MHA 2025!

The Great Hall swam before my eyes, a dizzying sea of floating candles and whispering students. I gripped the handle of my battered trunk, the worn leather familiar and grounding. Today was the day. My first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry academy. Up until now, every day was either a blur of numbers and formulas, or a training session with my older brother, Tensei. He'd always been the prodigy, the one with the inherent speed and control. Now, though, I was hoping to forge my own path.

But right now, all I felt was lost.

The sheer size of the hall intimidated me. Tables stretched as far as I could see, laden with steaming food and overflowing with expectant faces. The older students seemed so confident, so assured of their place. I, on the other hand, felt like a rusty cog in a well-oiled machine. My stomach churned. This was going to be harder than I thought.

"First years, gather round!" a booming voice echoed.

I shuffled along with the others, a nervous knot tightening in my chest. I could barely make out the speaker, a stern-looking woman with a tight bun and spectacles perched on her nose. Professor McGonagall. I'd read about her in Hogwarts: A History. The Transfiguration teacher. A legend. And here I was, about to be judged by her – and everyone else.

We were led into a side chamber, a small, bare room where the air crackled with nervous energy. The first years milled about, fidgeting with their robes and whispering anxieties. I saw a few familiar faces from the train – a girl with bushy brown hair reciting spells under her breath, a boy with a pale face.

I spotted him near the back of the room. A boy with mismatched eyes, one turquoise, the other grey, staring intently at the floor. I didn't know why, but something about him intrigued me. He seemed…different.

Suddenly, Professor McGonagall returned. She gave us a withering look. "When I call your name, you will come forward, sit on the stool, and the Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head. Lida, Tenya!"

My name? Already? I could barely breathe. My legs felt like lead as I stumbled forward, tripping slightly over my own feet. A ripple of nervous laughter swept through the room, and my face burned with shame. Fantastic introduction, Lida.

I sat on the stool, the worn wood digging into my back. An old, patched-up hat was placed on my head. It settled low, obscuring my vision. A voice buzzed in my ear.

"Hmm, difficult. Very…determined. A strong sense of duty, a need to prove yourself. Courage, yes, I see courage. But also, a deep-seated humility, a desire for order. Where to put you?" The hat seemed to be thinking about. "Your brother has been such a role model, But you must create your own."

The thoughts raced through my head. Gryffindor? Hufflepuff? Ravenclaw? I had always admired the intelligence of Ravenclaw and the bravery of Gryffindor. I also felt very loyal like Hufflepuff, but which one?

"There has never been anyone like you, Lida. This is difficult."

After what felt like an eternity, the hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers. I stumbled off the stool, my legs shaky. As I made my way towards my new house, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. After all, my brother was a very successful wizard. I wanted to prove he wasn't the only one.

As the sorting continued, I glanced back at the boy with mismatched eyes. He was still standing near the back, watching the proceedings with an impassive expression. He looked lost, just like me.

The feast began, a dazzling array of dishes appearing on the tables. I ate mechanically, my mind still racing. I was a Gryffindor. I was at Hogwarts. What was I going to do now? What about my quirk?

The boy from earlier sat a few spots down from me. I introduced myself. "Hi, I'm Tenya."

He looked at me with a blank stare. "Shoto is my name."

Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't be alone in this new, magical world. Maybe together, we could figure it all out. Maybe, just maybe, Hogwarts would finally give me the chance to truly find myself.

And as I sat there, surrounded by the boisterous energy of Gryffindor, I knew one thing for sure: my journey had just begun.