Chapter 110: Darkness
Time flowed onward.
The alarm sounded.
This represented Suoh's self-imposed daily training time limit.
Day after day of diligent practice.
What he gained proved not only proficient kido mastery, but also solid, continuous spiritual pressure increases.
After consuming his pills, he sank into the hot spring.
Suoh closed his eyes in concentration, carefully sensing his Saketsu and Hakusui churning vigorously within, endlessly producing spiritual pressure.
"With my current combat strength, probably around junior captain level..."
"Crossing spiritual power classes—soon!"
Suoh silently estimated his own level internally.
"As for Matsumoto Rangiku... though somewhat unfair to her, one punch should probably handle it."
Between these thoughts, he rarely developed interest in assessing his own combat power, subconsciously reviewing approximate strength levels of certain lieutenants he knew.
As for Shiba Kaien, whom he'd always respected—naturally he harbored no disrespectful thoughts whatsoever.
He scooped a handful of warm spring water, gently patting his face to clear his mind.
Suoh could clearly feel that boundary appearing at spiritual perception's edge, separated by a thin membrane, within reach.
This also proved how correct his choice to graduate quickly from Shinoreijutsuin Academy had been.
From Fifth to Fourth Class, this crossing consumed even less time than previous advancement.
Suoh stood, moving his shoulders and neck, producing light crackling sounds.
Heat steamed from his body. Before long, all moisture evaporated completely.
"Continue tomorrow."
After dressing, he turned toward the cottage.
Suoh arrived at the cottage entrance, calling inside.
"Hitsugaya, stop reading. Time to prepare midnight snacks!"
"Midnight snacks?"
Suoh's voice interrupted Hitsugaya's reading.
Setting down his book, he looked toward Suoh's figure and the bright space outside, confusion immediately surfacing on his face.
The underground space's constant brightness bore no trace of time's passage.
"The underground space's brightness never changes. Look at the clock—it's already quite late."
Suoh approached, smiling as he explained this place's peculiarity.
Observing the clock hands, Hitsugaya recovered, only now discovering late evening at ten o'clock had arrived.
"Oh, alright."
Closing the book pages, he stood.
Soon, Hitsugaya followed Suoh's lead, circling past rock pillars toward the kitchen vicinity.
The pastoral scenery entering his vision made him somewhat doubt his eyes.
A clear pond, water surface reflecting high rock walls. A patch of orderly vegetable beds spread along the pond's direction. Verdant vegetables stretched their leaves beneath the illumination.
Hitsugaya turned toward Suoh, asking with confusion.
"You did all this?"
Suoh noticed his gaze, naturally explaining.
"Previously using water here proved inconvenient, so I dug a pond."
"I also eat a lot. Transporting too many supplies back and forth proved troublesome, so I tried planting some things..."
"Growth exceeded expectations. Your timing's perfect—recently harvested."
Sōkyoku Hill itself occupied the central convergence point of Seireitei's spiritual veins. Spirit particle density in the air ran extremely high, underground resources abundant.
Before Suoh's arrival, this underground space had been complete wilderness—nothing but a hot spring pool.
Agricultural talent carved into his soul, combined with needing some recreation during training breaks, he'd casually started this farming game.
The previously transplanted bamboo shoots beside the pond had already spread into forest. This small garden plot represented another masterpiece.
Unfortunately, due to excessively high spirit particle concentration, he'd failed finding fish spawn capable of surviving here. Other ordinary living creatures also couldn't be raised—this remained his small regret.
From underground training ground to vibrant underground garden.
Hitsugaya fell momentarily speechless.
Suddenly feeling Suoh's personality beside him proved even more elusive than imagined.
"Don't just stand there. Sit and wait a moment."
Suoh pointed toward stone table and chairs nearby.
He himself walked toward the kitchen, speaking while pouring clear water into an iron pot.
Skillfully using kido flames attached beneath the pot for heating.
Kido proved extremely convenient, saving him firewood preparation time.
He also retrieved previously preserved ingredients, starting another pot for light processing.
Before water boiled, Suoh walked to the vegetable bed edge, bending to pick several fresh greens.
"Midnight snacks will be simple—boiled noodles with meat, eggs, and freshly picked vegetables."
"If you want something else later, just tell me."
"Alright."
These words sounded ordinary yet left Hitsugaya slightly stunned.
In this isolated training ground, unexpectedly what one wanted to eat could actually become a seriously considered question.
Watching Suoh place ingredients into the pot one by one, simple food fragrance rising with steam.
Hitsugaya sat on the stone chair, smelling the approaching aroma while observing this well-organized space.
Suddenly, as though enlightened.
Perhaps precisely this ability to naturally merge training and daily life represented Suoh's secret to growing stronger.
Before long.
Two large bowls of steaming noodles were placed on the stone table center.
Within ceramic bowls, clear broth with oil droplets soaked white noodles, topped with verdant vegetables, brown bamboo shoots, plus crispy fried eggs and thick meat slices.
Fragrance assailed the nostrils.
Suoh passed chopsticks over, himself sitting opposite.
"Eat up, don't be polite. There's plenty more in the pot."
Words falling, he directly lifted large chopstick-full of noodles, blowing lightly before sending them into his mouth.
Hitsugaya accepted chopsticks, his movement pausing.
Forgotten how long since they'd faced each other eating together like this.
This feeling proved too familiar.
Time seemed flowing backward to academy days.
After classes concluded in the cafeteria corner, focused on food before them and each other's progress.
Hearing regular eating sounds from across, he immediately picked up chopsticks too.
Noodles entered his mouth warm. Broth tasted light yet carried rich fragrance.
Flavor wasn't ostentatious—extremely mild.
Solid warmth spread bit by bit from his stomach.
Suoh finished his first bowl, standing to serve another.
Returning to find considerable noodles remaining in Hitsugaya's bowl, he spoke casually.
"Taste alright? I'm still keeping the pot warm. Take your time eating."
Sitting back down, he continued focusing on food before him. Between the two, no need for excessive courtesy.
"Yes, delicious."
Hitsugaya raised his head, responding briefly.
Then lowered it, picking up a bamboo shoot piece and sending it into his mouth, savoring carefully.
Within complete silence, the two sat peacefully opposite each other—perhaps the most authentic fragment of training life.
Finally, pot contents emptied. The two's battle results concluded eight to two.
"I'll help clean up."
Hitsugaya stood, accepting bowls and chopsticks from Suoh's hands, walking toward the sink.
"Not bad. Your food intake has improved."
Suoh didn't refuse, mouth corners curving into an arc as he stood following.
The two cooperated. The kitchen quickly restored tidiness, everything returning to proper places.
Returning to the cottage, each took a book before sleep.
Hitsugaya continued examining that kido book.
Suoh held optical principles text, casually flipping pages.
When clock hands rotated to the next position.
"Time's about right. Prepare to rest."
"Okay."
Suoh used his ability to deflect light. Darkness like tide water flooded every corner inside the room.
"Good night."
Suoh's calm voice sounded in the darkness.
"Good night."
The other side of the screen, Hitsugaya responded in kind.
Both lay down, breathing gradually slowing.
***
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