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"This is?"
Asagumo Chihaya curiously examined the old hat in Asakura's hand.
"This is the Sorting Hat. It can determine a Witch's aptitude and bestow blessings."
Asakura said.
"I see."
The girl didn't doubt him, took the hat, and placed it directly on her head.
Then she heard a voice resonate in her mind.
'Wow, another little wizard with aptitude.'
The hat spoke? The girl thought.
'In a world with Magic, everything is normal. Figures in paintings have their own lives, crawling G's are actually candies, eggnog biscuits can turn people into canaries... And me, a dirty wizard hat, what's so strange about me talking?'
Mind reading? Asagumo Chihaya frowned prettily.
'Of course not that kind of thing. The ability my creator bestowed upon me is actually closer to seeing the color of a person's soul than reading minds, discerning which blessing you little wizards are most suited for~ So don't worry, I won't dig into your inner secrets; I'm merely judging your personal character.'
For some reason, the academically excellent girl suddenly felt a little flustered.
"Let me see… Hmm ♦ ♦ Hmm? Uh… this…"
The Sorting Hat fell silent, not speaking for a long time.
"Why is it taking so long this time?"
Yuigahama Yui asked curiously from the side: "Didn't I put it on and it shouted out immediately that time? How was it for you, Ruri?"
"Just like that."
Gokou Ruri said vaguely. She wasn't sure if the hat's hesitation time was better longer or shorter. As the youngest member of the Society, she still wanted to maintain her 'senior' image in front of Asagumo Chihaya.
Asakura, however, had no opinion on this.
If the Sorting Hat was the same as in the original Harry Potter, then the length of the sorting time had little to do with the person's excellence; it simply meant that the person being sorted possessed characteristics of two or even more houses simultaneously.
Just like Harry Potter was suited for Gryffindor and Slytherin, Hermione and Professor McGonagall both met the criteria for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, and so on…
"Oh, astonishing… I mean, unbelievable… Although there are many aspects I can't agree with… But the nature is good, no need to be with Dementors… Loyal and honest, oh, not quite… Possesses wisdom but its use is a bit skewed… Recklessness and courage are often just a fine line apart, that's somewhat fitting… Heavens, but my conscience really can't put you in Gryffindor… Although I don't even have that organ… Ambitious and proactive, or rather, too proactive… Hmm, so it's quite obvious, isn't it, dear?"
The hat took a deep breath (though it had no lungs) and then shouted loudly: "Slytherin!"
"A name I haven't seen before appeared!"
Yuigahama Yui (Hufflepuff) said happily.
"An interesting woman."
Gokou Ruri (Ravenclaw) tried to maintain a calm demeanor.
"Then I'll say it again,"
Asakura (Azkaban) reached out and took the wizard hat off Asagumo Chihaya's head, smiling at her: "Welcome to the Chiba Magic Society."
As for Slytherin, Asakura remembered that the original work only emphasized pure-blood superiority, thus being very discriminatory towards half-bloods and Muggle-born wizards. However, in this world, there is no concept of pure-blood or half-blood, which means the disadvantages of Slytherin simply don't exist, leaving only the minor traits like shrewdness and being quite sincere as a friend (the Sorting Hat sang similar lyrics to wizards).
"I am but a humble woman, please guide me."
Asagumo Chihaya also nodded slightly, saying with a gentle smile, looking incredibly obedient.
"Chihaya looks just like a Yamato Nadeshiko, so elegant and cute! Can I call you Little Chihaya?"
The little stars in Yuigahama Yui's eyes were almost popping out.
How friendly is this guy? Gokou Ruri looked speechlessly at Yuigahama Yui: Speaking of which, she seemed to have inexplicably accepted this guy calling her Ruri. And generally speaking, would a club initiation involve such words? It felt like that guy named Asagumo seemed to have some deeper, darker purpose…
"Of course, no problem, then can I call you Yui-chan? Yui-chan is so innocent and cute."
Asagumo Chihaya's smile became even brighter and gentler. Then her gaze fell on Gokou Ruri, who had a hint of wariness: "Then, as a senior, Miss Gokou, can you guide me on matters concerning Witches?"
"Hmph, there's nothing much to say, it's probably just like this."
Gokou Ruri snapped her fingers, and the napkin she had placed on the table folded itself into a boneless, folded paper cat that roamed around on the table.
"Oh! How amazing, as expected of Senior Gokou! For some reason, I can't use Magic, so I really yearn for such power. Senior Gokou seems to operate it quite skillfully."
Asagumo Chihaya praised sincerely.
"This small matter can be achieved with more practice. Not to mention ordinary movements, even backflips are no problem."
"That's wonderful, there really is a cat that can do backflips."
"If you're already so moved by just this much, then it's too early. Watch closely, there's also the ultimate technique, Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon!"
"Can you even do something like that? That's incredible!"
Asakura and Yuigahama Yui, from the side, watched with benevolent gazes, like elders, as Gokou Ruri, who was the youngest and thus treated as the group's darling, was somewhat carried away by Asagumo Chihaya's flattery, controlling the tissue cat to display banquet tricks, and Asagumo Chihaya, who was applauding cutely with a gentle smile beside her.
That scene was unexpectedly heartwarming.
"I thought the shy Ruri would take a while to accept Little Chihaya, but I didn't expect their relationship to become so good all of a sudden."
Yuigahama Yui sighed: "Little Chihaya is really amazing."
"Some people's social skills are maxed out from the start; wherever they go, they make friends. Others, however, have to start by redefining what a friend is to stubbornly hide the fact that they have no friends. This is the disparity between people."
Asakura also couldn't help but sigh.
"Asakura-kun is so harsh only towards Yukino."
"You're overthinking it; I simply don't like her."
"Although Yukino looks like an unpeeled chestnut, full of thorns, she's actually quite sensitive."
"Whether it's a chestnut or a sea urchin, neither is a reason for me to tolerate her. If I have free time for this, I'd rather continue researching floral water… I mean, Essence of Dittany."
On the other side, Gokou Ruri, immersed in the atmosphere of praise, jolted awake from her smug state.
She looked at Asagumo Chihaya, who was still gently smiling, applauding, and praising her, and a warning bell couldn't help but ring loudly in her heart.
This person, she might be quite difficult to deal with!
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