Okay, so…now that I'm FINALLY done with Year 1 of Haru's time at Mahoutokoro, I'm hoping the next year isn't going to take as many chapters. But we'll see. Thank you so much for reading this fanfic and supporting it!
102nd Spell: Aomori
The next morning, Haru and the other students got up bright and early to have a final breakfast in the Student Dining Hall. After that, many of the students packed their things and left the island on the backs of the Ōkumo Storm Petrels to head home for Spring Break. Some like Haru and Rui, though, stayed behind because they either didn't have anywhere to go or to see their younger siblings in the Primary Student Graduation Ceremony that afternoon. For this reason, Rui's older sisters Peri, Gaane, and Fuyou stayed behind along with Rui as they watched their little brother Gyoku graduate from being a Fourth-Year Primary Student to a First-Year Secondary Student.
"I was honestly worried he wasn't going to graduate after he was held back for Remedial Classes this year," Gaane whispered to her twin sister Fuyou.
Gyoku had just been called onto the stage of the Mabuki Theater, where his Primary School diploma appeared in his hand inside a black leather tube after he recited an incantation that determined whether he would get the diploma or not. Then he bowed to each of the teachers who were lined up next to Dōmeki before walking offstage.
"Same," Fuyou said, glancing at Haru who was to her left next to Rui. "Especially since he took the same classes as the Boy Who Vanished."
Hearing that, Haru glared at Fuyou. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Fuyou claimed. "I just thought your evilness would rub off on him."
"I'm not evil!" Haru snapped.
"Be quiet!" Peri said, glaring at both Fuyou and Haru. "You're both being very rude on Gyoku's special day."
"She started it, though," Haru said, pointing at Fuyou.
"Just ignore her," Rui insisted as she pinched Haru's shoulder. "Fuyou just likes to start fights for no reason."
After that, everyone remained quiet as the ceremony finished. Then everyone met outside the theater where hugs and handshakes were given to the lucky graduates.
"Congratulations!" Rui smiled as she hugged her little brother. "Momma would be so proud if she were here."
"Yeah, it's too bad she was busy at work today," Gyoku said, looking disappointed. "But I'm glad you came."
"Don't forget about us!" Fuyou said.
"What she said," chimed Fuyou's identical twin sister Gaane.
"It's not a competition, guys," Peri sighed. "All that matters is we stayed for the sake of our brother. Then when we get home, we can have a proper celebration."
"Could Haru come with us?" Rui asked Peri. "He doesn't have any place to stay at the moment, and I sort of offered him to stay with us for Spring Break. Please!"
As Peri stared at her little sister's begging eyes, she felt guilty. "You know Mom doesn't want you hanging out with Haru, right?"
"I don't care!" Rui declared. "He's my friend and I want to help him!"
"Friend?" Gaane chuckled. "More like crush, if you ask me."
"Totally," agreed Fuyou.
While Rui blushed from embarrassment, Haru stepped forward and looked up at Rui's tall sister with the close-cut brunette hair.
"Let me prove myself to your mother," Haru said. "To show her I'm not like my parents—my real ones, anyway, and that this reputation I've gotten is unwarranted. And if she decides not to let me stay, I promise not to go anywhere near Rui during the next school year."
Rui couldn't believe what Haru just said, and neither did Gaane and Fuyou.
"You swear to stick to that promise?" Peri asked.
Haru nodded. "Yes, I swear."
"All right, then let's go," Peri declared. "We've got a train to catch."
One ride later on the dragon-shaped M Line bullet train, Haru and the Wataka siblings found themselves at the train station in Aomori. It was a beautiful coastal city with tall southern mountains and apple trees in full blossom. Outside, the air was wet yet cold which made Haru shiver even with his blue jacket on while the Wataka siblings didn't seem bothered though the girls all wore skirts.
"Is it always this cold?" Haru asked Rui.
"Winters are colder than this," Rui said. "But it does get pretty hot during the summer."
From the train station, they approached a Japanese-style carriage that was parked in a back street with bamboo shutters and a curved roof. The carriage itself was tied to a pair of ox statues made entirely of bronze with red kerchiefs tied around their thick necks. Upon seeing Haru, the ox statues came to life and snorted nervously.
"Easy, boys!" said a rotund man who stood beside the oxen, stroking their heads in comfort. As the Wataka siblings approached him, he took off his bamboo hat and bowed. "I take it your train ride was pleasant."
"It was, Basha Tamashī," Peri said to the rotund man. "We will be having an extra guest traveling with us."
Basha briefly looked at Haru and then bowed to Peri. "I shall accommodate him for the journey home, Lady Peri."
"Lady Peri?" Haru was confused as he and the Wataka siblings all got into the carriage.
Despite its seemingly small size on the outside, the inside of the carriage was as big as a limo interior. So there was plenty of room for Haru and the others to sit as the carriage slowly moved forward with Basha driving the bronze ox statues with a gold-handled whip.
"This carriage is enchanted with a spectral driver that refers to everyone as either 'Lord' or 'Lady' regardless if they're actually royalty or not," Rui explained. "It's also invisible to the Manai, which is how the carriage is able to move around without anyone seeing it."
"And the oxen are part of the enchantment?" Haru asked.
"No, they're real. But the carriage's invisibility enchantment affects them and the driver."
"But they're made of bronze, aren't they?"
"Yes, though they're not just any bronze ox statues," Peri stated. "They're called Nade Ushi, a type of kami that usually sit at shrines where people can rub them to ease their physical pain."
Haru vaguely remembered seeing such a bronze ox statue at a shrine he and his Manai family visited, and figured Peri must be referring to one of those.
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to ask you something," Rui said interrupting Haru's train of thought. "Why do you call Higa by his last name? It would make more sense if you referred to him by his first name considering he's your adoptive uncle."
To be continued…