When Wentworth arrived with Yukina in his arms, her face a picture of "frail weakness," and found Yusei, Yusei's jaw nearly hit the ground.
Wentworth, however, remained perfectly composed as he spoke:
"I was taking a walk around your school just now when I happened upon Yukina collapsed on the ground. So I brought her here to you."
In his arms, Yukina blushed crimson but managed to speak in a "feeble" voice:
"There was an accident while I was brewing a potion... It exploded, and I blacked out. Thank goodness Wentworth found me!"
Hearing their account, Yusei eyed the two of them suspiciously. His gaze lingered on the healthy flush in Yukina's cheeks, and he fell into deep thought. After a long pause, he finally asked:
"Where exactly did you find Yukina? We searched nearly every corner of the school and couldn't find a trace of her!"
At Yusei's question, Yukina shot Wentworth a nervous glance. But Wentworth replied calmly:
"I was in a rush, I didn't really pay attention to the exact spot. I doubt I could find it again if I tried."
Wentworth couldn't be bothered to elaborate on the lie, he knew Yusei wouldn't press the issue.
And indeed, Yusei blinked in surprise at Wentworth's offhand reply, seemingly not expecting such a blunt dismissal. But then, quite suddenly, Yusei smiled and gave Wentworth a deep bow, his face full of gratitude.
"Thank you, Wentworth! Truly! If it weren't for you, no one here would be getting a wink of sleep tonight!"
Yusei then instructed a student to notify Headmaster Minamoto that Yukina had been found. Meanwhile, he personally escorted Yukina and Wentworth back to the very place where Wentworth had first encountered her earlier that day.
By the time they arrived, several giant storm petrels were already waiting.
As Wentworth gently lowered Yukina from his arms, she bounced cheerfully onto the back of one of the massive seabirds. Just as Yusei rushed to bid her a hurried farewell, Yukina turned to Wentworth with a bright smile:
"Wentworth, I really can't thank you enough for today. Would you... like to visit the Uesugi home as a guest?"
Yusei immediately interjected:
"Yukina, Wentworth is our honored guest at Mahoutokoro, how can you just—"
But before he could finish, Wentworth was already walking toward Yukina's storm petrel, calling out with a smile:
"I'd be honored."
Yusei: "…"
Moments later, the storm petrel spread its vast wings, and with a powerful thrust, Yukina and Wentworth soared into the night sky.
Yusei hurried to the headmaster's office to report the situation to Minamoto. After hearing Yusei's account, the headmaster was silent for a moment before speaking quietly:
"Inform the Uesugi family. They'll know what to do."
Meanwhile, Wentworth and Yukina were flying through the roaring sea winds atop the giant storm petrel, heading toward the island where the Uesugi family resided.
Sitting behind her on the bird's back, Wentworth glanced at Yukina's silent figure before finally breaking the quiet.
"Can you tell me... why you hate going home so much?"
Yukina offered a faint smile and replied:
"It's nothing, really. I just... haven't been happy there."
"The Uesugi family is one of the Hachiya. In Japan, the Eight Clans practically are the magical world. Most witches and wizards in Mahoutokoro, and even in the Japanese Ministry of Magic, come from one of them."
"Since I was a child, I've lived only on the Uesugi family's island. As far back as I can remember, no matter where I went, or even when I slept, there was always a wizard nearby, watching me. Whatever I did, someone was always whispering in my ear, telling me what I should be doing. But no one ever asked me what I wanted."
"When I finally reached the age to attend Mahoutokoro, I thought, I truly believed, I'd finally be free. But really... it's just another cage."
"I've tried to run away more times than I can count. The most I ever managed was reaching the nearest port to our island."
She laughed suddenly, a breathy, self-deprecating sound, then turned toward Wentworth.
"Do you know how they found me after that great escape?"
Wentworth shook his head in silence.
Yukina chuckled bitterly.
"I was watching all the Muggles at the port, bustling back and forth, and I—I started crying. And once I started, I couldn't stop. I cried for two hours straight. That's how they found me… sobbing among strangers…"
A long silence followed her story, the only sound the wind rushing past them.
After what felt like an eternity, Yukina murmured:
"I really wish I were a Muggle."
As she finished speaking, Wentworth noticed pinpricks of light appearing on the distant sea horizon.
As they drew closer, he realized it was an island, modest in size but filled with scattered courtyards that glowed gently under the night sky.
The storm petrel dipped suddenly, and they descended toward the Uesugi island.
Once they dismounted, Wentworth saw that someone was already waiting for them.
"Father!"
Yukina stepped timidly toward a kind-faced middle-aged man.
She turned and gestured between the two.
"Wentworth, this is my father, the Head of the Uesugi family, one of the Hachiya of Japan."
"Father, this is Wentworth Dumbledore, the Hogwarts champion in this year's Wizarding Schools Potions Championship."
At her introduction, Yukina's father let out a hearty laugh and said:
"Welcome to the Uesugi estate, young man. I'm Uesugi Yoshinobu. Don't mind what Yukina says about being the family head, I'm just an old man with too many wrinkles!"
Wentworth quickly replied:
"You're far too modest. Even in Europe, the name of the Hachiya is spoken with great reverence!"
Yoshinobu clapped Wentworth on the shoulder, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Oh? Reverence, is it? Then tell me, can you name all eight families of the Hachiya?"
Wentworth: "…"
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— patreon(.)com/PrimalDemon [remove the parentheses ( )]