“Haru-chaaaaan!” Ayako wrapped him in a damp embrace as the small carriage finally arrived, clattering through their front gate almost an hour after dawn.

“Okaa-san... It's ok, I won't even be an hour away. You can visit us whenever you want.” Haruki's voice muffled as he smothered against his mother's chest.

The grizzled old coachman looked as if he was about to have an aneurysm as he watched the tearful scene from the side.

“We'll be late...” A vein popped from his forehead as he grumbled. “I don't have the time to watch a drama...”

Releasing Haruki from her bear-hug, Ayako dashed away, briefly whispering something into Suzu's ear.

“Kyaa!”

She stumbled backwards, her face flushing crimson as Ayako cackled like a perverted old man.

Father and son both shivered for a moment, turning to each other with a final nod. After sharing an awkward, manly embrace, Haruki climbed up onto the cart, gently pulling Suzu up behind him. The two stumbled back onto the rough, wood-plank bench as the driver eagerly whipped the reigns.

Lurching forward with a clatter, the cart turned towards the road.

“Okaa-san, Otou-san! I'll see you soon!”

As they watched their only child vanish into the distance, Ayako and Ketrel held each other in a silent embrace.

“What did you say to Suzu-chan earlier?” Ketrel was slightly curious as to what his devious wife had done.

“I told her that I'm expecting at least 2 children by the time they graduate! Fufufu”

Suzu snuggled up beside him as they traveled, capturing his arm and blushing furiously. Head resting gently against his shoulder, she sat silent for the entire distance, refusing to meet his eye. Even as they arrived at the gates of Touhama, her face still held traces of pink.

'Sigh. God only knows what that deviant mother of mine said to her...'

The carriage came to a crawl as the streets grew thick with people, taking them nearly half an hour just to arrive an the main square.

An entire 6th of the city was dedicated to the Academy. Many budget restaurants filled the area with a delicious mix of aromas, while hundreds of students eagerly hunted around for a bargain at the various makeshift stalls.

Touhama Academy was famous across the entire continent. Run by the Adventurer's Guild and paid for by the Magi's Tower, it was even backed by The Church. They would often spend ridiculous sums to secure students that showed talent in light magic. With such a powerful backing, it was one of the few schools that everyone respected.

“We're here. These are your keys, your rooms are next to each other.” The coachman pointed at two luxurious looking town-houses, both sharing a wall.

“I didn't expect them to be this close to the square... Could probably walk there in 2 minutes.”

“They're for scholarship students, so that they're close to the lecture halls or whatever.”

Carrying the rest of their luggage with ease, he briefly escorted them to their front doors, dropping their luggage roughly onto the stone stairs with a grumble.

“Opening Ceremony is mandatory, starts midday. Main hall. Don't be late.”

With a backhanded wave, the coachman climbed back into his seat, vigorously whipping the reigns and escaping into the streets at a dangerous speed.

“Our doors aren't even half a meter apart! Shall we go in then?”

“Nn.”

Turning his key in the sturdy lock, the heavily reinforced door swung open with a soft groan.

'Holy hell, this is bigger than my house back on Earth!'

Peering in from the door, their mouths quickly fell open, awestruck at the luxurious room.

A beautifully carved stone dining table stood to one side of the long room, a fireplace built into the wall along side it. Further up the back, a small kitchen was already filled with pots and pans, firewood piled high next to a pristine oven.

Leaving their muddy boots on the tiled entrance, their feet sank comfortably into the dense carpet as they took furtive steps inside. Suzu excitedly flitted around the room, inspecting everything with an intense curiosity.

“Haru... It's so good!”

Haruki chuckled to himself, taking a moment to enjoy her excitement.

'We'll have some good years here, I can feel it.'

“Haru, race you to the top.”

Not pausing for a moment, she sprinted upstairs with playful laughter echoing in her wake. With a shrug, He roared off after her, nearly collapsing as his eyes finally fell upon the bed. Suzu lay back, propped up by her elbows, back arched gracefully. With a mischievous smile, she beckoned him forwards with her finger.

'Not until we're adults... Not until we're adults...'

Haruki's lust faded into sheer pleasure as he sank into the fluffy bed, wrapping his arms around her with a contented sigh.

“You could probably sleep an entire family in this bed... And it's so damn comfortable!”

“Nn.” Suzu blushed, remembering back to what Ayako had whispered as they'd left.

“As much as I want to lie here all day, we still need to buy food...”

By the time the church bell chimed midday, Haruki and Suzu had already packed away their shopping and were waiting awkwardly outside the main hall with a few hundred other children.

“Enter!” A powerful voice echoed from the hall as the doors burst open with a dull thud.

Despite the chaos, they quickly found some empty seats near the back. An older lady, perhaps around 40, stood at the podium impatiently tapping her foot. She was rather plain looking, but her hazel eyes were gently and warm, while her voluptuous figure would steal the eye of most men. Her short, curly brown hair bobbed wildly as she stepped forward, clearing her throat.

Her serene expression twisted into a fierce scowl as a small group of students kept talking.

“SILENCE, YOU NOISY LITTLE SHITS!”

With her face quickly blossoming back into a pleasant smile, she began the orientation.

“Welcome to Touhama Academy, everyone! I'm the principal, Sumida Shiori. Firstly, I must inform you all that duels are prohibited on school grounds unless officially recognized and sanctioned. Please use the proper channels or you will be expelled at the very least.”

Pausing for a moment to glare down at the crowd, hundreds of children simultaneously shivered.

“Lessons will start next week. Also, while we don't mind you doing it sooner, you must graduate by the age of 20 at the latest. If you fail at that point, you'll be asked to leave.

After the orientation is over, you will be taken to choose your electives and sorted into classes. ”

Haruki tuned out at this point.

'Orientation is the same everywhere, huh? Except for that part about duels...'

Shortly after it finished, they were all split off into smaller groups. After choosing their electives, they were herded into a small side room and forced to greet their classmates.

Haruki and Suzu both introduced themselves rather bluntly when it came time. They weren't there to make friends, but to learn, so they tried to create some distance. Giving off such a cold impression, rumours had already started to circulate. Most were convinced that they were arrogant nobles from a church family, deciding it was safer to just leave them be.

“Suzu-chan!” Haruki and Suzu both flinched, having both forgotten about the brat from the trials.

“Looks like you really came! Marvelous, shall we go eat lunch together after this?” Keishi gestured in the direction of town.

“I'm eating with Haru.”

Keishi deflated slightly, but didn't give up. “I don't mind if he joins us. Is he your guard?”

Suzu shook her head. “Fiance...”

The chattering class fell silent as her words echoed painfully around the room.

“Did she say they're married?”

“Maybe they're lovers. Kyaa!”

“Lucky bastard...”

“Don't be too sad, bro. Who cares about women anyway...”

Haruki had a terrible premonition. Suzu had only recently hit puberty, but even at 11, she still held the graceful air of a lady. Her exotic features were beginning to mature, causing her to become lovelier by the day. To make matters worse, her chest and hips had started growing, so even her figure was beginning to attract a lot of lewd glances.

'I'll have to watch that one in particular...'

Leaning close, he gently caressed Suzu's face. With a serene smile, she lightly nuzzled against his palm, causing a few sudden nosebleeds to erupt among the girls watching.

The teacher had completely given up on restoring order, leaning back with his feet up as he watched, casually munching on an apple.

“F..Fiance?”

Keishi glared at him, a flicker of hatred crossing his eyes. Without another word, he stormed off with a dark expression.

Haruki let loose a relieved sigh as he watched the troublesome youth waddle away.

'Please don't come back again... Please!?'