kscans

Chapter 203 - To Celebrate a New Start

The end of the year is a busy time, when even the masters are dashing about. I was constantly pressed for time. Night would fall before I knew it, and morning would arrive just after a brief, unsatisfying rest. Part of me felt I could not keep going like that every day, but at the same time, I also enjoyed the hectic year end atmosphere. It was like having a whip cracked at my back, forcing me to run, but surprisingly, it was also kind of fun. It's exhausting, but just a little longer. I can finally rest after just a little more. That is what pushes you to give it one last bit of effort.

The city's atmosphere is nice too. It is dressed up in dazzling decorations, completely different from its usual self. The children are ecstatic, but adults can not quite afford to be. Even the adults who seem excited are usually just hiding their built up fatigue. That is when gazing at the holiday lights feels truly special. You find the sparkling lights a little annoying, but at the same time, they are somehow soothing.

And so, after struggling along and complaining, the end finally came into view on December twenty fourth. As we had discussed, we were holding a graduation party for the kids on Okutama Island. I could not leave work exactly on time, but I managed to get home within a reasonable window. I had already sent Suzuki over to the island to cook, with Takahashi and Chika-san as her assistants, so all that was left was me and the children.

"Phew. That's refreshing. What do you say, shall we get going soon?"

The plan was for them to wait at my place until I got back, but when I arrived home, the kids were in the middle of their homework. They said they would finish up when they reached a good stopping point, so I took a shower. I figured enough time had passed. I was getting hungry.

"We're good to go. Well, except for one of us who isn't."

"Come on, Rika-san, pull yourself together."

She was already looking sluggish when I got home, but now Rika-chan was practically a corpse. I get it, though. It must be tough. She was the only slacker mixed in with three serious students.

"N, n, no... It's winter break, you fool. Why must I..."

"Because it's winter break."

Hikaru-kun fired back a calm retort to Rika-chan's melodramatic line. I looked at the three of them, asking with my eyes if it was okay to teleport now, and they all nodded. So, I jumped us over to Okutama Island.

"Hey, Chika-san, how's it going?"

"All that's left is to set the table. But before that, let's just give them their presents."

"Yay! Presents!"

Just as Rika-chan was revived, Takahashi and Suzuki came into the living room. I think I picked out Christmas presents everyone would like, but I started to get a little nervous.

"Alright, let's do this right. Rika-chan, Hikaru-kun, Sarna-chan, Saku-chan."

Congratulations on your graduation. As we all said the words in unison, the children smiled happily. I almost teared up seeing how much they had grown as people, but I held it back.

"First, as members of the Supernatural World, please accept these gifts to celebrate your new beginning."

I glanced at Chika-san, who gave a small nod and handed the item to Rika-chan.

"A dagger?"

Nodding, Chika-san began to explain.

"That's a special weapon Hiro made, and it has two hidden abilities. The first power is common to all the weapons we're giving you today, so let's start with that. You can probably tell by looking at it, but frankly, you might think its quality is nothing special, right?"

At best, it probably had the same quality as a mass produced item you could buy for three or four hundred thousand yen.

"But that's not the case. That dagger grows stronger along with its wielder."

"A weapon that levels up with its user!?"

Hikaru-kun, who had spoken without thinking, began to tremble. "S, s, so cool..." he stammered. I was honestly hoping for that. I knew he would react that way. Rika-chan, who understood the heart of a young boy to some extent, was also smiling. "That's amazing!" Sarna-chan and Saku-chan were not moved by the romantic notion, but by pure surprise, which was not so bad either.

"It's a weapon you can keep using forever, so I'd be happy if you took good care of it."

"Yeah. So, what's the other one?"

"It's an ability I imbued it with that enhances your powers as a Star Priestess. Try shrouding the blade in a little flame."

"Like this... whoa!? I'm barely putting any power into it... and wait, is this using less energy too?"

"It is. For you right now, it's more of a support tool, but as you grow, I think it'll function more as an amplifier."

"I see. Thanks, Mama! And Uncle! I'll treasure it!"

I was just glad she was happy.

"Alright, guess I'm next. I've imbued this sword with my power."

"Takahashi-san's... so that means gravity, right?"

"Yeah. As long as you're holding it, you'll be able to control gravity. It's not much right now, though."

"But as I get stronger, the ability will get stronger too, right?"

"That's the idea. So do your best."

"I will! Thank you, Satou-san! And Takahashi-san!"

Yeah, yeah, just use it well.

"Okay, I'm next, but I think you can guess what it is."

"Repulsion, right?"

"That's right. Sarna-chan, you're a smart girl, so I'm sure you'll be able to use it well. Use it to your heart's content, for your own sake and for your friends'."

"I will! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, Satou-san and Suzuki-san."

Alright, last up is Saku-chan. I handed her a wand about the length of a conductor's baton. It had a simple, functional design. Its power was just as straightforward as its appearance.

"It's designed to reduce your magic consumption and handle complex formula calculations on its own."

"A solid performance. Yes, it's just my style. Thank you, Hero Uncle. I'll treasure it."

"You're welcome."

Alright, now I guess it is time for us old-timers to offer a few final words of wisdom.

"Okay, first up is Chika-san. Please give us some truly valuable words of wisdom as their senior in the Supernatural World."

"Huh, that wasn't on the schedule... um, uhhh..."

She was flustered, but I knew Chika-san could do it. She's a company president, after all. She had to be used to giving these kinds of speeches.

"This isn't just limited to the Supernatural World, but as you live your life, you'll find parts of yourself that are ugly, things you'll want to look away from. I won't tell you not to look away. But you can't keep looking away forever. There's surely something important there. So no matter how many times you run, you have to face it properly someday."

Her words were filled with conviction. I had a vague idea what she was talking about, but it would be rude to pry.

"This is from our own experience, you know."

"Let's say you find something you feel you could dedicate your entire self to."

"When you look back on it later, you might find that wasn't really the case."

"So are we telling you not to chase it? No, that's not it. Because to you in that moment, that is your truth."

This was getting intense. I felt like the bar was suddenly being raised. I thought this was going to be more lighthearted, but what is this!?

"The point is, when that thing is completely denied to you, don't get stubborn."

"Stop for a moment and try walking a different path."

"If you do, you might find something even more wonderful than the thing you thought you could dedicate your everything to."

"Basically, don't go deciding your own ending."

"Your possibilities are infinite. At the very least, because we weren't killed on that day, at that time, we're here like this now."

"If we had chosen death back then, we wouldn't have been able to make you all this delicious meal."

"That's about all from us," Takahashi and Suzuki said, concluding their speech. This was bad. My turn had arrived.

...

Wh, what should I do? I don't have any life lessons to share from my experiences. I am Satou-kun, the man who has always won, always laughed. Well, my parting with Takahashi and Suzuki was a bitter experience, but that's about it, and even that was the result of me pushing my own selfish desires.

"As long as you don't give up, your dreams will come true!"

...

Ah, what's with those blank stares!?