The First Disciple
It has been three years since she left Britain altogether with Dobby's help and she's now a second year middle schooler come her 14 years of age.
She continued school in Japan by getting into an International School for Foreigners, and pays for a 60000 yen 1LDK apartment which is the cheapest a rent can get in Apah-tos, unlike Manshons that cost way more than that. However, being a witch, the Gringotts Goblins had to house her within a magical neighborhood where all muggleborn families had to relocate to if they chose to send their kid to Mahoutokoro. Here, she can be magically-active all she wants as long as she doesn't blow things up.
In Japan, families have choices unlike Hogwarts wherein you had no choice but to go.
If parents don't want their kids to go to a magic school, their children's magic will be sealed and focused inwardly to boost a child's innate abilities. The parents have a choice of having magic focus solely on their child's intelligence, or physical ability, or 50-50 for their future benefit as 'forced normals'. Most parents often choose the intelligence part due to how difficult it is to get into University, much less get a job! So most of Japan's brightest minds are often 'forced normals' who was none-the-wiser about magic.
She who is a runaway Hogwarts student would not be detected however, since she is already enrolled unless she officially withdraws. But given who she is, like hell they'll let her go, so she maintained her 'disappearance' status.
She finished Elementary, and is now a middle schooler. A healthy middle schooler.
She ate healthy, and focused her magic on inward physical development to heal herself from years of malnutrition.
She ate a lot of foods good for her brain and bone, and good puberty growth, and she was far happier here.
However, her enemies will never let her go.
Dobby told her that those who serve Voldemort are certain families, and there are three generations already, assuming they either haven't died out yet, or were sterile.
He pretty much gave her a list on who he knows, are active Death Eaters since Malfoy Manor is a favorite meeting place, even by Voldemort's standards as Malfoy has the most beautiful manor. He even gave her photos, and promised to update her around when she's 16-17 as the Dark Lord only recruits young at magical maturity.
With access to a time-turner, she alternates attending school, and spending a whole day at home or at designated 'Summer Practice Ranges' practicing magic.
At school, she wears a bracelet designed to stop her magic from acting out on her emotions so she can pass off as a muggle no matter how angry she is at someone.
However, she knew her day to fight will be inevitable.
She needs both physical and magical skills.
So she asked the police station as soon as summer vacation started,
'Do you know a place that teaches good and effective martial arts?'
She was given an address.
xxx
'...this must be the place.' she mused as she had to change her sealing bracelet to a simple earcuff.
She was in front of a dojo called Ryouzanpaku and entered the visitor's entrance, but on the grounds is a vision of insanity.
Its tenants doing things she thought are impossible, but they pulled it off!
An old geezer balancing on a stack of ten kendamas calmly while reading porn.
A muscular guy making a punching bag out of a steel girder. He dresses like one of those rough guys who'd be found in the bad areas on Tokyo.
Another guy who's slender, but his skin is protruding with pronounced muscles, wearing a kimono and hakama. And he's weightlifting alright...using stone jizos he's got hellish grip on!
And there's this goofy, childish-looking man using knee kicks while juggling...bowling balls...on his knees.
"ARE THESE GUYS HUMAN?!" was her shell-shocked thought as they finally noticed her.
'Oh, we got a customer!' said the porn-guy. 'Welcome, ojouchan! How can we help you?'
'Uhm, I'd like to enroll for training so uhm, where's the school Headmaster?' Holly asked them nervously.
'I go call elder!' said goofy-man as he ran into the dojo, yelling, 'EEEEELLLDEEEERRR!'
'Saa, this way miss, I'll get tea ready.' said kimono guy as she followed them into the first room they saw, the one with its door open so it took seconds to get there.
And so...
'So ojouchan, Apachai says you wish to enroll? I am Furinji Hayato, the Grandmaster of Ryouzanpaku.' said Hayato, introducing himself. This guy, was bigger than Hagrid, and so muscular that his kimono looks like an extra skin on him.
'Yes sir.' said Holly, fully aware that she was being observed. 'I don't know what styles you have, the police station just pointed me here and just said 'you'll see when you get there' so I don't have much to go with. But I request serious physical development a girl my age can have in top shape, extreme resourcefulness training and a style that naturally suits my body after a year of workout since what doesn't suit me might mess with me and make me pay in the long run.'
'Wow, that's a challenge ojouchan.' said beefy guy with a grin. 'Then again the police station didn't tell you much.' he said.
'I'm willing to pay 2 million yen every six months.' said Holly as her words...shocked the masters, and the older girl with them.
'T-two million?' the older girl squeaked. 'You're willing to pay that much? Every six months?!'
'I'm paying for an elite school so I can easily afford that you know.' Holly sweatdropped. 'Its not that shocking, right?' she asked, utterly worrying about their reactions because while the masters are stunned speechless, the older girl is extremely happy!
'We'll take you in!' the girl cried delightfully.
It was she who made the decision, not the adults!
xxx
'Ahya, Miu-chan is extremely happy to have a good-paying student.' Koetsuji Akisame showed Holly to her room. Its a decent-sized room. And since she could afford it, had airconditioning installed in her room but would have to contribute to the additional yen in electric bill rack-up. But they effortlessly hacked a hole...with a sword...ON THE WALLS before building a nice support frame for the appliance she ordered.
'She seems delighted when I offered that kinda money...I wonder why?' Holly wondered aloud.
'Well, we're not exactly financially-secure.' said Akisame. 'So we take on dangerous jobs just to avoid social poverty line. Most of our money is strictly calculated and budgeted by Miu-chan because we're poor even if we are all masters and she is our lone student. We are strict with choosing students as well since we make sure we don't take in those with ulterior motives and use our teachings for evil.' he said. 'The money goes to necessities, schooling, repairs and hospital bills, leaving no room for anything else so yes, we are very resourceful.' he said with a glint in his eyes.
'Oh...'
'In fact, your offer is a lifesaver.' said Akisame. 'That effectively secures about some of the living expenses as long as you're here.' he said with a smile. 'I take it that you transferred out of convenience?'
'Yeah, I live a district away commuting would be...very impractical.' said Holly with a wince. 'So yes I really had to move, I'm just glad you have student dorms.'
'Ohohoho! We have about nine rooms here.' said Akisame. 'Miu-chan and the elder sleep in the Main Building since its their home. We other Masters and students live here.'
'Oh...'
Unknown to her, Akisame has an earpiece on his ear, listening to a conversation...
xxx
'So what do you guys think of our foreign student?' Hayato asked the other masters.
'Her body is in a good condition...for a civilian.' said Kosaka Shigure, Prodigious Master of Weapons. 'But short...for her age.'
'She's unusually short for her age I thought she's a grade schooler until she said she's a sophomore middle schooler.' Miu croaked out.
'Yes, but her requests are worrying.' said Ma Kensei, Master of all Chinese Kenpo.
'Indeed. I know the eyes she made when she requested those.' said Hayato grimly.
'Eyes?' Miu blinked.
'Yes. Despite how rich she is, she clearly has a hard life who'll do anything to live. Something must have happened and its not like she'll talk about it.' said Hayato. 'No child should ever have those eyes yet she has them. Not even you had those eyes even when faced with the world of martial arts.' he told his granddaughter. 'She's in danger from something and she intends to prepare for it and go out on her own, hence these requests.'
'That's worrying.' said Sakaki. 'And are we gonna be fine with that?' he griped out.
'We're not obviously and she'll never open up about it. Its by her body language alone.' said Ma. 'The most we can do, is take her requests seriously to prepare her for what she intends to deal with by herself. She may be a short-time disciple, but having disciples possibly die on us is out of the question. She'll live...or die trying.'
And thus, Holly took in everything without complaint, even if she's clearly spooked by their methods, and faced it all with determination, further fueling her master's suspicions and worries of her unknown to her.
And months into her enrollment later before spring, the start of her senior middle school year...she got paid a visit by Dobby.
'Miss Holly.' Dobby whispered as Holly clearly lives among muggles.
'Dobby, how are things since I left?' Holly whispered back.
'Terrible Miss Holly.' said Dobby. 'Since you left, bad master helped Heir of Slytherin unleash monster at Hogwarts. Many students petrified and one student dead.' he said, sadly shaking his head. 'School close down. Ministry angry because many victims not reported, mail blocked until someone found way to send mail for help, Hogwarts face inquiry. Then year after, Sirius Black break out of Azkaban Prison. He look for justice because he framed for crime he no do. So Dobby help after I talk to him. He your godfather.' Holly's eyes widened. 'Fourth year, Tri-Wizard Tournament happen. I made sure no attempt to bring Miss Holly back by making sure her name not in. Dobby do good job, yes?' he asked with a toothy smile.
'Very wonderful Dobby.' Holly smiled. 'Now, is my so-called godfather a decent person? As in a relative who actually cares for me?' she asked with a grim stare. Totally wary as she really has no faith at this point.
'Yes, miss.' Dobby nodded. 'He do anything to find you and be family.'
'I see...keep an eye on things for me more, OK? And keep watch on any hare-brained plans to force me back and foil all of them, and make them look like they did it stupidly for extra humiliation.' Holly whispered. Dobby nodded before vanishing. 'Sigh...'
A godfather who actually cares for her...Holly has no idea what to feel about that to be honest, she thought glumly.
Because for years, family hated her that strangers are much kinder.
One day, a no-good student came to the dojo...and it so happens she's on a school field trip...so she missed his first three days with Miu and his first few hours in the dojo.
And so...
'OOOOK?' she blinked owlishly as she finally met Shirahama Kenichi, Ryouzanpaku's newest disciple...whose tuition fee was 5000 yen a month and joined due to severe bullying issues that he became a spineless coward.
Well, 5000 yen won't go far in a month, unless you're into a diet of instant noodles if you can't cook and riding bikes for transportation.
What 5000 yen can buy?
Soy sauce is 770 yen.
Seaweed is 685 yen.
Vinegar is 639 yen.
Mirin is 380 yen.
Tsuyu is 399 yen.
Salt is 100 yen.
Miso Paste is 700 yen.
Cupboard Staples in total cost 3673 yen. That will last you more than a month if you're living solo, Holly can attest to that.
Vegetables require menu planning as vegetables in a supermarket is by packs of three or four for sale.
Rice is over 3000 yen as they sell rice in packs of 10 kg.
Let's not get started with meat and seafood, please.
For a money of 5000 yen, go for a Limited Vegetarian Diet for your Japanese Stay here. And that's not healthy as humans need carbs and protein, as well as vitamins from fruits...
Yet because they're poor and the masters aren't into letting injustice in any form no matter how petty get away, they took him in anyway.
He's shocked by how much she's paying them.
'H-Holly-san, two million every six months?' Kenichi, self-admitted spineless loser choked out.
'What, I can pay it...' said Holly with a shrug. 'That's how much a school year costs and my day ends at 10 pm unless I have homework so I have no after-dinner training on such instances.' she told him.
'Sooo you've been here for a year...what's it like?' Kenichi asked her.
'I asked for extreme physical training a girl my age can possibly have, resourcefulness training and a martial art that suits my body.' said Holly. 'Because it takes a special type of body to master every style in a certain field, like Kensei-shisho capable of all known kenpo and Shio-shishou knowing all about Karate from A to Z, but some people are limited in body thus can only master one or two arts for their entire life. For now, its a year of physical training and resourcefulness training. Learning actual techniques will start on the day I enrolled...this coming summer.'
'Ohhh...and what's physical training like?'
Holly paused before smirking and a chill went down Kenichi's spine.
'Ridiculously absurd and breaks all known laws of physics and force and motion in science classes...but they get the job done with triple results that conventional training sports in schools cannot ever hope to give.'
Kenichi went white.
'Ahahaha, I was spooked and freaked out at first, but hey, I'm after results, OK?'
'Now now, we don't break all rules in science class...' Akisame sweatdropped. 'We don't use chemicals in your training.'
'I substituted chemicals for the mystery chinese medicine I had to swallow for strengthening organs.' Holly stated flatly. 'I was wondering what part of hell did you get those from.' Akisame laughed at that.
Kenichi dreaded his first day thus.