Arata naturally didn't ignore Omaeda's gesture and gave a slight nod.
"Thank you for your help, Vice-Captain Omaeda."
After passing through the luxuriously decorated corridor, the three of them were led to a booth facing the water.
The sliding doors were open, and outside was a carefully arranged garden. Several stone lanterns were scattered among the rocks and streams, emitting a gentle glow in the night.
"Let's eat first." Arata motioned to the waiter to bring the food. "I ordered a few of their specialties."
Soon, several exquisite dishes arrived at the table one by one.
A fresh sashimi platter, river fish grilled over charcoal, seasonal vegetable tempura…
The intoxicating aroma quickly filled the entire room.
Rangiku sat on the soft tatami and impatiently grabbed her chopsticks.
"I'm digging in!"
She took a piece of tuna fillet, dipped it in wasabi, and put it in her mouth. The sharp and refreshing flavor immediately surged from her mouth straight to the top of her head.
Rangiku squinted her eyes with satisfaction and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"Mmm~~ it's so good!"
Compared to Rangiku, Isane wasn't as interested in raw food. She was more drawn to the bowl of hot dobin mushi with matsutake mushrooms.
Arata, on his own, scooped a bowl of soup for her and set it in front of her.
"Thank you, Arata–kun."
Isane blew on it and gently sipped the clear soup, feeling the warmth wash over her soul, tired from the whole day.
"This taste… it's so good."
Arata watched the two of them enjoying the meal with a smile, while he slowly enjoyed his plate of fried fish tempura.
The fish meat was crispy as soon as it entered the mouth, and the clean flavor mixed with oil and salt slowly spread over the top of the tongue.
"Arata, don't just eat vegetables." While Rangiku was speaking, she was already holding a cup of sweet wine in her hand, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Come on, have a drink with me!"
The amber liquid gently rippled in the porcelain cup, spreading a dense aroma of sticky rice.
Arata took the cup full of sweet wine and lightly clinked glasses with Rangiku.
"To the success of the Tea Association." He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. The clear liquid passed down his throat, bringing a pleasant warmth.
Seeing that, Isane also shyly raised her cup. "Then, I'll have some too…"
"You want to drink too, Isane?" Rangiku said cheerfully as she poured herself another cup. "Come on, this rice wine is sweet and tasty, you won't get drunk that easily!"
The corner of Arata's mouth twitched slightly. This kind of wine is exactly what gets you drunk the easiest!
Because of the sweet, sticky taste, people relax much more easily than with bitter sake.
If you drink in big gulps, you get carried away, drink too much without noticing, and get drunk right away.
However, seeing Isane so interested, Arata tactfully decided not to stop her.
It's not bad to let loose a little sometimes.
The three of them ate and talked, from the welcome meeting to various amusing happenings in their own divisions.
Rangiku vividly described how Hisagi Shūhei ended up in an awkward situation surrounded by female squad members, which made Isane laugh so much she had to cover her mouth.
"Speaking of which," Rangiku suddenly leaned close to Arata, and her boozy breath brushed lightly against his ear, "what's going on between you and Captain Soi–Fong? I noticed she was looking at you with quite a special gaze today~"
"Ahem…" Arata almost choked on his wine. "Rangiku–san, what are you talking about? I really don't understand."
"Captain Soi–Fong and I are just ordinary colleagues."
"You liar~" Rangiku deliberately stretched the tone, "I heard from Omaeda that you often go to the Second Division to train with her in particular…"
Isane's face suddenly turned red, she lowered her head and pretended to be completely absorbed in the food in front of her.
"I really just go there to learn Shunpo from her," Arata explained helplessly, "after all, Captain Soi–Fong is an expert in that field, and my Shunpo is relatively weak, so I've been going there more often lately."
These words were pure truth.
Rangiku pouted in dissatisfaction, clearly not very convinced, but didn't press further. A faint glimmer of joy flickered in her eyes for a moment.
She poured herself another cup, this time choosing her usual sake.
After three rounds of drinks, Rangiku was already slightly drunk, and the golden hair she had earlier tied in a bun was now loosely falling down her shoulders.
"This summer is so hot…"
She felt herself sweating lightly, so she instinctively loosened the outer collar of her kimono, revealing a delicate collarbone and a barely visible snow-white cleavage.
"Isane–chan~ let's go to the hot springs and bathe~" The woman stood up unsteadily and nearly tripped over her own clothing due to impaired balance.
Arata quickly grabbed her waist and quietly warned: "Be careful, Rangiku–san."
Isane looked at Rangiku helplessly. "Rangiku, you drank too much."
"It's nothing… hic!" Rangiku waved her hands and accidentally hiccupped, then raised her hands and shouted: "I can hold a lot. Even that Ikkaku can't outdrink me!"
Arata sighed, somewhere between a chuckle and frustration, and gestured to the waitress to come in.
"Please take these two to the women's hot springs and prepare some tea for sobering up."
"Understood!" the waitress replied quickly.
"Arata, aren't you coming with us?" Rangiku asked, blinking her big, hazy eyes, completely unaware of what kind of question she had just asked.
"Rangiku–san, the men's and women's hot springs are separate." Isane quietly lowered her head and reminded her in a soft voice, not wanting to admit that this was her colleague.
"Eh? How boring!" Rangiku puffed her red lips in protest and let the waitress lead her away.
Arata went alone to the men's hot springs.
The nighttime onsen was enveloped in thick steam, like a fairytale scene under the moonlight.
He undressed and slowly stepped into the pool, letting the warm water wrap around his body and wash away the fatigue of the whole day.
He leaned against the rocks by the pool and closed his eyes to rest.
"Although the Omaeda family has rather strange aesthetic tastes, when it comes to enjoying life, they're still true authorities." Arata let out satisfied sighs.
Suddenly, waves appeared on the water's surface.
Arata reflexively opened his eyes and saw an unexpected figure standing by the pool.
"Yoruichi–san?" He looked in surprise at the dark-skinned beauty wrapped in only a towel.
"Still, this is the men's bath…"
"So what?" Yoruichi jumped easily into the water, splashing everywhere. "There's no one else here right now anyway. I know you booked the entire inn for tonight's dinner."
Her sun-kissed skin glistened healthily in the warm water, her long purple hair floated on the surface like seaweed, and the high and firm curves of her figure were visible through the steam.
Arata forcibly turned his gaze to the side, but immediately heard a soft giggle beside him.
"Oho, boy, are you shy?" Yoruichi swam over to him and rested one hand on his shoulder.
"Do you still have that catnip you gave me last time?"
Arata felt a headache coming on from her overly close and entirely oblivious physical proximity. "Yoruichi–san, this isn't my kendo club. If someone finds out you're here…"
As if to confirm his words, a noise suddenly came from the other side of the door.
Arata clearly felt a familiar spiritual pressure quickly approaching.
"Bath time is over. Don't forget to prepare the catnip next time we meet."
Yoruichi sighed with a hint of regret, as if she truly felt sorry that both of their meetings had been abruptly cut short.
She lightly jumped out of the water, the towel traced a graceful path under the moonlight, and in an instant, she disappeared into the moonlight.
Almost at the same moment, Rangiku appeared at the entrance to the onsen.
Her purple kimono had already been removed, and she was wrapped only in a thin towel, her wet hair still dripping with water.
"O~~ isn't this the bath?"
Rangiku blinked her big eyes and looked at Arata in front of her with confusion.