Chapter 2:
....
Late December 1992—December 20, to be precise or the 26th day of the eleventh month (since the Japanese magical world followed the lunisolar calendar) felt like a breath of fresh air after going through what, from Minoru Mineta POV, was literally just going to sleep—and the next thing he knew, he was in a freaking different world, looking like some hot magic version of himself.
Don't get him wrong, he was actually pretty grateful, truth be told, but come on—at least give a guy some notice before you yank him out of his world and body and plop him into another one!
Especially since everything that unfolded was like a horrible nightmare.
"No, horrible is too weak a word" Minoru grumbled as he stepped over the threshold of his now family home in the Japanese magical world. Outdoors, snow fell on the cherry blossom trees, the curved tile roofs, and the carefully raked stone gardens.
Yeah… these weren't all that different from some of the most traditional houses in certain neighborhoods back in his former world. Definitely not the kind of setting one would expect from a damned magical world and society with real dragons, unicorns, elves (who, much to his chagrin, weren't at all sexy nor attractive—quite the opposite, in fact; friendly, sure, but not at all appealing to the eye), and many other things, but whatever. Creativity score for Japan's wizards: a measly two out of ten.
At least it stood out a little more inside, thanks to the warmth of the magical braziers and lots of magicked stuff lying around, that was actually pretty cool, yet not remotly enough to replace all the advanced technology of his former world. It was quite frustrating to go from a quite advanced world to... well, this(that he considered as the damn Stone Age when compared to his own)
Anyway, the key now was to pull off his "gran plan" by setting the stage perfectly to achieve what he'd been plotting for nearly three nightmarish months… well, actually two and a half months.
BUT they were two and a half very long shitty months.
"Jeesh, it felt like an eternity" When he woke up in his new body on October 9th or the 14th day of the ninth month in lunisolar calendar, the reality check was brutal… and although at first he was confused yet somewhat thrilled at becoming handsome and tall, plus the potential of being a literal freakin' wizard living in a fantasy-like magical reality, not everything was a bed of hot chicks—since pretending to be this world's model Minoru Mineta was just plain hellish and soul-crushing.
There were days when he really just wanted to collapse and never wake up again, but he didn't even have the goddamn time to collapse. After all, the model Mineta didn't collapse. The model Mineta got up every cursed morning at five... yes, FUCKING FIVE a.m. to go out for a precisely 58-godamnminute jog 'cause apparently that number had some bullshit positive connotation(5's linked to good luck in the whole Asian magical community, and 8 to prosperity, and a bunch of other shitty reasons that this virgin-ass version of him apparently had…)
'Wait!'
'Wait! Wait! Wait! Sscrew it! I also never lost the V card!' Meaning he was guilty of the worst sin there is: letting his first life end with him being a complete virgin!
'Shoot, embarrassing… just embarrassing man. Jeez, I wish I hadn't even brought it up' Mainly cos that means this version of him was actually more of a man than he, having at least a few chicks interested in him.
That fucker didn't even try, but being taller, stronger and better-looking was enough to make up for it
'The furthest I'd ever gotten was some groping!' And non-consensual, at that.
"..."
Now, regardless of Minoru's disturbing and mortifying discovery, getting up and going for a jog so early was, all things considered, somewhat tolerable given that it helped him stay in shape and look good, plus, seeing with his own eyes the outskirts of the magic school located literally at the highest point of Minami Iwo Jima(yep.. an actual damn volcanic island in the tropical southern region of Japan) was a sacrifice he was willing to make. After all, It was hard to get tired of looking at the ornate and exquisite magical palace made of nephrite, or "lamb's fat jade"—a translucent white stone. Though the high altitude undoubtedly made training quite challenging, as it was much harder to breathe, even for this well-acclimatized body that had spent years studying and training at this level.
THE thing he really did get tired of, and to no small degree, was having to attend every class with a level of attention and participation that could only be described as inhuman, along with eating breakfast, moving, and behaving with impeccable manners, speaking with the utmost propriety, and not letting even the slightest curse or vulgarity escape his lips… not to mention anything even remotely perverted(Goshh, that was entirely beyond the realm of possibility)
And yet, that's exactly what he did.
Yes, him!
The very same pervert, Minoru Mineta.
He had no choice but to use all his willpower(and when he said all–is fucking all!) to restrain himself and behave exactly as he perfectly remembered this body doing before, based on his acquired memories.
And yes, it was hell.
Again, not because the knowledge wasn't there to help him and make it all more bearable—after all, it was… every potion formula, every wand gesture, every knwolege. The only pesky problem was having to act it out day after day, hour after hour, while his perverted mind roared inside like a caged lion without she-lions to copulate.
Even the lessons, despite being magical and therefore super interesting, were also endless. The professors—all strict, stick-up-the-ass old men with piercing gazes that seemed to read your very thoughts… It was spine-chilling. Good thing this Mionru knew the basics of Occlumency, so he was qute sure no one was actually trying to read his mind, nonetheless it was still chilling.
Just picture it: every misstep, every "out-of-place" joke, every second of distraction was noted, as was every inappropriate glance or eye wandering slightly to check out the average looks of the girls at school—who, to make matters worse, weren't exactly curvy(nor up nor down!)
'Sad… solo sad, man'
Oh and there was nowhere to hide! The schedules were so tight, supposedly to make the most of every day and squeeze every ounce of productivity out of it, that even the bathrooms had assigned time slots. For fuck's sake, Minoru was dead sure that if he jerked off in the shower, some fucker of a teacher would magically appear to dock him code of conduct points for "indecent behavior."
He had blue balls! BLUE!
Even the damn robes that all the students wore changed color depending on the number of points they had.
Yess, when students started off at the school, they were given robes that grew as they grew and changed colour as the wearer gained points, with pink as the beginning colour. If the wearer had a excellence conduct and received top grades in all the school subjects, their robes would turn gold.
And of course this damn Minoru had the gold one, the very pinnacle of both academic and conduct excellence in terms of points… and that made it even harder, because he knew that his damn robe could turn into other, lower-ranking colors if points were deducted for bad grades or any code violation detected by the teachers.
And any student who betrayed the Japanese wizard's code would result in their uniform turning white, which was a huge disgrace, and the student in question would be immediately expelled.
So no, no pressure at all…
YET… by far the worst part was the total lack of hot chicks.
Mahoutokoro might as well have been a freak monastery with wands and flying brooms and it's all thanks to this retarded magic Japan.
'This whole magic-Japan-bullshit can kiss my big fat cock and go fuck itself' Here most pure-blood Japanese families homeschooled their daughters, following idiotic traditions that reeked of stale sexism and old-fashioned patriarchy.
So, most of the few Mahoutokoro female students were daughters of non-magical parents or second-rate magical families, and even so, there were barely twenty of them in the entire school. Minoru actually counted them all on the very first day. Naturally, he observed them very discreetly—yes… very, very discreetly, since the model Mineta never looked at women with that kind of intention, much less interacted with them without a really good reason.
Twenty. Roughly three per grade.
Twenty girls for hundreds of boys.
'A joke! A really bad joke' But he survived, mostly thanks to the memories of the other Minoru(the proper one, the disciplined one, the one who had never had a lewd thought in his life) that were so deeply ingrained in his psyche that he could kinda mimic him better than those amazing professional porn actresses who sound so real when they're moaning that it's easy to be fooled, when sadly it's actually nothing like what one see and hear.
Thus, Minoru imitated every single thing… the body language, tone of voice, facial expressions and even the way he walked, which was now confident and measured instead of the hunched, shuffling gait of his former life.
No one suspected a thing.
All the while, in the few spare hours he had left—at night, when everyone was asleep—Minoru made plans and learned a lot of things. Sure, he probably only slept five hours at most per night, but each sleepless second was worth it.(And he already used to lack sleep, though this body wasn't, since it always got its 7/8 hours.)
However, as stated, these efforts were worthwhile, given that he was not studying typical subjects.
Nope, not the usual stuff at all. He already knew that.
He learned things that might come in handy for certain daydreams he had for once he got around to carrying out his plans.
Picked up a suspension spell and twisted it until it worked like magic-lifting skirts from a distance unseen and unheard. Heh… just perfection, at least for him.
Still, he wasn't going to settle with something so simple; after all, his future goals were far more daring, and to achieve them, he needed more magic charms that would be useful to him. So he began by studying them in the utmost detail, and then proceeded to tweak certain aspects of some already known ones to make them more suitable for his own great cause.
Among these was Accio, capable of summon objects that belong to you or that you have some kind of authority/authorization over, even if they are out of sight. But he wanted a more-specific version of Accio that would allow him summon things without actually having the actual "authority/authorization". Thus, he created what may have been the most complex of the charms he ever modified/created: Accio Vindisubligaculum.
So what was unique about it? One could say it gave him kinda an automatic implicit permission on any non-magic underwear that was at the waist of the person he attempted to Accio. In reality, it was sort of like claiming ownership, but meh, details, right? The important part is that now he could literally grab the panties of whoever he wanted, heh.
Other one, was Visus Translocatio a literally visual displacement charm: One chooses a point within his direct line of sight (an empty chair, a table, a distant wall) and his visual perception "jumps" to that point. During the effect, one sees from there, even though the body remains in place.
He filled an entire notebook with "coded" notes that no one else could understand. Mostly just theories. Sketches of spells he hadn't dared to try yet. Lists of ingredients for future possible potions that didn't exist in any textbook yet, since no one had really bothered to even create some of his perv/wildest ideas.
Right now, in Japan, he was stuck in a damn birdcage. But soon...
OH Yes... Soon he'd be out.
….
….
"Minoru." His current father's authoritative voice was very different from the relaxed and tired one of the father from his former world.
Moreover, Manami Mineta was a tall man, with sharp features and a perpetually appraising gaze… it was not at all comfortable to be in his presence, which made you feel judged or wonder what you had done to make him look at you that way… He wore a dark kimono, and beside him a cup of tea floated magically, untouched, kept warm by magic as well, along with a silver plate of snacks. At his side, Umeko Mineta, his current mother, also different from the one he was used to... had her own cup of tea in her hands as she calmly sipped it and occasionally picked at some of the snacks from the silver plate to accompany her drink.
Minoru bowed slightly. Respectful. Proper. As he knew this body was so accustomed to being in front of the two of them. He truly was a magnificent actor in these moments, he mentally praised himself, though the credit really belonged to his body and its memories.
"Father. Mother."
"You requested this meeting," Manami said, getting straight to the point. Yes… a man of few words. "Speak."
Since he arrived, there hadn't even been a "how did your term go," though that was cause the answer was obvious and nothing less than excellence was expected from him. But there hadn't been a "welcome home" either. To him, these people, 'his parents', were practically like damn robots with human skin, judging by how they behaved. The Minetas didn't practically waste time on empty courtesies, so to speak, and that actually applied to most pure-blood families in Japan, since the backward code of conduct governing Japanese pure-blood families was simple: results or dishonor... yep, that kind of bullshit.
"I have been reflecting on my academic training," he began, with the calm, confident tone he had practiced dozens of times in front of the mirror in his room at Mahoutokoro. "Mahoutokoro is an excellent institution. Its rigor has shaped me. But I believe the time has come to broaden my horizons."
Yeah, people—that's how he had been talking and behaving pretty much every damn day, every hour and minute of every interaction he'd had. Just hearing himself made him want to hit something… can you imagine actually doing it nonstop for two and a half months? A horrible nightmare, like he said.
The father didn't blink. The mother kept calmly sipping her tea and enjoying the snacks.
"Continue."
"I wish to request a transfer to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in Britain," Minoru said, letting the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "I believe I can broaden my horizons there and grow as a wizard."
Before, he would've asked to be killed for talking like a spoiled idiot, but the truth was he'd done it so much it had become a second language to him. He still hated it… but he had developed a certain tolerance.
"Oh, that sounds like a somewhat impulsive decision, dear," his mother said, finally joining the conversation, while his father simply stared at him as if expecting a detailed explanation before issuing his final verdict on the matter.
"It may seem that way, Mother, but I assure you it is not an impulsive decision. I have researched its curriculum, its history, and its international connections. Hogwarts offers exposure to magical traditions different from our own. Its library is one of the most comprehensive in the world. The charms professor, Filius Flitwick, been a duelling champion. The potions professor, Severus Snape, a potions prodigy that held the title of potions master that he achieved at the remarkably young age of 20 while being the youngest professor appointed on Hogwarts staff at just 21… and many more great professors..."
"But above all its headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, widely recognized as one of the most powerful and wise wizards in recent history… serving as Supreme Magwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in Britain"
Silence.
Umeko finally let her teacup float like her husband's as she observed him more closely. Manami, meanwhile, finally took his previously floating cup into his hands and turned it between his fingers.
"Is Japanese education not sufficient for you?" the father asked. It wasn't an accusation. It was more like a probe. A good sign as far as Minoru was concerned.... after all, he had plans from A to H for any setback, and miraculously he was still on plan A.
"Mahoutokoro has given me a solid foundation. And I have learned a great deal from the age of seven until now thanks to it," Minoru replied, measuring every word. "But excellence is not achieved by confining oneself to a single tradition. The most distinguished Japanese wizards of the past centuries studied abroad. Furthermore…" he made a calculated pause, "Hogwarts' academic calendar is different from ours. If I transfer now, I could repeat the months I've already completed here, reinforcing my knowledge while adapting to a new environment. That would demonstrate to both my current and future professors that I am not seeking shortcuts, but depth."
Manami exchanged a glance with Umeko. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but Minoru caught it.
The family's code of conduct valued well-directed ambition. And it also valued prestige. Having a son at Hogwarts, the most famous school in Europe, was not something the Minetas would dismiss, especially with Dumbledore as headmaster, who held great international prestige.
"You have thought this through carefully," the father finally said.
"I have had plenty of time to do so, Father."
"And the fact that Mahoutokoro is predominantly male…" Umeko interjected, her voice soft but precise. "Does that influence your decision?"
Inside, Minoru almost lost it. Does she know? Did she notice something? Is she testing me?
On the outside, he maintained a serene, almost bored expression. And it was only thanks to this body's memories that he knew that, despite not showing it on her face, his mother was just joking with him… yes, one of the few things that made her seem less like a robot and a bit more human… though it was mostly because, for every pure-blood mother, it was extremely important (arguably the most important thing) to find a suitable partner for her child, so they were always attentive to potential candidates as well as to one's tastes and interactions with the opposite gender.
All the more reason for Minoru to get away from this damn place and achieve his freedom. Everything here was damn unsettling.
"No, Mother. The composition of the student body is irrelevant to my training. My interest is strictly academic."
For sure, the biggest lie ever told in the history of Japanese magic.
"Your mother is just joking," Manami said with total weariness and boredom, then took a sip of tea.
"Women," Manami sighed afterward, as if he didn't agree at all with his wife's comment but also understood there was no point in bringing it up.
Umeko, for her part, simply smiled very faintly while maintaining her perfect composure, then picked up another snack and resumed her drink.
"Very well," Manami finally said, getting straight to the point as the 'man of the house' should. "You have our permission, but…"
Minoru held his breath.
"You must arrange the transfer and handle the entire process on your own," the father continued. "Family matters require our attention. If you are truly determined and as responsible as you claim, you will prove your capability by managing this without assistance."
'Yes. Yes. FUCKING YES.'
Minoru bowed his head.
"Of course, Father. I will not disappoint you."
"We know you won't, dear," Umeko said. "Now, would you like a snack?"