REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 132: Arrangement
Training gained entirely new direction at this moment.
Thinking thus, Suoh's gaze naturally fell upon her, smiling faintly.
"Rangiku, thank you! Truly one remark awakens the dreaming person!"
"Eh?"
Matsumoto Rangiku blinked, momentarily not quite understanding this sudden thanks' reference.
Yet observing radiance in his eyes, she knew she'd probably said something very useful. Couldn't help also feeling happy.
While hearing Suoh's tone shift, carrying mischievous smile, reminding.
"Additionally, the meat skewers in your hand need flipping. Otherwise they'll burn."
"Ah! My meat!"
Matsumoto Rangiku only then realized she'd just been entirely focused talking with him, completely forgetting hand work.
Hurriedly rotating hand-held meat skewers. Some meat edges already showed somewhat over-fired scorched brown.
After brief small flurry, then through famous instructor Suoh's guidance.
She finally barely completed roasting.
Matsumoto Rangiku observed hand-held several skewers whose appearance proved less than ideal, eyes rolling, dividing half, passing before Suoh, speaking playfully.
"Tsukasa, you also worked hard all day. Try my cooking!"
Suoh quite decisively accepted.
Latter half he'd provided complete guidance throughout, witnessing everything. Still held some confidence regarding taste.
Carefully blowing cooling, biting down large mouthful. Outer layer crispy, interior portions still maintaining some softness and tenderness.
Evaluated six points—barely passing.
"How is it?"
Matsumoto Rangiku leaned closer somewhat, awaiting his evaluation.
"Not bad. Quite talented."
Suoh chewed and swallowed, then seriously looking toward her, nodding.
Hand movements didn't stop, consecutively sending meat into mouth.
Using actual actions expressing recognition toward her.
"Indeed not bad!"
Witnessing his movements, her confidence instantly rebounded.
Sending into mouth, carefully tasting.
She felt compared to Suoh's top-tier technique differed slightly. Overall flavor still proved similar. Contentedly nodding.
"Seems I possess cooking potential!"
"This time I'll definitely grill even better!"
She felt slightly proud, again picking up new meat skewers, eagerly preparing challenging again.
"Take it slowly. No rush."
Suoh smiled, casually picking up several vegetable and meat skewers, preparing self-handling.
"Tsukasa, here!"
The other side—Hitsugaya who'd quietly been grilling his own portion divided half of finished product, passing over.
Movements concise, lacking excess words.
"Thanks!"
Suoh equally decisively accepted, biting once.
"Delicious!"
He raised thumb, sincerely praising. Emotional value he provided others consistently proved abundant.
Especially since hand-held food taste indeed proved very good.
Hitsugaya nodded once. Mouth corners rising into faint, calm arc.
Beside grill, three people formed a marvelous situation.
Suoh while overseeing overall situation represented grilling food's main force, while dividing attention guiding others.
Matsumoto Rangiku improving technique. As alcohol consumption increased, product quality unstable.
However, she also didn't slack off, occasionally helping pour alcohol, contributing her own share.
Hitsugaya consistently stably provided quality superior baseline products.
"Truly satisfying. If I could drink more alcohol, it would be even better!"
When final meat piece was eliminated, Matsumoto Rangiku touched her slightly bloated stomach, utterly lacking image, both hands supporting behind on stone stool, body stretching into lazy arc.
She first glanced toward Suoh nearby who was gathering final charcoal bits, eyes carrying some lingering-interest hints.
"Though alcohol proves good, don't indulge excessively."
"Remaining portions can still be drunk next time."
Suoh didn't turn back, voice calm carrying unquestionable flavor.
Matsumoto Rangiku's alcohol tolerance actually proved decent. Yet consumed alcohol—majority entered her stomach.
From spiritual pressure fluctuations, he could sense her somewhat tipsy state.
As friend, especially as gathering's core, he held responsibility controlling rhythm, avoiding any possible discomfort.
Controlling friends' alcohol consumption within reasonable ranges represented, in his view, personal cultivation's manifestation.
"It's gone. I can buy and bring more over. How about we drink two more cups?"
Matsumoto Rangiku immediately straightened body, raising two fingers, attempting to bargain.
"No! Today proved sufficiently enjoyable already. Moreover tomorrow still requires early rising."
Suoh very firmly refused.
Casually warming final tea portions in pot, pouring one cup, passing before her.
"Drink some tea. Cuts greasiness, plus helps sobering."
"Alright, alright... Honestly, Tsukasa, right now you truly resemble a mother hen somewhat..."
Matsumoto Rangiku observed before her the teacup emitting slight steam, muttering quietly.
Then cradling teacup, sipping in small mouthfuls.
Warm tea entering throat indeed eased post-meal heaviness and bodily alcohol effects somewhat.
"Say whatever you want."
Drunk persons' words—he completely unconcerned. Again pouring himself and Hitsugaya each one cup.
This minor episode didn't spoil the pleasant atmosphere of the evening.
Matsumoto Rangiku sipped her tea, her cheeks tinged with a vivid flush under the influence of alcohol.
Only charcoal fire nearly extinguished—couldn't see clearly.
She again turned toward Suoh, curiously asking.
"How did you learn to cook? And cook so well, too. People from Rukongai—being able to fill their stomachs is already considered good enough, right?"
"Before arriving Soul Society knew some. Then helping at Terada-ya, improved considerably."
Suoh casually answered.
Then tone pausing briefly, gaze drifting westward, tone gentle.
"Lucky—when awakening was already in West District Three."
"Similarly lucky—at Terada-ya met people willing to accept me, giving me shelter."
Kotama, Terada-san both represented people he most treasured. Also having their support allowed smoothly passing through the initial period.
Only this home recently proved somewhat distant from him. Working in Seireitei—didn't have so many holidays allowing returning home visiting relatives.
While with his current merit-earning speed alone, required at minimum another ten-twenty years before possessing private residence.
However, he still had subsequent Hueco Mundo expedition to anticipate—that represented genuine major merits.
Matsumoto Rangiku quietly listened, thoughtfully nodding.
"West District Three's Terada-ya—I seem to have heard of it."
Thoughts drifting, fingertips unconsciously rubbing cup walls, sighing emotionally.
"I rather feel given Tsukasa's personality and abilities, whichever district could live quite well."
"Perhaps."
Hearing this, Suoh smiled faintly, neither denying nor self-aggrandizing.
Subsequently thinking of something, turning toward Hitsugaya saying.
"Hitsugaya, during year-end holidays, you can bring Grandmother to West District Three celebrating New Year together with us."
"Afterward if she's willing, can directly live at Terada-ya."
"Our holidays too few. She lacks company. Terada-san and Kotama both prove very easy getting along with. Having my family accompany her, can put your mind at ease."
"...Can I?"
Hitsugaya's hand cradling teacup paused slightly, fingertips tightening. Head suddenly raising, looking toward Suoh, speaking with surprise.
Only the grandmother he cared about most could make someone usually as calm as ice show such a vivid expression.
After entering Seireitei, accompanying time sharply decreased. He'd naturally considered Grandmother living alone in Rukongai problems.
"Of course."
Suoh answered without slightest hesitation, tone carrying reassuring certainty.
"Okay. Thank you, Tsukasa."
Hitsugaya nodded. Within heart, a vaguely suspended stone quietly settled down.
Only he hadn't expected—Suoh not only thought of this for him but also considered so thoroughly.
"Thanks for what? As it should be."
After Hitsugaya's grandmother's health recovery, she'd already possessed independent living capability.
Even living at Terada-ya didn't require expending effort caring—merely one extra room's matter.
This arrangement thus settled. Between both, friendship didn't require excess courtesies and refusals.
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