Three years ago, Lumina College of Magic

  Chiaki walked along the hallway of the academic building. Rabbit ears twitched atop her head, blending with her golden-yellow hair. Rather than wearing the college's faculty robes, she wore a maid outfit like one of the college servants. Her unhurried steps suggested she was enjoying the morning atmosphere. Students chatted as they passed, barely glancing at her, they were accustomed to seeing her wander the halls in that uniform. Those who were her students offered casual greetings, which she returned warmly.

  "Good morning, Professor Chiaki!"

  "Good morning, how was winter break?"

  "Ugh, freezing cold!"

  "Oh? The chill hasn't lifted yet, so take care of yourselves. And since it's a new term, do your best!" Chiaki smiled before continuing down the hall.

  "Professor Chiaki's kinda cute, isn't she?"

  After completing her morning rounds, Chiaki headed to class - deliberately arriving ten minutes late so tardy students wouldn't be marked absent. Though Headmistress Melania disapproved of this habit, none of Chiaki's students ever complained.

  "Welcome back to Lumina College of Magic everyone! This marks your final year, so I hope you remember everything that has been taught to you." Chiaki stood at the lectern, cheerful as ever. Most students weren't paying attention, but she didn't mind.

  "Let's begin then, shall we?"

  With a soft snap of her fingers and unfamiliar words, the chalk rose and began writing on the blackboard behind her. As she explained the lesson in her usual gentle tone - reviewing material the third-years had heard countless times— students began dozing off one by one. When Chiaki turned to look at them, she smiled and raised her hands to clap them awake. But then she noticed one student near the back, gazing out the window. Her hands lowered slowly as she walked toward him.

  "Is something outside more interesting than sleeping in my class?" Chiaki asked slowly as she approached, her voice carrying neither disappointment nor anger, just genuine curiosity.

  "Ah, sorry Professor. It's just... that tree looks interesting," the student replied.

  "Oh? The sakura tree? Yes, it's quite a special one indeed."

  Chiaki studied the young man who had been gazing out the window, barely noticing her arrival. Following his line of sight, she saw the massive sakura tree standing proudly in the academy's central courtyard, its pale pink blossoms covering every branch. The walkways surrounding it were carpeted with fallen petals. She smiled briefly before turning back to the student, who was looking at it with unusual familiarity, though of course, he had seen it for three years now.

  Before her sat a dark-eyed young man with hair black as the night sky—uncommon but not unheard of in the Western Continent. He looked harmless enough, just another student.

  "It might be the only one of its kind on this continent, you know. Finel, do you happen to know how we acquired this sakura tree?" Chiaki tilted her head slightly as she addressed Satoru.

  "The only one? What do you mean, Professor?" Satoru turned to face her immediately upon hearing this.

  "Five hundred years ago, an otherworlder named Ashikaga Ayame planted it. You might know her better as Venetta Malphagia - yes, the very same who pioneered botanical magic hybridization." Chiaki smiled knowingly.

  "Actually, I helped her with that research too. Well, we were friends after all." As she spoke, Chiaki noticed the other students had perked up, listening intently to her story about the academy's past. She let out a soft sigh.

  "Oh, now this is when everyone suddenly decides to pay attention, isn't it?"

  Chiaki returned to the front of the classroom and continued her lesson. When class ended, she waved goodbye to her departing students. A white-haired elf, two blonde sisters, and a bespectacled blond young man, none paying her much attention. Just as Satoru was about to approach her, another student cut in front.

  The tall young man stood a full head taller than Chiaki, his hair an unusual blend - mostly golden blonde like hers, but with silver-gray tips.

  "Auntie Chiaki—" he began, but before he could finish, Chiaki reached up and pinched his ear, yanking his head down to her level.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  "It's 'Professor Chiaki' on campus, Lucien," she chided, releasing him and looking up sternly.

  "Ow ow! Sorry, Auntie— I mean, Professor Chiaki."

  "That's better. Has Victorea visited home recently?" Chiaki tidied her desk absentmindedly, as if preparing to leave herself.

  "Victorea came home once after you returned to the academy. She's doing well."

  "Is that so? Good. I'd love to hug my great-great-great-great-grandniece again. Oh?" Chiaki suddenly noticed Satoru standing behind Lucien. He turned to see Satoru as well.

  "Did you need something, Finel?"

  "Professor," Satoru began, ignoring Lucien completely, "I have a question... about travelers from other worlds."

  "There's an elective course about that, you know? If I recall correctly, you could use the credits too, wouldn't want to repeat a year with your current grades," Chiaki replied in her usual teacher's tone. She hardly had time for private tutoring.

  "That's not... what I meant."

  "Professor," Lucien interjected, "I think Finel wants to ask you privately about Great-Grandmother Ayame."

  "Oh! I see now. Very well, come to my office after your last class then."

  "Professor Chiaki's like this sometimes. Gets a bit forgetful in her old age. Comes with being a magic doll, I suppose." Satoru didn't respond, avoiding eye contact before quickly leaving the classroom.

  "Still as odd as he was in first year," Lucien mused, watching Satoru depart before turning back to Chiaki.

  "He's an introvert, that one. Pity though, showed such promise in first year, but hasn't improved since second year. Speaking of which," Chiaki picked up a notebook and lightly swatted Lucien's arm with it.

  "Don't you have another class to attend? Off you go."

  "Ah! Right, I'm going!" Lucien hurried out, leaving Chiaki alone in the classroom.

  As the day's classes ended, Chiaki sat in her office chair. Behind her was a desk facing the door, while before her stretched a large window overlooking the courtyard where the cherry blossom tree stood. She gazed at it blankly, her mind seemingly empty, yet the mere sight of the tree inexplicably lifted her spirits. Her moment of peace was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  Chiaki remained silent for a beat, reluctant to respond—but then she did, knowing exactly who stood outside.

  "Come in, Finel."

  She turned her chair back toward the desk, watching as Satoru entered. His eyes immediately darted around the room, taking in the ancient magical artifacts and centuries-old spellbooks lining her shelves.

  "As you can see, I'm a bit of a collector. Take a seat," Chiaki said with a smile, gesturing to the chair across from her.

  "Oh. Right."

  "Professor... these 'otherworlders'—they're real, aren't they?" Satoru asked, feigning ignorance as he sat down.

  "Of course. Though it might be decades or even centuries between appearances, documented cases of otherworlders are well-known among certain circles."

  "I see. So... Do you think they've changed this world much? Or is it just Feulia that gets them?"

  "Politics never interested me much," Chiaki mused, resting her chin on her hand. "But it's true—Feulia sees more otherworlders than other continents. Though curiously, most I've met preferred to hide their origins."

  "Is that so?" Satoru tensed slightly, wondering if she'd seen through him—but that couldn't be. He'd given nothing away.

  "Mhm. Though they're usually quite clever. Some are lazy, but most learn frighteningly fast. Take Ayame, for example." Chiaki was certain now—she'd recognized the telltale cadence of his speech. After centuries of life, her analytical processing unit, far surpassing any mortal's, could spot an otherworlder's linguistic quirks effortlessly.

  "Ayame... Right. How did she even create a tree like that? I've never seen anything like it before," Satoru pressed, maintaining his act.

  Chiaki smiled faintly and swiveled her chair halfway around to gaze at the sakura through the window.

  "She told me she wanted to leave something behind before graduating. Something to remind her of home. So she spent night and day developing a spell to alter... the fundamental structure of plant life. That sakura tree was the result." A nostalgic sigh escaped her.

  "I thought it was marvelous. Though my older sister just scoffed and called it ridiculous. Hah... I miss her."

  The unspoken understanding hung heavy between them—Chiaki knew exactly what Satoru was. Yet for now, she played along, watching the petals drift past her window just as they had five centuries ago.

  The memories played vividly in her mind. Chiaki closed her eyes briefly before swiveling her chair back toward Satoru. He was too lost in thought to even register her mention of her unnamed sister. This fantasy world wasn't what he'd imagined - no dungeons, no leveling system, even the rabbit-eared professor before him was just a machine beneath her human-like exterior. Chiaki observed Satoru's distracted expression and sighed softly.

  "Lying to your professor isn't very becoming," she chided, her voice tinged with disappointment. The words snapped Satoru back to attention.

  "W-what do you mean?"

  "Your speech patterns, accent, mannerisms... It was obvious to me from the start." Chiaki leaned back in her chair, meeting Satoru's startled gaze.

  "I knew you were an otherworlder since your first year, but you never took my classes until now. And to think you've been using girl's name this whole time."

  "So what? Are you going to tell someone?" Satoru's voice turned combative, anger flashing in his eyes at being exposed so casually.

  "I'm not that cruel," Chiaki said, standing up calmly. Satoru immediately rose too, anticipating an attack, but she simply walked around her desk toward him. "I won't tell a soul. I assume you have your reasons for keeping this secret."

  "Not even the headmaster?"

  "Not even her," Chiaki smiled, "provided your grades improve, Mr. Finel."

  Satoru eyed her warily. Her calm demeanor unsettled him in ways he couldn't explain. If keeping his grades up was all it took to maintain this charade, then it’s as easy as done.

  "Thank you, professor? I'll... visit again if I have more questions." The words felt hollow as he spoke them. Before he could say more, Chiaki was already ushering him toward the door and with a soft click, the door shut behind him.

  "Honestly, these kids these days," Chiaki sighed, returning to her chair. She slumped into the seat and turned once more to gaze out at the sakura tree.

  "I do wish otherworlders could all be as pleasant as you were, Ayame."