The familiar bell above Mrs. Sato's salon door chimed softly as Aiko entered, carrying a small gift bag containing pastries from the bakery near Stellar Academy. The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting the same warm light that had welcomed her during those first desperate Saturday mornings when she'd had nothing but hope and determination.
"Aiko," Mrs. Sato said, looking up from the styling station where she'd been organizing tools with her characteristic precision. "Right on time, as always."
Hana emerged from the back room, carrying what appeared to be a beautifully wrapped package. Her expression was warm but tinged with the sadness that came with important farewells.
"So," Hana said, settling into one of the salon chairs, "Milan. The International Master Stylist Championship. I still can't quite believe my grandmother's Saturday morning charity case is about to compete on the world stage."
"Your grandmother's Saturday morning charity case learned everything she knows in this salon," Aiko replied with a smile. "Including how to give as good as she gets from sarcastic apprentices."
Mrs. Sato laughed, the sound filling the salon with the same warmth that had made this space feel like home during Aiko's darkest period. "You two never change. Still bickering like sisters."
Aiko settled into her usual consultation chair, the worn leather familiar beneath her. "Mrs. Sato, I need to ask you about the competition. About Li Yanyue specifically. She's the current champion - two-time winner. What should I expect?"
Mrs. Sato's expression grew thoughtful as she continued organizing her tools. "Li Yanyue... yes, I knew her grandmother many years ago. Master Li Mei-Hua. Remarkable woman."
"You knew her grandmother?"
"We met during a traditional techniques exchange in the early 2000s. Before the systems became fully transparent." Mrs. Sato paused in her work, her eyes distant with memory. "Master Li had abilities that were... extraordinary."
"What kind of abilities?"
Mrs. Sato was quiet for a moment, as if weighing how much to share. "There are traditional Chinese practices that combine energy cultivation with beauty work. Techniques that produce effects most people would find impossible to believe."
Hana leaned forward with curiosity. "What kind of effects, grandmother?"
"Well," Mrs. Sato said slowly, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth, "Master Li could purify the life force of those she worked on. Use ki to enhance not just appearance, but spiritual well-being. Some said she could even manipulate flames with her palms while styling."
"Fire?" Aiko asked, uncertain whether Mrs. Sato was being serious.
Mrs. Sato's expression became unreadable. "Perhaps I'm just telling old stories. Perhaps there's no truth to such tales." She paused, meeting Aiko's eyes directly. "Or perhaps there may very well be something really special which will be revealed at the competition."
"You think Li Yanyue might have inherited such techniques?"
Mrs. Sato moved to her special cabinet, withdrawing a wooden case. "Which is why I'm giving you these."
She opened the case to reveal tools that looked both ancient and perfectly maintained. "These belonged to my teacher, and her teacher before her. Seven generations of practitioners who understood the deeper purposes of our craft."
"Mrs. Sato, I couldn't possibly—"
"You can and you will," Mrs. Sato interrupted gently. "These tools carry the wisdom of every practitioner who used them with proper understanding."
Hana offered her wrapped package with a slightly reluctant expression. "And this contains everything I learned at Stellar Academy, plus additional methods grandmother shared with me privately."
Aiko carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a hand-bound portfolio containing detailed technique notes, diagrams, and advanced methods she'd never seen before.
"Hana, this is incredible," Aiko said, flipping through pages of meticulously documented knowledge. "This must have taken you months to compile."
"It took me years to learn," Hana corrected, her tone carrying its familiar edge. "Consider it borrowed. I expect it back in perfect condition after you win in Milan."
As Aiko examined the ancient tools, Mrs. Sato grew quiet, watching her student handle the implements with the reverence they deserved.
"Let me give you a reminder, dear one," Mrs. Sato said, her voice taking on the tone she used for the most important lessons. "In this world, there are things that exist whether people choose to see them or not. Traditional families like the Li clan have preserved knowledge that was never lost, only hidden."
Aiko looked up from the tools, meeting Mrs. Sato's eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that if you see something extraordinary in Milan, you'll witness capabilities that have been quietly maintained through generations of dedicated practice," Mrs. Sato said matter-of-factly. "And you'll respond with the grace and wisdom I've taught you, understanding that there are many paths to mastery."
Mrs. Sato embraced Aiko with maternal warmth. "Compete with honor, serve with love, and remember that true mastery lies not in the power you can display, but in how you choose to use whatever gifts you have."
"I'll make you proud," Aiko promised.
"You already have," Mrs. Sato said firmly. "Now go show Milan what traditional Japanese training can accomplish - whatever extraordinary things you might witness along the way."
As Aiko left the salon carrying ancient tools and borrowed wisdom, she felt prepared not just for technical competition, but for encountering possibilities that might challenge everything she thought she knew about human capability. Mrs. Sato's careful reminder had prepared her to witness the extraordinary while remaining grounded in her own path of service and understanding.