It has gotten completely cold.
The sun sets earlier day by day, and a biting chill is gradually creeping in.
Well, as they say, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
I should probably start thinking about what to do once it gets warmer.
With that in mind.
"Hello."
"Oh, Yukawa-dono!? Well, this is a surprise!"
I entered the entryway and called out. Coming out from the back—I suppose that's the right way to put it? He was wearing bright golden-yellow clothes—was Kaien.
"But what brings you here today...?"
"I heard you were off duty today, Kaien-san. Also, I haven't been able to show my face in a while, and I was getting worried, so I just came over."
"Hahaha! Is that so? No, no, if it's you, Yukawa-dono, surely no one would complain! Come, please come in! Everyone is gathered in the living room."
Usually, when visiting someone's home, one makes an appointment beforehand or gets invited, but today, rarely enough, I hadn't made a prior reservation.
Because I was essentially invited.
It can't be helped.
"Everyone! Yukawa-dono has arrived!!"
Trailing a bit behind Koganehiko, who had returned a moment earlier, I also headed toward the living room.
"Oh! Yukawa... Captain!"
"My, Captain. Welcome, we are happy to have you."
Although the Shiba couple said that, their gazes only rested on me for a split second.
They immediately turned their eyes back to where they were looking before.
"Hello, Kaien-san, Miyako-san. And—"
Well, I was doing the exact same thing.
Chasing the direction of their gazes, I turned my eyes there as well.
"—How have you been, little one?"
"Aaah-uuh."
There, right there, was a newborn baby.
---
And so.
The one hogging the family's attention in the living room is this child.
The crystal of Kaien-san and Miyako-san's love.
Even though she was just born, she is incredibly cute.
By the way, it's a girl.
Her features resemble Miyako-san, if I had to say.
In other words, she is guaranteed to be a beauty in the future.
Ah, she really is cute, though...
'And when she grows up, she'll be massaged by the Lord, won't she!?'
I'm not going to say things like that right now.
"That's right, she's saying thank you for coming, Captain."
"Is that so? Thank you, little one."
"Aaah♪"
She laughed happily for me.
"By the way, Captain Yukawa. Why did you come to our place again today?"
"Ah, well, about that."
After looking at the baby for a short while, Kaien-san broached the subject.
"I received a message from Ganju-kun. He asked, 'Since Kaien is off duty today and everyone is home, how about it?' Right, Ganju-kun?"
"Ah, hehe... that's right, Sister Airi..."
"Since Miyako-san gave birth, I've been busy with various things and hadn't been able to celebrate properly, so I thought I'd take this chance... though a few days have passed."
"No, no, you already helped bring this little one into the world, doing anything more makes me feel bad..."
While Kaien-san was being humble—
"Heh, Ganju! You did good, didn't you!!"
"Sis!?"
Kuukaku wrapped her arm around the shoulders of the embarrassed Ganju, tangling with him like a drunkard.
"Getting all charming like a grown-up... Hey, are you listening, Ganju!?"
"Sis... wa, ca, calm down..."
"Wait, Kuukaku... are you drinking!?"
"Of course I am!! My brother's kid was born safe and sound! How could I not drink at such a joyous time!!"
"(Hey, Ganju-kun... is she possibly drinking every day...?)"
"(Almost every day... I guess... Sometimes she sleeps all day with a hangover, but other than that, mostly...)"
When I asked quietly in a whisper, I got an outrageous answer in return.
Eeeh... it's already been about a month since the birth...
"Kaien-san and Miyako-san, it must be tough..."
"—Sheesh, seriously. No matter how many times I tell her, she won't listen."
"W-Well... she is celebrating for us, after all..."
Even Miyako-san had a slightly cramped expression on her face.
Well, as far as Kaien is concerned, he's probably fine. But if, by any one-in-a-million chance, the baby accidentally ingested alcohol, it wouldn't be a laughing matter.
It can't be helped.
I suppose I'll throw a little cold water on this.
"Kuukaku, you seem to be in quite a good mood."
"Oh yeah! Of course I am!!"
"Even though you were so cute during Miyako-san's delivery."
"————"
In an instant, her expression returned to sobriety, and Kuukaku's movements stopped.
"What do you mean, Sis?"
"..."
Ganju tilted his head, but Kuukaku remained silent.
Now then, what happened on that day?
Let's rewind time just a little bit.
---
Regarding Miyako-san's delivery...
She didn't give birth on her due date.
Labor pains didn't come, and the day ended without incident.
Since it was the due date, both Kaien-san and I took off work and waited at the Shiba manor. But since nothing happened specifically, it felt a bit anticlimactic.
In any case, childbirth depends on the baby in the belly. The due date is just an estimate, so it's natural for it to be early or late. I told Miyako-san that and went home that day, but...
She went into labor a few days later.
Kaien-san and I were both working that day and away, and to make matters worse, only Kuukaku was home.
'Help! Help me!! Sister... Sister Miyako is in trouble!!'
"What!? What's happened all of a sudden, Kuukaku!!"
My Denreishinki rang during work, and when I wondered what it was, that was the first thing I heard.
When I heard Kuukaku's voice sounding like she was about to cry, I wondered what on earth had happened.
When I rushed to the Shiba manor, I found Kuukaku looking like she was still about to cry, and Miyako-san suffering from labor pains.
Since no one else was there, I frantically got things ready.
Anyway, while yelling at the tearful Kuukaku to forcefully get her moving, I arranged for the birthing water, cloth, someone with midwifery experience in Rukongai, and contacted Kaien-san.
I ordered her to do every single thing one by one.
Since it was a good opportunity, I made her help with Miyako-san's delivery as well.
By that time, since I had made her run to fetch the midwife, she had calmed down somewhat. Well, she was still fearful and hesitant, though.
Eventually, Kaien-san received the message and returned home to be present for Miyako-san's delivery.
And so, the birth concluded safely.
But that day was chaotic even after the birth.
Because Kaien-san received the message while working, it became known to the entire 13th Division.
So, almost all the squad members of the 13th Division, from the Captain down to the unseated officers, came to the Shiba manor.
They started a grand banquet of drinking and singing right in front of the Shiba house.
On top of that, people from Rukongai gathered too, turning it into an unprecedented uproar of Soul Reapers and Rukongai residents partying together.
Other things happened too, like Kaien-san yelling to silence squad members who barged into Miyako-san's room wanting to see the baby.
Rukia-san crying tears of joy.
Captain Ukitake being made to drink so much celebratory sake that he collapsed, and Kiyone-san and Sentaro-kun trying to nurse him as if seizing a golden opportunity.
Later, because they made too much noise, the entire 13th Division got scolded by the Captain-Commander.
While various things happened that day.
---
Because of the situation described above, the only ones who know that "Kuukaku was freaking out and about to cry over Miyako-san's labor pains" are me and Miyako-san.
By the time Kaien-san and Ganju-kun returned, she had calmed down to some extent.
Usually, she's full of a "tomboy who fears nothing!" atmosphere, so this was a rare weakness she showed. Miyako-san and I had decided to keep quiet about it, but...
She's going a bit overboard, so as a way to punish her, I'll leak just a little bit to keep her in check.
"H-H-Hey!! What are you talking about, you!!"
The effect seemed immediate; she panicked and lashed out at me.
"Yes, yes. Well then, Kuukaku, distribute this to everyone."
"Hah? What's this?"
"It's a little late, but it's Sekihan for the birth celebration. I learned how to make it at the Kuchiki house, so I guarantee the taste."
Saying that, I handed the souvenir I brought—a multi-tiered food box—to Kuukaku.
"W-Why do I have to...!?
"'Help me'—over the Denreishinki—"
"Alright, I got it! You guys! This Kuukaku-sama is going to distribute it right now, so wait quietly!!"
When I tried to mimic Kuukaku calling me that day just a little...
Wow, the effect is instantaneous.
"Hey, Sis... could it be..."
"Shut up!! Be quiet!!"
While fuming angrily, she distributed the red rice with rough hand movements.
"(Miyako-san, from now on if anything happens...)"
"(Fufu, indeed... if it becomes too much to overlook...)"
I didn't forget to whisper some advice to Miyako-san.
"Oh! It's true, this is delicious!"
"Sister Airi's cooking... is tasty...!!"
"Damn... but it's good... Make this and bring it again! Next time make something that goes with sake!"
"Oh my, it really is. Such a refined taste... Captain, how did you make this?"
"This is..."
It seems it was well-received by everyone.
Asking firmly for the recipe—Miyako-san really is a housewife.
Thus, the Shiba family was peaceful...
...Ah, wait a moment.
"Hey, Ganju-kun. Can I ask you something?"
"What is it, Sister Airi?"
"Kaien-san became a Soul Reaper, but are you going to become a Soul Reaper too, Ganju-kun?"
Since it was a good opportunity, I took the plunge and asked.
I recall he entered Seireitei acting together with Ichigo, so I wondered what he would do.
"A Soul Reaper, huh..."
"You're receiving training from Kaien-san and others, technically, right?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"You should be able to enter the Academy without issues, and being the younger brother of Vice-Captain Kaien, I think you'd be in high demand, you know?"
As soon as I said 'high demand,' Ganju-kun reacted with a twitch.
"Really!?"
"Y-Yes... though it depends on your grades at the Academy..."
"Then, could I be in Sister Airi's or my brother's squad too!?"
"Probably."
He's getting incredibly motivated for some reason.
In reality, having relatives in the same squad causes emotional bias, so it's often avoided, though.
"Hmm... but you know, Sister Miyako had a baby, right? I want to help out at least until the kid grows up to a certain extent and doesn't need as much hands-on care... me..."
"Oh! What's this, Ganju!! You've got spirit, don't you!!"
Kaien-san is slapping his brother's back enthusiastically.
But it feels like he's considering it positively.
...Does that mean Ganju-kun is going to become a Soul Reaper too!?
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]