"Thank you very much for inviting me today... though I must say—"
Saying that, Soifon cast a fleeting glance to the side.
"—It seems I am not very welcome by some."
"That is not true at all. Right, Lieutenant?"
"That is right, Captain Soifon. As Hinamori-san says, you are overthinking it."
Isane and Hinamori-san replied with smiles. ...They are smiling, but why do I feel a chill running down my spine looking at them?
"W-Well, now. It would be a waste of time, so... shall we get started immediately?"
"Yes!"
When I said that, a perfectly synchronized reply came back, as if they were the best of friends. However, this perfect synchronization is actually scary to me.
—The story goes back a little while.
"It has been a long time, Lady Yukawa."
"Oh, Captain Soifon?"
While I was working in the Squad 4 barracks, she suddenly showed up.
"What is the matter, all of a sudden? Is there an injured person...?"
"No, that is not it. It is just that you seemed busy for a while after becoming Captain, Lady Yukawa, so I could not even congratulate you..."
You may have forgotten, but since the former Captain played a prank on me when I assumed the position, I was busy for about three months including personnel matters. Some close Captains, like Soifon, couldn't stand to see that situation and offered, "Shall I help you?"
However, the content of the busyness was the problem. Since it involved the human relationships of my own squad, I couldn't poorly involve people from other squads. Those offers eventually settled on "I will just accept your feelings."
Soifon knew about the busyness back then, so she means, "I wanted to celebrate your inauguration as Captain, but I was being considerate and postponed it until today."
"Even though you treated me so well during my time! I feel very apologetic that so many days have passed!!"
"Captain Soifon, calm down."
"And please stop calling me Captain Soifon! We are already in the same position as Captains, and like the old days... if possible, um, just Soifon..."
Don't beg while blushing... it makes me want to hug you.
"I understand, Soifon."
"Yes! Thank you very much!"
Just calling her name makes her look so happy.
"...Hah! S-So, about that. The reason I visited today is for you, Lady Yukawa—"
"—Captain Yukawa!!"
Here comes another one!! What is it this time!?
"Could I ask you to train with me again!?"
It was Hinamori-san who arrived at an overly convenient timing.
"Um, Hinamori-san? When entering a room, you should call out from outside properly and get permission to enter—"
"T-That is no good, Hinamori-san! The Captain is busy right now!"
This time Isane interjected. It's busy, isn't it.
"She is chased by the treatment of the Captain and Vice-Captain of Squad 11! If not for that, she would have given me training like the other day..."
"Eeeh! What is that!!"
She is closing in on Isane with a menacing look. It's a little scary.
"It's unfair, Lieutenant! I want the Captain to—"
"What do you mean by training, Lady Yukawa!!"
Soifon raised her voice again.
"Isn't that cruel! In that case, please train me too! I have been lonely recently because you haven't spent time with me!!"
"Even Soifon!? Or rather, where did the talk of the 'celebration' you mentioned at the start go?"
"We will do that another day! But please, me too!"
"That is no good, Captain Soifon!"
"Mu, who are you?"
"I am Squad 4 Lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu! Also, the Captain is frequently called to Squad 11, so that is also impossible! I am enduring it too, so please endure it as well, Captain Soifon!"
...What is this? The three of them are coming on strong... Watching them makes my spine feel incredibly cold, though... Nubatama, what do you think?
'Getting along is a beautiful thing, as they say. Here, with the Master's charm, you should gather all three into a harem...'
Yeah, thanks. That wasn't helpful at all.
Also. The issue with Squad 11 has already been resolved; a designated anniversary called July 7th was created.
"Listen, Isane. The matter with Squad 11 was resolved the other day, didn't I tell you? Well, it is certain that one whole day a year will be crushed, but on other days, I am free to some extent—"
"In that case, Captain! I will match my schedule on your next day off!"
"Why is that!? I will match the Captain's schedule too!!"
"Isane and Hinamori-san, calm down!?"
They bit onto that incredibly hard!! What is this!?
"Then I will match my schedule too! As Captains of Squad 2 and Squad 4, we shall deepen our interaction and plan the coordination of our squads..."
Even Soifon!?
"Um, then... how about everyone meets on the same day... is that no good?"
While timidly raising my hand, I convey a compromise. ...Why do I, who should be the center, have to be frightened?
"The same day, is it...?"
"It cannot be helped."
"I understand, then the Captain and I will match our schedules. Ah, Captain Soifon, please adjust the schedule yourself."
"I know that!"
It seems the situation has settled down somehow.
And that leads to the beginning.
By the way, as a side note, it seems that Kira-kun, who learned of this uproar later, tried to participate but was flatly refused. ...Well, he is the 4th Seat. It would be a problem if the high-ranking officers were all missing on the same day.
"Well then, um..."
Now, the perspective has returned to the day of training together.
What should I do? Training three people at the same time is inefficient because there is too much difference in ability and fields of expertise. Then, I guess I have to look at them individually?
"It will take the form of looking at the three of you individually, is that alright?"
"Yes."
"No problem."
"I understand."
Everyone gives good answers.
"Then first, Soifon. During the time I cannot watch you, please train individually."
And so, the training starts.
"Soifon, you will use Bankai after all?"
"Yes... it is quite difficult to handle, and raising proficiency is also difficult..."
"It can't be helped. Let's do it steadily."
"I am counting on you. Bankai, Jakuho Raikoben."
She activated her Bankai, but it is as large as ever. With petite Soifon, it looks incredibly huge relatively speaking.
Oh, Isane and Hinamori-san have stopped their training and are looking at Soifon. Well, Bankai is rare, after all.
"Fufun."
"Ku... uh..."
"E-Even I... surely soon..."
Perhaps because she is bathing in attention, Soifon, who showed a slightly triumphant expression, is cute. Thinking they were "provoked" by that, the two were looking at her with frustration.
Eh... Isane is going to reach Bankai already?
"Well then, pardon me."
"Y-Yes...!"
"Aaaaaahhhhh!!"
When I hugged Soifon from behind, the two screamed.
"Wh... Captain, what is that!?"
"Why are you hugging...!!"
"Fufun, it cannot be helped. If I use my Bankai carelessly, I will be blown away by the recoil."
"Gununu..."
That's why unless I fix her in place firmly, she can't use it properly. She is becoming able to adjust that recoil to some extent, but well, as a safety measure, I have been playing the supporting role.
But, I wonder why Soifon looks so triumphant?
"Then here I go... Jakuho Raikoben—Fire!!"
An explosion larger than fireworks was painted in the morning sky. Perhaps thanks to seeing that destructive power up close, the two who were making frustrated faces instantly had expressions of surprise.
"Haa... haa..."
"Is it still tough after all?"
"Y-Yes... I want to train it up to at least one shot a day..."
While continuing to pour Reiatsu into the exhausted Soifon, her Bankai special training continued.
"—Okay, next is Isane."
"Yes, Captain! Please!"
Soifon's time slot ended, and next became the time to watch Isane.
"Isane, is it okay to do it like when I trained you before?"
"Please! ...Ah, but I want to try Bankai training like Captain Soifon too...!!"
"If you train yourself and communicate with your Zanpakuto, you will reach Bankai eventually. You mustn't rush; first, let's train thoroughly from the basics."
"Ugh... yes..."
For Isane who looks a little disappointed, we start with swordsmanship training first.
"Yeah, it really is easy to do this with Isane."
"Eh... really!?"
"Because our eye level and body types are similar. I can teach Isane exactly what I am careful about. It's super easy to do."
"Ehehe... thank you very much."
"You are welcome... Ah, wait a moment!"
I interrupt the instruction and touch her body a little.
"Move more like this there, and try to be conscious of the twist of your waist."
"Twist of the waist... like this?"
"Hmm, a little different I guess? Like this, your waist."
"Like this?"
"Yes, yes, that's the spirit."
Isane really is easy to teach. She absorbs more and more just by showing her examples.
"It might have been good that I am tall, just a little. Because I can stand shoulder to shoulder with you like this, Captain, and think from the same eye level."
"Kuh..."
Let's pretend I didn't see Soifon and Hinamori-san making somewhat frustrated faces.
"—Then, finally Hinamori-san."
"Objection!"
She suddenly raised her hand.
"Captain Soifon is 'Soifon'. Lieutenant Kotetsu is 'Isane'. Yet why am I 'Hinamori-san'!! I cannot accept this!!"
"Eh..."
If you say so, that's true. But there isn't any deep meaning... if I had to say, it's a remnant of the Academy days?
"Then, is it okay if I call you... Momo?"
"Y-Yes!! Y-Yay..."
Hinamori-san—ah, Momo did a small gut pose.
"...Hah! T-Then Lady Yukawa! Call me too...!!"
"M-Me too...!!"
"Calm down, both of you!?"
Why are Soifon and Isane biting onto this?
"Soifon, didn't you say a long time ago, 'Please don't call me Shaolin anymore'!? And I'm already calling Isane by name, what more should I do!?"
"...Kuh, th-that is true..."
"Auu..."
All three of them have gotten into a strange tension...
"Then Momo, shall we start training?"
"Yes!"
So it is training, but—
"Doing this, it feels like I've returned to the Academy days..."
"That's an exaggeration."
"It's not an exaggeration!"
"I-Is that so...?"
"The Captain's movements I saw on the first day of enrollment, and the training after that, were incredibly shocking to me!! That was a destined encounter!!"
Hearing her say that makes me very happy as someone who was an instructor.
"Kuuuh..."
And, why are the two over there looking so enviously?
"Now then... shall we call it a day soon?"
I managed to finish the training for each of the three. I finished, but I am excessively tired. Is it my imagination? The fatigue weighs heavily on me three times—no, about three times cubed the usual amount.
"T-Then Captain... um, at my house—"
"Lady Yukawa! It has been a while, so at Brother's food stall—"
"Um, Captain! I want to go there! You know, that place in Rukongai you took me to before! To the izakaya where you were really taken care of, Captain!!"
"—Eeeh!?"
All three are busy...
"Ah, Lady Yukawa...! What is that shop!?"
"The Captain was taken care of...? Hinamori-san, why do you know such a thing!?"
"When the Captain was a Lieutenant, she took me there several times. I knew about it, but oh? Did you two not know...?"
"Gunununu..."
What is this... It has gone full circle and become funny.
"Captain!"
"Lady Yukawa!"
"Let us definitely go there!!"
"E-Eeh... well, that's fine, but..."
If I wasn't the involved party, I could be laughing.
So, we went to the familiar shop.
Four Reapers—moreover all women, and half being Captains—caused the shop to become more lively than ever before. Customers came one after another to get a glimpse of us, saying "Let me treat you" or "Won't you drink with us," and the tumult never stopped. I am desperately warning the drunks who come like clouds and mist, keeping my guard up so they don't lay a hand on Soifon and the others, but...
"Haa..."
There are many people, and the smell of alcohol is thick... Honestly speaking, it is quite tough.
"Captain, are you okay?"
"Isane? Yeah, well, somehow."
"Um, here, please take this if you'd like. Your face seems red too."
"Is it? Thank you."
I took a sip of the drink Isane gave me... wait, this is alcohol—
Since the Master has lost consciousness, from here on, I, the unworthy and mysterious Nubatama! Shall perform the duty. That being said, there is not much of significance left!!
"Ah, Captain... I am sorry."
"What, Lady Yukawa has lost consciousness! This is serious, we must nurse her immediately!"
"Then please come to my house! I am the Lieutenant of the same squad, so it is not unnatural!"
"I am grateful, Lieutenant Kotetsu!"
"Then I will lead the way!"
"Hinamori-san, please help too."
And so like this, the Master was taken home. As for what happened after that...
For the sake of the Master's honor, it is a secret!
However, if there is one thing I can say for certain—
It was good to be the Master's Zanpakuto!!
—I thought that from the bottom of my heart!!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]