"Whew, Aunt Keiko, keep watch carefully. It's about to begin." Mirai set Beard upright on the mountain, then quickly ran to her side, letting out a sigh of relief as he spoke with a smile.
Keiko watched Mirai suspiciously from the mountain. There were no gifts in the backyard. She saw him place his hands flat before his chest and smile.
This child hasn't learned any magic. He probably wants to show me something, Keiko thought happily as she saw the serious look on Mirai's face.
Then, while Beard was wondering what kind of magic Mirai would use in the mountains, Mirai placed his hands before his chest and began the first sequence.
As someone well versed in hand seals, Keiko immediately recognized Mirai's first seal. It was the "Child" seal from the twelve zodiac signs.
"Oh, he's showing me hand seals!"
Watching Mirai form two Water Tiger seals per second, she said, "It seems he's innocent enough and hasn't been slacking off. His seals are very smooth, and he can form two per second. The child must be trying to show me how much he's improved. Hells has never had time to check on his progress."
Keiko watched Mirai with satisfaction. Just as she was about to praise him, Mirai spoke.
With a solemn expression, Mirai said in a clear voice, "Now, Aunt Keiko, please watch carefully. The warm-up is over. I'm starting the real performance now! Clap!"
After Mirai finished speaking, Keiko saw his hands moving faster and faster. Thirty seconds later, his hands were once again held before his chest.
Seeing Mirai's hands move before his chest, Keiko's mouth fell wide open, disbelief written all over her face. She realized that Mirai's seal-forming speed had gradually become no slower than Hai's.
One had to know that Hai