Chapter 1: Yumena

Tone flinched, turning around

What he saw was a wide eyed girl in complete shock, a popsicle melting on the ground next to her

“Huh? You are… Yeah, you’re Yumena, right? The person everyone in the school is always going crazy about. Why are you on our back porch?” Tone asked

“You-you-you- YOU POPPED UP OUT OF THIN AIR!!” Yumena yelled

“Huh? Wait, you saw that? Oh. I kinda figured he would hide it from everyone el-oh. Right, he didn’t make it happen. This is confusing.” Tone said, shaking his head

He froze

“Wait. Why exactly are you at my house, Yumena?” Tone asked nervously

“I-I came because you were- um. I came because…” Yumena tried to talk, looking a bit flustered

“Oh. Right, you saw me pop up out of thin air, didn’t you. Sorry, if you want to ask about it I have no idea what happened either. Please, don’t tell anyone about that. I’d rather have everything stay as it was before, just pretend like you didn’t see it, okay? Please?” Tone asked

“Why?! That was awesome! I knew you were cool! That’s definitely magic, right? Are you secretly a wizard or mage while acting like you're a student? Or is it the story where you’re a student that’s fighting monsters on the side?! I’m not forgetting about that, no matter what you say! I promise I won’t tell anyone, please let me remember this! I’ve always wanted to see magic like this before!” Yumena rambled

“He’s in training to become one of the people who fight monsters on the side. It’s better to say his training started less than an hour ago. By the way, little brother, that’s an order from the head of the family. Anyway. That magic wasn’t him, but he’s going to be learning some different magic soon enough. By the way, we don’t erase memories, as you know, so all I can do is ask you to please not tell anyone about this. I’ll owe you a favor if you do, but that still depends on what the favor is. I’d like to say I’d do anything, but…” a voice said

“Watch.” Yumena said, her memories slipping out

“Huh?” The voice asked

“I want to watch! I want to see him learn magic! That sounds awesome! Is that okay?” Yumena asked, panicking

“That’s all? I was thinking you were going to ask if you could learn it yourself. Short answer is yes, by the way.... You’re the same as ever....” The voice said, sighing

“Huh?! Oh, uh…. if you don’t mind me learning and practicing with you, then I’d love that!! That sounds incredible!” Yumena said

“And this is the cool beauty that everyone is crazy for? I almost thought you were a robot for a while. I’m glad to see that the perfect beauty has such a soft side. It makes me feel a little bit better about myself. Why do you act like that every day, anyway?” Tone asked

Yumena looked hurt and conflicted by his words

“Oh. Right. O-of course you wouldn’t…” Yumena said, depressed

“Little brother, you can really be insensitive sometimes. Yumena, come this way…. I want to talk to you about… magic, okay? Before anything else happens. You can talk to me. Ask me questions. This way. It’s going to be fine.” Tones older brother said, worried and slightly disappointed

“Mm.” Yumena said, following him

They left the backyard, Tones older brother leading Yumena to a guest room