Chapter 159: Change
That evening, Suoh rarely slacked off.
He did nothing at all, washing up early before slipping into bed.
His body still retained lingering echoes from the day's exertion.
Right hand pillowed behind his head, gazing at the ceiling, his heart held no resentment.
Occasionally he would, like now, contemplate future ability directions.
After half a year's interaction, Suoh already regarded the Captain-Commander as both master and a respected elder deserving of respect.
He'd always shown great care.
Though the Captain-Commander never explicitly expressed intention to take him as a disciple, every unreserved instruction session, every combat tempering that pushed him to desperate straits, had long surpassed the actual significance of formal name and status.
As the party being thoroughly beaten, his heart held mostly just anticipation for the process of breaking through himself in the future.
After all, challenging the Captain-Commander itself overflowed with heart-pounding excitement and incomparable sense of achievement.
It just consumed considerable brain cells.
Every calculated step, every feint, every spiritual pressure allocation—all required careful planning, tolerating not the slightest error.
This couldn't be helped.
After all, he was Seireitei's combat power ceiling.
Ordinary tactics, like the blind fighting he'd practiced for so long—such small matters before the old man proved mere child's play, posing no difficulty whatsoever.
Only because Kikou's released intense light itself contained high-density spirit particle radiation that disrupted spiritual pressure perception, achieving synchronized visual and spiritual sense 'blinding'—only then did opportunity exist.
That old man's truly ruthless!
Next time I need to find a way to give him a big surprise!
Just imagining that scene felt wonderful.
Suoh withdrew his arm to rest on his stomach, silently contemplating.
Momentarily lacking good ideas, he soon fell asleep.
Morning arrived.
Suoh woke with the bell's sound.
Taking Hazy Night to the bamboo grove, he and Hitsugaya began their daily morning training.
Without superfluous conversation, the two pulled apart with tacit understanding.
This represented day-after-day refinement, their needless-to-express daily routine.
As for Rangiku's side—by the time they completed training, her area remained completely quiet, clearly still asleep.
This woman completely treated this place as a vacation resort, tending flowers and cultivating wellness.
For Suoh, this posed absolutely no problem. The base usually having an extra laborer for chores already proved sufficient.
Moreover, precisely her casual nature added several touches of vibrant interest to daily life.
Suoh sheathed his blade, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air.
His body slightly perspired, yet his mind felt clear and refreshed.
Hitsugaya passed over a towel, gaze sweeping across him with his characteristic tone.
"You alright?"
"Rested plenty yesterday—moving around feels much better."
Suoh dried his face with the towel, smile appearing on his face.
"I'll handle breakfast today."
Hitsugaya nodded without further questions, simply turning toward the kitchen.
Suoh smiled watching his retreating figure, then glanced toward Rangiku's small house, shaking his head before turning to conduct inspections in the cultivation room.
The purple reishi's growth condition proved excellent, the caps already beginning to display their characteristic purple luster, extremely stable.
He carefully completed his records, gently closing the door.
At this time, Rangiku had also woken, tidied herself, and emerged outdoors.
Her styling differed somewhat from usual.
Her brilliant golden hair wasn't worn loose as typical, but rather woven loosely into a side braid draped over her shoulder.
Several strands fell casually, softening her originally vivid bearing.
Her shihakusho covered a form-fitting white tube top beneath, the collar overlapping far more properly than usual, somewhat concealing her chest's substantial assets.
Though still unable to hide her undulating figure's curves, it shed several degrees of flamboyance while gaining several degrees of gentle grace.
Her facial makeup also proved much lighter, merely lightly sketching brows and eyes, lip color likewise selecting soft scarlet.
Having changed makeup style, her entire person appeared fresh yet bright.
One couldn't help but marvel at cosmetic arts' power and sophistication—without needing to alter any facial structure, easily possessing another brand-new countenance.
Suoh examined her several times, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
After all, in his impression, her dress style basically maintained that bold clothing with sexy mature sister flavor.
Aside from that appreciation banquet night, he'd rarely witnessed her style transformation.
Inevitably feeling somewhat fresh.
"Your outfit today carries a different flavor."
He withdrew his examining gaze, speaking with a smile.
"After all, I'm visiting Terada-ya as a guest. For a first meeting, I should leave everyone a good impression."
Hearing this, Rangiku's lips curved, tone lighthearted.
"Good awareness."
"Very beautiful."
Hearing the reasoning, Suoh directly offered his opinion, praising.
"I'll accept the compliment."
Receiving praise, Rangiku's face showed a satisfied smile.
Simultaneously her gaze toward him carried some meaningful depth—partly surprised, partly knowing.
Usually she'd never seen Suoh's gaze linger on her this long.
It even made her somewhat doubt her own charm.
Thinking she'd finally discovered what type Suoh preferred.
This discovery struck her as quite interesting.
Not far away, Hitsugaya had prepared breakfast and called to the two.
"Tsukasa, Rangiku, breakfast is ready."
"Coming."
Both responded.
Rangiku turned first.
Suoh followed, watching her slightly smug expression and relaxed figure, inwardly shaking his head.
She'd probably misunderstood.
Actually, he liked all beautiful things.
The reason he didn't look more usually—he'd simply grown accustomed, nothing particularly attracting his attention.
Men preferred contrast and the heart-flutter brought by novelty.
No wonder.
Though the original work left it unspecified, Suoh knew both she and Ichimaru Gin originated from extremely impoverished areas in Rukongai's latter-numbered districts.
Boy and girl relying on each other, struggling desperately to survive—without spiritual power aptitude, they'd have died long ago.
Though childhood friends, too young plus usually unable to even fill their stomachs—where would they have space for a proper romance?
Moreover, after Aizen seized the Spirit King fragment from her body, Ichimaru Gin left no words behind, directly abandoning her alone in Rukongai, planning solitary revenge.
From then the two hadn't met again for decades, remaining so even after both became Shinigami.
Where would she have accumulated any actual emotional experience?
At most relying on Living World romance magazines to count as somewhat more knowledgeable among Shinigami.
Armchair strategizing ultimately remained separated by a pitiful barrier from actual experience.
Too little understanding of men!
Like this, how could she possibly grasp someone as experienced and well-informed as Suoh?
Only in the original work would emotional novices like Hisagi Shuhei and Kira Izuru be captivated by her.
Suoh's lips curved slightly, no longer dwelling on it.
Arriving at the stone table, Hitsugaya had already arranged bowls and chopsticks—clear porridge with small dishes, simple yet radiating warm fragrance.
Hitsugaya glanced at Rangiku's changed appearance, tone flat as he evaluated.
"Quite rare seeing you dressed so properly today."
"Unlike usual."
"Hmph, what do you know?"
"That's called fashion. Right, Tsukasa?"
Rangiku sat down, smoothly accepting the white porridge he passed, rolling her eyes at him before lifting her gaze toward Suoh.
Suoh accepted the porridge Hitsugaya offered, smiling slightly without responding, simply lowering his head to taste a mouthful.
Using action to demonstrate his stance.
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