Chapter 1: A Letter from Afar

It was early July when Yasuke Okikaze awoke to a quiet, overcast morning in Oceanside, California. The soft hum of traffic outside his window barely reached his ears, but the muted grey light creeping into his room signaled another day of the familiar routine. At twelve years old, Yasuke had learned not to expect surprises in his life. He'd grown accustomed to the loneliness that came with being different—from the indifference of his mother, Sarita's cold shoulder, and the casual cruelty of his schoolmates who didn't see him as a person but an outsider.

Yasuke lay there for a moment longer, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. He wanted to sleep in, but a restless energy stirred within him. Rolling out of bed, he padded across his small room to the desk where stacks of worn books were piled high. He'd always found solace in knowledge. Whenever the world outside felt too hostile, the world of stories and facts pulled him in like a shield. His younger brother Colin, barely four years old, was still asleep in the other room, unaware of the quiet battles Yasuke fought each day.

His eyes flicked to the calendar on his desk. In two months, school would start again, but Yasuke felt an odd sense of dread about returning. School had never been easy for him. Not because of the work—he excelled there. But because friendships, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, were always just out of reach. People kept him at arm's length, and more often than not, he found himself on the outskirts of conversations and gatherings. Yasuke's mind drifted to the handful of friends he'd tried to make over the years, only to be met with uncomfortable stares and whispers behind his back.

Today, though, something felt different. There was a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, as if the universe had shifted slightly. As he dressed, Yasuke couldn't help but shake the feeling that this day would be unlike any other.

Downstairs, the house was empty, as usual. His mother had already left for work, and Sarita was likely out with friends, leaving only Colin to keep him company. He ate breakfast alone, flipping through a book on ancient civilizations. As he finished, a sharp tapping sound broke the stillness, echoing from the front door. Yasuke frowned, setting his book aside and walking over to investigate.

To his surprise, a large, tawny owl was perched on the porch railing, staring at him with unnervingly intelligent eyes. In its beak, it held a letter, the edges of the envelope worn and slightly crinkled as though it had traveled a great distance. The owl blinked once, then extended its leg, as if waiting for him to take it.

Yasuke hesitated. He'd never seen anything like this before. Owls weren't common in Southern California, and certainly not ones that delivered letters. He gingerly reached out, plucking the envelope from the bird's beak. To his astonishment, it was addressed to him.

Yasuke Okikaze Second Bedroom 1204 Maple Drive Oceanside, California

His hands trembled slightly as he turned the envelope over and saw an unfamiliar wax seal—a crest featuring a large "H" surrounded by animals he didn't recognize. Breaking the seal, Yasuke pulled out a thick parchment letter.

--

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Okikaze,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

--

The words swam in front of Yasuke's eyes as he read and re-read the letter. Witchcraft? Wizardry? Was this some kind of joke? He glanced around, half-expecting a hidden camera crew to jump out, but there was only the owl, still watching him patiently from the porch railing.

His mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Yasuke wasn't a wizard—he was just a normal boy, wasn't he? Magic didn't exist. But something deep within him, something he'd long tried to ignore, stirred at the sight of this letter. He'd always felt different, hadn't he? More in tune with the world in ways others couldn't see or feel. Perhaps this wasn't a prank after all.

Yasuke folded the letter carefully, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt the weight of something new settle on his shoulders—an opportunity, a way out of the life that had so often made him feel small and invisible.

For the first time in a long while, Yasuke felt hope.

But with that hope came fear. How would he tell his mom, a woman who barely acknowledged his existence? And what would it mean to leave Colin, his baby brother, behind in this empty house? Yasuke's mind spun with possibilities, both thrilling and terrifying.

Slowly, Yasuke turned to the owl. "I guess... I'll need to reply, huh?"

The owl gave a soft hoot in response.

He exhaled, eyes scanning the letter one more time. Life was about to change in ways he couldn't have imagined.

And deep down, Yasuke knew he was ready for it.