Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

As the door swung open, a roomful of faces came into view—both unfamiliar and familiar at once.

Time had changed many of them. Hairstyles and clothing had diversified, making recognition challenging. Yet, as Hestia stepped closer, the warm and familiar voices immediately stirred her memories.

“Is that…?”

“Could it be Thilan?”

A few boys seated nearby looked at her, hesitant to confirm.

The room fell into a brief silence, and the students who had been chatting noticed the change in atmosphere, turning to see the girl who had just entered.

She stood there, radiant and beautiful. Her crimson dress, long flowing hair, and delicate silk ribbon swayed gently, like a dream-like red lotus stirring ripples in their hearts.

Before anyone could speak, Cindy rose from inside the suite, waving enthusiastically.

“Thilan! You’re finally here!”

“Yes, I’m here.” Hestia stood still, her gaze sweeping over the familiar crowd. Her heart was awash with emotions, but she struggled to find a way to express them.

A wave of joyous cheers erupted, breaking the brief quiet. Students stood up, some pushing forward from the back of the room to surround her.

“It’s Thilan! It really is her!”

“Thilan! I’ve missed you! Has it been three or four years since we last met?”

“Wow, grown-up Thilan is still as beautiful as ever!”

“Thilan, where have you been all these years? We tried inviting you so many times!”

“Can I hug Thilan?”

“Thilan, why are you crying? Aren’t we supposed to be happy about this reunion?”

“It’s okay, Tilan. We’re all here for you.”

Amid the excited chatter, a few old friends gently patted her back, offering comfort.

After a moment, Hestia managed to calm down, though she felt embarrassed for crying. She thought, Aren’t I supposed to be an adult now? Why am I still so prone to tears, just like when I was a kid?

She finally began to answer the crowd’s eager questions.

“Sorry for taking so long to see everyone,” she said, scanning the room and comparing their faces to the ones in her memory, matching names to each.

“A lot has happened over the years,” she admitted, lowering her eyes briefly.

“There were some changes in my family. I moved away from where I used to live and have been living on my own since.” She avoided making it sound overly tragic, not wanting to dampen the mood.

Although she kept her explanation vague, her classmates could piece together enough to realize that Hestia hadn’t had it easy. A hush fell over the room.

“I’m so happy to see you all again. To be honest, I might not even recognize some of you anymore.” She smiled awkwardly, avoiding their intense gazes by glancing at the table nearby.

“That’s fine! Let’s just reintroduce ourselves today!” a cheerful boy exclaimed, breaking the tension. The others quickly chimed in their agreement.

“Let me go first, as the class president from back then,” the boy said, stretching his arms wide to clear some space. He grabbed a chair and placed it in front of Hestia, sitting down confidently.

“I’m Nokai. You remember me, right, Thilan? I used to bother you so much back then, haha.”

His short hair looked neat and fresh, and he wore a dark T-shirt. Sitting with one hand on his knee and the other patting his chest, he introduced himself with gusto.

“Of course, I remember. You’ve gotten so much taller since then,” Hestia replied, recalling how Nokai used to be shorter than her.

“That’s because I work out all the time!” he said, but barely finished before someone dragged him out of the chair.

“Alright, Nokai, quit hogging the spotlight! There’s a line behind you.”

Two boys nudged him aside and took his place.

The pair struck synchronized poses—one ran a finger down the center of his brow while the other traced a line horizontally across his eyebrow before opening his eyes dramatically.

“Jian Buyan.”

“Chen Zhiyu.”

Their over-the-top antics drew laughter, and Hestia smiled softly, nodding in acknowledgment of the duo known for their antics.

The two gracefully vacated their seats, allowing a girl with chestnut-colored short hair to step forward.

“I’m Irene,” she said warmly, wearing a tailored blouse adorned with a black silk bow at the collar and a knee-length checkered skirt. She extended her hand toward Hestia.

“Irene…” Hestia murmured, clasping the offered hand. The two looked at each other, emotions brimming, but neither spoke further.

Back in elementary school, Irene had been Hestia’s closest friend, always taking care of her when she was timid and prone to tears.

Surrounded by the circle of chairs, Hestia greeted her former classmates one by one, reconnecting and reminiscing. Laughter and tears interwove, creating an unforgettable scene that they would likely recall decades later.

…

Meanwhile, in another room, the middle school reunion was underway.

“Is everyone here?” Jones asked, surveying the group.

“Everyone except Hestia,” someone muttered.

“Did anyone try calling her?”

“Not really. Few of us have her number,” another replied.

Jones raised his voice, “Does anyone here have Hestia’s number? Ask her if she’s coming!”

The boys mostly shook their heads, but a few girls glanced toward Lina.

Among the girls, Lina had been the one closest to Hestia.

“Why are you looking at me? She’s some rich lady now, why would she care about someone like me?” Lina scoffed, turning away.

Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, another girl whispered something to Lina, who seemed to reconsider.

“Fine, I’ll call her and see if she’ll come.”

She pulled out her sleek new terminal, and with a flourish of purple holographic light, a projection appeared for everyone to see.

“Beep… beep…” The dial tone echoed.

Noticing this, Clara, who had been quietly browsing a forum in the corner, frowned slightly and switched tabs to send Hestia a quick message.

The call timed out without an answer. Lina, visibly annoyed, clicked her tongue.

“Whatever, she’s probably ignoring me on purpose. Hmph.”

“Is she really not coming to a reunion? That’s such a downer,” someone lamented.

“Forget it. She’s a top student aiming to be a doctor. Of course, she’d look down on us,” another said bitterly.

“Or maybe she’s busy cozying up in some fancy hotel right now,” someone joked. “I saw her once, wearing a maid’s outfit and walking into the Apex Tower. Didn’t think much of it then, but now it seems obvious.”

“Seriously? That’s wild!”

“Who knows? Maybe she realized no matter how hard she studied, this route makes money faster.”

The room buzzed with gossip, curiosity rising about the rumored luxury of the Apex Tower.

“Not sure. I’ve only heard bits and pieces from my dad. Supposedly, Apex Tower was funded by the government, and the top floor is equipped with systems to monitor the entire city. It’s also extremely secure. Many wealthy individuals and bureaucrats frequent the place, and it offers a full range of facilities.”

“Wow, really? I had no idea.”

“It’s normal not to know. The costs there are astronomical. Just sitting around reportedly costs thousands of Federation Credits. It’s blatantly a money pit.”

“But what was Hestia doing there? Was she really… doing that?”

“I don’t know, but think about it. She’s not from a wealthy family, and she doesn’t seem to have any rich friends or relatives. If she went there, it was probably for something shady.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re probably right. I used to think Hestia had a great figure, though she always wore those thick glasses, and her hair was so messy it was hard to see her face.”

“Should’ve just pulled her glasses off back then. I bet she wouldn’t have dared to resist.”

“Wasn’t Lina her desk mate? She might have some pictures.”

“But judging from Lina’s mood lately, it seems they had a falling out.”

“Actually, I heard Hestia stole Lina’s boyfriend,” someone whispered.

“What? Another juicy story? Spill it.”

“Not entirely sure. It’s just gossip from the girls. Apparently, one day Lina went shopping with her boyfriend and invited a few classmates, including Hestia. Somehow, her boyfriend ended up liking Hestia.”

“Oh wow, so she’s actually pretty?”

The group buzzed with discussion until the main dishes arrived, which shifted their focus.

During the meal, Jones and the other boys clinked glasses and drank, while Lina, fuming, couldn’t even eat.

The conversation had hit her where it hurt—implying that she, Lina, couldn’t even keep her boyfriend from being snatched away by someone like Hestia. Her aura as the “queen bee” had crumbled into one of a jealous, ineffective woman.

“Alright, calm down, Lina. Have something to eat.”

Dudu tried to soothe her, worried that Lina might shift her blame elsewhere. After all, that day, aside from Hestia, only she and Millie had been present.

“Hmph.”

Lyna snorted, brushing off Dudu with a glare. For now, she wouldn’t argue with her.

She then picked up her personal device and began typing. Purple light danced at her fingertips as she composed a long message, filled with scorn and moral accusations. It ended with a demand for Hestia to attend the gathering, apologize, and explain herself if she had any sense of shame.

So you’re ignoring calls? Think you can run from this like a hamster hiding in its burrow?

Satisfied, she clicked send, her mood visibly improving.

Lina knew Hestia well. The introverted girl had certain principles. She wouldn’t resist being belittled, but if morally cornered, she couldn’t escape.

Whoever raised her to be so naive had done a great job—it was proving quite entertaining now.

…

Meanwhile, at the elementary school reunion, the introductions and re-acquaintances were wrapping up.

“Finally, it’s my turn,” said a boy with thick glasses as he sat down. In school, he had always been quiet and unremarkable, and nothing had changed.

“Do you still remember my name, Hestia?”

“Is it David?” Hestia replied hesitantly, recalling the boy who rarely spoke.

“Yes, I’m David. Uh…” He scratched his head, both pleased and embarrassed that she remembered him. After all, the beautiful girl before him was the one every boy had admired.

“I don’t know what to say. Just… keep doing your best, Hestia.” He shyly offered his words of encouragement.

“Thank you, I will.” Hestia tilted her head and smiled, her spirits lifted.

“You too, David.”

Her gentle response stunned him. Under the soft glow of the chandelier, her smile seemed like a scene from a dream.

I will, he thought to himself, silently promising.

With that, David stood and blended back into the group.

The ice broken, the room became lively again. Friends sat around the table, chatting about their holidays and future plans.

“Where will you study next, Hestia?” Irene asked, sitting beside her with their hands clasped.

“Um… probably in Northern 1st District,” Hestia replied. She didn’t want to brag about being enrolled in two schools at once—it wasn’t her style.

“Really?” Irene’s eyes lit up. She had been worried that they’d end up in different places again.

“I’m going to Northern 1st District too! I got into the Floral Bell Academy.”

Floral Bell Academy, ranked 237 in the Four-Leaf Crystal Region and 46 in Northern 1st District, was a small but prestigious school known for its expertise in botany and landscaping.

Getting into one of the top 300 schools in the sector was no small feat. The rankings encompassed not just Verdant Veil but also neighboring systems, space stations, and even mining colonies.

Verdant Veil was the largest habitable planet in the region, housing most of its population, while Spotted Goose had only a quarter of its numbers.

“Since we’ll both be in Northern 1st District, we’ll have plenty of chances to meet. Don’t disappear again,” Irene said softly, leaning her shoulder against Hestia’s.

“I won’t, Irene.” Hestia smiled, comforted by the faint floral scent emanating from her friend.

“You two, don’t stick so close together!” Cindy interjected, squeezing between them with a playful grin.

“Hestia belongs to all of us. Irene, you can’t hog her,” someone teased, causing laughter to fill the room.

Irene sat upright, feigning annoyance as the others continued to joke.

Just as everyone thought the evening would end on a cheerful note, Hestia’s personal device chimed. She opened the message, and her expression froze.

Seeing this, Irene leaned over and caught a glimpse of the harsh words before Hestia could close the screen.

The cruel accusations shocked Irene, and she placed a reassuring hand on Hestia’s shoulder.

“How can they treat you like this?”