Weight of the World Solo Finished

Japanese | English | Date:November 3rd, 2024

Aiko was….well she didn’t know how or what she was. Technically she knew she was now Headmistress, although it felt hard to really imagine that considering Headmistress Sato had not been found and honestly she hadn’t thought that she would be the one who would be running the whole show. After all, it seemed like there should have been one of her colleagues that was more qualified, but apparently they had not agreed.

A few days after she and the students had returned to the school, Aiko had received a request to attend a meeting with the other professors. It was mainly a discussion about what would happen and how things would run after the events at Hogwarts. But then it became clear that there was an expectation that someone would step into the leadership role or be selected.  There were a few people that put forward their own names, but it quickly became apparent there would be no majority.

Struggling with whether she should or not, Aiko finally cleared her throat. “I could take on the role.” There was dissatisfaction, especially given that the Headmistress had gone missing on the same trip that Aiko had been on. But cooler heads prevailed reminding others that Aiko had not been able to protect the Headmistress, who had tasked her with taking care of the students and escorting them to the shops. Then it became, while she is young, and inexperienced. But it seemed Aiko had more support than she had thought or maybe she had proven with her actions over the past two years that she truly cared about the school, her students and colleagues. Not to mention her strong-willed nature.

Soon it was only a few that were still grumbling when the matter was voted upon by anonymous ballet. Aiko was surprised that the majority voted for her, choosing her over older and more accomplished candidates. But apparently her work with students to help them succeed in their studies had not been missed and some felt that her youth was an advantage, able to potentially bring in changes that would improve the school and their standing in the international world.

Aiko had waited two days before she felt comfortable entering the Headmistress’ office. She had argued with her colleagues that they did not yet know for certain what had happened to Headmistress Sato, and truly she could do the necessary work from her Transfiguration office instead. But it was pointed out that she would need to find someone else to teach transfiguration as she couldn’t both run the school and teach. Plus it may be more comforting to students to have the positions settled rather than it being a waiting game of when or if Headmistress Sato would return.
 
And so, with great reluctance, she had entered the office, her personal items, namely plants carefully being levitated in, as well as boxes of books, including her most treasured transfiguration books. Looking around, she debated where to start first, but it was an easy decision. The plants were the heaviest and therefore the easiest to move at the beginning of the move-in. She placed one behind and to the right of the desk. The desk faced the doorway of her office, her back to the view. Looking at the stunning view from the fifth floor, Aiko knew that this would likely need to change but for the moment it would stay. She didn't have the heart today to do more than surface changes, adding in her own personal things. The next week would be enough time to get used to the space, and make any other larger changes. With magic it was easy enough.

Lifting the second larger plant, she moved it towards the doorway, but then changed her mind and moved it closer to the seating area. Moving back, she surveyed the scene and decided she would need to get a wall of bamboo or maybe some more larger green plants to block the view of the seating area from the door. It wouldn't block the view of her desk, as the desk was raised on a platform that required a few steps, but she could have more private chats there, the plants giving the illusion of separation.

She debated unpacking her books by hand, but looking at the books that the Headmistress had gathered, she found she didn't have the energy. With a flick of her wand, she pulled all of the books currently in the shelves out of them, choosing to stack them in a corner of the room, before giving another flick, and having her books sorted onto the bookshelves. It didn't fill them, but she could gather more, or put the knick knacks from her travels in the gaps. Aiko would go through the Headmistress' books later, decide what to keep and what could be given away or stored.

Aiko shook her head, realizing she had been thinking as if Headmistress Sato would come back through the door any moment and that she needed to get used to thinking of her predecessor as the former Headmistress at least until the moment she was found. But that was a struggle, and one she did not feel ready to conquer today. She was sure it would be a shock when someone used the title in reference to her, and she was sure that day would come soon. Then over time it would become natural, as things did when you were called them day in and out. Sighing, she went to the desk chair, curling up in it with her legs pulled tight to her chest as she surveyed the world outside, resting her head on the back and wondering idly what would be the first official tasks she would need to deal with in the coming days.