"Welcome Kazu~" Her sweet voice whispers to me. "You...as usually you wait for me here.." She always wears the same white dress, her smile is so warm and welcoming and her silky long blonde hair goes to her waist. I can't help but fall in love with this girl every time I see her.

"Of course I do, you are my Kazu after all aren't you?~" She says with her calming voice. I can just nod in agreement as I look at her.

Everything about her is perfect..but, her face..I can't make it out. I just know it's as beautiful as the rest of her but I can't look at it. Why? I just need one look and that's it.

"Is something wrong Kazu?" She asks me. Damn that voice of hers hypnotizes me every time I hear it.

"No..i was just thinking.." I answer.

"Ah right! Today was the first day of school wasn't it? Did you have fun?" she smiles. "No--- Yes...I don't know.." I answer, now embarassed. She chuckles at my response. "Well, it doesn't matter, now you can relax...just lay your head on my lap~"

I do so. She strokes my hair, humming softly. I always wonder who this person was. My mother? A mother figure my mind created? I don't know, but I don't care either, I don't want this to end...

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"Kazuki! Kazuki wake up!" the voice of a familiar old woman shouts. It's morning I guess...

I open my eyes and get up, getting dressed. I just keep thinking about that woman. What a weird dream..

I take a look in the mirror. Pitch black messy hair, brown eyes and a tired and lifeless look on my face, well, I am ready for the day.

I walk downstairs and eat breakfast. I see my grandfather Oroshi eating as well. "Why are you up so early? Don't you just sleep all day?" I ask him. "I do but today i'm having a meeting with the other village elders."

My grandfather Oroshi is head of the Hatagano family, we used to be a large and proud clan but ever since the civil war, most of us died or fled in search of a better life. Most of them forgot their roots, changing their last names, mixing with folks from other countries.

I can't blame them, the situation in the Varatranian empire is just getting worse. But back then, the Hatagano family used to be the strongest family in the village of Naofuma. We are also the only humanimals that had absolutely no animal features.

Even here, in a humanimal settlement, I also felt like an outsider. Is it because we are the wealthiest family? Because we don't look like them? Because there was always a feeling of the Hataganos being superior to the rest? I don't know.

After the civil war, my great grandfather decided on ending the rule of the Hataganos, creating the Council of the Elders. My grandfather Oroshi saw that as a weakness but when my great grandfather passed and my grandfather became the head of the family it was already too late to take the power back.

Even so, Oroshi has the most influence in the council and I can feel that the other people of the village still hold a grudge against him and the whole family. I still wonder what my predecessors did to deserve that, but Oroshi and Baba never wanted to tell me.

I snap out of my thoughts as I realize I'll be late for school. Dan and I get on the giant rat he summoned again and head to school.

I enter the classroom, it's silent. Well, everyone witnessed the embarassing defeat our class suffered yesterday. Their prides are hurt, but then Daren stands up.

"I won't just sit and let them win! The tournament starts next week and we're just going to give up?!" Daren shouts.

"What can we do? They destroyed us. Even if we win against the rest, they'll just destroy us in the finals.." Vely frowns.

"No!...No...I won't let that happen.." Daren says, almost whispering, realizing Vely is probably right.

"They caught you by surprise, they probably had intel on you while you had no idea what was coming. That energy armor drains a lot of energy, it's a high risk high reward spell, if you fight smart, you can outsmart them." I say, trying to cheer them up.

I don't really care who wins but I can't let these idiots just give up like that. As they hear me they all raise their heads and look towards me.

"See? I think the Humanimal is right! We do have a chance!" Daren says. He seems excited, guess my little speech worked.

"We just have to train! We won't lose to a bunch of kids!" Baaya shouts. The depressed students soon became motivated and ready. I take my seat and Vely sits next to me.

"Thanks Kazuki, now we maybe have a chance." Vely says, smiling.

"Yeah sure, good luck buddy." I tell him.

Class soon starts. It's a regular boring day at school. History, maths...I really don't know why i decided on going to a magic academy. Probably because of my grandfather expecting me to become a strong warrior that can take over when he's gone or something.

The day passed quickly and as i exit the academy I see a familiar face, a face I didn't think I would see around here.

"...Ayame? Is that you?" I say, surprised.

"O-oh, h-hi Kazuki..." Ayame says with her usual faint voice, she was almost whispering. She always acted like this.

Ayame is a dog humanimal from Naofuma. My neighbour actually. She's 15 and...quite cute to be honest. She's wearing the school uniform...does that mean they accepted humanimals other than me and my brother..?

"I-is something wrong Kazuki..?" Ayame said, Her brown hair was tied in a ponytail with cute little dog ears sticking out, the skirt also had a hole for her tail..why would they accept humanimals in a human school? Don't they know...

"K-kazuki..? Wake up---" She said again, looking to me.

"Ah! Sorry. I was just..thinking about something, don't worry about it.." I say.

"O-okay...I gotta go now, see you later.." She smiled, blushing.

"Sure thing.." I wave to her and head home. I decide on walking today.

As I arrive to our house and enter the yard I see my brother training.

"Ah Kazuki! You're home!" Oroshi says. He was sitting on the terrace, watching Dan. But I think I just saw him wake up after he heard the gate being opened.

"Hey gramps.." I walk to the house.

"What's wrong Kazuki?" Oroshi says. "Why don't you train with your brother a bit? At this rate, he's going to become a better warrior than you." He smirks, trying to motivate me I guess.

"I'll pass..I have enough homework already.." I say, entering the house.

"If you say so.." Oroshi frowns, turning back to Dan.

The next day nothing interesting happens at the academy, I hear the rumours about 2/B getting destroyed by some freshmen spreading but I don't really care that much about it.

My classmates are really pushing themselves though, I never saw them train so much, guess they really wanna win this eh?

The tournament starts next week, but I don't really care about that either, I'm just happy it's finally friday. I guess I'll walk home today as well, the weather is nice.

"Kazuki...?" a female voice calls me. I turn to it and see Ayame, is she also walking to Naofuma?

"Hey Ayame." I say

"Kazuki...do you mind if I walk home with you...? It's quite far away and I thought you could use some company.." She says, looking down and fidgeting.

"Sure, let's go." I say and we start walking.

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..This is awkward, almost 15 minutes passed and she didn't say a word...I wonder what's wrong..

"So Ayame...how did you get into the academy?" I say, thinking it would be a nice topic to break the ice...on second thought it may was a stupid question---

"E-eh..? W-well I always wanted to become an actual mage and prove to everyone that even humanimals can be successful, my father thought it is a stupid idea at first but he ended up supporting me and they accepted me.." She says.

"Wow..just like that..?" I respond. "It's weird for humans to accept humanimals but even weirder for humanimals to actually want to go to a human school.."

"I'm trying to prove to everyone that race doesn't matter! It doesn't matter in other empires so why would it here..? I just...want it to end.."

We are just a small humanimal island surrounded by an ignorant ocean of humans, as much as I like what she wants to do I can't imagine this empire ever changing..

"Good luck with that Ayame---" I get cut off by her

"You never had those troubles Kazuki..you and your family look like humans...yet you decide on staying in a humanimal settlement, keeping the reputation...why?"

"We may look like humans, and as much as my grandfather tried to make us seem human, we'll always stay humanimals and that will never change so better be a humanimal with pride than a fake, don't you think?" I answer.

"I-i guess" Ayame says.

"I also want things to change but I don't have the will or power to do so" I continue.

"Well, maybe we could change things together...?" She says, looking down and blushing.

"Hm? What do you mean?" I look at her, confused.

".....K-kazuki.." She starts fidgeting "I've been meaning to tell you---"

"Ayamee!!!" A girl shouts to us.

"E-eh, w-wha---" She looks up. There are 3 girls waving to us, calling Ayame, they look at me and start smirking.

"Y-you guys!" Ayame shouts.

"I-i have to go Kazuki! S-see you!" She rushes to her friends who start giggling and teasing, I don't really pay much attention to them and head home.

"Well, that was weird.." I think to myself as I enter my room, relaxing after the long day.

I take one of my novels and start reading. "The adventures of the amazing hero Ken" eh? What a name...a classic story about some over the top guy that saves the day. It's kinda interesting to read them I guess, even though you know the hero will always win and get the girl, it's fun..

"Kazuki? Kazuki!" I hear Baba shouting. "Yes?" I shout hack. "Can you please go to the store and get some milk? We ran out!"

I sigh. "Sure thing Baba..." I get ready and head to the store. As I walk to the store I look around the village. The weather is nice, there are people outside working, kids running around.

"Yo Kazuki!" I see an old friend walk up to me. "Hey Dean..what's up?" I say. "Not much, just heading to the store." Dean says. "Ah, then we can go together." I say as we start walking to the store, catching up a bit.

Dean is another dog humanimal, he always has messy hair and worn out clothes. We don't meet often since I don't go out that much but he's a good friend I guess..

We walk to the store together and buy everything we needed to. As we're walking home, we notice 2 guys behind a corner. One of them a short dog humanimal and the other one his best buddy, an ape humanimal. What a duo.

"There he is" The taller one says, looking to me. His name is Chris if I remember correctly. He starts walking towards Dean and me. The shorter dog humanimal walks after him. His name is Kiba.

"Oh...hey guys---" Dean says. "Shut it." Kiba cuts him off. "What the hell where you doing with my sister Hatagano??" Kiba says, looking at me.

His sister? Ah right...Ayame is his younger sister...just great..

"We were just walking home together, relax." I say.

"Don't tell me what to do, stay away from my sister!" He shouts angrily.

"Guys can you calm down please.." Dean says, getting between us.

"No! I'm sick of the Hataganos, I won't keep my mouth closed anymore! How dare you call yourselves humanimals!? This whole village was enslaved by your family till recently!"

"You always thought you were better than us.." He continues "And now that there is nothing left of the Hataganos you want equal rights??"

"..What are you talking about? I don't get what you're saying" I answer.

"You don't have to, it's time someone fucking taught you a lesson you spoiled brat!" He shouts, getting into a stance.

"And here we go.." Looks like conflict can't be avoided...I get ready for a fight and wait for his strike..

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