The next day.
When Matsumoto Rangiku woke up, the room was still shrouded in dimness. Lying within the soft bedding, she felt a momentary sense of trance. There were no sounds of soldiers busying themselves in the early morning here, only a reassuring silence.
She sat up, her blonde hair draped messily over her shoulders. Her collar slipped loosely, revealing a glimpse of her fair shoulder. After sitting quietly for a while, she casually gathered her robes, stood up, and walked barefoot to the window, pushing it open to look outside.
The light outside was bright. Not far away, steam rose from the hot spring, and the lush bamboo forest was a vibrant, dripping green. Then, she spotted Suō Tsukasa and Toshiro morning training by the bamboo grove.
Both were dressed in white training uniforms. One tall and one short, they stood several meters apart, side by side, focused and calm as they conducted their morning exercises. It was a practice of basic overhead swings, devoid of any flashiness.
Rangiku leaned against the window frame, watching silently. She gazed at them, somewhat lost in thought. In the Tenth Division, she would sometimes see the soldiers training in groups if she woke up early, but this was the first time she had seen a scene where the rhythm and breathing were almost perfectly synchronized.
After watching for a short while, she turned back into the room. She tidied the bedding, put on her Shihakusho, and used her fingertips to smooth her slightly disheveled hair. Once finished, she pushed open the door and stepped out.
Upon reaching the porch, she found a bamboo basin resting on a bamboo stool by her feet. Inside were a face towel and toiletries. Understanding the gesture, she smiled and picked it up.
She did not disturb them as she passed by, instead walking to the sink outside the kitchen. She drew fresh water from the water jar and performed a simple wash. When she was finished, she gently patted her face dry with the towel; the cool water left her feeling completely awake.
She placed the basin on a rack holding similar basins. Then, she walked to a stone stool near the bamboo forest and sat down. From this vantage point, she could see the two of them more clearly.
A moment later.
When the wooden swords sliced through the air for the last time, they came to a dead stop. Tsukasa and Toshiro relaxed their stances simultaneously, their sword tips pointing lightly toward the ground as they slowly exhaled a long breath.
After a brief silence, Tsukasa was the first to turn around and offer a greeting. Their eyes met in the air, and they shared a smile.
Without makeup, Rangiku lacked her usual sultry charm but gained a touch of youthful vitality; her style today was a different kind of beauty compared to yesterday.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Morning! It was wonderful. It's just that it's so quiet here, I almost can't feel the passage of time." Rangiku stretched her body, the hem of her inner garment rising slightly with the movement.
"That is indeed a major issue here, which is why I've hung so many clocks in various places. Toshiro and I are going to clean up briefly. We'll head out after breakfast." As Tsukasa spoke, he and Toshiro started walking toward the kitchen.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Rangiku stood up and asked.
"No need, it'll be ready soon." Tsukasa didn't turn back, only raising his hand to wave.
Hearing this, she sat back down and watched their retreating figures. Toshiro trailed half a step behind, turning his head to whisper something to Tsukasa, who nodded gently.
About fifteen minutes later.
Tsukasa walked out carrying a tray, followed by Toshiro, who held two ceramic pots of different sizes.
"Breakfast is just something simple. This is what we usually eat; I hope it suits your taste."
Tsukasa placed the tray on the stone table. On the plates were stacked steaming pancakes, their edges slightly golden-brown, emitting the simple, sweet aroma of toasted flour. As he set the table, he took the smaller pot from Toshiro's hand and placed it on the edge.
"There's honey in this small pot. You can add it to your liking. The other pot is soy milk; help yourself to refills, don't be polite."
Toshiro helped distribute the bamboo forks and soy milk, then took his seat beside Tsukasa.
"This looks great! I didn't expect you to be able to make this." Rangiku's eyes brightened as she caught the scent, her voice full of pleasant surprise.
"I don't know many recipes; I just happen to like eating this myself. It's a pity the fruit trees in the yard haven't been harvested yet, otherwise adding some fruit would make the taste even better. You'll have to try it again then; I guarantee you'll like it. For today, we'll just make do with this."
Tsukasa picked up the small pot, drizzled a bit of honey onto the pancake, and handed it over to her.
"Then I'll certainly look forward to next time." Rangiku smiled and took the pot. Imitating Tsukasa, she slowly drizzled the honey. The golden nectar seeped through the pancake and the gaps, the color quite enticing. Afterward, she handed the pot to Toshiro.
"Let's eat."
Rangiku used the bamboo fork to cut a piece and put it in her mouth. The pancake was slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a perfect hint of sweetness and the aroma of eggs. Paired with the smoothness of the honey and a sip of the warm soy milk—the soy fragrance was rich and pure, without any extra seasoning.
It suited her taste perfectly.
"This is delicious!" Rangiku exclaimed sincerely, her voice soaked in a sense of happiness.
"I'm glad you like it," Tsukasa smiled. There was no better praise than that; the breakfast he ate every day suddenly tasted a bit different. Usually, Toshiro would frequently praise his cooking, but due to his reserved nature, the emotional value provided was always a bit lacking.
Beside them, Toshiro didn't join the conversation, merely eating his portion slowly and carefully, his brows curving slightly in comfort.
Accompanied by the unique, soothing background sounds of this space, the three of them finished breakfast in silence.
Tsukasa stood up to clear the table, but Rangiku was a step faster. She looked at him with a serious expression. "Leave these to me. You two go get your own things ready."
"How can I let a guest do the work?" Tsukasa was startled, then chuckled.
"What guest? I've eaten so many of your good things, I have to do something to show my appreciation." She raised an eyebrow and began clearing the stone table. Though her movements weren't practiced, they were quite brisk.
Seeing this, Tsukasa stopped being formal and nodded. "Alright, then I'll leave it to you."
Rangiku gave him a "don't you worry" look and carried the tray toward the kitchen.
"Toshiro, let's go change. Time to get ready for work."
"Right." Toshiro nodded, stood up, and followed.
After a brief cleanup, the three figures leaped out of the hole one after another, and the stone slab closed behind them. The early morning sunlight of the Seireitei filtered through the cracks of the wooden door into the dark room.
Feeling the change in lighting and atmosphere, Rangiku suddenly felt a sense of melancholy. She turned and said, "Tsukasa, don't worry. I will keep this place a secret."
"Yeah, I know. I trust you. You're welcome to come over whenever you like. Though when you come, it's best to have Toshiro bring you; he's familiar with the route, so it's safer."
Tsukasa was quite confident in Rangiku's character and her promise. Furthermore, an extra person meant an extra pair of hands for work. Rangiku didn't eat much, and all he contributed was a bit of food.
"Really? Thank you!" A bright arc curved on Rangiku's lips; the feeling of being trusted was always pleasant. Remembering the herbal tea bags Tsukasa had given her tucked in her robes, she added, "Next time, I'll bring some good sake. I've been saving it for a long time; it's very good!"
"No problem. I'll prepare some grilled meat and side dishes then. It'll be a perfect match."
"Then it's a deal!" Rangiku's smile grew even more radiant.
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