Chapter 129: Composure
Massive bleeding plus damage—this garment on Suoh's body held no salvage value.
Arriving at the changing room beside the hot spring, he raised hand unfastening ties.
Damaged outer garment slid from shoulders following his movements, exposing distinctly defined back and solid shoulders.
One hand holding torn clothing, other hand holding towel.
Bare upper body, wearing knee-length cloth pants, Suoh composedly emerged from the changing room.
Washing pool and hand buckets sat outside the changing room. He needed first simply rinsing off body bloodstains before soaking in hot spring.
Tossing torn clothing into the charred round pit on ground specifically for processing waste.
"Hadō Number Fifty-Four: Haien!"
He raised finger. A small cluster of disc-shaped purple flames shot toward clothing in the pit.
Flames touching fabric instantly blazed upward, subsequently rapidly contracting, instantly burning that blood-stained outer garment completely, leaving not even ash.
He frequently used this technique processing household waste. Extremely applicable.
Not far away, Matsumoto Rangiku was speaking with Hitsugaya. Detecting spiritual pressure fluctuation, she turned her head.
Her gaze naturally fell upon Suoh.
Bloodstains along Suoh's torso dried into dark red dense patterns, forming stark contrast with clean, intact skin.
Washing pool and hand bucket sat just two steps from the pit. Suoh walked straight over, picking up hand bucket scooping a bucket of clear water, raising overhead pouring down.
"Whew—"
After consecutive buckets of clear water washing over, dried bloodstains on his body were rinsed clean.
Bloody water mixing with clear water formed red rivulets at his feet, seeping into ground crevices.
"Wow."
The other side, Matsumoto Rangiku's gaze unhesitatingly swept across his broad chest and firm abdominal muscles.
She released an admiring sound, arms folding across chest, blinking, observing with interest in fine detail.
Hitsugaya glanced at her, then looking toward Suoh not far away sideways facing them while washing, mouth corners imperceptibly twitching once.
Silently walking toward the vacant changing room nearby.
Suoh concluded washing, arriving poolside, picking up towel draped over shoulder, casually wiping his face.
Water droplets dripped along his wet hair tips, sliding across neck and chest.
His expression remained very calm, completely unaffected by Matsumoto Rangiku's blatant gaze not far before him.
He was a grown man and wasn't naked—what was there to fear being seen?
As for the custom of bathing nude in hot springs—that didn't exist on his territory. He lacked this habit.
He sat down poolside, immersing both legs into warm spring water before finally raising eyes toward approaching Matsumoto Rangiku, asking.
"You're not going to soak awhile?"
"No thanks. I'll soak before sleeping. Soaking too much easily dries skin."
Matsumoto Rangiku smiled while shaking head, responding.
"Alright then."
Suoh laughed lightly once, entire person slowly sinking into pool.
Warm spring water rose past shoulders, healing his body.
While she also sat down on poolside rocks, convenient for chatting with him.
What closely followed proved Suoh's joke-like warning.
"Hey! Chatting's fine, but before washing feet, don't put them down!"
"I know! I haven't even removed shoes and socks!"
Matsumoto Rangiku found herself both amused and annoyed by his joking words, glaring at him indignantly.
Too rude!
This guy's words truly proved irritating, yet somehow simultaneously felt very approachable and interesting.
"Ha ha."
Suoh's arms rested on pool edge, relaxedly stretching body.
Water waves gently rippled following his movements.
Matsumoto Rangiku propped chin, observing his arms' flowing lines, sighing emotionally.
"Tsukasa, you maintain such excellent physique. Not becoming a model truly proves regrettable."
"Just maintain daily training. Model? Does Seireitei have such professions?"
Suoh answered absent-mindedly with eyes closed.
He recalled later-period Seireitei seemingly having such photo magazines, though he remained uncertain when they'd appeared.
Matsumoto Rangiku shook her head, sighing emotionally.
"Every day—just hearing sounds exhausting."
"Not having now doesn't mean not having later. The modeling profession has already developed many years in the Living World. If we lack it, we can create it."
"Given your conditions, photographs would definitely sell well."
Seeing Suoh still keeping up with her thinking frequency, she smiled even more happily, continuing.
"Alright, then I'll rely on you. If short on money later, I'll contact you."
"Remember to sell me for a good price!"
Suoh accepted this praise completely, smiling while responding.
This physical body represented what he'd painstakingly tempered day by day. He also felt very satisfied with his current state.
His tone lacked any twisting or discomfort, as natural as discussing tomorrow's menu.
Matsumoto Rangiku's thinking proved lively, personality spirited. Plus she closely followed Living World fashion trends—generational gap between them wasn't too deep.
Also able joking around, chatting with her felt like conversing with close friends—very relaxed.
SPLASH—
Hitsugaya from the other side at a position slightly farther from them immersed into pool, eyes closed resting.
Silver-haired youth's face showed no expression.
Usually he'd directly enter pool at nearby positions to Suoh. Today proved exceptionally different.
The reason also quickly became apparent.
During pause in their conversation, Matsumoto Rangiku in good spirits waved toward him, voice carrying laughter.
"Hitsugaya, sitting so far for what? Come over and chat together."
"Don't want to! I have nothing to chat about with you!"
Her enthusiasm received was resolutely cold response.
Hitsugaya didn't even open eyes, tone also stiff, body leaning further toward pool edge.
Suoh soaked in hot spring, watching these two's back-and-forth, mouth corners unable resisting upward curve.
He roughly guessed the reason. Just now Matsumoto Rangiku so frankly observing him—Hitsugaya probably didn't want being compared with him (height and physique).
After all regarding height and build, current Hitsugaya indeed remained a still-growing youth.
Suoh picked up conversation, voice carrying undisguisable amusement.
"Hitsugaya, do you want..."
"It's not! Tsukasa, how could you...!"
Hitsugaya immediately interrupted his statement. Pair of jade-green eyes filled with disbelief.
Immediately feeling a sense of betrayal.
But already too late.
Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes brightened, as though detecting some key.
She deliberately drew out tone, smile cunning.
"So that's how it is—our Hitsugaya minds this?"
"Who minds! I just find you very annoying!"
Hitsugaya immediately spoke refuting.
"Yes, yes, you don't mind."
"Don't worry. You're still growing. Maybe someday you'll become like Tsukasa."
"Right, Tsukasa?"
Matsumoto Rangiku obligingly nodded, then turning head toward Suoh.
"I believe so."
Suoh seriously nodded in agreement.
The hot spring pool fell into brief quiet.
"...Whatever you want."
Hitsugaya observed Suoh's composed expression beside him and Matsumoto Rangiku's smiling face—some indescribable emotion surged up.
Finally muttering once, he closed eyes again, heart like still water.
Matsumoto Rangiku and Suoh exchanged glances, simultaneously smiling.