"Laxus, Grandpa saw it."
Makarov stood quietly in the crowd, his gaze soft as it rested on his grandson. Pride overflowed in that look, yet there was also something complicated mixed in.
Only now did he truly grasp the frightening nature of Kurosaki's ability.
That power was Kurosaki's greatest support, the foundation that let him stand firm in this world. But in another sense, it could also become a hidden danger. Still, deep down, Makarov trusted Kurosaki's character completely.
Then, following Laxus's gesture, Kurosaki raised his right index finger high as well. Seeing that, the other Fairy Tail members were swept up by it, and one after another, hands rose into the air.
They were still shaken by the power Kurosaki had displayed, and at the same time, they were moved by the bond between Laxus and Makarov.
...
"I hereby declare, this year's Fantasia Parade a complete success!"
Back at the guild, Makarov stood proudly on the bar counter, lifting his mug high toward everyone. His eyes drifted toward Kurosaki, and without meaning to, a trace of reverence slipped into his gaze.
He had already made a decision in his heart.
From now on, he would never casually pick a fight with Kurosaki again. The battle power Kurosaki had shown through Unohana's Shikai had already surpassed anything Makarov could contend with.
"Grandpa, did you see the message I sent you?" Laxus rushed up like an impatient kid, face full of hope.
Makarov set his mug down, then slowly raised his right hand and made the same gesture.
"From today onward, I've decided this gesture will become Fairy Tail's unique symbol, and our spiritual emblem."
His voice carried weight.
"It represents this. Even if I can't always see you, even if you're far away from me, I will still be watching over you. I will protect all of you."
"OHH!!!"
The guild exploded with cheers. The shouting went on and on, and everyone raised their hands again, index fingers pointing to the sky. The scene was loud, heated, and strangely moving.
...
"You really need to explain that flying fish and the white light now," Laxus said. He and Kurosaki sat at the bar with juice in their hands. Laxus's eyes were blazing with curiosity. "And that power was insane. It was stronger than Grandpa's magic!"
Kurosaki gave a short hum, then answered in a simple way.
"That's one form of my ability. It's called Shikai. That flying fish is the manifested form of my power. It's called Minazuki, and it's the strongest form I can control right now."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"If I release it at full power, the affected area gets huge, so I held back earlier."
He didn't mention Unohana's true identity, and he definitely didn't mention Bankai and the terrifying level of destruction it could bring. He didn't want Laxus or Makarov to start fearing him, and he had no intention of exposing the secrets of the Bleach world.
"And this ability is stronger than any magic you know. Even the Ten Wizard Saints might not be able to withstand a full-power strike from me."
Laxus's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over his face. Even at his age, he knew the Ten Wizard Saints were legendary.
And Kurosaki was claiming he could crush them.
It was far beyond what he could process.
Beside them, Makarov nodded silently. He understood Kurosaki wasn't exaggerating. The pressure from that spiritual power earlier had already said everything.
"Then what about the music?" Laxus asked, still refusing to let it go.
"I went and asked the town mayor to help swap it," Kurosaki said. "We agreed on the timing. When it hit the right moment, someone switched it to the track I prepared."
Knock. Knock.
At that moment, Varro appeared at the guild entrance, holding a beautifully wrapped sound jar package, standing there quietly.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I completely forgot about you, Uncle Varro." Kurosaki pressed his palms together apologetically and hurried toward him. "Please come in."
"No trouble." Varro followed him inside, looking around as he spoke. "I've always wanted to see Fairy Tail from the inside."
He had also witnessed Kurosaki's display earlier. When he looked at Kurosaki now, there was an unconscious trace of respect in his eyes.
"Uncle Varro!" Laxus waved enthusiastically from a distance. He genuinely liked this rock-loving man.
"Grandpa, this is Varro James. He runs an instrument shop in Magnolia. The parade music was made with his help."
Makarov smiled and nodded at Varro. "I'm Makarov Dreyar. Thank you for looking after this child. Join our celebration."
His tone was polite, and also subtly serious. Makarov understood that if Varro knew Kurosaki, he might also know something about Kurosaki's unusual power. But Makarov didn't ask. Everyone had secrets.
"No, no, you're too kind." Varro actually looked a little shy in front of Makarov.
"Oh, right." Varro remembered suddenly. "The gift."
He handed the wrapped box to Kurosaki.
"Thank you, Uncle Varro." Kurosaki accepted it, then carried it straight over to Laxus.
"For me?" Laxus pointed at his own nose with a bent finger, stunned.
Kurosaki smiled. "Yeah. I think you'll like it. Open it."
"Thanks." Laxus took it with both hands, set it carefully on the bar, and unwrapped it slowly. Beside him, Makarov craned his neck and peeked over with open curiosity.
Inside were two black sound jars connected by a cord. Each side had a sharp silver spike, tough and edgy, loaded with rock style.
Laxus fell in love at first glance. He immediately picked them up, turning them over again and again, unable to put them down.
"You like them, right?" Kurosaki watched his reaction, satisfied. "When I brought you to Uncle Varro's shop that day, I asked him to keep them for me."
"This looks expensive." Laxus stared, then looked up sharply. "Where'd you get that kind of money?"
"Uncle Varro sold it to me cheap," Kurosaki said. "It was going to be 100,000 J, but when he heard you liked rock too, he gave me half off."
"This thing is worth way more than 100,000 J. You really don't know the market…" Laxus started, then glanced at Varro.
Varro winked at him, signaling him not to say the real price.
Kurosaki didn't see it since his back was turned. Makarov, on the other hand, smiled with quiet approval. He understood it well.
One reliable way to make an old man happy was to care for his grandson.
"I really like it." Laxus put the sound jars on right away, hanging them around his neck. His voice turned serious for once. "Thank you. And thank you too, Uncle Varro."
"Hey, look at this friendship!" Macao shouted loudly. "Wakaba, why don't you ever give me gifts like that?"
"Why would I give you anything?" Wakaba shot back.
The two got face-to-face and started bickering, insults flying. Immediately, the guild filled with a string of "beep beep beep" censorship sounds.
In the blink of an eye, the hall was drowned in laughter again, warm and noisy, the kind of warmth that made it hard to imagine this place ever being lonely.