The misunderstanding

Ayumu followed one housemaid down the corridor of the lower floor. The silver-haired girl stopped in front of a large sliding door that led to a changing room. She bowed after opening the door.

‘I hope you enjoy your bath in peace,’ she announced. ‘Miss Natsume has instructed us to assist you with scrubbing your back if you need...’

‘That’s unnecessary!’ he quickly cut off.

‘As you wish.’ The girl straightened up and walked down the corridor, her departure followed by Ayumu’s gaze before he entered the changing room. The room was well-lit and quite spacious. Ayumu chose one of the many drawers to undress. His phone vibrated with another message from Ai. Ayumu sighed before opening the app, and his Virtual Assistant appeared.

‘I’m still angry, just so you know...’ she warned.

‘I’m sorry, alright, Ai?’ he tried to appease her. ‘It wasn’t my fault. Too many things have happened, and I’m being held here.’

‘What!?’ Ai looked furious. ‘They can’t do that!’

‘That’s what they’ve told me for now. They said they’ll try to resolve my case as soon as possible... but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be easy,’ the boy notified her. ‘I suppose the fact that an outsider sneaked into an academy and a town of witches isn’t a simple matter to solve, and they would not let me leave so easily, so it’s best if I try not to get into more trouble...’ Ai paused for a moment, thinking.

‘And where are you supposed to stay?’ The boy made a ridiculous face, earning a suspicious look from Ai. ‘Spit it out...’

‘Well, you see...’

***

Over the rooftops of Nankaina, the evening was slipping away. Fuyume paused for a moment at the entrance of the grand palace of the Himemiko house, looking defeated and somewhat dishevelled.

‘I can’t let them see me like this,’ she thought. ‘Today has been awful, first the pervert who sneaked in and the crazy girl with the black ribbon, then the fainting, waking up in the infirmary with wet clothes, it’s almost a miracle I didn’t catch a cold… classes were cancelled and I couldn’t socialise with my classmates… I don’t want to spend another year as the weirdo in the library.’ She forced a smile, rehearsing her improvised lie in her mind. ‘Everything’s fine, Mum, don’t worry… What happened to my clothes? Oh, a silly storm on the way, hehe… Friends? Well, it’s a bit early, but I’ve met a couple of classmates who seem polite and nice… When will I bring them home to meet you? Uh… could you pass the soy sauce?’ Fuyume sighed. ‘I need to sound more convincing… But what if they ask for names?’ She lowered her head and looked at the ground. ‘Mum’s going to know I am lying, I’m terrible at it… but I suppose it’s better to say that than I was attacked by a guy and nearly killed.’ Fuyume gently slapped her cheeks. ‘You need to be more determined, Fuyu…! Besides, it might be a little lie now, but tomorrow is another chance and it will stop being a lie. I’m sure it will turn out fine…’ Fuyume walked into the gardens, heading towards the main gates. She placed her hand on the door, a magical seal appeared on it, and the large doors recognised her presence before opening. ‘I’m home…’ she announced softly, leaving her briefcase at the entrance and taking off the thin jacket of her navy blue uniform. She loosened the green ribbon and took off her shoes before being greeted by a pair of maids.

‘Welcome home, Miss Fuyume.’ She came back with their smile and raised her hand in greeting. ‘Good afternoon, Kiku, Tsubaki.’ She greeted them politely with a bow. Kiku scrutinised her lady closely.

‘Miss Fuyume, your clothes are completely soaked!’ Fuyu feigned ignorance and examined herself.

‘Ah, yes, that’s right, I thought so… hehe!’ she remarked, blushing. ‘I got caught in a storm.’

‘That was this morning,’ Tsubaki pointed out. ‘Why didn’t you change?’

‘Uh… well, I had no more clothes, and I didn’t want to bother anyone…’ she improvised on the spot. ‘Sorry, Tsubaki, Kiku, I don’t want to lie to you but…’ Both maids exchanged glances.

‘Take a bath, Miss Fuyume, to warm up before you catch a cold,’ pointed Kiku.

‘Yes, that’s a good idea…’ Fuyume discarded her skirt and shirt, handing them to the maids, leaving her in her underwear. ‘By the way, could you do me a small favour?’ she turned to them again. ‘Could you not mention this incident to my parents, to Yuki, or to Aunt Natsume? Just a secret between the three of us, please?’ The maids looked at each other, somewhat confused.

‘As you wish…’ they asserted in unison. Fuyume smiled and walked down the hallway towards the dressing room. A hysterical scream stopped her at the entrance to the grand bathroom.

‘What!? No way! It’s not up for debate, Ayu!’ Ai screamed.

‘That voice, I swear I’ve heard it somewhere before…’ Fuyume looked confused. ‘Anyway, I didn’t know we had visitors.’

‘As your guardian… do you think I’ll allow you to stay in a school full of crazy people who almost killed you!?’ Ai required, not letting the boy speak. ‘Who handles this!? Let me have a word with her!’

‘Crazy people who almost killed you?’ Fuyume shuddered, remembering Yumiko’s face. ‘I understand that very well! It almost feels like she’s talking to me… Anyway, I better go in and calm things down…’ Fuyume took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and put on her best face before opening the door. ‘Well, calm down, I’m sure that…’ Ayumu turned towards the door, Fuyume opened her eyes and froze on the spot. Her pale skin turned even whiter when she saw Ayumu there. There was a very tense moment of silence, which was broken by Ai.

‘Are you listening, Ayumu!?’ The shirtless boy, blushing, tried to excuse the misunderstanding, but a loud scream from Fuyume reverberated throughout the palace. A magical circle appeared between them. Ayu threw himself to the ground, narrowly avoiding several sharp icicles that struck and shattered the tiles. He rolled on the floor, dodging another attack from a tearful Fuyume.

‘Pervert! Sicko! This is unforgivable!’ she called out. Despite Ayumu’s muffled protests and his efforts to avoid Fuyume’s blows and spells, all he did was wreck the bathroom.

‘This is a misunderstanding!’ Ayumu tried to talk sense into her. Another blue circle formed around him as he leapt, narrowly escaping being crushed by a chunk of ice. Ayumu rolled, watching as broken tiles flew in all directions. He tried to steady himself on the edge of the enormous bathtub to stand up. Fuyume charged at him, shattering her own ice pillar.

‘I’ll punish you as you deserve!’ The ice shards swirling around her at high speed. Ayumu let out a choked cry.

‘Fuyu, stop!’ Natsume clamoured, distracting her niece. Ayu jumped into the hot water as the shards of ice fell back to the ground like hail.

‘Aunt Nat…?’ Fuyume slipped and hit the ground hard. Natsume closed her eyes, pained. Before approaching her, the boy emerged from the water. Natsu examined her niece.

‘What happened here!?’ Aki screamed out, horrified from the doorway. ‘Fuyu!!’ She rushed to her daughter.

‘Your daughter mistook our guest… she attacked him, but slipped on her own spell and took a hit.’ Natsume described.

‘Hey! Is she alright?’ Ayu asked, sounding distressed.

‘Don’t worry, she’ll survive… she’s just unconscious, though the mild concussion won’t be easy.’ Amidst her sister’s worried pleas for Fuyume, Natsu managed a nervous smile.

***

Saya lifted her head and displayed her malevolent smile towards her guest.

‘Oh, it’s been so long... although I really can’t tell if it’s been a second or a lifetime since we last met... Natsume.’ Saya’s laughter echoed in the head of the Omnyou director. She narrowed her eyes, standing in front of the chair where Saya was restrained. ‘Are you here to question me again about what happened? You know I have a terrible memory... You’ve tried every torture method, physical, psychological, you’ve entered my mind, and you’ve come up empty-handed. Are you going to try your luck again?’

‘Nonomiya...’ Natsume quoted that surname seriously.

‘Nonomiya? Is that some new method to make me talk?’ Saya feigned confusion.

‘Don’t play dumb, Saya...’ Natsume’s face twisted in annoyance. ‘He’s been here, hasn’t he? You placed that mark on him.’

‘He? Who are you talking about?’ Saya feigned ignorance. ‘You’re the only visitor I’ve had in... well, since the last time you visited. The only Nonomiya I know was that lover of Noriko’s, whom I haven’t seen since he tragically passed away...’ Saya’s sinister laughter completely unnerved the director. Her eyes flashed, and the prisoner’s laughter ceased.

‘Listen to me, Saya!’ Natsume seemed genuinely angry. ‘If you lay a single finger on that boy...’

‘And what?’ Saya’s tone turned defiant. ‘What will you do, Natsu? Kill me? Spare me the threat, and just do it. Mitsu has suggested it to you several times, and you, old friend, have stopped her...’ Her tone remained defiant. Natsu clenched her fists.

‘You and I are not friends...’ she stated firmly.

‘Who are you trying to fool, Natsume?’ Saya grinned again. ‘You know what you’re doing, you know what will happen as soon as The Court and the three houses find out you’re hiding the leader of the most dangerous sect in the magical world... Only you know why you’re protecting me.’

‘You’re the only one who can give me answers about what happened with my mother, with Sayuki, and with Noriko and her daughters!’ Natsume’s eyes flashed intensely. Saya didn’t wipe the malevolent smile off her face as blood seeped from beneath the bandages around her eyes and the corners of her lips.

‘Go ahead, Natsu...’ Saya’s tone turned provocative, her blood cascading from her lip. Natsume paused, the pale woman’s blood stopped flowing, and she let out another laugh before growing serious. ‘See why your threats are futile?’ Her tone turned to seriousness. ‘I’ve told you before, I know nothing... not about Haru, not about Sayuki, not about your beloved Nori, not about her daughters... and certainly not about anyone named Nonomiya.’

‘You’ve been warned, Saya...’ Natsume pointed out dryly. ‘Harm that boy, and I swear you’ll experience veritable hell on Earth.’

‘Goodnight to you too, Natsu...’