Chapter 66: Shihakusho
The next day.
After finishing morning practice, Suoh Tsukasa and Toshiro ate their final meal together in the academy dining hall.
At the crossroads leading to the dormitory district and academic buildings, Suoh stopped in the morning light, turned, and extended his fist with an easygoing smile.
The faint morning light flowed across Suoh's upright figure, glinting between his jet-black hair.
"I'll be waiting for you in the Gotei 13!"
"Mm. See you."
Toshiro looked up at Suoh, raising his own fist. The two fists touched.
One went to class toward the academic building, the other graduated and returned to the dormitory.
They didn't know when they'd meet again, but at least for this parting, neither felt sadness.
Suoh whistled a cheerful tune as he passed through the moon gate and returned to his dormitory.
He didn't know when the escort would arrive. Suoh surveyed the room he'd lived in for nearly a year.
"Books returned, luggage packed, both swords maintained... what else is there to do?"
With this rare free morning, he couldn't think of anything for once.
Time usually filled with coursework now felt exceptionally long.
"Oh right, open the gift!"
His gaze finally fell on the gift box from his teachers beside the bed, and Suoh's eyes brightened immediately.
It had been so long since anyone had given him a gift. Yesterday he'd been busy packing and had actually forgotten to open it.
He brought the wooden box to the table, untied the cord, and lifted the lid. Inside, the contents were carefully wrapped in soft silk cloth.
Pulling back the silk revealed an elegantly simple black ebony scabbard. The lacquered surface was smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting his smiling face.
"Don't tell me that seeing me always carry Hazy Night made the teachers think I have a particular fondness for ebony."
Suoh's fingertips brushed across the scabbard, feeling its cool touch.
Though the thought carried a hint of playfulness, he genuinely liked this gift very much.
He drew his Asauchi from the sword rack, lifted the new scabbard, and slowly slid the blade inside.
Click—
When sword and scabbard mouth fit together perfectly, a soft sound rang out.
"Perfect!"
Just as Suoh looked down to admire the Asauchi and scabbard in his hands, his morning of waiting came to its timely end.
Steady footsteps approached from far to near, finally stopping outside his door.
"Tsukasa, morning! I'm here to get you!"
A hearty voice came through the door, carrying undisguised joy.
"Good morning, Kaien-niisan. It's been a while."
"Come in."
Suoh opened the door to the familiar sight of Shiba Kaien wearing his Shihakusho.
Unlike usual, today his left arm bore the lieutenant's armband embroidered with the number thirteen and the standachitsubaki crest pattern, making him appear more dignified.
Hearing this, Shiba Kaien stepped into the room. His gaze swept across the bundle on the table and the Asauchi in Suoh's hands, pausing briefly on the brand-new scabbard before nodding.
"Looks like you're all ready."
"Here, this is for you. Change into it."
He handed over the bundle he'd been carrying.
"Alright."
Suoh nodded and accepted it, turning toward the washroom. He unwrapped the bundle, revealing a brand-new black Shihakusho inside.
A few moments later.
"It suits you very well."
When Suoh emerged wearing the Shihakusho.
Shiba Kaien looked at the youth before him, his eyes full of appreciation.
The nearly tailored Shihakusho added a few touches of mature vigor to Suoh's bearing.
The Asauchi at his waist with its new scabbard complemented the entirely black Shihakusho perfectly.
"Tsukasa, congratulations on graduating, and welcome as a Shinigami."
Shiba Kaien stepped forward with a smile, placing both hands on his shoulders.
His voice carried the most genuine blessing, along with a measure of pride.
"Thank you."
Suoh's left hand rested on the Asauchi's hilt. He felt equally pleased with this complete new look, replying with a smile.
In this moment, he truly felt the transformation in his status.
"Grab your things. Let's go!"
Shiba Kaien swept his hand broadly and strode toward the door first.
"Mm!"
Suoh secured Hazy Night beside his Asauchi, shouldered his bundle, closed the door, and followed his pace.
Following the same route they'd come, the two arrived at the Shinoreijutsuin entrance. Shiba Kaien passed documents through the duty office window.
Suoh also signed his name in the register at the window, officially bidding farewell to his academy life.
Arriving before the gate, Shiba Kaien turned his head toward Suoh with a reminder.
"The journey ahead is pretty long. Keep up, okay?"
His words had barely fallen when his original standing position held only a faint black afterimage. In an instant he'd crossed nearly a hundred zhang of white stone pathway, only his hearty voice still echoing on the wind.
"Don't worry, I won't fall behind."
The next instant, at almost the same moment, Suoh's figure appeared beside him as gracefully as a drifting cloud.
"Fast enough."
Shiba Kaien spoke in appreciation, though he hadn't actually intended to test Suoh's shunpo.
The Seireitei was simply too vast. Without using shunpo, even running with their legs until nightfall wouldn't get them to the Thirteenth Division barracks.
Two black figures flickered side by side along the stone pathway, appearing and disappearing as they crossed hundred-zhang distances in flashes.
Along the way, Shiba Kaien maintained his shunpo movement while chattering about various aspects of the Thirteenth Division.
"That's basically the situation in the division."
"The captain's health isn't great, so most days I'm the one running things."
"You're new to the division—if you need anything, you can come directly to me or Miyako."
He turned his head toward the youth beside him, instructing earnestly.
"Mm, understood."
He explained thoroughly, and Suoh listened attentively, nodding in response.
Mentioning his wife, Shiba Kaien suddenly changed topics, his tone carrying a hint of mock complaint.
"Still, you really kept everything completely under wraps, didn't you?"
"When I opened your file yesterday, I was genuinely caught off guard. You really know how to keep secrets!"
"Surprised?"
Suoh raised an eyebrow, a sly smile playing at his lips.
He hadn't really intended to hide anything from anyone. Nobody had asked, so he simply hadn't mentioned it.
"It was definitely a surprise."
Shiba Kaien chuckled softly. Ever since seeing that file yesterday, the smile hadn't left his face even until bedtime.
His wife Shiba Miyako had teased him about it.
Thinking of this, Shiba Kaien straightened his expression, speaking seriously.
"You owe me a meal when we get a chance. Just because."
"After all, it's been a long time since I've tasted your cooking."
Ever since Suoh enrolled, Shiba Kaien had visited Terada-ya a few times. Terada-san had served as head chef during those visits.
Without Suoh, the taste always felt like it was missing something. His tone carried a trace of nostalgia.
Thinking of the flavors in his memory, his Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.
"Sure."
Though Suoh found this unprompted shakedown somewhat baffling, the request was a trivial matter. He agreed quite readily.
The Thirteenth Division's rules weren't as strict as the Shinoreijutsuin's. If the dormitory environment truly matched what Shiba Kaien had just described, cooking would be no problem at all.
As the two conversed, their speed beneath them didn't slow in the slightest.
As the surrounding buildings gradually grew denser, they were approaching the Thirteenth Division's core area. The division gates were already visible in the distance.
"Kaien-niisan, you'd better not arrive after me."
His next step landed, and his figure suddenly surged forward, leaving Shiba Kaien far behind. This time it was his voice echoing on the wind.
"You little—!"
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