Yukikaze

Chapter 1- Hasafuji Prefecture

On the way to the city, Mrs Aoi explained to Shiori and Ayane about the different names of Japan as of now. After the Great War, people from all over the world came together and created an underground "Earth" where the lavas that used to be said to burn anyone blocking its path were simply heating materials used the same way like fire. The metals and minerals that were found while creating "Earth" were used to refine and become magic stones, which were useful to store emergency 'magic' in case someone runs out of it.

"The city we are going to now is the centre of Tokyo. This is why it's called Central Tokyo. The school that you will be attending is located in Tokyo II. Tokyo I is a residential area. Tokyo III and IV will be the places that you as our student will frequently go to, including equipment that you need to use for combat and materials that can enhance the equipment that you are using." Mrs Aoi explained briefly, after which showing the entrance to the underground "Earth".

"Alright, we are going to school first, so follow me." Mrs Aoi signalled Artemis to follow from behind. After 10 minutes, she saw the gates of the school, which was named 'Hasafuji Prefecture'. She was welcomed with a burst of fragrance from the Sakura Tree that was even more graceful than the one by her window. "Alrighty, I'm gonna show off now!" Artemis' body shone a bright light once more and awed everyone who saw Shiori and her. Upon entering the school, Artemis flapped her wings to stop her tracks and let Shiori jump down from her body.

"Wow... so pretty..."
"Omg, look..."

Several whispers could be heard when Shiori was walking with Artemis. Artemis was busy distracting Shiori from the whispers and the young lady herself knew. She chuckled and hold onto Artemis' hand, whose eyes glistened with happiness and they two laughed their worries off. "Here's your attire for school, and here. Money for you to buy anything you need. My son here will accompany you to the dorms and the whole of Tokyo, so I hope he doesn't burden you too much..."

"What-"

Shiori chuckled and said, " It's alright, he won't bother me. Once again, I will be under your care in the future too, Mrs Aoi, Masao-san." This brought a sense of happiness to the mother and son, and they blushed sightly before laughing it off. Mrs Aoi then took Shiori and Artemis to her office and handed them the clothes to change into. " Your kimono will be stained, so I will wash it for you, alright Shiori-can?" Mrs Aoi said, giving Shiori a shopping bag with clothes in it. "There's a room over there, you can change there." Shiori quickly went to the room, which she found out that the room included a bathroom too. "You can have a shower too!" Shiori heard Mrs Aoi shout from outside. After a quick shower, Shiori tied her hair nicely to match the attire that was given to her and went out of the bathroom. There, she saw Mrs Aoi working on documents and gestured to her that she was done. Mrs Aoi noticed and stopped her work, putting down her glasses and commenting on how wonderful Shiori looked. "Oh, my son is waiting for you outside. He's gonna tour you around the school. Also, today's a festival in the school, so you might want to have these coupons too. Shiori nodded and asked where Artemis is. Just then, Artemis came out, with a beautiful dress and a high-up ponytail. "Sorry for making you wait, Shiori-sama! Let's go!" Shiori chuckled and said her goodbyes to Mrs Aoi before catching up with Artemis and getting out of the office.

When the two girls went outside, they saw Masao patting a cat, and lifting it where his eyes were parallel to the legs. The girls judged the weird boy in front of them and started gossiping amongst each other, unable to gather any reasons to not see this kid as weird. Just then, Masao noticed the heavy judgement from the girls' eyes, and quickly put the cat down before begging them to not look at him in a ridiculed manner.

"A-alright, come with me, as I show you the magic of this school!" Shiori gulped and asked, " Y-you don't mean anything indecent or weird like what you did....right?" Masao felt a thousand swords pierce his heart, and he confirmed to Shiori that he has no intention to show them that. Just when Shiori, Artemis and Masao were reaching their first destination, Ayane appeared in front of them, with a lady that looked as old as Mrs Aoi. It turns out that this lady can make mannequins so that Spirits that have a contract with someone in the school can take over the designs. Furthermore, these mannequins can change their shape to how the Spirits look, so it is a bonus point. "I'm gonna head over to Madam Aoi first, so have fun alright?" Ayane patted Shiori's head and went off.

After a tour of the school, Masao took the girls to the festival. There, a lot of students looked at Shiori and she looked down to the floor in fear. Suddenly, there was a tap on the shoulder and Shiori looked up to see Artemis smiling at her. Afterwards, Artemis held onto Shiori's hand and smiled. Shiori felt a sense of security and took a huge breath before smiling. Just then, a few people came over.

"Hey, are you the new transfer student? You look so pretty.... may I be your friend?" the girl extended her hand out. Shiori looked at the girl carefully. She had twin tails and was wearing the school uniform. "Oh, I'm sorry! How rude of me, I haven't said my name yet. The name is Nami, Nami Aoki. I really, really love to dress in pretty dresses like you two and like to eat red bean bread! What's your name?" Nami looked at Shiori with sparkling eyes. "Um... I'm Shiori. Shiori Ayuzawa. This is Artemis, and she's my familiar. I-I too like red bean bread.."

It may seem cliche, but a red bean bread was the start of a new beginning for little Shiori, as well as the birth of a friendship that ascended through many years. Alongside her first friend, her first Kyuji and her first familiar, Shiori grew to become the opposite of what she used to be, and it was an honour for someone as old as me to watch the path of the child that was saved by me on that snowy day.

"Mom? Shio-sama is here to disc-"

"Masao, move away, please. Ahah, Ma'am! How are you? I'm here as the Kyoto club leader as of now. There have been several worn-out wooden swords that I fear might break anytime soon... Do you mind if I know if we can purchase new ones?" the voice of the little girl never failed to calm Mrs Aoi's nerves. Slowly closing the diary, Mrs Aoi chuckled and said "Sure! Here, this is the money for the swords. Use it wisely!"

"Yes, Principal!" Shiori saluted and went out of the room with the confidence of a rising Phoenix. Her hair, now flowing like a water stream swayed side to side from the girl's footsteps. "Ah, I'm blessed to see such growth, huh.." Mrs Aoi chuckled, before returning to settling her paperwork.

"Hey, so for the club, we are given this? Isn't that a lot?" a voice spoke from behind. Shiori looked back and saw Nami, her best friend. "Ah, I don't think it's just the swords that she wants us to change. Later, ask all the Kyoto members to check carefully the equipment the club has, see if there are any faulty ones amongst them. Masao, Yousuke, you take the initiative with the Judo club, alright?" Masao looked up from the paperwork that he was focused on and smiled. " Your wish is my command, Shio-sama." Shiori stopped in her tracks and smiled at Masao "Do not make me hit you in the public, ok?" Masao froze and quickly nodded in fear he will be killed mercilessly with his mistress' Devil Kick. "Arty. You guys. On your vehicles. We need to reach the club as fast as possible. I don't want to miss the barbeque buffet later at night, so we better make it quick. Alright?" Shiori told her friends before jumping onto Artemis' body and flying at full speed towards the Kyoto club.