There was something… off about the red-haired woman.
From the very first moment Azaka saw her, she felt an inexplicable irritation—was it because the woman seemed about her age? Or because her figure was so much better?
After some thought, she concluded: similarity.
Azaka and this helper that Touko had brought in shared some role similarities.
So, is this what they call like charges repel? She wondered—she'd never seen Touko interact with men, so maybe Touko liked this type of woman?
And it was said Touko's family was from Misaki Town, and her coming to Mifune was just for this commission. Taking Azaka as an apprentice was just coincidence… or maybe not.
She didn't want to admit it, but Azaka couldn't lie to herself—she was probably just a stand-in for the red-haired woman.
Her adolescent mind wandered into forbidden territory, guided by her taboo origin…
After confirming Aoko and Alice's arrival, Touko immediately stubbed out her cigarette, quickly straightened her clothes, and used rune magecraft to clear away the smoke—perfect.
Azaka was dumbstruck by her teacher's transformation—why did she look like a husband scared of his wife's inspection? Where was the cool, independent, strong-willed woman she idolized?
"Touko, you bought an abandoned building in Mifune for a workshop?" Aoko pushed open the office door, greeting Touko boisterously. "Should I call you wasteful or childish?"
"Hmph, it was just convenient," Touko glared at Aoko. "The land was a deposit from the Misaya family, didn't cost much… Besides, call me wasteful if you want, but why childish?"
"Oh, that?" Aoko thought for a moment. "Remember when we were kids? I found that secret base behind Grandpa's mansion…"
"Enough!" Touko quickly stopped Aoko from revealing more of her childhood secrets—especially with her new apprentice present. She still needed to maintain her image…
Sighing, Touko got up and took out tea and cups to entertain her guests.
Alice had been sitting quietly on the sofa since entering Touko's workshop, her posture perfect—not because she was nervous, but because such grace was ingrained in her as a true lady.
Azaka, meanwhile, was intensely curious about her—someone this beautiful and elegant couldn't be unknown at Reien. So why didn't she recognize her?
"Huh? Touko's new apprentice?" Before Azaka could react, Aoko appeared right in front of her.
Aoko was much taller than Azaka. Now, she bent down to examine Azaka's face up close—well past Azaka's usual comfort zone. Azaka could even catch a faint scent on her, and see her flawless skin…
"I'm Aoko Aozaki, nice to meet you."
When Azaka was about to lose her composure, Aoko smiled and shook her hand. "You're Azaka Kukutou, right?"
"Huh? Aozaki…?" Azaka let Aoko shake her hand in a daze. Was this Touko's relative? She looked so young… Touko-sensei was young and beautiful too, but at least in her late twenties, right?
"Alright, Aoko, stop bullying Azaka," Touko sighed, handing tea and snacks to Alice and Aoko. "She is just an apprentice I picked up by chance—she's got potential, so I couldn't let her go."
"Ara, you call that a coincidence?" Aoko let go of Azaka's hand, lost interest, picked up her tea, and sat next to Alice. "Your meeting was pretty much inevitable. If not her brother, it'd be her, or maybe both."
"Are you a magus with future sight? I've heard Touko-sensei mention that!" Azaka reasoned, hearing Aoko call her by name and knowing about her brother.
"Magus? Not really…" Aoko waved her hand indifferently.
"That's my sister," Touko took off her glasses, rubbed her nose, and explained. "Just consider us the same kind of people, but with different specialties. She can see possible futures, which is why she knows about you."
"Sister?" Azaka's gaze darted between Aoko and Touko in disbelief. Aoko looked like a teenager, about Azaka's age, while Touko, though young and beautiful, was clearly in her late twenties.
"Hehe, Touko, you tell me not to bully your apprentice, but you're the dishonest one." Aoko grinned, "Do you always present yourself like this?"
"So what? I can look however I want!" Touko retorted. Her body glowed gold, and in an instant, she transformed into a girl about Azaka's age.
Huh? Huh? Huh?
Azaka stared as her teacher performed a real-life human metamorphosis right in front of her. Didn't this contradict everything she'd learned about magecraft—that it was just another way to achieve things science couldn't and was limited in scope? She could do even this?!