Arata stood at the hotel entrance, watching as Isane and Rangiku walked away one after the other.
During breakfast earlier, the atmosphere between the three of them had been subtle and restrained, as if everything that had happened the night before was just a popped bubble.
"Then, we'll head off first, Arata-kun." Isane gave a slight bow, still showing signs of tiredness from her hangover. "I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you last night."
"It's nothing," Arata replied gently, but his gaze involuntarily slid toward Rangiku, who stood behind Isane.
The voluptuous blonde was playing with a strand of hair, a mischievous glint flickering in her gray eyes.
When her eyes met Arata's, she deliberately ran her tongue over her lips, and that movement made Arata's Adam's apple twitch involuntarily.
"Rangiku?" Isane turned around in confusion. "What are you daydreaming about?"
"Ah~ nothing~" Rangiku intentionally stretched her tone, then quickly stepped forward and took Isane by the arm. "Just thinking about that pile of paperwork waiting for us at the squad. It's giving me a headache already."
Arata lightly cleared his throat to hide his slightly warmed face. "Shall I escort you back?"
"No need," Rangiku waved her hand. "Isane and I are headed the same way, you can go back by yourself. But you—" she paused deliberately. "After soaking so long in the hot spring last night, you'd better get some rest soon."
At that, Isane looked at Arata with concern and nodded. "Yes, Arata-kun doesn't look so well."
"I'm fine."
In the end, at Arata's insistence, the three of them left the hotel together.
On the morning streets of Rukongai, there were few people, just the occasional patrolling shinigami.
Arata walked half a step behind the two of them, keeping a respectful distance, but not missing the pleasant view before him.
In his line of sight, Rangiku's tall figure traced a captivating silhouette in the morning light.
Her steps today were even more relaxed than usual, and the sway of her hips carried an indescribable rhythm, as if quietly reminding Arata of everything that had happened last night.
"By the way," Isane suddenly spoke, breaking the subtle silence among them, "I feel like I heard something last night…"
Arata's heart skipped a beat.
"Ah~" Rangiku quickly chimed in with a smile, "you must've imagined it from the alcohol, Isane. I clearly remember that after the hot spring, I slept like a log the whole night."
"Eh? So that's what it was?"
"Of course, I always hear weird sounds when I drink."
Arata let out a breath of relief but noticed how Rangiku slightly turned her head and sneakily glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, with a smile like her joke had landed perfectly.
That woman was clearly teasing him on purpose.
After safely escorting both girls to their squad's barracks, Arata headed back alone toward the Kendo Club.
The breeze brushing against his cheeks helped clear his mind a little.
But the images still lingering in his head, and that warm breath he had felt whispering in his ear…
"Tsk." Arata rubbed his temples in frustration and forced himself to focus on today's training plan.
But no matter how hard he tried, those beautiful scenes still clung to him like a thorn in his flesh.
At the same time, in the barracks of Squad 10.
After changing into her work uniform, Rangiku headed toward the captain's office.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Shiba Isshin already sitting at his desk working.
"Captain, you're in early today~" she greeted lazily and placed a stack of documents on the desk.
Shiba Isshin looked up, a hint of doubt flickering in his black eyes. "Rangiku, where were you last night? I told Shuhei and the others to look for you, but they said you weren't in the dorm."
"Ah? Last night I went out with Isane for a big dinner and the hot springs." Rangiku smoothly lied, her fingers unconsciously brushing over the collarbone hidden beneath her clothes, where there was a barely noticeable bite mark.
It was the kiss of a man who had bitten her a little too hard the night before.
Shiba Isshin sharply noticed her odd reaction, but in the end, just sighed. "Alright, alright. But next time something like that comes up, let me know in advance. Also, you need to finish this paperwork today."
"I know, I know~" Rangiku replied with a smile, but as she turned, she accidentally brushed against a bruise on her waist and quietly groaned: "Ah—"
"What's wrong?" Isshin frowned.
"Uh… nothing." Rangiku quickly leveled her tone and expression. "Maybe I accidentally bumped into something at the hot springs yesterday."
He gave her a suspicious look but didn't press further.
Rangiku returned to her desk with a stack of documents and quietly rubbed her sore lower back.
Remembering the relentless strength of the man from last night, a blush unknowingly appeared on her face.
Arata, who usually seemed so gentle and elegant, could actually show such a strong side at certain moments…
"Rangiku?" Isshin's voice brought her back to reality. "What are you staring at? You're holding the papers upside down."
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" Rangiku quickly flipped the documents, cursing herself quietly.
It was all that damned guy's fault. He'd thrown off her rhythm since early morning.
Suddenly, Shiba Isshin seemed to remember something important.
"Oh, right, Rangiku. I haven't had the chance to congratulate Captain Ichimaru since he got promoted to Squad 3. Could you deliver a gift to him later on my behalf? You and he have always been pretty close."
Rangiku flinched slightly, and the figure who had been by her side since childhood slowly surfaced in her mind.
But instead of joy, now she only felt a vague panic and guilt.
"Captain, why don't you go yourself? I… have something else to do this afternoon."
"Huh?"
Now it was Shiba Isshin's turn to look confused.
…
At noon, Arata was practicing sword swings in the Kendo Club.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, soaking his white training uniform.
He had deliberately increased the intensity of his training today, trying to dilute certain things through physical exhaustion.
"One thousand thirty-two…"
"One thousand thirty-three…"
The sound of the wooden sword slicing through the air echoed especially clearly in the quiet dojo.
Arata focused on every movement, until his arms hurt so much he could barely lift them, and only then did he stop the exercise.
He leaned against the veranda pillar, panting heavily, and looked up at the blue sky.
The sun was so bright he had to squint, and in that daze he again imagined Rangiku's misty eyes.
"Damn it!" Arata cursed under his breath and stabbed the wooden training sword forcefully into the ground.
He had never thought that he, who always kept a cool head, would lose control like this, nor that it would be Matsumoto Rangiku who would break that control.
What even was this between them?
Just one night and that's it? Or…
Arata didn't have the courage to go further down that line of thought.
His mind told him he should pretend nothing happened, dismiss it as a drunken incident, but his body remembered every detail vividly.
"Mr. Saito." A respectful voice interrupted his thoughts.
Arata turned to see a Kendo Club student standing at the door.
"A guest has come looking for you."
"Who?"
"I am~" A familiar voice called from behind the student.
A second later, Rangiku's beaming face appeared before Arata's eyes.
Arata's heart skipped, but he quickly composed himself and nodded to the student. "You may go."
Once the students left, only the two of them remained in the Kendo Club.
A breeze gently entered through the window, carrying the faint scent of gardenia.
It was the scent that came from Rangiku.