The cherry blossoms are falling outside. I've got the day off, but I know quite a few people aren't so lucky. I decided I should take this time to talk to my own cherry blossom... Sakura: Jikou-san... do you really have to go? Touji: Don't worry, We'll get married as soon as I'm done my schooling! Sakura: That's... three years from now though... Touji: Once I'm finished, I'll be able to get a safe place for our son... then we can live happily. I can practically feel her smiling across the phone. That's why I love her... she's always smiling that beautiful smile of hers. Sakura: I'll be waiting for you... Jikou-san... As I hang up the phone, I suddenly begin coughing uncontrollably. I cover my mouth with my hands, and once I stop coughing, I notice something covering my hands... ...Blood? As the cherry blossoms fall, I can hear Sakura again, as though she was in the room with me. Sakura: I'll wait for you forever... Mahou Gakuen ((Working Title)) A coughing fit wakes me up. I don't know where that came from... Other than a headache, I feel perfectly fine... and what was that dream about? That's the first time I've ever had a dream like that... Mia: Ah, you're up. It's about time. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up. She's Mia Suzu, one of my classmates. As you can see, she's beautiful, but this is the way she is all the time. She spends most of her time mixing some random concoction. Right now, she's breaking down the membranes of some plants with some beating. It's a loud and seemingly violent operation, but it seems she's paying more attention to that than she is me right now. Most of the guys in our class are afraid of her, because noone's really sure what she's making at any one time, and almost all of us suspect that it's explosives to be used on whoever tries to hit on her. Touji: Ah... Morning, Suzu-san... but... what are you doing here, exactly? After saying that, I look around, and quickly notice that... this isn't my room at all. This is more like... a hospital room, really. The sanitation levels in this room are beyond comprehension. Mia: This is the quietest place to work. Most people don't even know this room exists. Touji: ...Where is this, anyways? and why am I here? Mia: Your operation was a success. Congratulations. Though she says congratulations, she's so monotone that I can't really tell if she really means it... Wait, what did she say? Touji: Wait, operation?! What are you talking about? I didn't know about any operation... Mia freezes completely. She's even stopped beating on that plant matter. I can't see her eyes, but something tells me that they look completely different then usual right now. This was only for an instant, but it's long enough for me to notice it. As soon as she snaps out of it, she puts her equipment away, including the bowl, before talking to me. Mia: If we don't get moving right away, we'll be late for class. The clothes you're wearing now should be fine for today. You'll probably get in more trouble for being late than not having the uniform for the day. With that, she begins walking out of the room. Touji: Wait, Suzu-san! I shout to her as I follow her. I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My names Touji Jikou. I started learning here at the Mahou Gakuen Tokyo almost a year ago. My father's a teacher here, so I guess it was kind of destined that I would wind up at one of these schools. My mother died giving birth to me, so I can't say I know what it's like to have a mother, but my father did a good enough job of raising me. I am here after all, right? Suddenly, on the way to my class, someone jumps at my back, and quickly latches onto me. Natoko: Touji-kun! What do you think you're doing walking around like normal?! Touji: Ahh! Natoko-san, at least let me see you before you expect me to talk to you! ...What? It worked at getting her to dislodge herself from me at least. She moves up next to me and begins walking at the same speed as we continue talking. She's Natoko Takagi. We've known eachother since we were little kids, and we've pretty much been best friends ever since. She's just the kind of person that grows on you really quick, almost always being energetic. She's definately one of the more Westernized people I know, though... Natoko: I heard you were in a coma for two days! And what are you doing HERE of all places? Shouldn't you be somewhere more appropriate for you? I'm hurt, really. What the hell does she mean by that? "More appropriate for me"? Does she think I'm that bad?! Mia: He passed all the required aptitude tests. He practically slept through them. Natoko: Ah... Suzu! What are you doing here?! Oh, right... I forgot that. Natoko and Mia never got along. I guess it could be a clash of personalities, but it's always seemed like there was something more to it.... Mia: Walking to class. Natoko looks like she's about to try to beat up Mia... I should probably stop her, or at least make it so that I take the brunt of the attack. Touji: Natoko-san, attacking Suzu-san won't help anything. Natoko quickly changes her cross-hairs to me... She looks really pissed off. I don't understand why... Natoko: Shut up! You're the one who was always saying "Oh I can't even cast a really simple spell that you could do when you were five!" You think you're so cool, suddenly pulling out this magic talent? You spend your entire life lying to your best friend? You're cruel! ...Oh, great... looks like this is going to be going on a while... maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved after all... Mia: "The weak dog barks loudest." Natoko: Wha... What did you say? Mia: Our turn's here, Touji. That's strange... she never calls me Touji... She's normally quite polite, this is completely different from usual... but she IS right. We have to turn here to reach 1-C... Natoko's class, 1-D, is a little further down the corridor. Natoko: H...How dare you... Mia: We'll be late for class if we don't hurry up. Natoko looks like she's ready to chase us, but she managed to get Mia's hint, and right before heading after us, she turns back towards her proper corridor. Mogami: Suzu, Mia. We hear, as we enter the room. It seems like Mia was right... We're just going to make it. She seems to flow to her seat, as though it was perfectly natural to arrive at this time. Mia: Here. Our seating arrangement was established by a lucky draw on the first day, so I've got the seat next to her, the seat in the back-corner, closest to the door, which is lucky for these days. I imagine that if Mia had a choice, she would probably be sitting in the back-corner furthest away from the door, enabling minimal contact with people if she came early, and left late. I don't know, that's just how she seems to be. Mogami: Jikou, Touji. Touji: Here. I'm the last person in our class roll, seeing as how my surname starts with the character "Ji". Thus, class begins soon afterwards. Mogami: Today is going to be mostly a review day, in preparation for the exam in a week. Tomorrow, you'll be given an opportunity to finish any practicals you'll be completed. It's going to be an empty class tomorrow. Only me and Mia will be in class tomorrow, judging by the looks of things. Mogami: As you know, there are five basic categories of magic: Laying Dragon Lines, control over the Elements, Communication with spiritual entities, Alchemy, and Transformation of the body. Laying Dragon Lines are ancient lines of magic, which essentially cover the planet. There's an incalculable number of these things in existance, but there are only 6 or 7 different types. With each type of Laying Dragon Lines, a different type of magic is more effective on it, if they're used properly. They can also be used for quick travel, though that's quite an advanced trick. Control over the elements can ultimately be broken up into three different sections to make use of them: Humidity, Tempurature,and Energy within the ground. They might not seem very useful, but with combining these basic three in a variety of ways, you can do things like create a tidal wave or start a fire in a focussed area much easier than normally. Communication with spiritual entities is... kind of obvious, really. It refers to pretty much all spiritual forms, not just ghosts. One could also communicate with things like dragons, and fox-spirits... Like I said, it's not easy stuff. It's one of the harder sections of magic, in my opinion. Alchemy is the art of taking dead organisms or inorganic compounds or molecules and combining them through the use of magic into a wide variety of things. It's complex stuff, but it's basically a more focussed chemistry class, mixed with some magic. Now, Transformation's the hardest one to explain. It's actually pretty close to Alchemy, but focusses on changing an actual organism completely. In other words, this is stuff like turning someone into a cat or transforming yourself into a dragon. The class bell rings, signalling the end of class. I guess I really shold apologize to Natoko about now... I head out to the hallway. However, it isn't long before I wind up bumping into someone... I should have paid more attention... Touji: Ah, I'm sorry... Is that a uniform for a Laying Dragon Sorceress? It's unusual to see that in the First year's section... Second-year student?: No, it was my fault for not watching where I was going. It's strange. There's an awkward pause after she says that... It doesn't really make sense, but both of us feel it.... Second-year student?: You aren't Jikou-sensei's son, Touji Jikou, are you? Touji: Ah... yes. She brings her hand to her chin, and seems to think for a moment before speaking again. Second-year student?: Hm. This could be interesting. I'm Ai Tazuka, Year 1, Class 1-A. I'm sure we'll be meeting again With that, she leaves, leaving me behind, finding myself wondering what that was all about. Student A: I hear she failed the practical exam last year, and almost killed her partner. Student B: All of her friends are in Year 2 now, and it's hard for the Year 2 students to get into this area... Hmm... Ai Tazuka... I wonder why I've never seen her before...