Taisho Era – Year 2 (Spring 1913)
Location: The Kanroji Estate, Azabu
The air in Azabu had finally surrendered to the sweet, cloying scent of cherry blossoms. For the Kanroji household, today was not just any spring day; it was the fifth birthday of their eldest daughter, Mitsuri.
Kai stood outside the imposing gates of the estate, adjusting the collar of his new haori. It was a deep charcoal grey with subtle burgundy patterns—the finest garment he had purchased with his earnings as a "child prodigy" consultant. In his arms, he carried a small wooden box, polished until it gleamed like silk.
'Great Sage, heart rate check.'
[Notice: Heart rate slightly elevated (82 BPM). Analyzing cause... Diagnosis: Anticipation and mild social pressure. Recommendation: Maintain Total Concentration Breathing to stabilize core temperature.]
'I'm just nervous about the gift,' Kai thought, dismissing the holographic logic. 'This isn't just a toy. It's the foundation of her future.'
He knocked. The gate was opened by a servant who recognized him immediately. Over the last month, the "prodigy orphan" had become a regular fixture, often seen delivering herbal tonics to the master or teaching the cooks how to balance the acidity in their vinegared dishes.
"Master Kai, please come in. The young lady has been asking for you every ten minutes since noon."
Kai offered a polite, charming bow. "My apologies for the delay. Quality takes time."
The dining hall of the Kanroji estate was a spectacle of wealth and warmth. Platters of food—enough to feed a small army—were spread across the low tables. There was grilled sea bream, mountains of rice, and, of course, a staggering variety of sweets.
Mitsuri sat at the head of the children's section, looking like a blooming flower in a vibrant pink and green kimono. When she saw Kai enter, she practically vibrated with excitement, nearly knocking over her tea.
"Kai-kun! You came!" she chirped, her voice echoing off the high ceilings.
"I wouldn't miss the birth of a star for anything," Kai said, his tone smooth, earning a suppressed chuckle from Mitsuri's father and a wary, yet impressed look from her mother.
Kai moved toward her, his movements possessing a grace that felt ancient and practiced. He knelt beside her, placing the wooden box on the tatami. "Happy birthday, Mitsuri-chan. I brought something special. Not just for today, but for all your tomorrows."
Mitsuri's eyes widened. "Is it food? It smells like... cedar and honey?"
"Open it and see."
The girl's nimble fingers unlatched the box. Inside lay a pair of custom-made, weighted wristbands made of fine leather and lead-silk, alongside a jar of hand-crafted floral honey infused with medicinal herbs he'd gathered from the mountains.
"Wristbands?" Mitsuri blinked, looking a bit confused.
"They aren't just wristbands," Kai explained, his voice lowering so only she could hear the true weight of his words. "You're special, Mitsuri. You're getting stronger every day—faster than your bones can keep up with. These weights will help you control that power. They'll make you feel 'normal' when you wear them, so when you take them off, you'll be faster than the wind."
He leaned in closer, his garnet eyes locking onto her emerald ones. "And the honey is to keep your energy up. I know how much fuel a girl like you needs to stay so bright."
Mitsuri felt a heat rise to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the room's temperature. To everyone else, it looked like a boy giving a girl a practical gift. To Mitsuri, it felt like Kai was the only person in the world who truly saw her.
"I love it," she whispered, clutching the weights to her chest. "Thank you, Kai-kun."
The dinner was a boisterous affair. Kai found himself seated near Mitsuri's father, a man who was beginning to realize that the boy who looked like a miniature samurai was no ordinary beggar.
"Tell me, Kai," the father said, sipping his sake while watching the boy navigate the complex social etiquette of a high-class dinner with ease. "The merchants say you've revolutionized the recipe for the local dashi. The apothecary says your understanding of blood-flow is beyond his own. Where does a child find such... wisdom?"
Kai paused, a piece of sea bream held perfectly in his chopsticks. 'Great Sage, prepare a plausible lie.'
[Suggestion: Attribute knowledge to a deceased traveling monk or scholar. It fits the 'orphan' narrative and explains the lack of formal records.]
"My mentor was a man who traveled from the Western lands and the hidden peaks of the North," Kai said smoothly, his eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. "He taught me that the world is a series of patterns. Cooking, medicine, and the way a body moves—it's all the same rhythm. I just happen to have a very good memory for rhythms."
The father hummed, intrigued. "And what rhythm do you see for my daughter?"
Kai looked over at Mitsuri, who was currently laughing as she attempted to eat three mochi balls at once, her sheer joy filling the room.
"She is a symphony that hasn't found its crescendo yet," Kai said, his voice turning serious. "She has a strength that could protect thousands. I intend to be the one who ensures she never feels ashamed of that strength."
The father went silent, his eyes narrowing slightly. He saw no deception in the boy's gaze—only a terrifyingly mature resolve. "You speak of protection as if there is a war coming, Kai."
"The world is always at war with itself, sir," Kai replied enigmatically. "I prefer to be prepared."
After dinner, as the moon rose over the garden, Kai and Mitsuri slipped away to the veranda. The night air was crisp, and the shadows of the cherry trees danced on the floor.
Mitsuri had already put on the weighted wristbands. "They feel... heavy, Kai-kun. But in a good way. Like I'm grounded."
"That's the idea," Kai said, sitting beside her. He looked up at the moon, his mind already calculating his next move. 'In a few years, the demons will become more active. Tanjiro is likely just a toddler now. I have time, but not enough.'
"Kai-kun?" Mitsuri leaned her head against his shoulder. Her hair smelled like spring rain. "Will you always stay nearby? Even when we grow up?"
Kai felt a pang in his chest—a human emotion that bypassed the Great Sage's logic. He reached out and tucked a stray pink lock of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not going anywhere, Mitsuri. In fact, I'm going to get so strong that no demon, no fate, and no person can ever take this peace away from us."
Mitsuri didn't fully understand the 'demon' part, but she felt the promise. She giggled, her flirtatious spirit returning. "Is that a proposal? You're only five!"
Kai laughed, a genuine, boyish sound. "Consider it a long-term investment. Now, let's get back inside. I think I saw another tray of sakura-mochi coming out of the kitchen, and I'd hate for you to lose your title as the household's best eater."
"Hey! I'm a growing girl!"
As she chased him back into the light of the house, Kai's inner thoughts turned cold and sharp.
'Great Sage, status of Sun Breathing re-creation.'
[Notice: Waltz (Enbu) form is 15% calibrated to current physique. Physical strength is 4x that of an average adult male. You are ready to begin 'Dance of the Fire God' internal heat regulation training.]
'Good,' Kai thought, glancing back at the smiling girl. 'I'll become the sun itself if it means keeping her in the light.'