"Sorry! Did I keep you waiting?"
"It's okay, we just got here."
"Besides, it's not past the meeting time, so there is no problem at all."
Kosuzu-san and I spoke gently to Ayase-sa—no, that's not right, to Sachie-san, who came running up to us. Even so, I wonder if she didn't like being the last one to arrive? She had a somewhat apologetic look on her face.
Today is an off-duty day.
Usually, I would be doing voluntary combat training, getting lessons from the Captain, or massaging my seniors.
However, the other day, Sachie-san invited us, asking, "Why don't we all get together for a change?" and so the three of us gathered like this.
It has already been over three years since we graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy. Perhaps due to the influence of experiencing actual work, both of them look much more mature than they did back in our student days.
"So, do we have any plans for today?"
"Eh!! Was it wrong not to have any plans!? I just thought I wanted to get together and hang out with everyone after so long..."
"Eh... No, no, that's not what I meant!?"
At Kosuzu-san's words, Sachie-san looked even more apologetic.
She must have felt like she was being scolded for having no plan. Let me throw her a lifeline.
"Now, now, isn't it fine to be unplanned? Besides, the Central First District is bustling, so wouldn't it be fun to make it our goal to discover unknown shops or something?"
"Th-That's right, Kosuzu-san! I think that kind of thing is fun too!?"
"...I suppose that is true."
It seems everyone has boarded my ship.
Now then, I wonder how many people are familiar with the name Central First District?
I believe I mentioned before that the barracks of the Gotei 13 are located in the Seireitei.
The First Division's jurisdiction is placed in the central district, and the remaining twelve divisions' jurisdictions exist surrounding it. The Fourth Division, where I am, is in the Fourth District, and the Sixth Division, where Kosuzu-san is, is in the Sixth District. It goes like that.
Each district has many facilities that seem to reflect the characteristics of each squad. Especially in this Central First District—also called the Shin'o District—there are naturally the First Division barracks and numerous administrative facilities, as well as a wide variety of facilities trying to benefit from them.
When meeting up with friends and acquaintances from other squads, the Central First District is often chosen simply because it is the easiest, but since there are various shops, the pattern of "if in doubt, go to the Shin'o District" is quite common.
However, searching for a shop that looks good without a specific purpose is quite exhausting.
"There aren't many good shops, are there?"
After walking around for about an hour, we decided to take a break at a nearby tea house.
"We don't have any specific objective, so it can't be helped."
"Perhaps we should have gathered in the Sixth District if it was going to be like this. There are many good shops there."
"I'm sorry, the shops in the Sixth District are a bit much for me..."
This time it was my turn to show an apologetic expression.
The Sixth District is the jurisdiction of the Sixth Division.
In one corner of it, there is a residential area for nobles, and many merchants gather there trying to benefit from those nobles—trying to make a lot of money.
There are many good shops, but they are incredibly expensive. They have quality and value commensurate with the price, but they are high-class stores that are too high for me in many ways.
Both in terms of social threshold and price.
"You see, the salary in the Fourth Division is low..."
"Eh? Is that so?"
"I think the base pay is probably the same for all three of us. But you guys fight Hollows, right? Because you get danger pay, your take-home pay is higher by that amount—...or so a seated officer of the Eleventh Division was often complaining."
It is a legitimate reason, if you can call it that.
If there is danger pay, I would like a technical allowance too.
"Th-Then enough already! Let's close our eyes and choose a random place or something!? Ummm... that shop over there!!"
Sachie-san pointed blindly. At the end of her finger was a kimono shop—a drapery.
"Oh, that looks like a nice shop. Shall we take a peek?"
"Yes, let's go!"
Despite being chosen at random, the feeling is good. Since we had already paid, we left the tea house and headed to the drapery.
"Heh, I wasn't expecting much, but this is quite..."
"Wow, this is cute! I'm jealous..."
When looking at the actual products, the impression is favorable, perhaps because we didn't expect much.
The selection is abundant, colorful, and of good quality. This is a famous store.
"Indeed, they are all wonderful... However, they probably won't fit me."
"..."
"...Ah."
Ah, I shouldn't have! Even though the excitement was rising, I said something that brought it down without reading the room again!!
But, but it can't be helped! Clothes start with size! Before design, the question is whether the size exists!!
...It makes me sad just saying it.
"Ah! How about this!?"
Saying that, what Sachie-san picked up was for hair tying—something like a ribbon.
"With this, I think there's no problem even for you, Airi-san!"
"Eh... yeah, certainly... with this."
I accepted it and checked it myself; it was a good quality item. Size wouldn't matter for this, and it was at an affordable price even for a poverty-stricken Soul Reaper.
"True, but a little more... wouldn't this color suit her better?"
"R-Really?"
What Kosuzu-san held out was a bright red ribbon of the same design. She lightly held it against my hair to check.
"Does it suit me?"
"Yup! This one is better!! As expected of Kosuzu-san!"
"Fufufu, well, this is nothing."
She seems to be in a good mood after being praised.
"Then I'll pay for this..."
"Ah! No. We will pay for this!"
"Eh...!? But..."
"For this amount, it's fine. We are getting allowances, so at least this much. Okay? Since we're here, just think of it as a commemorative gift."
I never expected to receive it as a present.
"Then, I'll accept your kindness... But, it feels too wasteful to wear..."
I looked at the ribbon in my hand again.
It was a truly good item; is it because of my poverty mentality that I think it's too wasteful to wear daily?
"No! Please wear it properly!!"
My mutter was sharply heard by Sachie-san, and she forcibly tied it to my hair without allowing any argument. Well, I suppose that's fine.
The next day, the new ribbon was well-received by my colleagues.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]