Chapter 126: Change
According to Suoh's personality, he enjoyed gathering friends together.
Therefore, whether Matsumoto Rangiku came afterward or not, he could accept either way.
Anyway, with her shunpo ability, aside from some captains and lieutenants deliberately paying attention, she needn't worry about discovery dangers.
More importantly, the future Invisible Empire possessed absolute combat power advantage.
Though the original Sternritter proved formidable, she at least still held ability assisting Hitsugaya from the side.
If not for precious medicinal materials proving genuinely scarce, he'd long wanted pulling other Thirteenth Division people in too.
At that battle intensity level, even captains struggled protecting their own subordinate squad members.
He didn't know how much this butterfly could change. At minimum, he hoped important people around him could gain extra preparation.
Sōkyoku Hill edge.
The concealed hidden door quietly slid open then closed, causing no major disturbance.
Matsumoto Rangiku waved toward Suoh. Golden hair slightly lifted in morning breeze.
"Then we'll return to division first. Tsukasa, see you next time."
"Alright."
Suoh smiled, nodding.
"Tsukasa, see you tonight."
Hitsugaya also briefly bid farewell.
Three figures together descended from cliff edge, rapidly passing through forest.
Subsequently scattering at forest exterior crossroads.
A new day began.
Returning to Thirteenth Division barracks.
"Suoh-sanseki, good morning!"
"Good morning."
Suoh passed through corridors, nodding acknowledgment to squad members greeting him along the way.
Pushing open the office door.
Shiba Kaien sat at his position organizing today's document task distribution.
On the other side, Shiba Miyako faced away from the door replacing flower bouquet in the vase. Slender fingers pinching dew-moistened flower petals, inserting branches into plain white porcelain vase.
As Thirteenth Division's backbone pillars, they frequently arrived earliest.
Currently time remained early. Others hadn't yet arrived.
Hearing door-opening sounds, Shiba Kaien raised head, smiling welcome.
"Tsukasa, you're here. How'd it go?"
"Kaien-niisan, morning!"
"Supplying medicine to Tenth Division should prove no problem. I had Hitsugaya help relay and arrange a time. Then I'll directly contact Isshin-ojisan."
Suoh responded.
Supplying medicine to Tenth Division wasn't him creating trouble for himself, but rather resources genuinely related to his strength improvement's crucial component.
One fact had always objectively existed.
The improved Triple Pills would someday become minimally effective like previous old versions.
Not that pills themselves held defects or drug resistance, but rather his own spiritual pressure and constitution continuously improving—inevitable result.
From two months ago, pill effectiveness for continuously progressing Suoh showed slight decline.
Dosage unchanged yet provided fullness sensation couldn't reach past levels.
This signal couldn't be ignored.
Currently this difference remained minuscule, yet several years later when Suoh's spiritual pressure crossed another threshold—then it'd prove significant.
These problems—waiting until appearing before addressing would prove too late.
Whether expanding medicinal fields planting rarer herbs or accumulating sufficient funds, both represented his future development keys.
"That's good."
Shiba Kaien nodded, not asking details.
Only confirming matters progressed smoothly reassured him.
Subsequently Suoh's gaze turned toward the window.
Hearing their conversation voices conclude, Shiba Miyako turned back, smiling gently.
"Tsukasa, arrived quite early today. Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Miyako-neesan, morning. Already ate."
"Here, new tea packages. The previous ones should be nearly used up."
Suoh approached, retrieving tea packages from his clothes, handing them to her.
At Thirteenth Division, Shiba Miyako resembled this large family's head housekeeper.
Not only handling division affairs orderly but also caring for everyone in fine details.
"Alright, thank you."
"Kaien usually can't get used to drinking tea. Only your flower tea gets him drinking more water."
Shiba Miyako smiled while accepting, turning to glance at Shiba Kaien focused on processing documents, speaking relaxedly.
Shiba Kaien's ears proved quite sharp. Hearing this, he raised head, expression innocent.
"When did I ever? I drink water very diligently!"
"Then who last time barely drank three cups throughout the entire day?"
Shiba Miyako gently yet mercilessly exposed him directly.
"...That day was an accident! Too busy!"
Shiba Kaien immediately found himself speechless, responding sheepishly.
Suoh hid aside laughing quietly, turning to walk to his own desk, sitting down.
These day-after-day ordinary yet precious daily moments precisely represented why he strived improving himself.
Same time, Seireitei's other end.
Tenth Division office.
Morning light penetrated through wide windows, falling on slightly messy desktop.
Shiba Isshin leaned against chair back, feet casually propped on table edge.
"Still haven't arrived..."
Gaze glancing toward wall clock. Less than three minutes until work time. He sighed quietly.
Then placed documents in hand back into mountain-high file pile.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Vision sweeping across the empty office.
Hitsugaya's position neat and orderly. Recently Tenth Division affairs could proceed smoothly thanks to him.
Without his assistance, currently Shiba Isshin couldn't muster much motivation.
While the other side's desktop belonging to Matsumoto Rangiku...
Spread with yesterday's unfinished magazine, a nearly empty snack box, plus an uncollected teacup.
Seeing this, Shiba Isshin couldn't help laughing aloud.
This woman—practically ten years consistently the same.
While he laughed, familiar footsteps finally transmitted from outside.
"Morning, Captain~!"
"Captain, morning."
The office door was pushed open in one breath. Matsumoto Rangiku bringing Hitsugaya entered one after another.
Her forehead carried a bit of fine sweat. After rushing, hair strands proved somewhat disheveled.
Yet her entire person brimmed with energy, smile bright, overflowing with vitality.
Closely following Hitsugaya remained consistently calm as always. Silver hair meticulous, shihakusho also worn properly neat, forming stark contrast with the slightly hurried lieutenant beside him.
Slightly different from usual—his gaze carried some helplessness and disdain, coldly throwing a sentence toward Matsumoto Rangiku beside him.
"Matsumoto, when free you should practice shunpo more!"
Today all because she'd kept grabbing him chatting en route, nearly causing his tardiness.
"Hey, Hitsugaya, how's this my fault? Besides, didn't we make it!"
Matsumoto Rangiku confidently retorted, glaring back.
"You talk too much!"
"Gah...!"
Atmosphere between the two momentarily proved somewhat confrontational.
"Ha ha ha! Stop arguing, give me some face."
"Have you both eaten breakfast? I still have some snacks and steamed buns here..."
Shiba Isshin watched their relationship undergo sudden marvelous change. One day apart yet seemed considerably closer.
This straightforward bickering—as captain, naturally he welcomed witnessing it. Smile at mouth corners deepened.
Division atmosphere livening up always exceeded dull boredom considerably.
Standing to grab his own breakfast snacks not yet finished, he approached welcoming.
"Captain, no need. I'll tidy up first..."
Matsumoto Rangiku's gaze swept across items in his hands, directly declining.
"No need, Captain. Time's getting late. Prepare to start work!"
Hitsugaya finished responding, subsequently walking directly to his own position.
"Eh?"
Shiba Isshin's movements paused, looking at snacks in hand, blinking.
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