"We have arrived."
"Hmm. Good work."
The driver stopped the car in front of another grand gate. This gate seemed even bigger than ours... I felt overwhelmed by the wealth of the Kamiarizuki family as my father unbuckled my seatbelt. We got out of the car together.
"Itsuki, how was your first car ride?"
"It was fun!"
"Good. When you turn five, you can ride again."
What's with this system where something upgrades every time there's a 'Shichi-Go-San'?
"Why can't I ride until I'm five?"
"Hmm. 'Kaijutsu'... To put it simply, it's a technique to control magic power. If you can't use it, it's dangerous to go outside."
"Is it different from the magic you used, Papa?"
"It's a preliminary technique. 'Kaijutsu' is the art of controlling magic within your body. After that, you learn 'Shijutsu' to project magic outside, and then you can use magic."
"Um..."
Suddenly, magic became complicated. Can't it be simpler, like saying 'Fire!' and having flames appear?
As I frowned, my father laughed heartily.
"Haha, don't rush. You'll start practicing 'Kaijutsu' now. If you can use it by the time you're five, that's good enough. There's no need to master it right away."
"If I can use 'Kaijutsu' at four, can I go outside?"
I wanted to say 'Kaijutsu,' but my articulation wasn't perfect yet. Still, my father understood and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, if you can use it... But did you hear that, Kaede? Itsuki already wants to learn 'Kaijutsu'!"
"Yes, I heard. It's good that you're excited about Itsuki, but don't overdo it."
"Y-yes, I understand... But remember, Itsuki was already using 'Kaijutsu' in a vague sense when he was just a month old..."
"Oh, that was just a coincidence."
My mother, a slender Japanese beauty, effortlessly handled my father. Seeing this, I realized people are not always as they appear.
By the way, isn't 'Kaijutsu' the technique I've been using all along?
To escape the fear of 'Makui,' I've been controlling my magic every day, every hour, every second. Without realizing it, I mastered 'Kaijutsu.'
What surprised me was that there are proper methods other than 'that' to expel magic. I didn't know. I thought the only way was through, well, you know.
In hindsight, if magic exists, it's natural to use it for spells. Why was I so fixated on that method...?
Feeling a bit shocked at myself, I entered the Kamiarizuki family's gate, greeted by an impressive staircase.
...Stone steps beyond the gate? What kind of place is this, Kamiarizuki?
As I hesitated, my mother spoke gently.
"Itsuki, it's your first time seeing stone steps, isn't it? Surprised? Can you climb them by yourself?"
"I can climb them!"
Encouraged by my mother, I nodded. Thinking about such things as I entered this grand gate probably made me the first and last person to do so. I silently apologized.
"Itsuki, other children from different families will be at this 'Shichi-Go-San.' Can you be friendly with them?"
"Yes, I'll be friendly."
...Wait, is she someone important?
"Let's get started. It's dangerous to keep children without 'Kaijutsu' training outside for long. We'll go in the order of arrival. Shimotsuki, you're first."
"Aya, come here."
The shy girl was lifted by her father, and a woman behind them cut a lock of her hair.
"Throw it into the fire."
Following the blonde woman's instructions, they tossed the hair into the flame.
The next moment, the fire roared up, reaching the height of a two-story house!
Hot!!!
The previously calm fire suddenly became a blazing inferno, leaving me speechless.
My bangs were lifted by the heat!
"Not bad. 'Third Rank,' I'd say."
"...Thank you."
I see. They judge by the fire's size. But ranks? I wish they'd explain it like a game, with 'S' or 'A' ranks.
"Next, Satsuki."
"Rin, come down."
"No way!"
The girl on the burly man's shoulders threw a fit.
"Okay, okay. You can stay up. Mom, please."
"Alright."
With a resigned smile, the gentle-looking woman cut Rin's hair and threw it into the fire.
Woosh!!!
The fire roared again, this time twice as big as Aya's. Incredible. She must have a lot of magic power.
"Impressive... Satsuki is 'Fourth Rank' this year. Fortunate indeed."
The blonde woman seemed genuinely pleased with the display.
"Last, Kisaragi."
"Y-yes!"
I greeted her instinctively, making the blonde woman smile wryly.
"Itsuki, I'm going to cut your hair."
"...Okay."
As my father cut my hair, I felt my heart pounding. All the training over these three years to increase my magic power, all to survive as an exorcist, to become the strongest.
Now, I would see the result of my efforts.
My heartbeat accelerated, drumming in my ears.
And as my father threw my hair into the fire,
Booomm!!!!
A massive explosion occurred.