Each witch, when she turns 18, according to ancient tradition must live separately for at least a year. Otherwise, all her witchcraft will disappear. She will no longer be able to brew potions, fly on a broom, or understand the language of black cats.

Therefore, Kiki, upon reaching her 18th birthday, took her mother's broom and set off for the coastal town of Koriko, where she was taken in by a kind woman, Osono, in her bakery "Gütiokipänjä".

Kiki lived in the attic above her bakery and every day would come downstairs to stand at the register in the morning, let a pregnant woman sleep in, then take orders and make deliveries all over town and the surrounding area. And that is how the Kiki's Delivery Service came to be in the town of Koriko.

Right now, the young little witch was gazing wistfully at a wicker basket filled with vanilla buns.

"Kiki, are you upset?" Jiji noticed, stretching into an arch and yawning on the table.

Kiki nodded, took a bun in her slender hand, and while twirling it, replied, "I'm not upset."

"Upset?" Jiji repeated, flicking his tail near the girl's nose. For some reason, she sneezed.

"Jiji!" Kiki protested, standing up from her chair with a creak. Her cheeks were lightly flushed. She put the vanilla bun back, then, gesturing animatedly, protested:

"It's just... just... Just somehow I don't want to fly! I can't do it! Every time I..." — sighing sadly, the girl leaned back in her chair, pressing a hand to her forehead and brushing the ends of her hair from her eyes.

"I just don't have the desire to fly," she then said wearily.

The cat gave a feline snort, then jumped onto Kiki's shoulder and perched there, wrapping his thin, long, black tail around the girl's neck.

"Not now, later," Jiji pronounced.

Kiki began to fidget with the hem of her black dress, muttering under her breath: "What if I can't fly on a broom again?" Her head turned toward the black cat.

"Then... Then! All my witchcraft will disappear, I won't be a witch! I won't be able to understand you, Jiji!"

The cat rolled his eyes in annoyance, exhaled and fixed his gaze on the door.

Kiki also turned her gaze to the front door, sniffled, and wiped her nose: "Maybe work will bring back my inspiration," she said quietly, and began to wait for the next customer.