Chapter 16: Memories

"Tch, fucking cocksuckers." Mikoto cursed as he wiped blood from his nose as he strolled home. Yet again, he was in another fight in school, one he had not instigated. Yet he would probably receive a beating anyway. Was it unfair? Yes, very much so, but who was he to complain? All he could do was take it like a man; otherwise, there would just be consequences.

Mikoto sighed as he moved through the bustling streets of Tokyo before entering a building. Greeting the ground attendant, he moved to the elevator and pressed the number four. He leaned against the wall as the elevator lifted upwards. He frowned as he tapped his foot on the ground impatiently. Maybe he would get lucky; maybe that bastard was not home.

Hell, better yet, maybe he died, Mikoto chuckled. If only life were that easy, unfortunately it is not. Life goes on the same way; it's up to you to change if you want it to. Then maybe he should kill the bastard. No one would miss him, not Grandma, not Aunt Maya, and not Akira; in fact, everyone would probably celebrate his death. Then again, how would one go about doing that? Such a morally questionable and insane thing. Hmm, he was a doctor, a fact widely known. Maybe he could stage a robbery and kill the bastard?

Mikoto actually felt there was something to that idea; did it bother him that he was casually thinking of killing his own father? No, not in the least. He blamed that man for screwing up his mind so much. To such a point that killing would not even leave a bad taste in his mouth, he knew he was not mentally right. But he did not care; he could not care. He just wanted that bastard dead and gone, and then maybe he could experience the semblance of a normal life. Seeing as the police did not want to do anything about it; they were useless pigs that you can off unfortunately.

A 'ding' in the elevator signaled he had reached his desired floor as the doors slid apart, revealing a long hallway with a red carpet draped upon the ground, while doors to apartments stood opposite each other with numbers etched onto their frames. His father was a doctor, so he could easily afford an extravagant place like this.

Walking through the hallway, Mikoto could not help but raise an eyebrow as he came near his apartment door.

"Hinata?" She was sitting in front of the door on the ground with her knees brought up to her chest. She slightly jumped in surprise upon him addressing her, glancing his way. Mikoto immediately took note of the bruise on her right cheek. And her long, jet black hair was in slight disarray; it was easy to conclude just what had happened.

"It's not as bad as it looks, so don't get pissed again." She spoke upon noticing his reaction. "You'll get your ass beat again." She bluntly stated that as Mikoto just sighed.

"I'll be getting my ass beat either way." He murmured with a sigh as he took a seat on the ground next to Hinata. "So what did you do to piss him off?"

"Found my porn mags." She admitted it with a blunt tone.

"I told you to get rid of that junk." Mikoto said with a dry gaze. His sister's response was to merely stick her tongue out at him.

"A girl has her needs."

"Hinata, you're thirteen." He dryly stated as she shrugged.

"So? Puberty and all that, I have to get myself of-."She started, and Mikoto wisely decided to cut her off right then and there.

"Let's just change the subject." He said whilst clearing his throat.

"Ooh~ Getting embarrassed, are we?" A smug smile adorned her face as Mikoto just rolled his eyes. "C'mon, it's just po-"

"Wanna kill the old man?" He suddenly asked, causing her to stop and blink in surprise.

"You serious?" She asked in bemusement; it seems she was into the idea, however absurd and morally questionable it was. Though it was not exactly the first time they would be doing something like this. But that was neither here nor there.

"I am. I'm sure you don't like living like this; neither do I nor does mom." It was merely a fact; this was hell, and there was simply no better word to describe it.

"How do you want to go about it?" Yes, that was right. This hell was so bad that two siblings were planning on killing their own father. Was this normal? No, they were both not mentally there. But no one could blame them; this was simply the result of their father.

"Dunno," he admitted. "What I do is that I refuse to let mom continue to suffer like this." Hinata merely frowned.

"Just mom? And not me?" Mikoto sighed as he dryly stared at the girl.

"Mom isn't as tough as you are, so she's the priority." He bluntly stated.

"Dick."

"Bitch."

The two siblings merely stared at each other with a glare of their own. A staring contest was held before Mikoto sighed as he broke eye contact.

"Stop being difficult; not everything's about you, Hinata." He stated.

"So what? Only mom's important?" Her brows furrowed further as Mikoto once again sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"No, you idiot, she's the priority." He clarified. "You have ears, so try and listen. I know you really don't give two shits about dad beating you and all, but mom's at her breaking point. She won't last much longer."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You can quit being a dick now." She murmured with a pout.

"Stop pouting; now are you in?" He asked as a pondering look adorned Hinata's face.

"Hmm, ah, why the hell not? Let's kill ourselves a da-." Mikoto immediately threw a hand over her mouth as he shushed her.

"You fucking idiot! Don't say that so loud." He started, but immediately he retracted his hand with a disgusted look. "Why the hell did you just lick me!?"

"To get your hand off, idiot. Don't get me wrong, I'd enjoy the fore-"

"Hinata, please just shut the fuck up. Or I'll add you to the list." He scooted a bit away from her as he uttered those words.

"C'mon, it isn't 'that' weird."

"It is that weird."

"You still love me, though. Right?" She asked, fluttering her eyes.

"Don't do that; it's creepy. And yes, I do." He confirmed.

"You do what?" He sighed deeply.

"I do love you, sis. Even if you are a fucking weirdo." He said he while raising his hand and patting her head, an action she seemed to enjoy.

She was quiet the character, as obnoxious and as weird as she was he still loved her. She was still his little sister after all, and for her as well as his mom, there is nothing he would not do to protect the two. It was simply how he was, so he wished the best for the two. But simply wishing for something was not going to make it true, hence he chose to take the initiative.

____________________

"Mister Yukio!" Mikoto woke up from his nap with a jolt as he shot up from his chair.

"Wha? Huh?" He glanced around the room in confusion.

Rows of sturdy wooden joint tables occupy the room, their polished surfaces bearing the marks of countless pen scratches and ink stains. The tables were long and seamlessly connected, providing shared workspace for the students. Age has given them character, with faint etchings depicting names and doodles from students long ago. Within the confines of the gray table sat a small blue-haired girl and a blonde boy.

Each table had a worn, leather-bound ledger filled with yellowing pages that chronicled the academic journey of countless generations. Rows of inkwells and quills were neatly arranged on the tables, ready to be utilized by dedicated scholars.

The classroom featured large windows, embellished with heavy curtains that allowed only fragments of sunlight to filter through, casting enchanting patterns on the floor. Dust particles float lazily in the rays, further enhancing the vintage ambiance.

Towards the front of the classroom, a wooden podium stood tall, displaying years of use and wisdom. The teacher's desk, situated adjacent to the podium, was cluttered with ink bottles, parchment papers, and elaborate quill pens. An iconic blackboard dominated the space behind the podium, covered in chalky scribbles, notes, and equations from lessons.

The worn wooden floors looked as though they would creak with every step, adding a nostalgic melody to the ambiance. The room was filled with the unmistakable scent of aged books, worn leather, and the faint aroma of chalk that lingered in the air.

Mikoto blinked in confusion before everything finally settled into his memory.

("That was a dream? I could've sworn it were real. But damn, crazy how I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Heh, guess it isn't easily forgotten.") He thought, getting seated in his chair, as he glanced to his side at the woman who addressed him. She had a head of flowing violet locks that framed her face perfectly. Under her plush lips sat a beauty mark that only added more charm to her, which was further amplified by her flowing black robes adorned with purple that complimented her features. She also had a boob window where various eyes were drawn to her ample bosom, not his though; he was respectable like that.

 "Was my introduction such a bore that you deemed it prudent to sleep?" The woman questioned as Mikoto just sheepishly chuckled. Everyone in the class was glancing his way now, all waiting for some more drama that could satisfy their need for entertainment. Or their eyes were just drawn to the professor.

"Course, not professor; I, uh, uh...just stayed up too late yesterday." Not technically a lie; he did, in fact, stay up late yesterday night. Professor Eudora merely narrowed her eyes at the boy.

"Hmph. Do make sure that this does not become a habit, Mister Yukio." The woman stated this as she moved back to the front of the class. "On with the lesson."

"Are you looking to anger more professors?" William, who was seated to his left, was bemused.

"If that is the case, I must try harder to be a nuisance." The dull statement came from Ruby, who sat to his right. It seems she was trying to make it a competition to see who could annoy the most teacher's.

"C'mon, I'm not some Yanki." He defended himself as the two looked at him, confused by the term he used. "I mean, I'm not some delinquent."

"With your track record of detention, I doubt others would agree." Ruby bluntly stated:

"Oof. Such hurtful words."

"She does have a point, though." William murmured with a smile.

"Why are you bullying me?" Mikoto questioned.

"I am quite certain you'd be the one doing the bullying." Ruby started. "With you being a delinquent and all." She muttered lowly after.

"Let's just focus on the lesson, yeah?" Mikoto said, turning to Professor Eudora, he did not quite enjoy being called a delinquent.

Professor Eudora stood at the front of the large, ornate classroom, her long, flowing robes shimmering in various shades of violet.

"Welcome to the enchanting world of charms and enchantments; this is the first time that I have this class, I believe." Professor Eudora began, her voice melodious and soothing. "Today, we shall embark on a journey to understand the intricacies and ethereal beauty of this wondrous branch of magic."

She gracefully waved her hand, and a large, translucent screen appeared at the front of the classroom. It displayed a mesmerizing diagram illustrating the flow of magical energy through various sigils and symbols.

"Charms and enchantments," she continued, her voice echoing through the room, "are the delicate art of imbuing inanimate objects with magical properties. It requires a deep understanding of the essence of magic and the innate connection between the ethereal realm and the physical world."

Professor Eudora then walked towards a long, polished oak table that stood in the center of the room, covered in an array of mystical objects. She began sorting through the items, describing them one by one with a thoroughness that left no detail untouched.

"Behold, the enchanted mirror," she said, lifting a small, triangular mirror with intricate gold etchings. "By imbuing this mirror with a reflection charm, it can unveil hidden truths and reveal the illusions created by darker forces."

She placed the mirror back gently, retrieving a small glass sphere filled with swirling silver mist. Holding it up to the light, she added, "This is a Seer's Orb, designed to show glimpses into the future. Its enchanted properties allow us to peer beyond the veil of time and gain insight into what lies ahead."

As Professor Eudora continued unveiling the magical objects, she recounted their historical origins, the secrets behind their creation, and the intentions of the enchanters who crafted them. Each story she shared transported the students to faraway lands, sparking their imaginations and fueling their desire to delve further into this captivating realm.

With a radiant smile, Professor Eudora moved towards a towering bookshelf, her fingers gliding delicately across the leather-bound spines. The shelves creaked with the weight of knowledge as she eventually plucked a large, dusty tome from among the others. She placed it gently on the table, its ancient pages filled with faded illustrations and handwritten notes.

"This," she declared, her voice reverent, "is the Encyclopedia of Enchantments. It holds the accumulated wisdom of generations of enchanters, offering a comprehensive guide to crafting and understanding charms of all kinds."

The classroom buzzed with interest and anticipation as the students leaned forward in their seats, eager for every word and every revelation that Professor Eudora would weave into her lesson.

"We will explore the basic principles of charms and enchantments, from the correct pronunciation of incantations to the intricate threads of magical energy that bind them," she proclaimed, her eyes gleaming with the intensity of knowledge.

("Charms are interesting, as is enchanting.") Mikoto mused as he leaned back in his seat. He recalled that Lucinda herself had a magical object in the form of a sword. It was interesting to see the properties you could give an object. Professor Eudora went on with the lesson as he actually paid attention. She certainly knew how to catch the attention of her class; there was no doubt about that.

Or maybe the boys were simply charmed by her. He recalled that her full name was Elizabeth Eudora; apparently, she was hailed as the most beautiful. And he heard her herself was a spawn, but of which God or Goddess he did not know. But he might be able to figure it out; she had a certain charm about her, and it was not just her beauty. There was something else, though he doubted that was all that important.

He was more interested in this class. Enchanting was not really his forte, but it was still easy enough to manage. He was more focused on flashy spells, if he was being honest. Watching a lot of anime back home gave him a bunch of ideas he wanted to put to the test. Yes, he did do a kamehameha once upon a time.

Who could blame him?