The big night's party!

The girls didn’t notice it was noon until Shizune checked the watch on her wrist. Shortly afterwards Shizune was nice enough to show her the way to the door, so Raiko waved her goodbye. However, Shizune followed her out of her house.

“You’re coming with me?”

“Do you think I’m the type that would skip her best friend’s birthday party?”

Raiko was about to remember her about the precious birthdays on which she didn’t show up until the next day with some present, but Shizune kept talking.

“Don’t answer. Today is a special occasion, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess you are right.”

The unexpected gesture made Raiko happy, as if she already wasn’t. The return route wasn't particularly different from the original, clouds remained there, announcing rain that never arrived.

The village seemed almost deserted, all of the people Raiko saw on her way to the firearms store were no longer around. Some people went back to their homes, some others were at the Midorikawa household waiting for their main guest.

As they approached Raiko’s home the girls noticed Hayato running at them with his usual carefree attitude.

“You’re too late Raiko, I ate your cake.”

“Is there a cake?”

“Not anymore, but you can have the leftovers.”

The kitchen room, that would comfortably fit the entire Midorikawa clan, was now so crowded it was impossible to see the other side. Many villagers have gathered to greet Raiko on her official coming of age.

The first familiar face she saw was a tall woman escorted by the lumberjack Tito, who arrived at the party with a flower bouquet.

“To think it has been twelve years since the day you got lost and ended at our place… time sure passes quickly.”

That was a story Raiko was always embarrassed of remembering, but it was also engraved on the woman’s memory, and there was no way she would forget it on a day like this. She also remembers that Tito, her husband, made her tea and then took her home.

“Thank you, miss Natasha.”

Raiko turned to the old Tito, but he didn’t say a word, he simply moved towards Raiko and hugged her with teary eyes. Ever since that episode, he has been like family for her.

Next was Yuri, who was on his own this time as Klara went to the toilet. They brought a box of stuffed dumplings, large enough to make Raiko worry about her ability to make it to the center of the room.

“You know, you could have told me about Klara, I never thought she’d look at someone like me.”

“What kind of friend would I be if I couldn’t keep a secret?”

“That’s right, a girl’s reputation is everything for her.” Klara said as she joined the two from the crowd.

“Good to see you here after all.”

“You convinced me, I hope you like our present.”

“I do, but if everyone is going to give me something I will have a hard time walking with all of it.”

The girls laughed at it as someone else approached Raiko. This time it was Hanako, who showed up with both hands behind her back and her typical mischievous grin.

“I will show you how it’s done.” She said as she revealed a bottle. “Happy birthday, cousin!”

Shizune was assertive enough to take the box off Raiko’s hands, those two were so similar to each other that she couldn’t believe they were cousins and not twins. In other words, if she brought a bottle, Raiko was really looking forward to it.

And indeed, she was, she jumped to hug her cousin the instant she saw the bottle as if she brought the Holy Grail for present. Well, considering how much she was looking to get wasted, it might as well have the same value as the Grail.

“Just promise not to drink it today, alright?”

“Boo.”

“Anyway, you got a cake to inaugurate.” Hanako was as cheery as ever. “Alright everyone, make way to the birthday girl!”

The rest of Raiko’s family was at the table. Even including Hayato, who somehow snuck his way back there in the middle of an entire crowd and reserving a spot for her at the front of the table. Her grandmother placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a fired up look prior to pointing at the cake on the table.

“We were waiting for you, where have you been?”

“I went to Shizune’s place, I thought she wouldn’t come but look, here she is.”

“Well, before the obvious, why don’t you say something to the village?”

Raiko noticed everyone’s eyes on her. It was a common tradition for a girl turning 15 to give a little speech to the guests, especially so for one about to become a purifier. Setting aside Shizune’s laconic words on her own birthday, Raiko decided that she could just go with the flow and say whatever came to her mind.

“Thank you, it’s been a long wait for everyone.”

She looked at her father, who looked like he was about to cry at any minute.

“To my family, who took care of me all this time, my mother, who taught me how to behave, to my father, who went with me to the long and exhausting training days, always motivating me to do my best. To my younger siblings, for being so patient with me even though I haven’t been the best role model for them,”

“To Hanako and Shizune, my closest friends, who always played along with my jokes, even when they were the target of them.”

“Stop it, you’re making me blush.” Hanako quickly realized that she wasn’t supposed to interrupt Raiko’s speech after Aoi pinched her side.

“To Lumberjack Tito and miss Natasha for being a second family for me, even though my own family is already precious. To Klara, for teaching me a lesson about courage. Today, I become a purifier. I will finally be able to pay you back for everything you have done for me, thank you very much.”

“We will be in your care.” The first to speak was her grandmother, who bowed in respect to the new purifier.

“We will be in your care!” The remaining guests followed soon after.

Raiko looked at her friends, neighbors and family, she was not sure about what to say. She just wanted them to keep living the way they always did, so she felt bad for them bowing to her even though she hadn’t done anything heroic yet.

“Now, Raiko.” Her mother told her with a gentle smile. “Would you blow the candles?”

Raiko smiled back at her and nodded energetically.

“Sure!”

As she fulfilled her duties as the birthday girl she was celebrated with an ovation, certainly a pompous one for what it was, but it was for her so she was happy. They said it was a custom to make a wish when doing it a long time ago, however she had no knowledge of it being done nowadays, so she didn't.

It wasn't like she wished for anything in particular at the moment, either, she had the luck of living happily in her town. Her family was well in both mood and health, so her prayers worked. Her friends gathered to celebrate with her, too, so that could announce fun things to come, hopefully.

Between congratulations, her parents hugged her. Their baby was about to become a purifier, and they couldn’t be more proud of her.

“I was hoping for you to take my place once I retired, but that doesn't matter, I know you'll be an excellent purifier.”

“Thanks mom, but don’t worry about it, Aoi already said she will take my place.”

“She did?”

“Raiko! it was a secret!” Aoi was blushing furiously.

“I can’t get all the attention, can I?”

“I thank Lord Kanami, from whom I have been blessed with two wonderful daughters.” She said as she enveloped her daughters in an affectionate hug.

“I couldn't sleep last night and there's still half a day left for the designation ceremony. I'd like to give you this, I know it isn't much but I hope it reminds you we're here for you.”

Her father gifted her a knife he brought from the capital, it was a general purpose knife of the same kind stalkers use, featuring a sawed back. The grip had a metal decoration with a gargoyle carved on it along with a leather sheath dyed blue.

“You even got blue leather? How much did it cost?”

“It always was your favorite color, and it’s a special occasion.”

“Going through so much trouble for this is a bit... thanks.”

As the hugging time was over, the party ensued as planned.