you've done it in my class. I'll let you go, but remember, some teachers won't let you go as lightly as me."
"Yes sir." I replied. "I'm sorry I slept."
"Good, don't let it happen again. You may go."

I stood up, my cloak flowing behind me. Nobody knew who I was except the teachers, because of my excellent marks. There was also the fact I joined the Black Magic Club on the first day and didn't get seen in a uniform. Oh you know how I said teachers? I also will add the Black Magic Club to the small list of people who know who I am.

I sighed and decided to head over to the Black Magic Club. Maybe Reiko can help me with some curses.

I stopped somewhere down the hall filled with students, who backed away from me, whispering about my cape and keeping my distance. What is so wrong with a black cape, honestly?

I saw the black door with black roses, giving off a nice, sweet scent. I opened the doors, some students whimpering. I would have rolled my eyes and told them to grow up, but what good would that do?

I opened it up to see President Neckozawa having a meeting.

I slammed the door, hearing shrieks and random fast paced feet running around.

"Sorry I'm late." I say gracefully. "I slept through class again."
President Neckozawa smiled. "It's nothing little sorceress. We we're just discussing how to attract more customers to our Club~"

I nodded my head.

"Maybe you could close the door nicely Lelian." Said Kei.

I sighed.

"I don't know how to attract customers. And closing the door nicely makes no difference either Kei-senpai."
"Good point." Said Kei tiredly.

Annnnnnd we we're down in the dumps again. Great.

"But we have some good news~" said Ayumi excitedly. "We got our new cloaks!"

We all looked at Ayumi, who was holding a box with beautiful silky black cloths inside.

Kei and I rushed forward to look at them, Sora and Reiko, following behind us. President Neckozawa followed ALL of us eagerly.

I got to try the first one on. It was incredibly silky. I did a little twirl and giggled.
"Who made these awesome things? I love them!"

Ayumi smiled brightly.
"My sister and I helped sew them using the finest black silk, with extra light velvet in case it gets a little bit chilly."

Kei and Sora grabbed a cape their own size and tried them on. We all looked happily, Reiko put a cloak on, the hood off, so the cloak draped around her shoulders. President Neckozawa looked happily at all of us and looked at the cloaks. He then inspected for his size.

"I'll visit Hani-senpai today," said Reiko in her quiet happy tone. "I'll ask him what he thinks. You should come along too, Lelian."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Alright. Since I can't think of much right now."

Reiko smiled and took my hand happily. I waved goodbye to my Black Magic Club friends and headed to the door, which we muttered our few words.

We have to wait for 5 seconds, but before we opened it, a question bugged my mind.
"Hey Reiko. What club is he in again?"

Reiko smiled fondly.

"A nice club."

And with that, she opened the doors, where I saw girls chatting and 7 young men chatting to them.

"….." I had no expression.

Reiko smiled and put a finger to her lips. I felt something. She wasn't like before.
"Don't worry."

She walked over with me by her side, to a raven-haired boy with elite glasses on. I gave an inward sigh, and listened to what Reiko had to say.

"My friend and I would like to request Hunni-senpai." She said in her monotone voice.

The boy raised an eyebrow.

"I've never seen 2 Black Magic members request the same person." He said with mocking question.
"It's her first time." Reiko replied in a flat voice. She obviously didn't enjoy his company. Neither did I.

The boy then turned to me and smiled.

"Well then you're free to go. First time guests always go free."

His smile ticked me off. I said nothing and followed Reiko to a table where 2 girls sat, one with red hair and bright green eyes, next to her a girl with brown hair and happy hazel eyes.
"Hello Reiko." They said in a scared-like tone. "It's time to swap already? Okay!"

They also saw me and gave a small squeal of fright.

And with that, the two girls dashed off to the guy in glasses. Maybe I should have asked his name. Emphasis on the maybe.

What I saw in front of me shocked me.

There was some small blonde kid with a tall black-haired kid.

I am having a major brain issue.

"Hi Reiko!" said the blonde kid happily, hugging a pink stuffed bunny in his arms. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you Hunni-senpai." She said warmly. "What do you think of our new capes?"

WAIT. HOLD UP.

Reiko has a crush on a little kid? Like seriously, major WTF.

I tried hiding in my questions and stared blankly at both the guys, luckily they couldn't see my expression because of my cloak. Maybe they could feel it. Hopefully, NO.

"Oh? A new customer Yay!" said the boy, Hunni-senpai.
"This is Lelian; she's a good friend of mine." Reiko said, giving a smile. I felt the feeling again.
"….Hi." I said flatly.

The boy's eyes widened. "Your voice is so pretty!"
I knitted my eyebrows. Since when was my voice pretty?
"Umm…thanks?"

Hunni-senpai gave me a huge, adorable smile. Darn, he's pretty cute for some kid who's older than me and I don't know how the hell he is older than me.

"You don't need to be shy Leli-chan! Mori here doesn't speak that much at all too!" he gave a small cute gesture to the tall guy with black hair. Okay, I can definitely see him as my senpai.

"Hi." He said in a low voice.
"Hi." I replied back, not saying anything. Hunni-senpai didn't see anything wrong and bounced onto the sofa where Reiko and I sat on the opposite.

"Reiko-chan and Leli-chan, do you want some cake?" he giggled.

"Yes." Reiko said with a smile, showing how pretty her face could be.
"No thank you." I said flatly again.

Hunni-senpai's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

"But—but why Leli-chan?" he said in sobs.

I was now in another WTF. Seriously, a lady turns down cake and he starts crying.

"Don't cry Hunni!" said a few girls. They circled him and shot me glares and continued consoling Hunni-senpai.

I roll my eyes and said quietly to Reiko, "I'm going. I'm sorry I wasted your time with your friend." I got up and then started walking off.

Reiko gave a sad smile to me then went back to Hunni-senpai. I felt the feeling again, wanting to burst out and do something. Scream and shout.

I shrugged off my sighs and resentment about not staying and cursing the girls, but I didn't want to be causing trouble for myself. They weren't worth my magic anyway. And with that, I found the Black Magic Clubs doors and went in there quietly, closing the door quietly as well.

I don't understand why Reiko would like a club like that.

"Back so soon?" said a voice with sarcasm but with a hint of sadness.
"Obviously." I replied. I had just found out that Reiko had changed.