My name is Himeko Yamamoto. My family kept me from magical girls, charming guys, and a responsibility to protect countless lives at a young age. Luckily, my doctor promised that at 17 I'd be too old to save the world, and I'd finally be a normal per...
Late November rolled around. As the evening bell chimed, I gathered my belongings. A few girls told me goodbye, most likely out of courtesy. Some boys nodded at me, but that was it. Being affiliated with the Student Council distanced me from my classmates more than I thought.
Aura Academy's courses were fairly rigorous, and even more so with the responsibilities I shouldered upon myself. Being a Star Child meant being the school's last resort for magical defense, no matter what time of the day it was. The policy made sense, but as high school students with messy circadian rhythms, we made plenty of mistakes.
During a recent fight near Paradise High at 3 AM, Paris fainted from exhaustion, and I struggled to keep my eyes open the next day. Another night, Feng's hand slipped, and his spears ripped Adam's shirt. (And then I was TRULY awake, being blessed with such gorgeous abs under the midnight moon, but I don't think our president enjoyed the stares.)
Still, I missed being invisible. Being tied down by the school's stupid "student defense" system, I couldn't enjoy the little freedoms I used to, like giggling in the back of fan club meetings, making carefree statements, and going unnoticed in the halls. I never had to wear any makeup, nor keep up with an image for the sake of the Student Council.
In other words: I wasn't "normal" anymore.
The more I dedicated myself to being a Star Child, the less time I spent with the Kimura twins, It felt like we existed in two separate worlds. Last year, Yui and I were inseparable - but now, we were merely roommates. The Student Council members always found a way to pull me out of my dorm, whether it was training, saving a person, or just hanging out; meanwhile, she spent more time with her classmates, and most of all: Elodie Michaelis.
Yui worked hard to subdue Aila Lee's bullying, and in the process she found herself a life partner - but at what cost?
Our time together?
Our friendship?
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I strode through the Student Council room's enormous doors, threw my bag on a couch, and approached Feng's desk. Leaning back in his chair, he played with the broken necklace Stella picked up the other day. His eyes looked like they were staring into the abyss.
"Are you okay?"
He flinched, nearly dropping the pendant.
"Excuse me, Himeko - I didn't realize you were standing there!"
"Well, yeah. Is everything alright?"
Feng let out a sigh, fixed his glasses, and set down the jewelry. "Thanks for your concern. To tell you the truth, I don't have a clue on whose this is."
He waved his palms over the crystal charm, which glowed a faint violet aura. "See? No owner."
"But what does it all mean?"
"This necklace, it's only been used once," he rested his hands on his ebony desk. "A Dark user would've registered its aura so the crystal could accommodate their magical needs, but our victims the other day were of the Holy...why did they carry this item?"
Stella pounced on my shoulder and started...purring? I had no idea what to expect at this point.
"Who are you, really?" Feng chuckled, and leaned forward to stroke her woolly fur. We started chatting about magical girl familiars, their history, and their countless miracles - like for instance, the Magical Microphone Adam used to communicate his feelings. On that note, I asked about the Li family, and he dropped his gaze.
"Nevermind, Feng!" I sputtered. "Just ignore my question - let's talk about something else!"
"No." The vice president clasped his hands together and fixed his eyes on mine. "I'd rather you listen to my story than someone else's version of it."
He gestured for me to take a seat. As he began telling his story, I closed my eyes, trying to visualize how he lived as a child.
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A hardworking man, Feng's father Jing-Sheng Li spent years ranking up in hospital management. Desiring a "perfect family image," he raised his children to become esteemed doctors and businessmen. Private tutors lectured Feng since the age of five, and they were allowed to unleash the belt if he didn't comply.
His older siblings excelled in medicinal studies, and as a result, Jing-Sheng rewarded them shares of his business. However, Feng's fate led him down a different path.
After a hard day of studying, Feng took refuge in a cramped alleyway behind his night school and cried his eyes out. A passerby noticed and asked him what was wrong, and he spilled his guts. That man was Alcaster Cheng, Headmaster of Aura Academy.
That same evening, Cheng confronted Jing-Sheng and his agenda. Feng recalled the aftermath of their terrible fight. Scratch marks covered the once pristine walls. Dark magic residue stuck to the white tiles. A few doors were knocked to the ground. Jing-Sheng suffered from a black eye and several wounds on his arms, while Cheng got away with one cut on his face. Funny enough, neither sued the other.
No wonder he seemed so aloof. Feng never had time to socialize. He barely had time for himself with all the advanced courses he took last year. Furthermore, the work-study program cramped his schedule; research and school rep compensated for the tuition his family refused to pay.
I thought about our current situation and broke into a smile. Because he served me in combat, Feng was able to withdraw from his internship and gain more free time. It's what he deserved.
