After a day, all those who had passed promptly returned to the school grounds. The bus that was previously filled with students was now almost, if not, empty.
And upon arriving at his dormitory door, he noticed a white box in front, with his name written on top.
"What is this?" He mumbled. He opened the door before he crouched down, picked the box up, and entered his room.
He sat in his bed, with the box in his lap. He carefully opened the box, and inside were three sets of white pants and uniforms, and another three sets of Physical Education uniforms, with all uniforms having their names embedded on the left chest side.
Lastly, there was a note attached to one of the uniforms.
"3 replacements will be given. Go beyond, and the student will need to pay. If there are issues with the given uniforms, feel free to relay those issues to our Secretary, Oinamu Stella."
"I should probably test them out." He stood up and grabbed one of the uniforms. Still in his clothes, he put on the uniform, buttoned all the buttons, and proceeded to put on the white pants.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
"It's fine. Fits perfectly well."* He mumbled to himself.
He did the same to his PE uniform, before proceeding to put it all in the laundry basket.
Then, following those events, he received a notification from the school.
A 2-day break will be given to them, and temporary going back to homes will be allowed.
"Oh... That's... Nice." He mumbled, feeling quite happy.
He immediately contacted his mother and told he about his plans to temporarily go home.
...
"Welcome Home!!!" Ryo's mother greeted him as she latched onto him, hugging him tightly with a smile on her face.
"Y-Yeah... I-I can't breathe, Mom."
"O-Oh, sorry." Her mother promptly let go of him.
"Is Hanako here?"
"Oh, your sister is in school."
"Oh,"
"Yeah... Well, she took her 2 day break the other day, and yesterday."
"That's quite a shame." Ryo felt quite disappointed. After all, on his way home, he bought several of her favorite desserts.
"I bought something for her." Ryo took out a white plastic bag from his hands and gave it to her mother.
"Oh my, how thoughtful. You must really love Hanako, don't you?" Her mother teased, proud and happy about what Ryo did.
"W-Well..."
"Such a good older brother! Anyway, let's have a celebration! I'll cook your favorite foods!" She enthusiastically yelled out.
"I'll help out-"
"No! Just relax and sit back! You must be tired from that horrendous exam."
"No, I've rested-"
"No! I insist. Let me cook."
"O-Okay."
With a beaming smile, his mother heads off to the kitchen.
She's really as energetic as ever.
Ryo thought as he smiled to himself.
He proceeded to take a seat on the sofa.
...
Ryo POV.
So many things have changed...
For years, I've avoided human interaction, because of a trauma. I've consoled myself for years and learned to be alone and to only have myself.
Upon leaving that door, the chamber of my room, everything feels anew.
Up until now, it still feels new. It is like, I am in another person's house, feeling, shy.
To learn magic and academic subjects, my Mom hired a private tutor for me. I learned things pretty fast. This allowed me to enroll at Seiei Academy.
Through boring days, I would read, and read about magic.
It is something I love... Or used to love... Maybe that's a better term.
I love magic.
I stood up and walked over to a picture standing on the nearby table. It was our family picture. Hanako, Mom, Me, and... Dad.
The day he passed away was the day I lost myself. Up until now, it still shackles me. The fire that burnt that building, killed tens, if not, hundreds of innocent lives.
Seeing this picture paints a melancholic scene inside my mind.
I placed it back and now went upstairs. At the end of the hall, was Hanako's room.
She'll always say that she'll be a strong magician. She's ambitious and industrious.
I slowly walked over to the door, and slowly took a peek inside.
I was surprised.
It was dark, yet I could make out the shapes of her all-pink furniture.
"This isn't what it used to look like." I blurted out. When I last saw this, it was empty and cold.
Time really passed by.
I closed the door, and now headed to my room, just a few distance away to the right.
I slowly opened it, and as I did, the familiar greeting of my dark friend greeted me.
It was the same, dark and lame, cold and empty. I could see myself lying on the ground for hours, just thinking, and thinking.
"I miss this... It's quite sad that I won't be staying here now." I mumbled to myself as I was hit by nostalgia.
I closed the door and went downstairs. My mother was already on the stage of bringing the food to the table.
I immediately headed to the kitchen and helped her.
"Hey! Just rest!" She yelled out from the dining table. However, I just ignored her, continuing to grab the plate of food.
She continued nagging for a while, before stopping with a heave.
"Fine... Just don't forget to go and relax later on, okay?"
"I will. Thanks, Mom."
After placing all of the food on the table, I promptly sat my Mom, before I did.
"These all look delicious." I complimented.
"Really? That's good to hear." Mom smiled warmly.
"Let's eat then?"
"Sure! Go and grab whatever you like, Ryo."
"I'll dig in."
I grabbed several foods and placed them on my plate. Upon putting them in my mouth, I could feel the nostalgic taste exploding in my mouth.
This was the food I used to eat when I was consoling myself from my Dad's death.
Surely, a mother's cooking is better than that of a renowned chef. She herself, is a renowned chef to me.
"So, how was the exam?" She asked,
"It was fine. I passed with flying colors."
"Really?! I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed, even standing up and slamming her hands in the table in excitement.
"Y-Yeah."
"That's good, I'm really proud of you! Hehe, I'm glad you're my son." She said with a warm smile, as she sat down.
That somehow makes my cheeks a little flushed, and a little happy.
"Now, now, enjoy the feast I prepared! Eat with all you can!" She exclaimed.
I chomped down on the food prepared. In each bite I take, I feel overwhelming nostalgia pop over me.
I can't help but smile over each bite I take. It's been a while since I've been overwhelmed like this.
I could eat this over and over again.
...
"Thank you for the food."
I promptly cleaned the table and plates right after.
As I was washing the dishes, I called over to Mom.
"Mom," I yelled out.
"Yes?" She yelled back,
"I'll go to the cemetery today."
That's right. Before I start my life as a student magician, I want to visit my inspiration this whole time.
My Father.
"Oh, Sure Ryo. But, I'm sorry, I can't come with you. I have something to take care of."
"It's fine. I'll go alone."
I promptly finished cleaning and left the house soon after. My Mother let me go, on the condition that I accept the money she so badly wants me to have.
I don't know what I'm going to use this for, since the cemetery is only a few blocks away, but, nevertheless, I'm thankful that she cares deeply about me.
Before going inside, I brought some flowers from the flower shop nearby.
Then, I walked passed through countless tombstones, until I stopped at a particular one at the end.
"Here lies the memory, Kyosuke Jin." The tombstone read.
I stared at it with melancholic eyes, as I felt the flood of emotions rush through me.
I sat down and placed the flowers by the tombstone.
He was the one who introduced me to magic and sparked an inspiration in me.
Unfortunately, days were only short, and not long after, he died from a tragic accident in work.
His death was the foundation of why I locked myself in my room. It was hurtful, of course. It is also the main reason why I hated magic. Because fire magic was the cause of that accident.
Nevertheless, the blaze he lit up in my heart still remains as my inspiration. But, the fear and guilt of using the same magic that killed him hinders me and shackles me.
Maybe it's not something everyone would understand, however, that's the chains binding me.
My mother would constantly get worried for I always lock myself in my room. Not even going out to eat, nor to even to go the bathroom. The anguish I felt was intense.
This academy is for me, the only way to pay back the efforts and consolations my mother gave for me to be healed.
Maybe I'll suppress this fear, for her, and for my sister. They're the only reasons I'm here, and I'll do my best for them.
"Maybe you'll find an inspiration to live."
That's what I always tell myself.
I looked at the tombstone again.
"I'm going to become a magician now. I hope this is the right path."
I mumbled, knowing that I wouldn't receive a response.
For now, I'll make my family proud.
This alone could get me through the year.