Chapter 153: Unexpected Encounter
The tea room's walls muted the falling snow and street noise outside.
"I'm ready. Let's go."
Suoh folded the paper list and looked up at the other three seated around the table.
After cross-referencing the names with the popular New Year goods available on the commercial street, he'd formed a rough plan in mind.
Common New Year gifts could mostly be found in the front street shops, but items like proper oseibo gifts and presents for family members would require visiting the more upscale establishments in the middle district.
"I noticed quite a few women on that list. I'm pretty familiar with the clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics shops around here."
"If you're unsure about anything, just ask me. I can give you some advice."
Rangiku rested her chin on one hand, glancing at the accumulating snow outside before turning back to speak casually.
The tea room's warm yellow light fell softly across her profile, perfectly highlighting the delicate details of her eye makeup.
Her lashes were long and curled, eyeliner flowing smoothly upward at the outer corners, blended with subtle eyeshadow, complemented by vividly colored lips.
The kind of makeup you'd only see in fashion magazines from the Living World.
"With you here, picking out those kinds of gifts will definitely be much easier."
Suoh lifted his teacup and took a sip of the warm tea.
He possessed encyclopedic knowledge about most things in Soul Society and the Living World.
But there were still certain areas that remained blank spots in his mental map.
"Leave it to me."
Rangiku smiled at his words, clearly happy to take on this advisory role.
The group of four left the tea room.
After some time passed, they moved in and out of shop after shop.
By the time they reached the commercial district's middle section, everyone carried several wrapped gifts in their hands.
The others didn't have many people to shop for, so they'd offered to help Suoh share some of the burden.
The lights in the middle district burned brighter and more brilliantly than the front street.
Following Rangiku's lead, the group turned down a side street and stopped before a clothing shop.
The shop's entrance curtain was a soft light blue with three characters written across it: "Kikkakuan."
Pushing through the door, an elegant fragrance greeted their noses.
Inside, warm bright lighting illuminated various fabrics, ready-made garments, and accessories arranged in orderly fashion, displaying refined taste.
"This is one of the best value clothing shops in all of Seireitei."
Rangiku spoke in a low voice, her tone carrying the familiarity of a regular customer.
"The proprietress is a retired Fourth Division member. The quality is excellent, and the prices are fair too."
As she spoke, a woman who appeared to be in her early forties with an elegant bearing saw Rangiku and approached with a smile.
"Welcome."
"Miss Rangiku, I hope the year-end finds you well. You've brought friends today? Take your time looking around—let me know if you need anything."
"Tsuru-nee, I brought some friends to pick out gifts. I know you're busy this time of year, so don't worry about us—we'll browse on our own first."
Rangiku smiled slightly, stepping aside to reveal Suoh and the others behind her.
The proprietress's gaze lingered on Suoh for a moment, her smile deepening.
"This young man looks somewhat familiar, and carries himself well."
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. Call me if you need assistance."
She nodded gracefully with refined poise, then turned to attend to other customers in the shop.
Just then, a gentle deep voice and a sweet female voice drifted from ahead in conversation.
"Hinamori, how about this color? I think it looks quite nice."
"Ah, Captain Aizen thinks so too? I really like it—let's get this one!"
Suoh's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.
Hitsugaya heard it too, his eyes lifting to look ahead.
Near a wooden display rack holding various delicate scarves in the front room stood two figures.
One was tall with black-framed glasses, refined features, and a white captain's haori draped over his shoulders—none other than Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sosuke.
Beside him stood a petite young woman with delicate features—Hinamori Momo, who had just graduated and joined a division this year.
Both wore matching shawl scarves, talking and smiling together.
Aizen held a light blue scarf in his hand, smiling as he passed it naturally to the young woman beside him.
The girl's face bore a radiant, brilliant smile that shone even without makeup in the shop's bright lighting.
A mental exclamation mark appeared silently above Suoh's head.
This important figure really was remarkably free with his time.
To think they'd run into him in a place like this.
Suoh's thoughts turned several times, though his expression showed nothing unusual.
Hitsugaya's expression changed subtly, but not obviously.
As if sensing the gaze from the side, Aizen seemed to notice, turning around as his eyes swept across all four of them.
Seeing the group, he straightened and approached with a warm smile.
His smile was impeccable, making one feel like basking in a spring breeze. Behind his lenses, his gaze remained calm and profound, the very picture of refined elegance.
"Vice-Captain Matsumoto, it's been quite a while. What a pleasant coincidence."
"And who might these companions be?"
"Captain Aizen, good evening."
Rangiku greeted him politely, then introduced Suoh and the others beside her.
After brief pleasantries, Aizen's gaze fell on Suoh, who stood in the center of the group, and he spoke with apparent realization.
"So you're Suoh Tsukasa. I've heard much about you. A pleasure to meet you for the first time."
For a moment, this corner of Seireitei on this snowy year-end evening held one captain, one vice-captain, and three seated officers.
A remarkably powerful combination.
"I'm honored that my modest reputation has reached the Captain's ears."
"Captain Aizen, it's a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to your guidance."
Suoh's expression didn't waver in the slightest. Meeting Aizen's gaze, he returned a perfectly standard, impeccable warm smile.
Just then, several Shinigami also wearing matching shawl scarves gathered around holding their selected garments, their faces beaming with relaxed excitement.
They clustered naturally around Aizen and Hinamori, speaking over each other.
"Captain, we've all picked ours out!"
"Thank you so much, Captain!"
"Captain Aizen, we're really grateful for today!"
Aizen nodded in response with a gentle smile.
"Very good. Then everyone take your items to the proprietress for checkout together."
He then turned toward Suoh and the others, his tone warm with a hint of apology.
"I'm delighted to have met you all this evening, but we should be going."
"The year-end keeps us busy—there are still some matters I need to handle. Please excuse us."
"Farewell."
With that, he walked toward the counter, naturally surrounded by his Fifth Division subordinates.
"Toshiro, goodbye."
As the two groups crossed paths, Hinamori waved farewell to Hitsugaya before departing.
The scene appeared perfectly ordinary.
A warm, considerate captain showing concern for newly recruited subordinates with meager salaries, accompanying them to purchase cold-weather clothing.
Anyone who witnessed this would think Aizen an impeccable captain.
This kind of meticulous care couldn't even be found in divisions with extremely harmonious atmospheres like the Thirteenth.
Suoh watched the group depart, his heart silent.
No wonder that even after Aizen's betrayal, when Fifth Division members were investigated due to their connection with him, they still harbored an indelible emotional attachment and fond memories of him.
Who could possibly resist that?
This behavior was equivalent to a fresh graduate just entering society receiving personal attention and substantial help from their organization's top leader shortly after starting work.
The frightening part was that Aizen didn't seem to be simply performing—it all appeared completely natural.
People find it difficult to perfectly portray emotions they've never experienced or fundamentally cannot resonate with.
At least Suoh couldn't detect any flaws.
Aizen maintained that perfect persona day after day for a hundred years. Whether genuine feeling existed beneath it, an outsider like Suoh had no way of knowing.
But every encouragement he gave, every bit of care he showed, every gift he bestowed—in the moment it happened, for those who received it, the warmth was real and undeniable.
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