Hana-chan and Yume-chan

After Golden Week ended, it’s finally starting to feel like early summer. The greenery is vibrant, and the breeze is pleasant. Though it’s hot rather than refreshing when we’re doing club activities under the bright sunlight. Summer is just around the corner, huh?

The cheerleading society is on track, and I hope Hana-chan and Momo-chan continue their activities without any regrets as they aim to advance from a society to a club.

Even though Ai-chan just recently broke the prefectural record, it seems like she has her sights set on breaking the high school national record and even the Japanese national record if she can overcome her difficulty with cornering. She’s devoted to daily practice. What’s enviable is that she’s also receiving offers for recommended admission from several universities in Kansai.

I wish I could receive an offer for recommended admission too, anywhere would be fine. But relying on others like that wouldn’t be right. Oh, what am I thinking…

When the topic of Hasebe-kun’s mother’s remarriage came up, Tsukasa-san’s opinion was eye-opening. We thought we had grown a lot since we returned to being witch apprentices and encountered various situations, but we still haven’t been able to think from a different perspective.

Tsukasa-san is younger than Mom and Dad, but he has accumulated various experiences. His appearance and way of thinking are unique, but I’m glad I met him. I’d like to secretly visit Tsukasa-san’s nightclub next time. Of course, only after passing the entrance exam… oh, no. Only after turning 20.

I’ve finally decided on a path for myself and this year, I want to concentrate on studying for the exams and helping the soccer team win the high school soccer championship.

The Misora High School soccer team has welcomed new members and added a manager, and the qualifiers have already begun… So far, we’re winning smoothly. It’s hectic with a game every week, but it’s fulfilling.

I’d like to bring up refreshing topics in this refreshing season, but something strange has happened. I wanted to say “Not again!” but this time, the incident is related to the witch world, in other words, it involves Hana-chan, so we thought we should cooperate fully.

I was the one who discovered it.

I opened the browser with the intention of uploading a sweets recipe to the MAHO-do homepage, but when I saw the soccer news, I looked at it for a bit.

The final round of the European leagues is coming soon. Each country has narrowed down the championship to several clubs, and at the same time, there are rumors of J-League transfers. That was the information I saw.

It seems that a certain prestigious club in Italy is trying to acquire a Japanese player, and I was just talking about it with Kashiwagi Chinami-chan, the manager. We were saying how it’s been a while since a Japanese player joined Serie A, so we’re looking forward to it. Then, I saw an unexpected article in the related pages.

“Hana-chan, everyone, come here for a sec!”

MAHO-do was closed and everyone was preparing for tomorrow, so everyone was nearby, but I couldn’t help but yell.

“What’s up? Why are you yelling?”

“Geez, don’t scare us like that.”

Ai-chan and Momo-chan came over to where I was pointing at the computer screen. Hazuki-chan said to Hana-chan,

“Huh? Oh… hey Hana-chan, this person…”

“It’s Sakura Mirai-san! Why? How?”

Yes, there was a small picture of Mirai-san on the screen.

Because the performance of this prestigious club in Serie A was poor this year, it’s a common occurrence in Italian clubs that when the team’s performance is unsatisfactory, the owner ends up changing. It’s written that the new owner has recently become obsessed with courting a person named “MIRAI”, who owns a glass workshop in Venice, Italy. As a Japanese glass artisan, she is also featured on Japanese pages. Mirai-san is a beautiful woman. It’s understandable that she is a topic of conversation.

If there hadn’t been rumors of a Japanese J-League player transferring to that club, it might have just been local news in Italy. Mirai-san’s introduction photo was also small and barely visible. Ai-chan scrolled through the screen and said,

“Wow, they even showed the workshop and exhibition in Rome in detail.”

“It seems that she’s being featured in Japanese media as well because she’s a Japanese woman.”

Hazuki-chan looked puzzled. It was just a coincidence that coincidences overlapped. Mirai-san may have become famous as an artist recently.

Hana-chan read the article seriously and looked at Majorika. Majorika also said with a stern expression,

“If it were just Sakura Mirai alone, she could handle it.”

“Yes, but Yume-chan is with her now.”

Lala also made the same puzzled face. It’s a bit scary that news from Italy, which takes more than ten hours by plane, is known to Japanese high school students.

“Being obsessed with Mirai-san might be a joke peculiar to Italians.”

Ai-chan said and Momo-chan countered,

“Whether the article is true or not is not the issue.”

“That’s right, Momo-chan. I think it’s impossible to delete information once it’s uploaded to the Internet. Even if you can delete the image, it’s even harder to erase the memory of the person who saw it.”

Hazuki-chan looked at us with a serious face, perhaps thinking of her own experience and when Hana-chan came to Paris. I looked at Majorika and said,

“Hey, Majorika. If this article is just the owner’s joke, it could be a topic that disappears quickly, but we should also consider the possibility that it’s not.”

Majorika nodded and added,

“I remember when the media attacked Onpu’s Chinese friend.”

That’s right. That also happened. At that time, Mo Li-chan was very firm, and because she was a foreigner and really a high school student unlike Mirai-san, it was quickly resolved.

“We should also tell Onpu-chan.”

When Momo-chan said that, Majorika didn’t nod.

“Nothing has happened yet. Onpu is busy with work, but maybe she can come when she’s free on Monday.”

“No, we can’t wait. Onpu-chan might come up with a good idea. We’re all like Hana-chan’s mothers. We’re worried not only about Mirai-san, but also about Yume-chan. Besides, what will we do if something happens before Monday!”

I said firmly.

Onpu-chan became a witch apprentice for Hana-chan’s sake. We didn’t know if this would cause a commotion in the witch world, but if Onpu-chan didn’t know about this yet, we should think about it together.

Everyone had the same idea and pressured Majorika.

“Well, we don’t know what will happen yet. Let’s tell the Queen first and seek the cooperation of the witches in Europe. Of course, we should also tell Onpu about the article. That’s good enough, right, Majorika?”

Lala said to calm her down, and Majorika seemed to be testing our feelings,

“That’s right. Onpu is also a witch apprentice. Doremi, please contact her. You guys can continue as usual for now, but if something happens, we’ll ask for your help.”

We nodded vigorously.

That night, I told Onpu-chan about the article on my phone.

It has been about two weeks since we found the news about Sakura Mirai-san. The media hasn’t stopped pursuing her, even though there was an article saying she disappeared from her workshop in Venice. Majorika said that Mirai-san consulted with the Queen, but we don’t know anything else after that, and we’re still in the dark.

After closing MAHO-do or even at home, I got into the habit of searching the Internet every day, but the topic of the mysterious woman named Mirai-san is still buzzing.

Then one night,

“Good evening.”

The back door of MAHO-do was knocked and Sakura Mirai-san came in quietly.

“Mirai-san!”

I involuntarily exclaimed when I saw her in front of me.

Everyone focused on the back door at the sound of my voice. It was definitely Mirai-san.

“Long time no see… I didn’t expect to see you so soon, Doremi-chan and everyone else.”

Mirai-san bowed her head to Majorika. She wore glasses and a suit. She looked like an office lady. She seemed a little tired. Well, that’s understandable.

“Why are you in Japan?”

I asked at the same time as Hana-chan leaned forward and asked,

“Where’s Yume-chan? Where is she──?”

Right after that, Ai-chan also said,

“We were worried because we heard that you were missing.”

Then Onpu-chan and Hazuki-chan quickly added,

“It seems like the media is still pursuing you relentlessly.”

“It must have been tough. Is Yume-chan okay?”

As Mirai-san looked bewildered, Momo-chan said,

“Before bombarding you with questions, let’s invite you in here.”

“That’s right. Let’s have you explain first.”

Majorika beckoned to Mirai-san. While Lala went to the stove, she said,

“Yes, I’ll prepare some tea. Is Yume-chan with you?”

“I came to Japan with her. She’s resting at the hotel now. Actually, I came here with a request from all of you.”

Mirai-san was offered a chair by us, and when the tea was distributed, everyone naturally focused on her.

We had a lot of questions we wanted to ask, but we didn’t want to take up too much time by bombarding her with questions one after another. So, I also decided to listen quietly, restraining my desire to talk.

Before Mirai-san’s story, let me briefly explain about her. Mirai-san is actually the younger sister of the Queen of the witch world. It’s the same relationship as between Hana-chan and Yume-chan. Mirai-san wishes to live without using magic in the human world, and has been training at glass workshops in various countries, with her base recently being in a glass workshop in Venice, Italy.

We searched for Yume-chan in accordance with Hana-chan’s wishes. We knew that Yume-chan had been taken in by Mirai-san, but we couldn’t find her because there were few clues. We even went to Okinawa, but it was just after they had moved out.

Afterwards, we found out that there was an exhibition of Mirai-san’s glass crafts in Denmark, so we went to Copenhagen and finally met Mirai-san.

Hana-chan wanted to tell Yume-chan that she was her older sister and that she was in the position to become the Queen of the witch world. But Yume-chan is still a child who doesn’t know anything, so by living with Mirai-san until she is old enough to make her own decisions, Yume-chan can find peace.

For a girl who has been living a normal life, suddenly finding out that she is from a different world will definitely freak her out. Yume-chan also has magical powers like Hana-chan. However, we didn’t know how much Yume-chan had heard about the witch world from Mirai-san.

If Yume-chan was going to live in the human world for a long time, she wouldn’t need magical powers and she would have to learn to control it like Mirai-san.

We decided to leave it up to Mirai-san. We felt that if we disrupted the relationship between the two of them who were living together like a parent and child, everyone would become unhappy. So we decided to wait until Yume-chan turned 12 years old to reveal the truth about Hana-chan being her older sister.

Mirai-san began to speak quietly.

“…When I was living in the human world without knowing my true identity, it was a much more relaxed world than it is now. Even after I found out that I’m a witch, I don’t need magic. I just want to focus on glass making, which I love. I also had someone I loved back then…”

Yes, Mirai-san is a witch who can use magic but chooses not to. A witch who lives like an ordinary human being is different from an ordinary person in that she can live for a very, very long time without aging. Mirai-san, who never ages, cannot live with her loved one forever. She can’t even stay in the same place for a long time. She can’t reveal that she’s a witch either. So, she has been living while traveling to various countries, breaking up with someone she loves, and living a transient life.

She thought the topic of the Serie A owner would soon die down. However, when Mirai-san’s photo was posted on the Internet, it became known that she was a Japanese person who had recently been at a glass workshop in Okinawa, and people in other countries began to know about her. Even we could also easily see the information.

Knowing that she would not be able to move if pictures from decades ago were dug up in the future, Mirai-san left Italy with Yume-chan.

“For the time being, I took refuge with Majocollete, who runs an antique store in Paris. I thought I’d take the plunge and consult with the Queen, and Majocollete made arrangements for me to meet her in Paris after a long time. At that time, I heard from the Queen that you guys were also worried.”

Mirai-san took a sip of tea and continued.

“It’s unimaginable compared to ten years ago, how much society has changed. I thought I was being very careful, but this happened…”

Mirai-san said, looking down.

It’s not Mirai-san’s fault, but the Internet mixes everything, good and bad, right and wrong. Once you get caught up in the wave of the Internet, it’s difficult to undo.

Instead, it quickly moves on to the next topic, so the present quickly becomes the past. It’s really scary.

The owner of the prestigious Italian club that started all this was originally a scandalous person. He was said to flirt with beautiful women as soon as he saw them. Hazuki-chan and Onpu-chan nodded with a face that said, “Italians have that kind of thing.” Maybe they had experienced it.

“I left Yume-chan in Paris and returned to Italy alone to close the workshop in Venice. Then, to avoid the media, we came to Japan via another country and arrived today. Yume-chan must be tired. After we arrived at the hotel and had dinner, she fell asleep right away.”

When talking about Yume-chan, Mirai-san’s expression softened. Then, Mirai-san bowed and said,

“Please, could you take care of Yume-chan for a while?”

We didn’t shout out loud, but we looked at each other in surprise at the unexpected turn of events. As if she knew the circumstances, Majorika nodded with a stern look on her face and asked,

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I plan to live in a new place and work without involving glass.”

I thought that might be a good idea. Mirai-san had become too famous as a glass artisan. No matter where she lived, it was best to eliminate any clues while the media was still keeping an eye on her.

“For Yume-chan’s sake, I need to carefully choose a place where she can live peacefully for a long time. It will take about a month to search.”

Mirai-san’s explanation was reasonable. Above all, it was difficult to prepare with Yume-chan around, and it was the Queen’s advice to leave Yume-chan at MAHO-do.

“Yume doesn’t use magic, right?”

Majorika asked in a solemn voice, and Mirai-san replied,

“I think she can use magic, but she never uses it in front of me.”

Then, Mirai-san told us an episode from when Yume-chan first started living in Venice.

When Yume-chan’s foster mother, Majolebeurre, fell ill and Mirai-san became her substitute, shortly before Yume-chan turned two years old. Majolebeurre also ran a flower store in Paris, so it seems like she didn’t use magic as much as possible so that humans wouldn’t discover her identity. Having grown up seeing that, Yume-chan never used her magical powers.

However, when she was a baby, like Hana-chan, she unconsciously floated in the air or moved a baby bottle.

Even after starting to live with Mirai-san, Yume-chan never used magic until she was about three years old.

“But there was only one time when she used magic unconsciously in front of me. When Yume-chan and I went for a walk in the park, she was playing happily with a puppy. But suddenly, the puppy ran out onto the road and was about to be hit by a car. Yume-chan instinctively used magic to stop and help the puppy. She didn’t know if she had helped the puppy with her magic or if the puppy had just stopped on its own, and she stood there bewildered. At that time, I could have praised the puppy for being clever, but…”

“Did you tell Yume that she is a witch?”

Majorika asked.

“No, I didn’t go that far. I just told Yume-chan that she has a mysterious power since birth. But I warned her that if she used it, people around her might look at her with suspicion and bully her, so she promised not to use it.”

“Then, has Yume-chan not used magic since then?”

Lala asked.

“Probably… If someone who uses magic or has magical power approaches her, I can tell because of my own powers.”

Come to think of it, when I first met Mirai-san, she immediately saw me as a witch apprentice.

“But, at that time…”

Hana-chan was about to say that she remembered something.

I poked Hana-chan in the ribs with my elbow. I knew she was trying to talk about when she met Yume-chan in Venice.

“D-Doremi, what are you doing!?”

As I blinked my eyes hard, Hana-chan suddenly realized,

“A-At that time, when Hana was a child, she almost used magic and got scolded by Doremi and the others… I just remembered it.”

Hana-chan was sweating and trying to explain herself. Everyone could see it was a lie, Hana-chan. I noticed Mirai-san was looking at me with a serious expression. When I met her clear eyes, I couldn’t lie and decided to tell the truth.

In the park near Mirai-san’s glass workshop in Venice, when Yume-chan was being persistently bullied by some bad kids, she was about to use magic. If Hana-chan and I, who had transformed into puppies, hadn’t chased away the bad kids, Yume-chan would have definitely used magic.

After finishing the story, Hana-chan and I apologized for breaking the promise we made with Mirai-san not to see Yume-chan until her 12th birthday.

“We were puppies, and I don’t think Yume-chan noticed. Right, Hana-chan?”

Hana-chan nodded and said,

“I’m sorry.”

She deeply bowed her head to Mirai-san.

Mirai-san didn’t say anything.

“We heard from the two of them.”

“Sorry for not saying anything even though we knew.”

“We’re equally guilty.”

“Sorry. We apologize.”

Hazuki-chan, Ai-chan, Onpu-chan and Momo-chan also apologized together.

Finally, Mirai-san spoke quietly.

“Thank you for telling me honestly. It’s good to know that there’s a possibility that Yume-chan might use magic where I can’t see her. And…”

She started to say something else and took a sip of her tea.

With our hearts pounding, we waited anxiously for Mirai-san’s next words.

“Yume-chan didn’t realize that Hana-chan and Doremi-chan had transformed into puppies. When I returned from Copenhagen, she only told me about the puppies that protected her.”

Hana-chan and I looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

After finishing her tea, Mirai-san stood up.

“With Majorika and everyone here, I can entrust Yume-chan to you with peace of mind. Please make sure that your true identities are never discovered. Don’t let Yume-chan use magic. And Hana-chan, please don’t tell her that you’re her sister. Please keep these three things absolutely secret. Thank you.”

We nodded.

“I’ll take responsibility for monitoring, so don’t worry.”

Mirai-san nodded at Majorika’s words and said she would bring Yume-chan the day after tomorrow, then left.

The next day, MAHO-do closed on short notice and we spent the whole day hurriedly preparing the room. Then, Dodo and the others had to spend their time with Yume-chan while transformed into cats.

Of course, Lala also had to transform into a cat, but she naturally conducted herself like a beautiful cat without any awkwardness. On the other hand, Dodo would become clumsy if she wasn’t careful, making her movements stiff. She needed special training.

“When you’re in trouble, it’s best to sleep. Cats sleep a lot.”

Lala said, and it seemed to make her a little relieved, but Dodo seemed to be sleeping all the time. Hazuki-chan suggested pretending to be a stuffed animal and staying still all day, but that seemed difficult.

Then, the next evening, Mirai-san came to MAHO-do with Yume-chan.

Her hair was a little longer than when we met in Venice, but she was still adorable.

“Mirai…?”

Yume-chan looked up at Mirai-san anxiously, trying to hide behind her.

Well, yeah. Six high school girls, an old lady, and a lot of cats were all focused on the two of them.

“Yume-chan, this is Makihatayama Rika-san. She’s the owner of this house.”

Mirai-san said, and Yume-chan bowed her head to Majorika. So cute ♥.

“And this is Rika-san’s granddaughter, Makihatayama Hana-san. And these are Hana-san’s friends who make sweets at the store. Please greet them.”

When Mirai-san told Yume-chan to come forward, she came out shyly and said,

“I’m Sakura Yume… Nice… to meet you.”

She’s not used to speaking in Japanese. Yeah, yeah, but still cute.

We decided to make Hana-chan Majorika’s granddaughter. It’s not a difficult setting. When we each introduced ourselves in turn, Yume-chan bowed her head to each person while looking at their faces.

“Let’s be friends for a short time, Yume-chan.”

Hana-chan invited Yume-chan into the house. Mirai-san smiled as she watched them, but she said,

“Yume-chan, everyone is very kind. I’ll come to pick you up as soon as possible, so be a good girl.”

Mirai-san bent down so that she was at the same eye level as Yume-chan and squeezed her hands tightly as she spoke. A tear fell from Yume-chan’s big eyes, but she wiped it away quickly and said,

“Okay. It’s okay. Mirai, please come to pick Yume up soon.”

She said in hesitant Japanese and smiled a little. Then she waved her hand until Mirai-san was out of sight, but she didn’t cry. She was so brave. We also became teary-eyed.

We all had dinner together at MAHO-do that day, and we showed Yume-chan around the house and the store. We even found clothes we used to wear when we were kids and tried to match them to Yume-chan, so we ended up being late.

After Yume-chan took a bath, she seemed tired and fell asleep soundly. Seeing her sleeping face, we felt relieved and went back to our respective houses. The first day passed quickly, and on the second night, we noticed that Majorika looked a little reluctant.

When we agreed to take care of Yume-chan, we promised Mirai-san that we would never use magic. It’s not that difficult for us who don’t usually use magic. However, there was a big problem for MAHO-do.

“While Yume is here, it’s fine for Dodo and the others to transform into cats, but if they do that, we won’t be able to make sweets when Momoko and the others aren’t here.”

Majorika said that, and we were taken aback.

Momo-chan is the one who mainly makes the main sweets. Classic sweets can be made by Hana-chan, who has improved rapidly, and us.

However, we have school during the day, and after school, Ai-chan and I have club activities, Hazuki-chan has lessons, and Onpu-chan has work and lessons. Hana-chan and Momo-chan have also been involved in the activities of the cheerleading society since this spring.

When we’re not around, Dodo and the others mainly do small tasks, such as decorating cupcakes, making baked goods and candies, and individual wrapping. They can’t do it in their cat form, and it’s not good to have cats in the kitchen of a store that handles food, even though they’re not really cats. Not only that,

“Baked goods and candies are also popular sweets. We can’t neglect them just because it’s a short period of time. It’s crucial for our sales, so we can’t be careless. It’s a problem.”

We couldn’t close the store for a month, and we were careless too.

“Yume-chan seems to like drawing and making things, so we could ask her to help with making sweets, but we can’t teach her on weekdays either.”

Hazuki-chan said with a troubled face. Hana-chan might be thinking that if we could use magic in this situation, but we made a promise to the Queen and we can’t break it.

“That’s it!”

I came up with an idea and shouted like an elementary school student.

“What if we talk to Seki-sensei and have Yume-chan attend elementary school?”

I thought it was a good idea. Momo-chan tilted her head and asked,

“Will that work out?”

“But it’s worth talking to her. It’ll be more fun for Yume-chan to be with kids her own age, right?”

Hazuki-chan said, and Ai-chan agreed,

“Yume-chan said she has never been to school before. Isn’t that good?”

“We can shower Yume-chan with affection and teach her academics and Japanese. However, we may not be able to become true friends to her in the real sense.”

As Onpu-chan said, Yume-chan has always been surrounded by adults, so she has some mature aspects, but she is still a child.

“Then, I’ll teach her Japanese. I’ll go to school with her in the morning!”

Hana-chan said, using “I (Watashi¹)” instead of “Hana”. She’s trying to act like an older sister. Hana-chan can’t tell Yume-chan that she is her sister, but she can still treat her like a little sister. I turned to Majorika and said,

“Majorika, let’s contact Seki-sensei tomorrow. Please explain it well.”

We should act quickly.

“It’s unclear whether the elementary school will accept her, but it’s worth talking to them.”

Majorika seemed to have become interested in the idea. She knows that Seki-sensei is a good teacher who takes good care of her students.

After explaining the situation to Seki-sensei and having Majorika sign various documents about Yume-chan, everything was settled. Yume-chan was treated as a short-term international student and was allowed to attend Misora First Elementary. Some parts of those documents were a bit different from the truth, though.

“Yume-chan, in Japanese elementary schools, there are first through sixth grades. You’ll definitely have a lot of friends.”

Hana-chan and we explained our memories of elementary school to Yume-chan.

“Yume wants to go.”

She said with shining eyes.

It was only the third day, and we had just realized that Dodo and the others were indispensable forces at MAHO-do, so it was really good that Yume-chan said she wanted to go to elementary school.

“Even though it’s a short period of time, our teachers will support you to enjoy your elementary school life.”

Seki-sensei, who brought us the textbooks, said reliably.

We were grateful to the elementary school and Seki-sensei for accepting Yume-chan without delving too deeply.

It may be pitiful for Yume-chan to have such a short period of time, but I think it’s important for her to learn at school and spend time with classmates her own age.

While watching Yume-chan prepare with Hana-chan for school by aligning their notes and textbooks, Seki-sensei commented,

“As expected from relatives, Yume-chan and Makihatayama look very similar. Nevertheless, she is a quiet and mature child. It’s a world of difference from when Harukaze was in elementary school.”

“Ehh, isn’t that rude?”

Ignoring my objection, Seki-sensei continued,

“Her intonation in Japanese is subtle, but she seems to be able to speak it. The problem is with kanji. Well, since she’s in second grade, she won’t be using too many difficult kanji.”

“I wonder if she will be bullied,” Hazuki-chan said.

She glanced at Yume-chan with concern. She was worried that Yume-chan, who seemed to be having fun preparing, would get hurt.

“She lived in Italy, so she must have guts.”

Ai-chan said it casually, and Onpu-chan looked dumbfounded.

“What’s your basis for that, Ai-chan?”

“Just a hunch.”

Oh, Ai-chan. Is that even a punchline?

“Well, she lived among foreigners who are more assertive than Japanese. She probably has more guts than she looks. I think it’s also a good opportunity for her classmates to welcome her. I’m looking forward to seeing the students’ reactions.”

Seki-sensei said it with a smile and rode off on her bike. She’s still reliable.

The next day, Hana-chan woke up early and took Yume-chan to elementary school. Even though they are the same age, she looks like a guardian. It reminds me of when we used to take care of Hana-chan when we were in elementary school.

“Yume-chan, you look energetic. I’m relieved.”

As soon as school was over, Hazuki-chan came to MAHO-do with a relieved expression. Of course, everyone rushed to MAHO-do while feeling nervous. Hana-chan said that she was so worried about Yume-chan that she couldn’t concentrate at all during her classes.

Because as soon as she arrived at MAHO-do,

“Yume-chaan, how was school? Did you make friends with your classmates? Did Seki-sensei treat you kindly? Were there any bullies?”

She bombarded Yume-chan with questions.

“…It was fine.”

Yume-chan replied with a smile, but she was bewildered by Hana-chan’s forcefulness. There’s no point worrying Yume-chan like that.

“How was your Japanese? Were you able to keep up in class?”

Ai-chan asked, and while Yume-chan nodded, she replied,

“…The kanji was a bit difficult.”

“Oh, there are various ways to read kanji, and it becomes complicated when mixed with hiragana. And with so many straight lines, it’s unique.”

Momo-chan shrugged, possibly based on her own experience. Indeed, there aren’t many straight lines in the alphabet. I didn’t notice because I’ve always been Japanese. Yume-chan fidgeted and said,

“But I didn’t talk too much.”

“That’s because it was the first day. Japanese people are often shy.”

When I replied that way, Hazuki-chan added,

“Maybe our chattiness made her think that everyone in the class is the same. Fufufu. Yume-chan, everyone will gradually get used to it.”

Hazuki-chan smiled at Yume-chan. Yume-chan smiled back, but Majorika, who was behind her, gave her a sharp look. So Hazuki-chan went to the store lobby with me, while Ai-chan and Momo-chan went to make sweets, and Hana-chan took Yume-chan to her room.

Dodo and the others, who had transformed into cats, followed the two of them. Yume-chan seems to love animals. There were no major problems with her first day of school, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

A week has passed since Yume-chan started going to elementary school.

During Yume-chan’s absence, Dodo and the others worked tirelessly on making sweets, and we tried to work as much as possible. It’s a shame to have MAHO-do sweets sold out for customers who have come all the way here. We’re all tired, but Yume-chan is cute, and it’s heartwarming to see Hana-chan’s big-sisterly attitude. It’s a short time, but we’ll manage somehow.

However, Yume-chan still didn’t seem to be able to get along with her classmates even after that. Seki-sensei also talked to her, and she didn’t seem to be isolated, but she still couldn’t fit in.

“Communication is important after all.”

Ai-chan said, and she talked to Yume-chan in Japanese and taught her to overcome her difficulty with the language. Ai-chan speaks in Osaka dialect, though.

Also, Yume-chan had been in Okinawa for a while and had learned from Mirai-san, so she couldn’t say that she couldn’t speak Japanese at all. However, she seems to have a shy personality and is not good at actively engaging in conversation.

“The trick to improving your language skills is not to be shy and to talk a lot.”

Momo-chan winked and said.

Hazuki-chan understood Yume-chan’s feelings and said,

“If you use gestures and hand movements, you can convey a lot. That’s why I brought picture books.”

She brought many picture books that she had kept since she was a child and had moved with them.

“Beautiful…”

Yume-chan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the picture books spread out on the table. It seemed like it would be helpful for her Japanese studies.

“Oh, that’s right. Yume-chan is good at drawing,” I said.

When I returned home, I brought out some colored pencils and crayons that I hadn’t used much lately and gave them to Yume-chan.

“They’re a bit old, but use them to draw lots of pictures.”

“Thank you!”

While Yume-chan was looking at the picture book, Hana-chan gave her a sketchbook, and she immediately opened the box of crayons I had brought.

We watched over her as we started making sweets.

Thanks to Hana-chan, who lives with her on the second floor of MAHO-do and taught Yume-chan very diligently, Yume-chan’s Japanese became as fluent as Momo-chan’s.

Perhaps because of that, Yume-chan was very attached to Hana-chan, and we smiled at the two of them, but they would have to part in about two weeks. I feel so anxious when I think of Hana-chan’s feelings at that time. We also remembered the time when we raised Hana-chan. Even though we knew we had to part, it was still sad.

However, unlike Hana-chan and us, Yume-chan wouldn’t go to a place where she couldn’t meet us. If it’s Hana-chan, she can go and see her in a flash. If Hana-chan can keep her promise with Mirai-san, I think they will have several chances to meet in the future. Also, since Hana-chan and Yume-chan are like twins, I feel like they’re connected somehow.

We returned to our usual rotation and went back to our daily club activities and part-time jobs. On a Monday with a meeting, when I went to MAHO-do early, Yume-chan wasn’t there.

“She went to play at the park with her friends today.”

Momo-chan said while decorating a whole cake.

“Um, is that the park nearby?”

“Yes! Her friends came to pick her up and they went out together. I was so happy that I gave them heart-shaped madeleines.”

Momo-chan said happily. I heard that Hana-chan was alone in the store lobby, so I went to join her and found her wiping the showcase with a restless look on her face.

Hana-chan said,

“Doremi, is Yume-chan back yet?”

Even though it was still bright outside, she was acting suspiciously worried about Yume-chan.

“Geez, Hana-chan, you’re so overprotective.”

I sighed. Even though it was early evening, it was still bright outside, and we knew that the park wasn’t too far from MAHO-do, and above all, her friends had come to pick her up. I said it was a happy thing, but…

“I know. But I’m just worried!”

Wasn’t it Hana-chan herself who worried us so much, even though Yume-chan wasn’t that far away? She looked awkward even when customers came in, so I sent Hana-chan back to the kitchen and decided to handle it alone until Hazuki-chan or Ai-chan came.

Yume-chan returned home at about the same time as when Onpu-chan arrived at MAHO-do. She was later than expected, and Hana-chan was really worried, but when she heard that Yume-chan had fun, she said, “Try not to be too late next time.” She really was like a guardian.

Since the sweets were sold out, we closed the store and decided to have a light meal to match Yume-chan’s dinner. I also contacted my family so that they wouldn’t worry.

“Yume-chan, what’s wrong? Are you tired?”

When Hazuki-chan asked Yume-chan, who had less appetite than usual and tended to look down,

“No… just a little.”

She raised her face and smiled, then brought the spoon to her mouth. We decided to take care of the cleaning after the meal, and I left Yume-chan in Hana-chan’s care. Yume-chan usually takes a bath after dinner, so during that time, it was our daily routine to finish the rest of the preparations for tomorrow. After we finished our part-time jobs and went home, Hana-chan would help Yume-chan with her homework and prepare for school the next day. She has really become a big sister.

Although Yume-chan seemed to be taking a bath, Hana-chan didn’t return to the kitchen as usual, so I went to check on her.

“What’s wrong, Hana-chan?”

Hana-chan was standing in front of the bathroom with tears in her eyes, so I was surprised and asked her what was wrong. Then Hana-chan put her index finger to her lips and said, “Shh!”

“You know, the mothers of the friends she played with today came one after another to pick them up in the evening.”

“Oh…”

So Yume-chan seemed a little lonely. Maybe she was homesick. It’s understandable, but she didn’t want to worry us, so she acted normal.

“And then, Yume-chan was crying in the bath…”

“Hana-chan.”

I gently hugged Hana-chan, who had a face that looked like she was about to cry.

“She’s saying ‘Mirai…’ Hana knows what that means. Even though I’m here, even though I’m her older sister, I can’t say it…”

“That’s right. And you can’t cry either. Yume-chan is doing her best too.”

I understood Yume-chan’s loneliness and Hana-chan’s desire to tell the truth but not being able to. All I could do was pat her back and hug her.

“Yume-chan is out of the bath. Hana-chan, stop crying.”

“…Okay. I got it, Doremi.”

Hana-chan wiped her tears, blew her nose, and showed me a smile. I heard the sound of the bathroom door opening, and it seemed like Yume-chan was changing into her pajamas near the sink. After making sure that Hana-chan had stopped crying, I quietly went downstairs. Everyone in the kitchen looked worried, so I explained.

Ai-chan said,

“She’s homesick. It might just be that time of year. I’ve been through it too.”

Then she told us about the time when her parents got divorced and she lived with her father.

Like Yume-chan, she cried in the bath, trying not to be noticed by her father and thinking of her mother.

After finishing her story, Ai-chan patted my shoulder, looking a little down.

Hazuki-chan also had a sad expression and said,

“She must be feeling very uneasy.”

I don’t know where Yume-chan and Mirai-san will live next. It’s certain that they won’t be able to return to Venice for a while, and they probably won’t be able to make glass either. I wonder if she can’t even use the name Sakura Mirai.

After a while, Hana-chan came down the stairs.

“Where’s Yume-chan?”

“Maybe she was tired. She fell asleep right away.”

When I asked, Hana-chan answered in a small voice. When Yume-chan got into bed, she turned her back to Hana-chan. Hana-chan heard her snoring, so she quietly left the bed and came back.

In the solemn atmosphere, Onpu-chan asked Hana-chan in a low voice,

“How much magic can Yume-chan use?”

“No idea… But probably about the same as Hana…”

Hana-chan answered without confidence. Even though she had never seen Yume-chan use her magic, as fellow witches and sisters, she seemed to be able to tell.

“That means she has amazing power, right?”

“Hey, what will we do if Yume-chan sleeping upstairs wakes up and comes here?”

Momo-chan’s voice made Hazuki-chan put her index finger to her mouth and looked upstairs.

“It’s alright, because Dodo and the others are in bed with Yume-chan now.”

Ai-chan gave an OK sign. But you know, I feel like Dodo would still be sleeping even if Yume-chan woke up. We’re lucky that Rere and the others are competent, but sometimes I’m more worried about Dodo than Hana-chan. After all, even Pop was able to see through her.

Hazuki-chan flipped through Yume-chan’s sketchbook and said,

“She learns Japanese quickly, and she can speak English as well as Italian. She also seems to have a talent for drawing…”

“It’s scary, huh? Well, she’s different from us,” Ai-chan added.

Hazuki-chan, who is much more proficient in foreign languages than I am, was also surprised at Yume-chan’s progress in Japanese. Like how Hana-chan became the top of the class after transferring in, their concentration is incredible. Maybe it’s because they’re witches who are candidates for Queen.

“Did she become friends with everyone in her class?”

Momo-chan said quietly. We finished changing and picked up our belongings. But somehow, we couldn’t bring ourselves to leave right away because we were worried. Onpu-chan also made a smile, while keeping an eye out for her manager’s car, which was arriving soon.

“Once children get along, it’s quick, isn’t it? But it’s sad because separation comes quickly too. For us, for Yume-chan, and for everyone in the class,” Onpu-chan said.

“From now on, she’ll experience separation from various people.”

Hazuki-chan said in a solemn tone, and I remembered Mirai-san’s lonely smile. We don’t understand the feelings of witches who live for a long time. Hana-chan and Yume-chan don’t know this world yet.

“I wonder if the witches who run stores in the human world are also lonely. They’re always moving around, right? Has Majorika ever heard anything about it?”

When I asked, Majorika’s face became serious.

“I avoid asking about those kind of things. However, since they’ve been living with humans for a long time, even if they feel lonely, I’m sure they still like humans like Majoavenir does.”

Majoavenir is Mirai-san’s name in the witch world.

While looking at our faces, Lala said,

“Even I was surprised when I met everyone again after a long time. We haven’t changed, but everyone has grown taller, with different faces and much more mature. If it had been 20 years since we parted ways with Doremi and the others, we might not have recognized each other if we passed by.”

I don’t think I’ve changed, but my appearance might have changed. Lala’s words carried a heavy sense of reality.

As I thought the car headlights were getting closer, I heard the sound of tires near the back entrance of MAHO-do, and I knew Onpu-chan’s manager had arrived.

Ai-chan, Momo-chan, Hazuki-chan, and I got into the wagon car driven by Onpu-chan’s manager. Since he had driven us a few times before, he knew where our houses were.

Since Onpu-chan was also with her manager, she talked about something different from Yume-chan with us. So we talked about the cheerleading society and the soccer team’s prefectural tournament. We also learned that Ai-chan had been improving her record. Spring and autumn are the active seasons for club activities, and Ai-chan is working hard too. Her goal is to participate in the Inter-High as a 400-meter runner. Personally, I hope for even greater achievements from her.

After arriving home, I ate dinner alone, took a bath, and thought about Yume-chan, Mirai-san, and Hana-chan while doing homework. I think everyone is thinking the same way as me.

Hana-chan and Yume-chan, who are of the same age, but one is a high school student and the other is an elementary school student. Witches have magical powers that can even change their appearance, and they can live more than 10 times longer than us. I wonder how many witches there are on the Earth now. Maybe there are men from the wizard world too. Even though we’ve been involved with them for such a long time, somehow this world doesn’t feel realistic.

If I were the only one who knew about that world, it would be such a big secret that it would be overwhelming. I’m glad I have friends. And I think they are the best ones.

Yume-chan sometimes has a distant look in her eyes, as if she’s remembering Mirai-san. But Yume-chan doesn’t ask us when Mirai-san will come back. Even if she tries to hide her loneliness, we can tell.

But she seems less emotional than me, or rather, she doesn’t show her emotions as intensely. She seems more mature. Hazuki-chan is worried about that.

“I think Yume-chan realizes that she can use magic.”

“Is that so?”

When I said that, Hazuki-chan nodded.

“I think she’s afraid of using magic when she’s moved by her emotions. If not, she wouldn’t hold back her emotions so much. She’s still a child.”

On the days when Hana-chan and Momo-chan participate in the activities of the cheerleading society, Hazuki-chan comes to MAHO-do early. She makes sweets with Yume-chan, lets her listen to violin performances on the second floor, and accompanies Yume-chan’s drawing. Hazuki-chan, who is a quiet type, seems to get along very well with Yume-chan.

Ai-chan, Momo-chan, and Hana-chan arrived at MAHO-do, Hazuki-chan and I went to the lobby. Our conversation about Yume-chan continued.

“It’s sad that Yume-chan always has to endure.”

When I said that, Hazuki-chan replied,

“Yes. Maybe it’s because of the influence of Mirai-san, who raised her. She’s trying hard to be a normal child… That’s why she might be reaching her limit soon…”

“What do you mean?”

As the customers in the store paused, I asked Hazuki-chan while rearranging the products.

“Yume-chan doesn’t know that Hana-chan and Majorika are witches. She doesn’t even know that we’re witch apprentices. It must be difficult for her to hide that she can use magic and live with us in the same house. She must be nervous every day. Maybe that’s also part of the Queen’s calculation in advising Mirai-san to entrust Yume-chan to us.”

Hazuki-chan answered nonchalantly, leaving me speechless.

The next day, I was worried about Hazuki-chan’s words, so after Yume-chan went to sleep, we gathered in Onpu-chan’s room with Hana-chan’s magic. It’s not possible to talk together in MAHO-do where Yume-chan comes back earlier than us, and it’s not appropriate to wait after she falls asleep because each of our families would also worry about us.

For the time being, we left Yume-chan to Majorika and Lala and had Dodo and the others take our place and gather. Onpu-chan can’t come often except on Mondays, but it was convenient because she lives alone. When I told them what Hazuki-chan said,

“Then, is it like training to live with Mirai-san in a new land?”

Momo-chan expressed distrust and asked Hazuki-chan.

“If Yume-chan gets out of control, Hana-chan can stop her.”

“Maybe the Queen took that into consideration when advising Mirai-san.”

Onpu-chan and Hazuki-chan explained. The two opinions seemed to be in agreement. Ai-chan smirked and looked at Hana-chan.

“Isn’t it also about whether Hana-chan can keep the secret?”

“Hana is doing her best!”

Hana-chan, who says “Watashi” to refer herself when she is with Yume-chan, immediately says “Hana” in front of us.

“Have you ever used magic in the house?”

When I asked her, Hana fidgeted and said,

“…Sometimes.”

Even if it is called magic, it seems to be a very small thing. Like taking something or moving around the house.

“But I rarely use it. If I don’t use it at all, I feel like power is accumulating in my body. I haven’t used it since Yume-chan came. Also…”

“You’re worrying too much.”

Stopped by Ai-chan, Hana-chan shrugged. Onpu-chan saw that and said,

“Hana-chan is at home with Majorika, Lala, and Dodo and the others. No one would be surprised if she used magic. And no one would be scared either.”

And she smiled.

“Well then, Hazuki, Yume-chan must be going through a really tough time right now.”

“That’s right. So, for Yume-chan and Hana-chan, it’s not a training as Momo-chan said, but rather an ordeal.”

“That might be true, Hazuki-chan’s words. We need preparation to use magic, but Yume-chan and Hana-chan can use it just by strongly thinking about it.”

Momo-chan said and look convinced,

“In that case, if Mirai-san doesn’t come back soon, will Yume-chan’s stress accumulate?”

I sighed. Onpu-chan also nodded and said,

“I think Mirai-san understands Yume-chan’s current situation the most. Like we are Hana-chan’s mother, Mirai-san is Yume-chan’s mother.”

“That’s right. If it weren’t for these times, the two of them could have lived quietly. Well, just a little more patience. I think Yume-chan can do her best.”

“Really! Ai-chan, let’s go beat up the Italian who caused the problem!”

Ai-chan and Momo-chan hit their fists together with enthusiasm. I agreed with them.

“Both of you, don’t get too hot-headed. Even though this time it just happened to turn out this way, from now on they will need to be more cautious and make different preparations than before.”

Onpu-chan calmly said. Hazuki-chan also nodded and said,

“Hana-chan is also keeping her promise properly. Do you want to tell Yume-chan that you’re her big sister even now?”

When Hazuki-chan asked Hana-chan, she closed her eyes and shook her head. That’s right. Even though she’s a candidate for Queen, becoming a true Queen is still far in the future. There’s plenty of time. More importantly,

“Okay, until Mirai-san comes back, let’s make sure Yume-chan can live happily in Japan. Let’s work hard to complete this quest together!”

I said, and everyone agreed. For now, let’s put aside the witches, the Queen, and the sisterhood.

Yume-chan will only live in MAHO-do for a little while longer. We want to create a lot of fun memories with her.

For the next week, we found time to go out with Yume-chan. Because everyone had their schedules, we couldn’t travel far. But still, we had fun riding trains and buses together, shopping, and spending enjoyable time with Yume-chan. We were having so much fun that we forgot all about magic.

But the sudden farewell with Yume-chan came.

“Doremii! Yume-chan is leaving!”

On Saturday, I was heading to MAHO-do with high spirits because the soccer team had advanced to the semifinals of the prefectural tournament when Hana-chan called me on the phone.

MAHO-do was already in sight, and I ran towards Hana-chan, who was holding her phone to her ear at the back entrance.

“Did you get a call from Mirai-san?”

Hana-chan nodded and closed her phone.

“She called in the morning and said she’d come to pick her up in the evening!”

“Hana-chan, you don’t have to shout so loudly. Where’s Yume-chan?”

When Hana-chan and I entered MAHO-do from the back entrance, everyone was there, including Yume-chan, who was diligently writing notes.

“Yume-chan, do you need help getting ready?”

Hazuki-chan asked, and Yume-chan smiled,

“Just a little more. I want to teach Mirai how to make madeleines.”

She replied in even more fluent Japanese.

“My madeleines are delicious! Even Mirai-san will be surprised.”

Momo-chan said as she took freshly baked madeleines out of the oven. The sweet scent filled the kitchen, and I was also happy.

“Don’t touch them right away. Let them cool thoroughly first.”

Ai-chan, who was labeling the package, stopped Yume-chan’s outstretched hand.

“Mirai-san is good at cooking. From now on, Yume-chan can help a lot too. Mirai-san will be happy too.”

Onpu-chan said, who had also rushed over to help Yume-chan write down the madeleine recipe with Hazuki-chan. MAHO-do closed in the afternoon, and everyone was gathered around Yume-chan.

I was the only one who was late because I had a game to attend, but I had a lonely feeling of being left behind.

By the time we finished making plenty of madeleines souvenirs and an illustrated recipe, we cleaned up the room with Yume-chan.

“Yume-chan, please come and visit us anytime. We’ll leave this room as it is.”

Hana-chan said, holding Yume-chan’s hand. Yume-chan seemed to be filled with joy at the thought of seeing Mirai-san during the day. However, as time passed, I could see her face becoming increasingly lonely. But…

“Good evening.”

We heard Mirai-san’s voice from downstairs, and Yume-chan ran down the stairs with all her might.

“Mirai!”

Yume-chan hugged Mirai-san as if jumping up, and Mirai-san gently stroked her head and bowed politely to Majorika and Lala.

“Thank you for taking care of her for so long.”

“We can’t talk here.”

Saying this, Majorika invited Mirai-san inside.

Not only did Mirai-san change her hairstyle, but her makeup and clothing also became more youthful.

“I’m going to open a small cafe with an art gallery in America. Tomorrow, Yume-chan and I will be leaving for America.”

“So soon? America?”

Hana-chan exclaimed. Everything was so sudden, and I couldn’t even speak, but seeing Yume-chan snuggled up to Mirai-san, I couldn’t oppose it. It seemed like everyone else thought the same way because Momo-chan presented a beautifully wrapped box and said,

“We made madeleines together earlier. Yume-chan wrote the recipe, so Mirai-san, please make them too. Well, I don’t think they’ll beat my taste, though.”

She proudly said, easing the tension. Hazuki-chan and Ai-chan also added,

“Yume-chan really loves Momo-chan’s madeleines. She worked hard on the recipe and she’s also really good at drawing.”

“When you miss the taste of Momo-chan’s madeleines, come back and have them.”

The two of them said with a smile. Yume-chan also nodded and smiled.

“Yume-chan attended Misora First Elementary for a while. She made friends and seemed to have a lot of fun. I’m sure she’ll make friends in America too. Do your best, Yume-chan.”

Onpu-chan said, and Mirai-san, who didn’t know that Yume-chan had gone to school, was surprised and asked,

“Yume-chan, you went to school? There is an elementary school near the American store. Do you want to attend?”

Yume-chan happily nodded multiple times. Even though it was a short time, I thought it was good that she could go to school.

“America is too big to know where it is. Where in America?”

Lala asked Mirai-san, who replied,

“I’ll let you know when I settle down.”

“No doubt about it!”

Hana-chan said to Mirai-san, who had been vague.

“I’m not hiding anything. I plan to live there for a long time this time. So, I promise.”

I wondered if that was why she changed her hairstyle and clothing. When we met in Denmark, she seemed calm. However, I knew from Hazuki-chan and Ai-chan’s examples that even without magic, women could change in various ways.

“Everyone, come visit us next time.”

Yume-chan said in a whispering voice. As the time to part approached, she looked lonely again.

“Shall we go soon, Yume-chan? We have an early start tomorrow.”

Mirai-san stood up, and Yume-chan followed suit. Yume-chan’s luggage was mostly madeleine, but she carried it firmly.

The taxi Mirai-san had called for arrived. They were seen off by everyone at the backdoor of MAHO-do and Mirai-san and Yume-chan got into the taxi. When we waved our hands widely, Yume-chan looked back at us and waved her hands repeatedly.

When the two of them disappeared from sight, we went back inside MAHO-do. We were silent, but tears were streaming down our cheeks. Even Onpu-chan, who was always calm, had tears in her eyes.

Hana-chan tried her best to hold back her tears while the two of them were here, but eventually, she couldn’t hold them back anymore and big tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Hana-chan, you did a good job holding back.”

I hugged Hana-chan’s shoulder, and everyone else surrounded her with the same thought.

“Hana-chan, even though it was a short time, it was fun living with Yume-chan, right?”

“It was fun, Doremii!”

Hana-chan hugged me and cried. We didn’t know anything about Hana-chan and Yume-chan’s future, but I thought it would be nice if at least the fact that they are sisters wouldn’t have to be a secret someday.

When we went to the room on the second floor that Yume-chan had used, it was neatly organized, and we realized that Yume-chan had very few belongings. I started to feel lonely, thinking that her living in MAHO-do was only a temporary stay.

“Oh, this? Did Yume-chan forget this?”

Hana-chan took out a sketchbook from the desk drawer. When she opened it,

“Oh, amazing!”

It was a portrait of everyone drawn by Yume-chan. There was one drawing per page, and I was wearing the patissiere outfit at MAHO-do, Hazuki-chan was playing the violin, Momo-chan was making sweet dough, and Ai-chan and Onpu-chan were decorating. Majorika was sitting on a chair, while Lala and Dodo and the others were drawn as cats, sleeping or sitting.

Then Hana-chan saw her own portrait on the last page,

“Ah! T-This is… just a coincidence, right?”

She asked me while handing me the sketchbook.

Hana-chan was watering the flowers in the garden bed, and underneath the portrait was written, “Thank you, Onee-chan².”

“I-I guess it’s probably not a coincidence…”

I looked at Ai-chan.

“…Of course, it’s not.”

Ai-chan said, looking at Momo-chan instead of me.

“She wrote it on the last page as a symbol… right?”

While Momo-chan answered, she looked at Hazuki-chan and Onpu-chan.

“I suppose so.”

Hazuki-chan gave Onpu-chan a complicated look.

“Does that mean I have to answer?”

We all nodded. Onpu-chan made an exaggerated swallowing gesture and said,

“That is… because she’s a little witch.”

“Eh───!!”

As we reacted in surprise, Majorika complained from under the stairs, but Onpu-chan winked and said,

“Just kidding. I think it’s a coincidence.”

We all breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come on~, Onpu!”

Hana-chan pouted and stared at her with puffed up cheeks.

Asking Onpu-chan last was definitely the wrong move.

If Yume-chan was really more cunning than us, she would be harder to handle than Hana-chan is right now.

I don’t think her smile was fake, and one day she may find out everything, but until then I hope she can enjoy her life in the human world like Hana-chan.

Finally, I got tired and went home. After taking a shower, I collapsed into bed right away.

After a month of turmoil, we would return to our normal daily lives starting tomorrow. I hope that nothing happens next month. I hope the soccer team will win the prefectural tournament and the Inter-High. While wishing for that, I fell asleep without even drying my hair.