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Matsuo sat patiently outside Councilman Inoue's office. He had been summoned today to hear about the results of the test he had taken two weeks prior. Unless a witch was already friends with someone who was able and willing to become a familiar, witches and witchbloods- those who had magic but incapable of using it, making them candidates to become familiars- would turn to the Academy this time of year to take a test to assess a good partner. It was a little strange, Matsuo felt it was a little like an arranged marriage, since a witch and familiar's relationship was intimate and, with rare exception, lifelong. Suddenly, they'd be a part of a stranger's life, sometimes. Of course, there were plenty of witches who knew witchbloods and vice vets and still took the test, he had heard quite a few times stories about good friends being paired. But Matsuo wasn't exactly close with his peers, even moreso than witchbloods with less of a connection to the witch world, so he wasn't exactly going to discover he'd be spending the rest of his life with an old friend. Still, Inoue called him in today, meaning that his assessment paired him with someone else. It was a relief, since the year before there wasn't an ideal match, and it was a considerable blow to his mental health, going through another year would be difficult. Ozaki Matsuo felt a soft crackle between his ears, not unpleasant, but not ignorable, it was the signal that Councilman Inoue was ready for him to enter. He got up and quickly entered, smiling at the older man before lowering his head politely. Inoue looked about fifty, but Matsuo knew he was a good deal older than that, and that he had looked the same over a decade ago. Matsuo spent a good time of his youth with this man, as him and his grandfather were close. Naturally, the relationship was not the same now, and Inoue barely returned the smile. "My… you've really gotten big," Inoue commented. "It was a little strange seeing the name of a six year old in the assessment papers until I realized more than fifteen years had gone by. Of course, it was surprising at all to see the name Ozaki listed as a potential familiar." He said playfully, but with an obvious bit of malice in his tone. Matsuo turned his head away. Witchbloods were typically a natural occurrence, whether through mixed heritage of witch and human, or genetic variant. Witchbloods created through criminal punishment was exceptionally rare. His family were the only ones known to the Academy of Japan. Ozaki used to be a proud, powerful name, and now it was a mark of deep shame, an admission of powerlessness, an open invitation to be kicked. Inoue felt personally betrayed by Matsuo's grandfather, though he wasn't the target, and obviously still held a good deal of resentment. "So today, you'll become a witch's familiar. It's going to be quite a lifestyle change, and despite how prepared you think you are, you're not going to expect what's going to happen." Inoue warned him. "It's certainly not the life your grandfather anticipated you'd lead. I hope you really thought about this. It might just be better to live in the practical world." "I've made my decision," Matsuo said rather curtly, raising his gaze again. He would gladly accept becoming a second-class citizen in the witch world than separate himself entirely to join regular humans. And from his perspective, second-class was moving up. Inoue's eyes seemed to flash in surprise, and his frown deepened. "There won't be many of those to make on your own from here on out," Inoue reminded him. He had called Matsuo earlier than his witch specifically to 'catch up' with his old friend's grandson, but he knew Matsuo's future master was due here very soon now. "You think that this bothers me," Matsuo answered. "I've thought about this for a long time. I know what being a familiar means, I was raised by one. You want to humiliate me, make me regret my choice before it's even finalized. You think being a familiar should be humiliating for an Ozaki, but for me, I knew the shame of the name before I understood of the former pride. I'm not falling further, no matter what you think. I think you're mainly upset that we won't turn to self-exile." Suddenly, in an instant, an invisible wall seemed to push Mastuo's body forward, and he fell onto the desk, knocking off a few papers. He gasped for air, the wind nearly knocked out of him, the invisible force still pressed down on him. "Is there anything else you'd like to add?" Inoue asked. "Still want to take advantage to talk to me like this while you still can? Before you'll need permission to talk to me at all? Or anyone within these Academy halls, for that matter. That's what you're doing, right?" Matsuo's fists balled tightly, his knuckles turning white. It was such a basic spell, one tended to be used in sudden defense, as it was easily dispelled… for another magic user. But he was helpless under Inoue's simple force. It pressed down harder, it was a little harder to breathe. Then, it was down, Matsuo filled his lungs with air and stood up as soon as he could. "Thought so," Inoue said with a smile. "Your witch is just outside…" A simple, subtle gesture, and the man outside would get the same signal Matsuo received. He tried to catch his breath, and calm himself enough to make a good first impression, but he was a little shaken by the sudden assault.