Author's Note: If the characters are OOC at any part, please tell me. My most important goal is to keep everyone in character if I can. Also, the only reason I'm using the japanese honorifics is because it will have a big impact later in the story. I know some japanese but I'm trying not to use it unless I think its necessary.

This chapter marks the first appearance of Masaru Yada! (I'm so happy!)

Disclaimer: I do not own Ojamajo Doremi or its characters. They are the copyright of Toei Animation.

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"Fujiwara-san, could you please read on from there?" The teacher said, looking up from her textbook.

Hazuki snapped out of her daze and glanced down at the pages before her, having no idea where the last person left off. A drop of sweat trickled down her neck.

"Um..."

Aiko got the hint and whispered through the corner of her mouth to Hazuki.

"Its the third paragraph down."

"Ah, yes!" She briefly looked around, hoping no one noticed. They appeared to be waiting. The witch apprentice pushed her glasses up her nose and began to fluidly read the section, all the while feeling like pairs of eyes were boring into her.

Soon after the reading, the teacher announced recess. Hazuki was fidgety and stood up, stretching her arms. For some reason, she felt the need to be alone and started towards the door to the hall.

Doremi grabbed her wrist. "Hazuki-chan, where are you going?"

"I just need to take a little walk, that's all."

She left Doremi and disappeared out the door.

Her friend was still for a moment.

"Hazuki-chan..."

Doremi assured herself that Hazuki was fine and she shouldn't worry about it. She straightened up and went over to chat with a more awake Momoko.

Meanwhile, someone slipped out the door, in quiet pursuit of Hazuki.

"Much better."

The brunette sighed, breathing in the fresh air of the outdoors. The steps that led to the soccer field looked comforting, so she stepped down and sat against the cool stone. She admired the pots of flowers, which had bloomed both from good weather and Marina's gentle touch. They swayed gracefully in the breeze with a hypnotic dance. The young witch closed her eyes, feeling nothing but the gentle caress of the wind.

It still wasn't enough. The twisted thorns and branches of the maze flashed brilliantly in her mind. The melody that had entranced her so deeply played quietly, valiantly fighting with the fears...

"Fujiwara."

Hazuki's mind suddenly went blank as her eyes snapped open and she turned to face the one who had spoken.

"Uh...what is it M-Masaru-kun?.."

Her childhood friend silently stood behind her, hands in his pockets. His dark green eyes would have looked dull and uninterested to anyone else at the moment, but Hazuki could tell that they were studying her. The brunette flinched under his gaze.

Yada stood still and unmoving, penetrating her with his icy gaze, and not answering her question. His emerald bangs brushed aside with the wind.

Maybe he didn't hear her. "Wha-"

"You're not okay."

He spoke simply, like he was stating a fact. The trumpeter slowly moved to sit beside her on the steps. He continued to bore into the witch with his grass-green eyes.

The orange ojamajo tried to look oblivious to his question, despite the fact she was sure it wouldn't work. Hazuki gave him a small smile.

"What do you mean?"

Hazuki wasn't sure why she was stalling. Maybe she was too embarrassed

to tell someone?

"After Senoo said Asuka was only tired, you turned pale. And when the teacher called on you in class, you weren't paying attention."

His words cut through her barriers like a knife, as if they were nothing. The witch apprentice averted her eyes to the ground in defeat.

She clasped her hands together and set them on her lap.

"Oh. . . that."

She nervously bit her lip, trying not to look him in the eye.

Masaru pulled his hands from his pockets and crossed them behind his head in a reclining position. He stared blankly up at the clouds, but still focused on her.

"What happened," he asked in a dull tone.

She took a deep breath.

"...I had a dream last night."

Hazuki paused, unsure if she should go on.

Masaru squinted his eyes.

"A dream."

He stared at a passing cloud.

"What was it about?"

He leaned his elbows on the stone step behind him, turning his head to look at her.

The young witch nervously brushed her bangs out of her face. She thought of lying, but decided against it. She had lied enough today.

"Well, it was more of a..nightmare."

Her eyes narrowed.

"I was trapped in a maze. It was ugly and twisted with thorns and fog. I was running, trying to escape, but everywhere I turned was a dead end."

She clasped her hands tighter. Masaru nodded, waiting for her to go on.

"I was covered in bruises and cuts and was exhausted from running. It was like all hope had been drained from my heart and body. So...I started to cry."

Hazuki felt a lump form in the back of her throat and forced herself to swallow it.

"That was when it happened. A song, a quiet, but pretty song was breaking through the darkness, leading me somewhere. I made me hope again."

She smiled to herself.

"I pulled myself together and followed it until I came to a light at the end of the maze."

She exhaled.

"And then, everything blacked out."

The witch felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Her joints and felt looser and more relaxed, instead of being tense with fear.

Yada looked up at the sky once more. "That's strange."

The breeze played with the collar of his shirt and something flashed in his eye. "What was the song?"

Hazuki sighed in confusion. "That's what I've been trying to figure out. It was so familiar, so...warm. I'm sure I've heard it before but I just can't put my finger on it."

She blushed, feeling uncomfortable.

"I see."

They sat together in silence for what seemed like forever.

He used his hands to push himself up. "It's time to go inside."

The green-haired boy walked in his usual lanky strides to the entrance. Hazuki leaped up to follow him. She jogged to catch up, their paces meeting about halfway down the hall.

They entered the classroom to find about three fourths of the students already seated. The clock was almost one tick away from the end of recess. Hazuki practically sprinted to her seat and clumsily plopped into it. She exhaled the air she was holding in relief. Momoko gently elbowed her arm.

"What were you doing with Yada-kun?" she grinned suggestively.

Yep, Momoko was back to her normal, spunky self.

Hazuki waved her hands, her glasses glazing over.

"N-nothing, we were just talking about something."

Momoko decided not to press the subject as the teacher had started class, but she continued to grin.

The orange ojamajo regained her composure and got ready for class, but not before glancing over at her childhood friend.

Masaru gave her a small but sincere smile, before his eyes glazed over and he stared with his usual disinterest at the front of the classroom.