I forgot to add a disclaimer - though below is a sort of one. I don't own the HP Universe, or any of the original characters, they belong to JK Rowling. I don't own Mayu Watanabe, she belongs to herself (and possibly her agency) though I hope she doesn't mind if I borrow her for a bit.. Everything else, I own.
Thanks for reading this. Before we start, there are a few very important notes.
This story is massively, massively AU. I use the people and places from the Harry Potter universe, and that's about it. It's timeshifted, people shifted, and people may act in OOC ways, though I will try to keep their base personalities. Please don't complain that "X wouldn't behave this way". I know, and I did it anyway. I also have little regard for fanon, so I may do things that seem a little strange. I did that on purpose too.
One of the main characters in this story is based on a real person. Let's get that out of the way now. She is a graduated member of the Japanese girl group AKB48. All that said, my character is *based on* a real person, and is in no way intended to be a representation of said person. The name is identical. In my story, her appearance is identical. Her personality (at least what she has chosen to reveal in public) is similar but not by any means identical. Any detail but her name, though, may be very much different from her real personality or family situation, and those differences are solely my responsibility. If she somehow leaves a review and says "I wouldn't do that", then that's that. She wouldn't. But my character would. That said, I will be respectful. She is one of my favorite members of that group, past and present. I'm not some kind of otaku fan, but that deserves respect, anyway. Put another way, there will be no hanky-panky for a very, very long time, if at all, and probably not at all.
I am learning Japanese. I am not fluent in Japanese. I will need to look up some things, and may get things wrong. I will be as accurate as I can. I am going back and forth with myself as to whether to provide translations, but I think, at least in some cases, I will not. There is a certain amount of frustration and tension in the first part of this story, and I want you to experience some of it. Google Translate is your friend if you are really curious. I also intend to be as accurate to Japanese culture, when appropriate, as possible. What I mean is, my Japanese characters are going to be as actually Japanese, with Japanese attitudes, as I, being an American, can possibly make them (and real Japanese culture, not anime or manga). You may even find these attitudes offensive. I don't care. Fair warning. It's a different culture. On the other hand, I'm not Japanese. I could yet get them wrong. Cut me some slack for actually trying, which is more than many authors would do.
When I do choose to provide translations, the words will appear like this… 「translation」instead of quotes.
Also, in this story, there are no spells or potions to allow you to learn a different language. I think this is actually canon, because if there were, you wouldn't need to learn ancient runes, then, would you?
I think those are the important things. Author's notes will be sparse from here out. On with the story.
- Mayuyu -
It was a beautiful spring day in Saitama, a city in the suburbs of Greater Tokyo, in the small but very busy island nation of Japan. The sakura were not quite in full bloom, but they were budding, and threatening to shortly disgorge their payload of beautiful leaves with various shades of red and white. She could see Mt. Fuji in the distance, its conical, snow capped peak just peeking over the houses and buildings that stretched almost as far as the eye could see.
This was Watanabe Mayu's favorite time of the year, she thought, as she bicycled home from school. The cold of the winter was gone, soon to be replaced by the heat and humidity of summer, but at this time of the year, the temperature was just perfect, and the air smelled of fragrant flowers and trees, with just a tinge of fumes from the cars and busses that drove by on the main roads nearby. The small, black-haired girl hummed to herself as she passed row after row of densely packed houses, even waving at the odd ojisan and obasan who she had known since she was a little girl. They waved back, of course. She had heard stories of how unfriendly some foreigners could be, and she even encountered one or two when her parents had taken her on trips to Tokyo, but she liked where she lived. They were reserved, like many Japanese could be, but they were friendly and looked out for each other. It was home.
She could smell the food being prepared from different houses as she went home, and her mouth started watering. Visions of different foods started swimming around in her head as her 11 year old stomach started growling. She hadn't realized how hungry she was, but she pedalled just a little faster, in hopes of filling her stomach just that little bit sooner.
Finally, just a little bit out of breath, she arrived back to her house. It was a typical Japanese suburban house, densely packed with many other houses, with little room for open space. But, it, too, was home. She gently placed her bicycle in its proper place and walked into the house, expecting to find some delicious food waiting. Instead, she found her mother and her father seated at the low table, with serious looks on their face. And a man she did not recognize.
Her mother and father were as she expected. Her father, Hiroshi, was a Japanese man of medium height, who worked at Fuji television as a sales director. He was very strict, but she knew that he cared about her. Her mother, Minami, was a small woman of delicate features, who was usually very deferential to her father, but every now and then, a spark of tiger came out. Usually then, her father knew the meaning of the western saying "discretion is the better part of valor", if maybe not the words, and she got what they wanted. Fortunately, these moments of family discord were rare, and most of the time, things were peaceful, if a little distant and formal.
The stranger was an entirely different quantity. He was an older Japanese man of medium build, with grey hair and the face of a businessman. He was impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, and was sitting at the low table, with a stern look on his face. She knew instinctively that he was not to be trifled with.
Her father spoke. 「Mayu-chan, sit.」, he said, a little sharply. She knelt down primly onto one of the pillows, carefully smoothing her gakuseifuku skirt as she sat.
「This is Mr. Suzuki Hitoshi. He is a representative of the Magical Ministry.」
「hajimemashite」, she bowed. 「yoroshiku onegaishimasu」. The stranger responded in kind. But any further questions were stopped with a raised hand.
「All will be explained, Mayu-chan」, her father said gravely. She did as he said and sat quietly. Her father was very strict, but fair. If he said it would be explained, it would be explained.
The stranger, Suzuki-san, spoke. His voice was low and quiet.
「Mayu-chan, you have special abilities. There are others of your kind. It is required of all children with these abilities to be educated in how to use those abilities. I represent the Magical Ministry of Japan. There are many other ministries across the world, and each maintains at least one school for educating children who are… different… in this way. Do you understand so far?」
Mayu nodded.
「Good. As at this point, thanks to game shows, students always think this is a prank, I assure you that it is not. Observe.」
Suzuki-san pulled out a stick and made a soft, very kawaii plush appear. The plush was a small hamster. It looked at her, and said in a very soft, high voice, 「Hi! What is your name?」
At this point Mayu was unsure what to make of the situation, so she did the only thing an eleven year old could do at this point. First she giggled. Then she fainted.
A few seconds later, after being revived with a rennervate spell, she slowly sat back up, blinking her eyes slowly. The plush looked at her again, still as cute as ever. 「Hi What is your name?」, it asked again, a little slower, as if to say "Are you too stupid to understand what I just asked you?"
Hesitantly, she opened her mouth. 「Watanabe Mayu.」
The plush smiled widely. 「Mayu-chan! Nice to meet you! I will be your friend! We'll go everywhere together, and -」 the plush abruptly fell silent and Suzuki-san put away his wand.
「That is a magic hamster. Made with a combination of muggle and magical technology. It has many different features. It will be invaluable to you in the future.」
Mayu's father spoke up.
「Mayu-chan, Suzuki-san has made us a most generous offer.」
「That's right」, Suzuki-san took the conversation back. 「Typically students would be enrolled in a magic school here in Japan, but occasionally the government of Japan will send one student abroad to be an exchange student at a foreign school. You have been selected to be that student. Your selected school will be Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in Scotland. You will spend one year there, after which we will evaluate the exchange and decide whether to continue or to place you back in a Japanese magical school」
Mayu's eyes were growing wider and the shock was growing on her face as the growing realization struck her that she was being sent halfway around the world. She looked at her father, who nodded.
「It was indeed a most generous offer, Mayu-chan, and we have accepted.」
「No」, she breathed. 「no no no no no」
「Mayu-chan!」, her father snapped. 「You will not bring shame upon this family! It is decided!」
Inwardly she was seething, but her tatemae (footnote 1) mask slid on full force, and she composed herself.
「Father, I -」
「Suzuki-san interrupted. You will continue your studies in Japanese language and culture. Hogwarts has assured us that private lessons will be provided. Meantime, a student from that school will be staying here in Japan under the same arrangements. Do you have any questions?」
She shook her head mutely. One tear dropped from her left eye. Only her mother noticed.
He stood up. 「Good. Arrangements will be made. School starts September 1. Remember that you are representing your country and your Emperor. He pulled a paper from his suit and put it next to the hamster. Operating instructions. Goodbye.」
「He bowed formally to her parents, and a little less formally to her」, then walked out of the house.
She stood up, her face carefully composed, the tear splashing on the table. She bowed stiffly and formally to her parents, her eyes still wet.
「May I take my leave, sir?」 she asked, using the most formal language she knew.
「Mayu-chan」, her mother started.
She turned towards her mother. 「I would never bring shame upon the family, Ma'am. I wish to depart. Please let me know if I am needed. I will see myself out.」
She picked up her still insensate hamster and its instructions, stood up and walked numbly to her room. The door closed, and muffled sobs could be heard through the thin wood. Her father looked straight ahead, his face impassive, and her mother glared at him.
「anata ga ureshii da, otto?」,(footnote 2) she spat. 「You make a decision for our daughter with no regard whatsoever for her feelings, and don't even allow her to respond? If even one hair on her head is damaged, I will have your balls.」
「It wasn't my choice -」
「Oh, spare me the sob story」, she almost spat out. 「I have played the dutiful Japanese wife for twelve years now, I have made dinner every single night, I have worn kimono to your business events and entertained clients when they got so drunk they passed out on our floor. I have sat by while you have made decision after decision without any of our input. And do you know why? Because I trusted you to know what's best for our family, and I am content to play my role as a wife. But this time, dear, you'd better know what you're doing, because if I have to choose between my daughter and you, I will choose my daughter. Kisama ga wakari da?」 (footnote 3)
Hiroshi gulped. 「Clearly.」
Minami stood up and smoothed out her dress, putting her tatemae mask back on with some difficulty.
「Good. Now I will see to my daughter. I will be preparing dinner a little late this evening.」
He nodded, and she walked stiffly to her daughter's room. He did not move. When the tiger came out, she was not joking and she was not bluffing, and he knew it full well.
- Mayuyu -
Mayu's room was the room of a typical Japanese eleven year old, if a slightly otaku one. There were tatami covering the floor, and a futon near the window with a small light above it. Near the door was a desk, and a bookshelf full of manga and anime books and movies. As she loved to draw, the desk (and the wall above) was covered with rather good drawings of anime characters. Currently, however, the futon was occupied with a young girl who had cried herself hoarse. Now she was covered by a blanket and curled up in the smallest ball she could make, unable to cry any more, just hiccuping softly, with small sobs occasionally finding their way out.
The door to Mayu's room slid open slowly.「Mayu-chan?」, her mother said, softly.
She did not move.
Her mother knelt down on a pillow next to the futon.
「I told your father I would castrate him if a hair on your head was harmed.」
Mayu giggled a little in spite of herself. That was her mother's tiger coming out. She knew it well. She flipped around on her futon to face her mother, with the blanket still over her head.
「I like it here, mother. This is my home.」, she said, her voice muffled through the blanket. 「I don't want to go and… no one asked me.」
Minami sighed. 「Mayu-chan, our culture is not like many others. There are not many choices. Do you think I got to choose who I married?」
Mayu bolted up, the blanket dropping back to the futon, forgotten. Her face was a mess, her gakuseifuku wrinkled and disshevelled.
「NANI?」, she gasped, her mouth having dropped open.
Minami nodded. 「My father chose my husband for me. I told your father that if he ever does that to you he will never see me, or you, again.」
「Did you love him?」
Minami frowned. 「I didn't at first. But I grew to. And I wouldn't have you otherwise, would I?」
Mayu sat cross-legged on her futon, her head down. Her mother reached over and tipped her head up by lifting her chin with a finger. Mayu savored the touch - As with many Japanese parents, hers did not show much physical affection.
「Why don't you want to go?」, Minami asked.
「I like it here! I have friends and I know people and I am learning stuff and I am learning piano and I was hoping to audition to be an idol…」
「It's only for a year, Mayu-chan. It will all be here when you get back.」
「I know, but…」
「Mayu-chan, how many idols can speak English?」
Mayu thought for a second. 「Umm… Ayaka-san? And… Mika-san?」
「Don't you think it would give you an advantage if you could speak English well? Maybe you could even get into Morning Musume!」
Mayu's eyes regained some of their shine, but she wasn't going to give up that easily.
「I still don't like it, mother.」
Minami patted her knee. 「Give it a chance. I promise that if it turns out to be a bad experience, I will be on the first flight there and will rip you out of that school so fast that they won't be able to see it with magic. Now change out of that gakuseifuku and put on something more appropriate for dinner. You get something special to eat tonight. Your father will be lucky if he gets swill. Be ready in 20 minutes.」 She stood up and walked softly through the door, and slid it closed.
Mayu sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, lost in thought. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe… well, what's done was done.
「 ganbatte」 , she thought to herself. 「I'll try my best.」
And she quickly changed into clothing more suited for dinner. She was still hungry, and her mother promised something good. Maybe tonkatsu! Or sukiyaki! Or tako! A few minutes later, after washing her face, she walked out, ready to face her father. And eat some oishii food.
Footnotes and author's notes:
1 tatemae: As opposed to "honne", the figurative mask that Japanese people put on to hide their true feelings.
2 あなた (anata) is a particularly odd word - it is the least rude way of saying "you", but outside of very narrow contexts, it's still a bit rude. It implies either stranger or beloved. In this case, she meant both meanings. "da" is also a much more direct way of saying "desu".
3 きさま (kisama) is arguably the rudest form of "you" possible in Japanese. It is how you would address a king. It basically means "Your Royal Highness" and is absolutely dripping with sarcasm. Note that the second least rudest way of saying "you" (umae) means, essentially, "put 'em up". There are three others in between.
A/N: I didn't realize until I was writing this how much the Japanese language, with all of its traditional politeness, makes it possible to be absolutely, incredibly, mind-bendingly rude when the situation calls for it. I can't really describe in English how much verbal whoop-ass Minami rained down on her husband. We think he deserved it, and so does Minami, but y'know? That's not too far off from some bits of Japanese culture, really. As far as I know, anyway. Hope you're enjoying so far. I have a lot of plans for this story, and plan on working on it much more regularly than I have some others. I know, at least generally, where this one is going.
7/4/18: I fixed a couple of grammar issues. In a question, the particle is always "ga", not "wa". That is the hardest thing for gaijin like me to wrap my head around :-)