Less than three months remained until the year-end holidays.
The last lingering warmth of the charcoal embers was about to fade away completely.
"It's about time we tidied up."
Suō Tsukasa stood up and picked up Hikari.
At his command, the darkness, along with the radiant starlight, receded like a ebbing tide, revealing once more the perpetually bright ceiling. Radiant light flooded the space again. The surrounding hot springs, the small cottage, and the bamboo grove became clear in turn, as if the starlit banquet just now had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.
The scene transitioned from shadow back to light.
Tsukasa deactivated his Shikai and returned the blade to its sheath, his presence relaxed and natural. Though the night sky had looked vast, maintaining the nocturnal scenery for that duration had consumed less Spiritual Pressure than releasing a single Kurohitsugi; it was well within his limits.
He turned and saw Matsumoto Rangiku sitting on the stone stool. She was tilting her head back slightly, her long blonde hair draped loosely over her shoulders, her expression somewhat dazed. A flush from the sake tinted her cheeks, appearing particularly prominent under the now-bright light.
Tsukasa assumed she was simply feeling the effects of the alcohol and was a bit drowsy. Walking over to her, he picked up the empty cup in front of her and teased casually.
"Good thing I didn't let you drink more, or what would you have done tomorrow morning?"
"If you've had too much, go rest first. Tōshirō and I can handle the cleanup."
According to her usual habits, Rangiku would have immediately countered with a chuckle or stood up to help to prove herself. This time, she ignored his teasing. She simply turned her head, her gaze focusing on his face. The daze hadn't fully dissipated, but she asked with clear sincerity.
"Tsukasa, during the year-end holidays... you guys are going back to the Teradaya."
"Um... can I go with you?"
During the year-end holidays, she spent most of her time in the Seireitei alone. Usually, only the Captain would occasionally remember her. How did she spend it last year? She remembered drinking alone. Life in the Seireitei was lonely and dull; only through the distant bustle of others could one realize that another year had passed.
She looked into Tsukasa's eyes with a hint of nervousness.
Tsukasa never disappointed.
"No problem. You're more than welcome."
He nodded and answered instantly. One more person was merely one more set of chopsticks and an extra portion of joy. He knew that Rangiku was essentially a loner in the Soul Society. It was just that she had entered the Seireitei long before him and likely had her own routines, so he hadn't thought to invite her. Since she had brought it up herself, he naturally had no reason to refuse.
"However, you can't act like a guest if you go. The Teradaya needs a deep clean before the holidays, and there's a lot of food to prepare. You'll have to pitch in and help then."
"No problem!"
Hearing this, Rangiku's eyes lit up, and she stood up happily from the stone stool. The trace of melancholy and daze had vanished without a trace, replaced by a pure smile. "Then it's a deal."
"On the last night before the holidays, we'll meet in front of the West Gate, the Hakutōmon, and head out together."
"Remember to bring a change of clothes; you don't need to worry about anything else," Tsukasa instructed finally.
"Mm!"
"Hehe..."
Rangiku nodded vigorously, her smile radiant. The holidays hadn't even arrived, yet she was already beginning to look forward to them.
Tōshirō watched the somewhat giddily smiling Rangiku from the side, and for some reason, he thought of his past self. At this moment, he felt incredibly fortunate that on the day of enrollment, he had taken the initiative to greet Suō Tsukasa. Being able to stand here now was such a stroke of luck.
The corners of his mouth tilted up, revealing a faint smile. However, since he was currently pressing the grill and charcoal ash back into the ground, no one noticed the expression on his face.
After everything was tidied up, there was still a short while before their usual rest time. Through the process of helping clean up, Rangiku had mostly sobered up. Combined with her high spirits, she felt quite energetic.
Meeting Tōshirō's gaze provocatively, she said excitedly, "Tōshirō, let's play a game! We had an agreement."
"Come."
Tōshirō's expression remained calm as he brought the game board out from the cottage and sat opposite her.
The outcome held no surprises.
That night, until Tsukasa announced the end of the session, she failed to win a single round. Her skill was already inferior to Tōshirō's, and having had some wine, it would have been strange if she had won.
Rangiku frustratedly scrambled the pieces on the board. After losing several games in a row, the last lingering trace of alcohol had vanished. There was no real dejection in her eyes; instead, they shone even brighter with competitive spirit.
"My form was off today! It doesn't count!"
"Weak," Tōshirō remarked tonelessly as he began picking the pieces back into the box. No hint of joy showed on his face. He offered his evaluation with concise brevity.
"Hmph, tomorrow! I'll definitely beat you tomorrow!" Rangiku shot back defiantly, also reaching out to help tidy up.
"Everyone, wash up and get ready for bed," Tsukasa said from the side, the corners of his mouth twitching as he couldn't help but smile at the two of them.
The three dispersed. Until the guest rooms were built, they followed the same arrangement as last time.
Rangiku hummed a tuneless, lighthearted melody, her steps brisk as she headed behind the bamboo wall of the divided spring.
Tsukasa didn't go to soak in the hot spring immediately. Instead, he walked over to where the medicinal herbs were stored and reconfirmed their recent progress. He had poured a great deal of effort into managing this underground space. From nothing to something, from barrenness to vibrant life, the heart and time invested were immeasurable.
Though these herbs were common, in his hands, they could yield immense value.
At the beginning of the herb field's cultivation, Tsukasa had a clear plan. Due to the scarcity of rare herb seeds and the difficulty of growing them, he could only prioritize these common herbs. He could refine these herbs into pills to supply the Fourth Division in exchange for more rare seeds. Using these relatively accessible herbs to lay a foundation allowed him to establish production and reserves. On the other hand, it allowed him to accumulate experience for growing those more precious herbs in the future.
It hasn't been easy...
Most resources in the Seireitei were controlled by the high-ranking nobility. It was thanks to the "trees planted by predecessors" that he could seek out a path of his own in the cracks. As per his habit, he offered a silent word of thanks to his predecessors.
Herbs had to be planted crop by crop; power had to be accumulated bit by bit.
Tsukasa quickly adjusted his mindset and walked back to the hot spring area. As the warm spring water rose over his shoulders, he closed his eyes, continuing to review the details of today's blind combat while planning tomorrow's cultivation. His thoughts flowed like the rising steam from the pool, slowly circulating and gradually settling into a clear order.
Once his body was completely relaxed, he rose from the pool. Drying himself, he changed into clean undergarments.
As he passed the room where Matsumoto Rangiku was staying, he raised his hand, a faint light flowing at his fingertips. Through the door, he manipulated the light inside the room to slowly dim. Having once again dimmed the lights for her—completing this trivial task—he returned to his own main room.
A moment later.
"Goodnight."
Alone in her small room, Matsumoto Rangiku softly uttered the words toward the direction of his cottage. Even though she knew the person there couldn't hear her, she did it quite naturally. Having completed her pre-sleep ritual, she lay down with practiced ease.
"The Teradaya..."
Lying in the soft bedding, she silently repeated the name in the darkness. She had no concrete image of it, yet a kind of warm liveliness she had never experienced seemed to take shape in her mind. Then, she closed her eyes, and her consciousness soon sank into a peaceful slumber.
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