Chapter 127: Comparison
Matsumoto Rangiku didn't break her word.
That same evening, she appeared again at the underground training ground. Her mentioned "next time" proved slightly earlier than anticipated.
Moreover this time she also came empty-handed.
Only the promised sake bottle rested in Hitsugaya's hands.
When Suoh sensed movement emerging from the kitchen, what he witnessed was precisely this scene.
Matsumoto Rangiku, both hands behind back, walked ahead smiling broadly. Hitsugaya followed one step behind her, embracing a brown ceramic sake bottle in his arms, expression somewhat unwilling.
Suoh didn't know what she'd said to make Hitsugaya help carrying this sake bottle.
However this wasn't crucial.
"I'm here!"
"Brought sake too!"
Matsumoto Rangiku's delighted voice echoed through underground space, face carrying triumphant smile after completing promises.
Compared to staying alone in division barracks, naturally she chose joining this interesting small group.
This morning Suoh said "come anytime," so she wouldn't stand on ceremony.
With enjoyable days available, why wait for tomorrow or the day after?
Much less—she'd properly followed Suoh's instructions accompanying Hitsugaya's actions.
"Welcome."
Suoh smiled greeting.
Regarding her return visit, his attitude consistently remained welcoming anytime.
Otherwise, he'd have directly required before coming, must use communication device sending him messages.
Seeing Suoh's figure, Hitsugaya's expression returned to normal, nodding.
"Tsukasa, I'll place the sake in the kitchen first."
"Alright."
Suoh looked toward Matsumoto Rangiku, speaking seriously.
"Today after watering the fields, Hitsugaya and I will probably begin training."
"Not so many tasks requiring completion, also no time entertaining you."
"If wanting to drink, can only wait until our training concludes. During that middle period, you might prove quite bored."
Before kitchen he'd already checked yesterday's processed medicinal materials. Wouldn't progress to next processing stage so quickly.
He disliked that politely distancing guest-treatment approach. Since treating the other as friend, speaking directly sufficed.
Observing Matsumoto Rangiku's personality, she also didn't seem someone capable of settling down devotedly training. Forcing herself matching their pace probably proved somewhat difficult.
Therefore, he'd administered preventive warning ahead.
"No problem. I'm not coming as a guest anyway. You two do your thing. I'll just casually observe."
"Proceed as usual. Do whatever you normally do. No need specially entertaining me."
Matsumoto Rangiku smiled, waving hands.
"Alright then. Sit first. Food will be ready shortly."
Seeing her casual appearance, Suoh also smiled.
"May I watch?"
Matsumoto Rangiku asked. She felt somewhat curious how he cooked so much delicious food in the kitchen.
"Of course."
Suoh turned back toward the kitchen. Matsumoto Rangiku followed inside.
The kitchen proved quite spacious, tidied very neatly. Cutting board held half-cut ingredients.
While Hitsugaya wore white small apron, hand holding kitchen knife, feet standing on low stool, preparing to take over Suoh's uncompleted prep work.
Usually though Suoh handled dinner and midnight snacks, Hitsugaya also held his own persistence, consistently wanting to help.
Besides assisting with prep work, some more basic dishes he'd also learned quite presentably.
Displaying his talent in this entirely new domain.
Matsumoto Rangiku witnessing this scene, gaze appearing slightly peculiar, couldn't help laughing aloud.
"Pfft... Hitsugaya, your outfit..."
"Any problem?"
Hitsugaya turned head, face expressionless, tone cold.
Kitchen air suddenly dropped several degrees.
Even giving an illusion—if words proved inappropriate, the kitchen knife in hand would immediately fly shooting forth next second.
"No, no! Very suitable!"
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Killing intent perception.
Matsumoto Rangiku hurriedly waved hands.
Hitsugaya's brow furrowed. Not continuing acknowledging her, he turned back to hand work.
Movements fast yet stable. Finishing cutting half-carrot on board, subsequently processing shiitake mushrooms.
Every slice uniformly thick and thin, arranged neat and orderly.
"Alright, just casually observe. I'm going to get busy."
Suoh re-tied his apron.
He walked before the counter. Lighting fire, oiling wok, picking up prepared ingredients nearby.
SIZZLE—
Oil's scorched fragrance instantly permeated outward.
Suoh single-handedly lifted wok, hand spatula turning, movements flowing like clouds and water.
As various ingredients and seasonings sequentially added, fragrance layered and accumulated, growing increasingly rich and tempting.
Before long, dishes emerged from wok onto plates.
Beside him, Hitsugaya carried finished dishes, passing to Matsumoto Rangiku at doorway.
"Carry the dish!"
"Oh."
Matsumoto Rangiku accepted the dish plate. Warmth transmitted through plate bottom.
Aromatic, flavorful dishes made her subconsciously inhale deeply.
She carefully carried dishes to stone table arranging properly, then returning to kitchen.
Suoh's movements didn't stop. Another dish in wok also neared completion.
Three people relay-cooperated. Soon sitting around stone table.
Tonight's dishes proved very simple: line pepper stir-fried meat, pan-fried tofu, seasonal vegetables with mushrooms, and seaweed egg soup.
"I'll start eating."
Words falling, then everyone picked up chopsticks.
Matsumoto Rangiku first tasted a tofu piece.
Outer skin slightly crisp, interior tender smooth. Sauce salty-sweet moderate, carrying rich bean fragrance.
"Delicious!"
"So much better than division cafeteria food."
She contentedly raised thumbs toward Suoh, praising.
Emotional value provided as consistently abundant as always.
"Cafeteria represents large-pot cooking. Very difficult achieving refinement."
"Self-made allows adjusting according to personal taste preferences. Glad it suits your taste. Eat more."
Suoh smiled responding.
What he made represented standard Chinese cuisine flavors, not that locally-adapted modified Chinese food.
Flavors proved relatively intense. Originally he'd worried she might feel somewhat unaccustomed.
Hitsugaya picked up chopsticks-full of peppers and meat. Eyes nonchalantly sweeping across Matsumoto Rangiku, mixing with rice sending into mouth, calmly chewing unhurriedly.
He'd long ceased being the him initially affected by spicy snacks and jerky. This spice level for him proved easy.
Having shared meals with Suoh this long, tastes had long aligned with his, even quite enjoying this stimulating sensation.
While Matsumoto Rangiku's next chopstick-bite also passed over mild seasonal vegetables, likewise precisely picking up a cluster of peppers and sauce-wrapped meat slices, sending into mouth.
"!"
Spicy stimulation sensation instantly exploded across taste buds, mixing with meat fragrance and wok aroma, bringing a scorching yet fresh-fragrant peculiar experience.
She chewed several times before swallowing, still getting choked by aftertaste, lightly coughing once.
Suoh helped serve a bowl of soup, delivering it before her, speaking with concern.
Seireitei food flavors proved mild. This situation he'd also anticipated.
"Need some soup to ease it?"
"No need!"
She waved refusing. Inhaling breath to recover briefly, subsequently continuing with chopsticks.
She enjoyed ordinary food. This novel challenge-meaning taste perception experience she equally enjoyed.
As for whether eating spicy food would affect skin—this wasn't what current her needed considering.
Beside them, Hitsugaya's eyebrow slightly raised. Hand eating movements paused. Gaze falling upon her, hand chopsticks subsequently arriving.
Three people slowly ate. Table food quickly completely cleared.
With Suoh present, no need worrying about clearing plates completely.
The other two also ate very contentedly, faces producing fine sweat and flush.
Spice-loving Suoh witnessing this scene, happily nodded, gaining entirely new plans for future menus.
Seems both his friends showed excellent chili pepper acceptance.
Post-meal, Hitsugaya customarily stood tidying.
Matsumoto Rangiku also helped stacking empty plates, following toward kitchen helping clean up.
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