Author's Note) The School Belle At My House Part 1 (Haruhi)

Right now, I was having a hard time processing what was actually going on. Currently, in my small one-bedroom apartment, sitting in the living room was the school belle. This was not some freak accident, either. It happened all because of this morning’s magic test.

We were all gathering in our groups after being told who was with whom. Hirano walked over with a small smile on her face and stood before me, extending her hand out in the process. “Let’s get along, partner!”

“Ah… Y-Yes….” My voice squeaked slightly as I lowered my head trying to hide my blush and gently, well more like very lightly shaking her hand. I was trying not to let her feel how clammy my hands were due to my nerves almost bursting out of my body. 

“Hehe… Small and cute….” 

“Huh?” I could have sworn I heard her say something, but I could not make it out. She had said it in such a low voice that I was unable to hear what she had said.

“It’s nothing. Come on, it seems we are moving to the training room.” I absentmindedly followed behind Hirano as we made our way down the hall. 

She seemed to be quite the chatty type because she kept talking to me about this and that. And I…. I was doing my best to keep up.  “I-I see….”

“Right… Your name is Watanabe, right, Watanabe Haruhi? The girl with word magic?” Hirano’s question slightly startled me. I never thought anyone would have known who I was. I was basically invisible in class.

“Huh? Ah… um… ye-yes…” I gave a slight nod as I answered. But I could already feel my ears burning. It was hard to hold a conversation like this. I was really not used to it. If I could run away, I would since I felt like hiding someplace where no one could see me, but I did my best to hold in my internal struggle since I really wanted to learn more about Hirano. She was, after all, my muse for my upcoming novel.

“I thought so. I had been wanting to talk to you, but you seem to like to be left alone, so I did not want to bother you. I have always wondered what is word magic?” Hirano seemed very interested in my magic. While it was very versatile, it was also an annoyance and something that could cause great harm. In a way, my magic actually scared me.

If I was not careful, I could cause the deaths of many with a single word. If I was ever in a bad situation, I might end up harming people I did not mean to harm. Just the thought of it scared me and was why I rarely spoke.

I guess my silence made Hirano think she had said something wrong because she suddenly stopped and bowed her head to me. “Sorry, I happen to be kind of pushy at times. If I am being too nosy, please let me know.”

“Wha!? N-No… I…. My…. Magic is…. I will show you….” Her sudden apology startled me and I did not wish for her to think I was mad at he. So on the spur of the moment I offered to do something I normally would never offer to do. 

I sighed as I bit my lip and held my hand out. “Bu-Butterfly….” My voice this time was imbued with my mana, and on top of my palm, a pink semi-transparent butterfly appeared. It flapped its wings a few times before turning into pink balls of light that floated up into the sky and disappeared.

“That…. That was amazing! So pretty!” I watched as Hirano’s eyes lit up. Her long eyelashes fluttered as her pink lips curled up into a happy smile. It seemed my magic really made her happy. 

When my magic first manifested, it was on a day that my mother had asked me to clean my room. At that time, I was not like I am now. I was much more cheerful and outgoing. But that day, I was like any other kid at that age, rebellious beyond belief. It was that day that I suddenly said, “If only my room would disappear…. Ahh!”

My magic just so happened to manifest when I said the word disappear. I fell into the basement of my house and broke my leg. It is a memory I will never forget. Even ten years later, I still remember it as if it had just happened yesterday.

“Watanabe! You are not allowed to cast magic outside the training room!” The teacher, Sakamoto-sensei, eyes looked quite scary. I lowered my head and shrank back. I had gotten caught up in the moment and forgot the school rules. You can get suspended for this. If that were to happen….

“Sakamoto-Sensei, Watanabe-san was only doing what I asked. So if you want to yell at someone, you can yell at me.” Hirano suddenly stepped in front of me. Her gaze seemed piercing as she stared at the teacher.

“Hirano, you may be the director’s niece, but you can’t just go around ordering people to do things against the school rules. You both will write me a one-page apology. I want it done by tomorrow.” Sakamoto-sensei backed down as soon as Hirano stepped in. If not for her, I might have been really suspended.

“Th-Thank you….”