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Elena’s eyes widened as she watched a plane soar through the sky. She glanced behind her and realized she was standing at the airport after a two-hour journey on a magic broom—one of the first skills the academy had taught her and her friends.
"We’re really going to Japan, huh? It’ll be a nice change of pace. We can go sightseeing and stuff! I’ve heard it’s way prettier than London, haha," Anna chuckled. "At least the skies are usually clear... I’m tired of cloudy weather. I need sunlight! Vitamin D is good for the skin, you know. I’ve heard it helps with depression too..."
"You think so?" Elena asked, still hesitating slightly.
Olivia had appeared out of nowhere a week earlier and invited them out to eat. She took them to a fancy restaurant, congratulated them on their victory, and then casually announced she had secured a prestigious exchange scholarship as a reward for winning the first magician combat tournant. The Clock Tower magicians had agreed and provided everything needed to send them far from London. And so they had arrived here.
"I just really thought we were staying in London for four years..." Elena said. "I-I haven’t t my dad’s family for... for a long while. I’m nervous. What will they say if they see like this?"
"We’re using magic artifacts to hide our appearances, silly. They won’t notice unless they’re really strong magicians. But there’s no way, haha," Anna chuckled. "Co on, it’ll be fun! Get excited!"
"Hm... I guess so," Elena nodded with a gentle smile. "Master Olivia already contacted them as my current guardian. They seed happy I was coming to visit. She even said they could offer the chance to live with them..."
"Wow, isn’t that nice?" Anna asked.
"Yeah, but I also have my mom’s family in Canada," Elena sighed. "They... they didn’t take it well when Mom suddenly disappeared."
The news of Elayne "dying" had not spread. Instead, it was reported that she vanished in a First Contact incident to conceal her disappearance and presud death. Her family had grown incredibly worried and prayed daily for her return. They had also welcod Elena and her friends for the first month after Elayne vanished, before Olivia took her in.
By now, her family had learned about the Supernatural World and Elena’s changed appearance. They had agreed to keep it secret through special magic contracts.
"Hm... but still... co on," Anna urged.
"Yeah, I know. It’s exciting," Elena sighed, watching planes lift off into the horizon.
As the two girlfriends chatted, footsteps approached from behind. Olivia, Elisa, and Monica walked toward them, carrying everything they needed.
"Look, we got so boba milk tea!" Elisa said. "For everyone!"
"It’s so delicious~" Monica smiled, nodding. "And we bought these donuts too... Oh, and we got you a Harry Potter keychain."
"T-Thanks..." Elena had been showered with love and attention from her friends to lift her spirits, but sotis it felt overwhelming. They kept bringing her things. "E-Everyone... Hah... Hahaha..."
After so long, Elena let out a small chuckle. Her friends all smiled in relief, happy to see even a little joy returning to her.
"You don’t need to go so far... I’m fine now," Elena said. "But thank you... Let’s do this together, like we always do."
"Yeah!" The girls cheered and hugged each other tightly, forming one big team.
Olivia crossed her arms and smiled warmly as she watched her beloved students. She looked up at the blue sky, her eyes suddenly sharpening. "Don’t worry, Elena... I will bring your mother back."
After waiting half an hour, the plane to Japan finally arrived. They boarded and settled in for the journey.
The flight was uneventful—nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Elena felt a little nervous, but Anna’s hand resting over hers cald her down.
Anna’s mother had decided to co along as a secondary guardian for the girls, ensuring an adult would be present to watch over them.
"Um, I know this is pretty late, but... Olivia, is this really okay?" Anna’s mother asked, sighing.
"It is a little late for second thoughts. I already asked you multiple tis if you were fine with this, and you said yes every ti..." Olivia sighed. "But yes, I am sure. Please don’t worry."
"Okay... you know better than ," Anna’s mother said. "I just... hope the kids can get along well."
"They will," Olivia smiled. "And don’t worry about speaking Japanese. Elena speaks it fluently. Elisa, Anna, and Monica can use a language-learning accessory—I gave you one too."
"Oh, this earring? I had no idea it had that effect. I thought it was just another magic ward item," Anna’s mother said. "Well, thank you, Olivia. You really thought of everything, haha..."
Once Anna’s mother finally relaxed, Olivia closed her eyes as they traveled through the skies. The twelve-hour flight felt slow and stressful for the girls, but when they finally stepped out at Haneda Airport, everything changed.
The sleek, modern terminal overlooked Tokyo Bay, with bridges and highways stretching across the water and the distant skyline shimring. Sotis Mount Fuji was faintly visible. Taxis, buses, and shuttles bustled below amid landscaped stone paths and seasonal flowers that softened the urban energy. Beautiful cherry blossoms lined the streets, giving the place a completely different atmosphere from murky London.
"Ah, finally here... the air does feel a little cleaner," Elena yawned as she stepped outside with her friends. "Wow, I haven’t visited this place in years. It has changed a little."
"Wooow! This is my first ti in Japan! Shall we go to Shibuya and Shinjuku and all the other famous places?!" Elisa wondered, walking around with pure whimsy and wonder.
"It’s nice!" Monica nodded. Many Japanese people stared at them oddly because they were talking so loudly. "A-Ah, sorry... gon."
"Girls, be a little mindful of your manners while we’re in Japanese society," Olivia said with a kind smile.
"So where are we staying? Are we picking up a hotel?" Anna asked.
"Yeah, I was wondering the sa," her mother nodded.
"Let’s go eat sothing first. I bet everyone’s tired. I’ll tell you all our plans while we have a good al," Olivia said, licking her lips. "I’ve heard there are so nice places here where we can enjoy good Japanese cuisine and nice sake. It has been a while since I’ve drunk so rice wine~"
"Hah, always with the food. Master’s really a foodie, huh?" Elisa sighed.
"Heheh... and then she gets drunk..." Monica muttered with an awkward chuckle.
"Ah, well, I’m all for it. I’m exhausted," Anna’s mom sighed, stretching her arms. "Aw man, Japanese people are really small, huh?" She was a very tall woman, making most passersby look quite small in comparison. A few Japanese n glanced at her while blushing, perhaps finding her mature, tomboyish charm alluring, but they quickly continued walking.
"M-Mom, don’t say that out loud..." Anna sighed.
"What? They don’t understand anyway," her mother laughed loudly, making Anna feel terribly embarrassed.
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