Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A red butterfly landed on the dormhead's hand. He stared at it, puzzled, then smiled naturally, the smile he always gave to all his friends and acquaintances...And sometimes even to his enemies.

“Hello, little butterfly!”
The white-haired tried to whisper as quietly as possible.

He could have sworn he saw the butterfly turn toward him and look at him intently. When it finally decided to find a more comfortable place than Kalim's hand, it began to flap its wings.

Kalim woke up feeling more rested than ever before. He looked around and saw his room as he had left it the night before: in disarray. books scattered on the floor, papers and documents about Scarabia's students piled on his desk, red eyeliner at the foot of the bed, thrown on the floor in frustration the night before.

But above all, the bowl of soup near his door, cooked and brought yesterday by Jamil to his room.

Kalim understood perfectly well that he was only doing it for his own safety and for fear of getting himself and his family into trouble if something happened to the white haired boy, but part of him couldn't help thinking (and deluding himself) that he was continuing to cook for him because deep down he really cared about him and their relationship.

Kalim took a deep breath, preparing for a school day that seemed to have started in the strangest way possible.

Getting out of bed, he began to drag his feet across the floor. He had woken up feeling better than the other days, but that meant nothing compared to the weight on his heart that he couldn't shake off and the constant mental fatigue he felt when remembering all those moments of illusion he had experienced with Jamil.

He picked up the phone from his desk, surrounded by all the paperwork he had already filled out (or perhaps not all of it; he totally should have to check them later after class. Maybe it would be better to set a reminder on his phone so he wouldn't forget... But first he had to get ready as soon as possible because the first class would start in 15 minutes).

“Damn it!”
Kalim exclaimed, looking at his phone. He would never be able to get ready in 15 minutes, or even 10.

He decided to give up on the eyeliner after a thousand failed attempts of the night before, deciding to get dressed and wash his face as quickly as possible. However, he decided to try to put on his headdress by himself. He succeeded on the fifth attempt. It wasn't the same as how Jamil did it, but at least it stayed on.

Kalim punched the air in satisfaction, smiling despite the tiredness that was returning despite waking up just some minutes ago.

He took his magic pen, put it in the pocket of his cardigan, and opened the door of his room to rush to class.

Passing through the common area of the dormitory, Kalim caught a glimpse of a red butterfly flying around the tables out of the corner of his eye. He immediately turned to look at it, stopping in his tracks.
As soon as the butterfly noticed Kalim's gaze, it flew towards him and landed on his hand. The white haired tried to smile at it when suddenly a severe headache struck him, causing him to clench his temples with the hand that was not holding the butterfly.

His vision blurred and his eyes began to water for no reason.

“You're finally here.”
A woman with long, silky hair looked at him with a playful gaze, like someone who knew exactly what was going on. In fact, more than just knowing the situation, she was the cause of it.

“Kalim al-asim, welcome to my shop.”

Chapter Text

Kalim looked at the woman, puzzled. She was sitting on a sofa as if she had been waiting for him for a long time.

Twirling a strand of hair between her fingers, the woman smiled again, this time more warmly, which for some strange reason reassured the white haired boy.

“Are you curious to know why you're here? Why that red butterfly landed right on your hand?”

Kalim nodded slowly. He was still sitting on the floor and didn't move an inch, more out of curiosity than fear.

“Good,” the long-haired woman nodded, turning her head to the right, as if waiting for someone to arrive. She frowned when she didn't see the person she was waiting for and, with a sigh, prepared to shout, “Watanuki! Come here!”

Watanuki, what an unusual name. I wonder what country these people come from...

Kalim was also curious to know the name of the woman in front of him, but he didn't even try to ask her.

He couldn't identify his feelings at the moment. He wasn't afraid, he was curious, but he couldn't move (didn't want to?).

The person called came running. It was a boy with black hair and glasses. He was definitely doing housework (or shop work?), as he was wearing a white apron over a black shirt and black pants.

“Oh! Are you a customer, Yuuko-san? Would you like some tea?”

Customer? Me? Are they talking about me? Why would I be a customer of this strange shop?

“Let’s slow down, first of all, why don't you introduce yourself to Kalim?”

Watanuki nodded confusedly, Yuuko just smiled and motioned for him to move.

“Um... Nice to meet you! I'm Watanuki Kimihiro! You must be Kalim, right? Why did you come to us?”

The white-haired boy took Watanuki's hand and shook it.

“Why... Did I come to..You?”

Looking around, he found himself even more confused, only now noticing the unusual clothes Yuuko was wearing.

Where am I?

Kalim immediately let go of Watanuki's hand. Panic was starting to rise, like hands squeezing his entire body. He couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't utter a single word, a single syllable. His eyes trembled, he found himself shrinking a little bit.

Yuuko immediately understood what was happening.

“It makes sense to panic. You don't know where you are, who we are, or what we want from you. I don't blame you. After all, you're still recovering from those kidnappings you suffered since you were a child.”

How does she know something like that?!
Kalim raised his head and looked straight into Yuuko's eyes, who had gotten up and knelt down next to him.

She raised her hand and gently stroked his white hair. Somehow, this gesture relaxed him. None of this made any sense.

“Kalim, this shop can grant you any wish you desire”

Yuuko said softly, her voice calm and composed, flanked by Watanuki, who nodded with a serious expression.

“Eh?”

“So you can grant any wish as long as there is an exchange between you and me, Ms. Yuuko?”

“Oh, please, Yuuko-san is fine.”
She said with a smile, raising her teacup to take a sip.

“But yes, exactly that.”

Kalim began to fidget with his hands, confused.

“But I don't want anything...”

Yuuko raised an eyebrow, smirking.

“Are you really sure? What's the name of your dear friend...” She put her hand under her chin, touching it, pretending to think. “Jamil? Or should I say acquaintance?”

Hearing Jamil's name gave the white haired boy goosebumps. He lowered his gaze, tracing the lines of the wooden table with his index finger.

“Just as I thought.”

Yuuko stood up and took his right hand.

“Here's our deal: I'll make you more independent so that Jamil can be your friend again, but you...” Kalim looked up, curious. “You'll have to discover your true unique magic. We'd love it if you could come work here sometimes when you discover it. In the meantime, you can always come visit us while you work on it.”

Discover my true unique magic? What is she talking about? Oasis maker isn't very powerful compared to the unique magic of other housewardens, but it's still a magic I'm proud of!

“Everything will become clear in due course.”
Yuuko stroked Kalim's head again.

Watanuki returned to the room holding a red butterfly shaped pin a red butterfly. Kalim's eyes widened.

“But that's—”

“The butterfly that brought you here. If you take this pin and hold it in your hand, wishing strongly to come here, you can visit us whenever you want.”

The bespectacled boy handed the pin to the white haired, smiling slightly.

“How about staying here for a while before returning to your school? Time passes differently here than in your dimension.”

Watanuki asked in a light voice.

“In my dimension?”

“Remember, all at the appropriate time, but I must say that Watanuki's proposal is not bad at all! Cook us something! And bring some sake for me and Mokona! Kalim can't drink yet.”

The bespectacled boy sighed, almost wearily, but secretly happy to be in that place, nodding and heading towards the shop's kitchen.

So it's also a home...

A black rabbit like creature suddenly jumped on his head, causing him to let out a small cry of surprise.

“Kalim Al-Asim! Kalim Al-Asimi! Kalim Al-Asm!”

The creature began to hum, hopping here and there around the room.

It's adorable!!

Kalim looked at it with a sweet gaze.

Yuuko kept smiling, hoping to fulfill his wish, to open the eyes of this boy with a heart of gold and endless potential.

But for now, a delicious meal cooked by Watanuki awaited them.

“Oh, and Kalim, don't worry about poison. You'll never find a drop of it here.”

Kalim, who had been playing with Mokona, looked up, and the gratitude he showed through his eyes softened Yuuko's smile.