Forty-Sixth Spell: Purpose

Thinking back, Haru recalled Daichi being quite fond of animals as she made it a point to touch every animal in the petting zoos they went to over the years.

Popuri then got up from his chair. "I have spoken with Dōmeki-Sama about our kotodama theory, and she said she will look into it when she's not busy. Do you want me to tell her about Daichi as well?"

Haru didn't know what to say.

"I'll tell her," Popuri decided. "But for now, you mustn't interact with Daichi anymore. Whether she's really a ghost or not, her presence does no good for your conscience."

While Haru recovered in the Healers' Wing, he was excused from the rest of his classes that day. He was visited by Rui, who had heard about what happened to him from Nayu who learned it from Seita. Not wanting to keep any secrets, Haru told her not only about Daichi's visits but also him and Hikari's speculations about Shō-Sensei in relation to the oni attack on Mount Ōe.

"But if Shō-Sensei wanted to get the thing in the storage house, why did she go on the field trip when she could have just stayed here?" Rui said after Haru finished explaining.

"Maybe Dōmeki forced her to go," Haru guessed. "Though I thought it was strange for Dōmeki to accompany Midorime and Shō."

"Yeah, Dōmeki-Sama never usually goes on class field trips as a chaperone. So I thought that was odd too."

"Although considering what happened to Hikari, I suppose Dōmeki made the right choice."

Nodding, Rui had a pondering expression. "Do you think Shō was the one who broke into Gaikin to get the thing in the first place?"

"I'm not sure," replied Haru. "But what's clear is the thing Higa took from Gaikin is quite valuable. Otherwise it makes no sense for someone to try stealing it from the vault. And Shō wants the thing badly enough to go against the giant toad Nuru as evidenced by the slime Hikari and I saw on her robe sleeve."

"I bet if we knew who Tamanoya is, that could get us closer to the answers we are looking for," Rui suggested.

"Excuse me?" Haru blinked.

"You wouldn't tell me this information if you didn't want my help, right?"

Haru tried to figure out a way to talk Rui out of her assumption for her own safety, but the familiar crowing noise between classes echoed through the Healers' Wing causing Rui to leave before Haru could respond. The next day, Haru was released from the Healers' Wing and had to play catch-up on all the regular classes he missed. While the material wasn't much different from the remedial classes, the homework was tougher.

For instance, regular Charms focused on combining the five basic elements of nature (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood) to create spells based on five new elements which included: wind, body, spirit, light, and dark. In regular Kampo, there was a stronger focus on making pellets and granules as Hikari claimed. Then classes like Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and History of Magic simply included deeper dives into specific topics like jinxes, dangerous plants, and major Wizarding World events in the Twentieth Century respectively.

It was in regular History of Magic that Haru learned about the First Wizarding War and the rise of Voldemort in more detail. He also found out that Harry Potter became known as The Boy Who Lived because he was the only person to not get killed by Voldemort, even though both his parents died which made Haru sympathize with him. Then in the evenings, Haru went to the school library to find out more about his birth mother Kiku Tago's family.

While he turned out to be right in his assumption that Kiku was descended from Princess Tagoto, he was surprised to find an article in the Maichi Yosoku of Kiku's grandmother publicly disowning Kiku. The reason for this was Kiku had decided to marry Haru's future father Taka Ryuji and not Shinjiro 'Jiro' Tanai, who was Kiku's fiancee in an arranged marriage. But one night midway through August, he also found out both his parents lost theirs in tragic accidents that involved their houses burning down.

That's odd, Haru thought. So my mother and father lost their parents in house fires, just like my adopted parents. Maybe these house fires were both caused by Warumo….

"Haru."

Startled, Haru looked back and saw Higa who looked upset.

"What is it, Higa?" Haru asked.

"Popuri-Dono just told me about Daichi's visits," Higa said. "Is it true?"

Unable to lie, Haru said, "Yes. But I don't believe it's this Onryō Curse Popuri-Dono claims. I think Warumo is just taunting me from a distance. And I wouldn't be surprised if he's also responsible for the kotodama thing."

"Kotodama?" Higa exclaimed. "Explain."

Realizing what he just said, Haru looked away in embarrassment.

"If someone is using kotodama on you, why didn't you say something?" Higa demanded.

"Because Popuri-Dono wanted to talk to Dōmeki-Sama about it first. And I'm not sure if that's what's happening to me."

Higa sighed. "You may not see me as family, but to me you are. I know I haven't been the most honest uncle, so I can't blame you for not trusting me. Even so, everything I've done has been for your protection."

"I know that," Haru insisted. "Though between my frequent chest pains and seeing Daichi, I feel like I'm going crazy!"

"You're not crazy. Someone is clearly using magic to influence you, and if I had to guess…that person is probably Warumo."

"Why?"

"Like I said, he wanted you for a mysterious purpose. That's why your mother ran away with you."

"But what does he want me for? I'm just a kid!"

"That is a mystery which Dōmeki-Sama and I have been trying to figure out since you were born. Now if you tell me about this kotodama stuff and Daichi's visits, it might help us figure out what Warumo wants with you."

To be continued…