#charles hoshino sma

[areixyn-en]

Meetings

happy birthday to Charles :D

not directly connected, but I recommend you to read Fragrance of Evil if you haven't already to understand some things here!

“Take care, master.”

The driver bids farewell, and Charles steps out of the car.

The guard by the gate nods to him. “Mr. Chandler’s cousin, right? I’ll swipe the card for you.”

This is his cousin Felyx’s home. Charles enters the elevator and presses the B2 button — the floor to the parking lot. Following a familiar path, he walks to his cousin's car. Felyx is already sitting in the driver's seat waiting for him.

“You’re here, Charlie,” Felyx starts the car. “Let's go, then.”

Although on Charles’s schedule, it's currently the time to “go to cousin’s and study,” this isn’t his real destination, nor is studying his real goal —

Right now, he’s going to Knot For Bookworms to practice magic.

Knot For Bookworms is a branch of Uyeno. Charles doesn't know much about the organization Uyeno itself other than it's an international organization founded by sorcerers. The organization aims to provide a place for sorcerers to communicate with each other and practice magic. Uyeno, the name of the organization, also means knot in the language of magic.

Despite sorcerers being able to use magic since birth, practicing can refine their skills and allow them to learn more advanced spells. An unpracticed sorcerer may need to chant a long incantation to cast a spell, but an experienced sorcerer can do so with just a thought.

Knot For Bookworms is a book club on the surface, but actually one of Uyeno’s many branches underneath. The meeting is held in Ophelia’s house today. She and her grandmother are both sorcerers, and her grandfather also welcomes members of the book club, so meetings are often held in their house.

As they drive, they arrive at Ophelia’s house. Ophelia’s grandmother opens the door. She has an eye patch on her left eye, as usual. It is said that she doesn't really have eye problems and just prefers it on, though Charles can’t understand why someone would willingly blind one of their eyes — his own blind right eye has caused him quite a few issues.

“You're here! Come on in, the meeting is about to start,” Ophelia’s grandmother greets passionately.

Charles and Felyx enter the house. The living room is filled with chattering and laughter. Felyx joins the conversation naturally, while Charles finds an empty seat to sit down.

“Everyone! It's about time. Let's begin,” Ophelia’s grandmother says, turning to Arashi who’s standing beside her. “Right, Anaka is busy today, so you can practice with me today instead, Lamis.”

Lamis is Arashi’s name in the language of magic. Ophelia’s grandmother has a habit of referring to both people and things with the language of magic. Sorcerers are called sumizhis, perceivers aymizhis, and together the two are referred to as miuzhis…

Ophelia seems to have grown accustomed to this way of mixing English with the language of magic, but even after joining Knot For Bookclubs for so long, Charles still hasn't gotten used to getting called Imiyu.

“Ah, ok,” Arashi answers. Everyone scatters to group up by their type and starts practicing magic.

Charles gets up, heading towards the group of wind sorcerers.

[charles1504]

#016

Malam hari, seharusnya aku beristirahat. Melupakan sejenak pekerjaanku, dan menikmati waktuku untuk scroll sosial media, menulis di blog pribadiku, atau nonton sinetron azab di yutub.

Namun, tentu saja itu semua hanya ekspetasi belaka. Karena begitu sampai kamar, ada tugas murid yang harus aku koreksi.

Kalau kalian tanya, kenapa seorang Charles Saputra bisa jadi guru?

Jawabannya, aku pun tak tahu. Setelah sidang skripsi dan membereskan semua revisi, aku iseng melamar pekerjaan yang ada di platfrom pencari kerja online, sambil menunggu waktu wisudaku. Namun, siapa sangka. CV-ku malah nyantol di sebuah sekolah, yang sedang membutuhkan posisi guru bahasa Mandarin. Mereka pun memanggilku untuk interview, dan siapa sangka pula, aku lolos.

Begitulah cerita singkatnya, kenapa aku bisa jadi guru bahasa Mandarin di sebuah SMA. Padahal, kupikir surat lamaranku akan nyantol di perusahaan Tiongkok yang membutuhkan jasa interpreter, atau di perusahaan yang membutuhkan jasa fotografi, mengingat portofolioku soal fotografi nggak jelek-jelek amat.

Toh, buktinya, kalau ada yang mau pakai jasa fotografiku, mereka langsung menghubungi pesan pribadi instagramku.

Oke, kembali ke ceritaku malam ini. Baru saja hendak memejamkan mata usai mandi, aku langsung teringat akan tugas karangan yang kuberikan pada murid-muridku minggu lalu, dan baru dikumpulkan siang tadi. Maka dari itu, malam ini, aku harus memeriksanya agar bisa kukembalikan besok atau lusa.

Dengan sedikit malas, aku pun membuka laptopku, dan mulai membuka gugel formulir tempat mereka mengumpulkan tugas. Namun, baru juga satu file yang kubuka, membuatku tertawa sedikit.

"Apa nih? Kok, ngomongin Hoshino Ai?" gumamku sambil membaca karangan tersebut. Memperbaiki sedikit tata bahasanya, lalu memberinya nilai.

Dan ada satu karangan, yang benar-benar menyita perhatianku.

"INI APA?! Kenapa juga di catatannya ada tulisan 'ketika mengerjakan ini, saya terdistraksi oleh ulah anak cucu adam dengan membuat bumi bergonjang ganjing memperebutkan harta, tahta, dan Melati Talitha----" tawaku refleks meledak, dan saat kubaca siapa penulisnya...

"OALAH AMEL. ELU YA MEL, GAK BISA APA NORMAL SEDIKIT?!"

Amel alias Nurul Amelia, adalah salah satu dari sekian muridku yang absurd tingkahnya. Dan ini, memberi catatan kaki pada tugas karangannya, merupakan salah satu dari keabsurdan tingkahnya yang diluar nurul, sesuai namanya.

Kalau kuceritakan semua, bisa jadi setebal skripsi.

Seketika mood-ku dalam mengerjakan tugas meningkat, karena ulah Amel ini. Aku memang lelah, namun melihat muridku, terkadang rasa lelah itu tergantikan oleh rasa rindu ingin bertemu mereka. Hingga tanpa sadar, aku berhasil mengoreksi karangan 21 muridku. Pun, semuanya sama absurdnya dengan Amel, walau tak sampai meninggalkan catatan kaki.

[areixyn-en]

for Charles’s introduction, have this basically unrelated drawing of Charles and Cyrus because i want to draw them in uniforms instead of sportswear :D

[areixyn-en]

Schedule

“God, it's been so long since we’ve played basketball together,” Cyrus says to Charles, and the other hums in agreement.

The two slowly walk out of the basketball court. Cyrus would have stayed longer, but Charles had to study by 5 pm, according to his schedule.

“Sigh, such a shame that we can’t play longer. For once, you’re free from extra classes in the math-gifted class and doing experiments, and guess what? Nobody else’s free, and even you have to go studying so early, too,” Cyrus says, “I mean, you already study all day every day anyway! Breaking away from your schedule once in a while won’t hurt, right?”

Seeing as the other doesn't reply, Cyrus continues the conversation. “You also gotta loosen up sometimes, y’know?”

“…I do,” Charles says.

Cyrus pauses for a second, then remembers the one hour of free time he has every day. “No, you don't! That one hour doesn't count!”

Not in the mood for a rebuttal, Charles just walks in silence.

“When you’re free, let’s play basketball together again,” Cyrus suggests, “We can also work on your passing. You’re not bad at shooting; not getting the ball would be a shame, you know?”

Charles has always struggled with passing the ball. If he remembers correctly, he’s been like this ever since Cyrus knew him — which was in elementary school.

“Oh.”

“Though we’ll have to wait until you’re free,” Cyrus complains, “Seriously, do you really have to live by your schedule every day?”

He’s said the same words countless times, yet the answer never changed.

“Mm.”