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"Five of you, come in and sit over there!"
"Your posture is too high, too high!"
"In other words… your posture is So High!"
"I am the Number One Zanpakuto Forger!"
"Nimaiya Ōetsu."
"Please, Aozaki-kun, give me lots of guidance, lots of guidance—!"
"Zanpakuto—Love It!!!"
Under the festive sign of the Hōōden, Nimaiya Ōetsu distorted his body, dancing like a rapper.
Aozaki Reiji stared at Nimaiya Ōetsu, who was performing on stage, for a few seconds, his lips twitching uncontrollably.
He turned to look at Hikifune Kirio beside him and couldn't help but exclaim, "Kirio, you all must have a tough time normally!"
Hikifune Kirio waved her hand, unconcerned.
"It's actually not too bad; you get used to it after listening for a while, and it becomes quite interesting."
"Besides, we usually stay in our own Zero Division Palace, so we don't really get to hear it many times."
Just then, after greeting Ichibei Hyosube and completing his welcome performance, Ōetsu came before Aozaki Reiji.
"Hey, Aozaki-kun, what do you think of my Hōōden?"
"I'm not bragging, but my Hōōden is definitely the coolest city in the entire the Soul King Palace."
"Want to stay? I guarantee you'll have the nicest experience!"
Aozaki Reiji looked at the young ladies serving him around him and hesitated for a moment.
These were all Zanpakuto personally forged by Nimaiya Ōetsu, blade spirits that had materialized.
He had to admit, each one was more amazing than the last, making his heart flutter.
But when he turned around and saw Hikifune Kirio raising her wine glass and downing it, Aozaki Reiji waved his hand.
"Never mind, I promised Kirio I'd go to the Gatonden."
A few blade spirits want to tempt me?
Won't they be mine once I've seen them?
Do you understand the joy of freeloading?
Hearing Aozaki Reiji's words, Ōetsu sighed heavily.
It was rare to have an interesting person come, and he actually wanted to have a good time with him.
After all, the long years in the Soul King Palace were truly boring.
As a Zero Division member, he had to be stationed in the Soul King Palace.
Unless he received approval from the Soul King, he couldn't go anywhere.
The happiest time he had in the last thousand years.
Was when he went to Seireitei to pick up Kirinjii Tenjiro and bring him to the Soul King Palace.
"Well, I heard your Zanpakuto ability is special and might be very suitable for forging blades. I wanted to research blade forging techniques with you."
"Since you're unwilling, then forget it."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he looked up and found Aozaki Reiji already standing in front of him.
As he wondered, he felt his hand being grabbed.
"Brother Ōetsu, to be honest, Old Man has long told me that your blade forging technique is unmatched in the world."
"I've admired it for a long time. Since you have this intention, why don't we start now?"
Aozaki Reiji said with a solemn expression and sincere tone.
He looked like a good student ready for class.
Nimaiya Ōetsu: "…"
This kid is not simple!
His face changes in an instant.
He truly is Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple!
Meanwhile, Ichibei Hyosube grinned.
A brilliant smile hung on his face as he watched everything unfolding before him with interest.
A hint of curiosity and anticipation flickered in his deep eyes, seemingly full of interest in what was to come.
"It's not impossible for you to learn, but you won't be able to stay here for long, so how much you learn depends on you."
"Speaking of time…"
Hearing Aozaki Reiji's puzzled voice, the Zero Division members all looked at him.
Under everyone's gaze, Aozaki Reiji scratched his head and asked, "When do I get to see the Soul King?"
The rest of the Zero Division members were all stunned, looking at Ichibei Hyosube in unison.
Apparently, even they didn't know the answer to the question.
Ichibei Hyosube chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm not sure about the specifics; I still need to ask the Soul King for instructions."
"No rush, you can play in the Soul King Palace for a while, and you'll see him soon."
Upon hearing this, Aozaki Reiji nodded thoughtfully, indicating his understanding.
Hikifune Kirio and the other Zero Division members also believed this was not a big deal.
They were all present when the Soul King gave the order; bringing Aozaki Reiji was indeed the Soul King's will.
They knew that the Soul King never joked.
If he said he would meet, it would definitely happen; it just required some waiting.
One might even say this was better; it was rare for the Soul King Palace to have a new face, which could add some new fun.
After discussing the serious matters, everyone entered a relaxed and pleasant gathering time.
After the long-awaited joyful atmosphere ended.
The Zero Division members disbanded in the Hōōden, each returning to their own Zero Division Palace.
Aozaki Reiji still decided to go to the Gatonden.
After all, he had already promised Hikifune Kirio before, so of course he couldn't go back on his word.
As for the blade forging technique he had been longing for.
Nimaiya Ōetsu agreed that Aozaki Reiji could visit the Hōōden to play and learn when he had time.
After reluctantly bidding farewell to the blade spirit sisters.
Under the guidance of Hikifune Kirio and Shutara Senjumaru, Aozaki Reiji arrived in front of a palace filled with the aroma of food.
Calling it a palace, it was actually no different from an ordinary traditional Japanese-style residence.
In terms of size, it was even far smaller than the Aozaki Family residence.
However, for Hikifune Kirio, this was not important.
The entire floating city beneath her feet was hers; the house in front of her only needed a kitchen and enough space to live.
Hikifune Kirio stood in the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist.
Even with multiple layers of clothing covering her, it was difficult to conceal her impressive figure.
"Reiji, I specifically built this according to your style, you know ~"
Hikifune Kirio said proudly, "Not to mention Soul Society, even all kinds of new kitchen utensils from the Human World are available."
"I'm sure, with Reiji's skill, you'll definitely be able to use them with ease!"
By the end of her sentence, the smile on her face was almost impossible to hide.
Aozaki Reiji pouted.
After decades apart, they finally reunited, and they were even living together.
And what you thought of was making me cook?
This is exploitation; it's too much!
After turning off the stove, Aozaki Reiji clapped his hands and stood to the side.
Hikifune Kirio gracefully walked to his side, looking at his profile with a mischievous smile.
"Are you really okay? Reiji, perhaps you should check the situation in the pot first."
Hikifune Kirio reminded him.
"You should have felt it too; the environment in the Soul King Palace is different from Soul Society, and this is your first time cooking with artificial soul ingredients."
"So, are you really sure?"
"There's absolutely no need to worry; I've cooked this dish tens of thousands of times; it's impossible for it to go wrong."
Aozaki Reiji said confidently.
Recalling his past hundred years, although he rarely cooked himself anymore.
His cooking skills were undoubtedly not rusty, all to satisfy the girls whose appetites he had spoiled.
Everyone who had eaten his cooking praised it endlessly.
"Come on, let me show you what a special-grade chef's cuisine is."
Aozaki Reiji spoke with great vigor, simultaneously lifting the pot lid.
"…"
Hikifune Kirio stood quietly to the side, enduring the gentle breeze blown by the hot steam from the pot.
She lightly tidied her hair, her gaze intently fixed on Aozaki Reiji's profile.
However, as the air gradually calmed down.
The sight before him made Aozaki Reiji blink blankly.
"...Eh!!!"
Aozaki Reiji uttered a puzzled sound, unable to resist rubbing his eyes.
What was in the pot…
It was a pitch-black mess!
That thing could absolutely not be called a dish.
Aozaki Reiji's super cooking demonstration, where he finally had a chance to show off in front of Hikifune Kirio after many years.
Ended with a pile of black stuff.
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