"Haa... It is still so cold..."
Unintentionally, I blew warm breath onto my hands, trying to gather some warmth.
Ever since I delivered the late birth celebration gift to Kaien's house, it has been getting colder and colder.
The end of the year was creeping closer, and daily duties were becoming busier.
My work finally ended for the day, but before I knew it, it was already this late.
I could go straight home, but on such a cold day, I should eat some soba before heading back.
With that in mind, I headed to Tankaho's stall.
"Tankaho, good evening. One bowl, please... wait, oh?"
"Yo."
"...Ikkaku?"
When I sat down without thinking, Ikkaku was right next to me.
Apparently, he had arrived quite a bit earlier than me, as there was already less than half of the soba left in his bowl.
"Welcome, Yukawa-dono. What would you like?"
"Ah, yes. Shippoku, please."
I placed my order for the time being.
"It is rare to meet in a place like this."
"That is my line. What is the Captain of Squad 4 doing in a place like this?"
"What about you? You are the 3rd Seat of Squad 11, aren't you? Well, the reason I am here is probably because I funded this shop."
As soon as I said that, Ikkaku started coughing violently.
"F-Funded?! Hey, old man! Is that true!?"
"Yes, it is so. Yukawa-dono took great care of me in starting this shop..."
I provided all the opening capital and such.
I apologize for the lack of screen time lately.
"So, that is the connection that brings me here."
"I keep telling her that she does not have to come every time..."
"It is such delicious soba; not paying for it would be blasphemy. So, please accept it without hesitation."
"Haha... Thank you very much..."
Although it has taken the form of an investment in Tankaho, from my perspective, I consider all that money a gift.
If that amount of money makes Soifon and the others happy, it is cheap.
"Haa... but, investment, huh... I just assumed you were eating here because you were bad at cooking..."
"Mu! How rude!! Who do you think provides guidance for the Squad 4 hospital food?! Besides, even when I trained with you, I often made bentos, didn't I!!"
"Aah... come to think of it, maybe you did..."
Ikkaku was wearing a faint smirk.
He clearly knew and was teasing me on purpose.
"Customer, please do not bully Yukawa-dono too much. The fact that I can be here like this is all thanks to this person... Ah, it is ready. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Wah, it is here, it is here!"
Mmm... steam was rising from it; it looked like it would warm me up just by looking at it.
Yuba, fish paste, wheat gluten, rolled omelet, and shiitake mushrooms were on top... Since it was cold, I put in plenty of shichimi spice...
"Nnn... It is delicious, pure bliss... Oh, there is yuzu in it too."
"Oh, oh, look at you eating so happily."
"It is delicious, so it cannot be helped! Or do you want to talk about gloomy things while eating such delicious soba?"
"No, not really..."
"Should I ask what is happening with Squad 11?"
"Stop it!"
Ikkaku got angry in a slightly serious tone.
It was while we were having such a foolish exchange.
"Oh, are you doing it in a place like this today?"
"Hm?"
"Oh?"
What we heard from outside was a hoarse voice.
Both Ikkaku and I reacted instinctively and turned toward the voice—
"Oh, it is you two."
"Head Captain!?"
The Captain of Squad 1, and also the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, showed his face.
At the appearance of such an unexpected big name, both Ikkaku and I stood up involuntarily.
"Ah, it is fine, it is fine. Stay seated. This is not a public setting, and I am here incognito. Boorish manners are unnecessary."
"Y-Yes..."
Even if you say that...
"Hey, General... by any chance, is the Head Captain a regular at this shop too?"
"Yes, he is. Well, I was greatly surprised when he first visited. Ah, Yamamoto-dono, will the usual be fine?"
"Aye. I request it."
Tankaho is calling him Yamamoto-dono...
And judging by the fact that "the usual" was understood, he is a massive regular.
More than I knew... or rather, perhaps he comes here more often than I do...?
"Um... Does the Head Captain come to this shop often?"
"Well, I suppose so... I show my face every now and then."
Stroking his pure white beard once, the Head Captain spoke as if nostalgic about something.
"After all, the soba at this stall is delicious. Ever since I happened to find it previously, I have favored it."
"Between you and the Head Captain, what is with the clientele of this shop...?"
Yeah, I think so too.
"Come to think of it, Yukawa, I hear this is the stall you provided money for...?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"You have helped open a good shop. Let me offer my thanks as well."
"That is... thank you...?"
I was thanked?! What is this? How should I react?!
"After all, the soba at this shop is of high quality! It is Japanese style and truly a taste to my liking!! I do not know where Chojiro was influenced, but he prefers only Western things, and that will not do! On top of that, he tries to recommend them to me!!"
Chojiro refers to the Lieutenant of Squad 1, probably...
The amazing person who has been the Lieutenant of Squad 1 since even before I became a Soul Reaper.
I heard he has been a Soul Reaper for about two thousand years...
"Now, now, Yamamoto-dono. That is enough complaining... Here. Sorry to keep you waiting. Tempura with dropped egg."
"Ooh! This, this! This is delicious again! The taste of the tempura itself is good, but the flavor soaked in the broth is also hard to discard..."
He started eating looking incredibly happy.
It was such a hearty eating style that both Ikkaku and I involuntarily stopped our hands to watch.
Ah, he broke the egg and started mixing it.
The Head Captain is of the faction that breaks it in the second half to eat.
"Come to think of it, you are surely the 3rd Seat of Squad 11..."
"O-Osu! I am Ikkaku Madarame!"
After a while, the Head Captain turned his attention to Ikkaku as if he remembered.
"How is the situation in Squad 11? With a new Captain, the structure must have changed in various ways."
"Aah... well, yes... Well, for now, we are managing without incident..."
Well, of course, he would be concerned.
Because he became the new Captain after doing such reckless things.
"Regarding that, I apologize for the previous Captain."
"It is fine, it is fine, you are not at fault... or rather, you are something like a victim as well, aren't you?"
"Ahaha... I suppose so..."
"I was also given a terrible amount of trouble! Good grief, that Unohana! She has been like that since the old days! Just when I thought she had become a little quieter after moving to Squad 4, she finds some reason or another to want to go to the front lines!! That bad habit of hers alone never gets cured no matter how many thousands of years pass!!"
Uh oh! It feels like the Head Captain is heating up.
"It was the same with Yukawa's Captain inauguration recently! Do you know how much unnecessary damage I suffered until I got the Central 46 to approve her taking Kenpachi Zaraki under her wing to teach him swordsmanship!!"
"Was there really such an incident...?"
"What, you, did you not hear?! That has been going on for about a hundred years now... She would go to the Central 46 and demand permission directly! Every time, I was made to go with her!!"
"T-That is my apologies..."
Since a hundred years ago?! What are you doing, Captain Unohana?!
"Eei, Master! Sake, give me sake!!"
"I-Is it alright...?"
"Can I remain sober!! I cannot go on without drinking anymore!!"
"Ah, Head Captain. In that case, I will pour for you."
"Ooh, sake advances well if poured by a beauty!"
I started to feel pity for the Head Captain, so this is at least an atonement.
Though pouring a drink probably won't amount to much of an atonement.
"...Fuu, delicious. It soaks in. Now, where did I leave off? Oh yes, the Central 46, was it? When it comes to her, she keeps saying the same thing no matter how many times she is refused. And every time, they complain to me about 'lack of supervision' and such!"
"That must have been terrible..."
"If it were a story that ended with just 'terrible', it would not have come to this! Do you understand?! You must know as well, but the former Kenpachis like Kuruyashiki and Azashiro had various things said about them, but Zaraki was beyond that! After all, the Central 46 personally came to say 'Stop him from gaining any more power'!!"
"Ehh!!"
"I-Is that true!?"
Both Ikkaku and I were surprised by this.
"It is no lie. Zaraki's spiritual pressure is bottomless, after all. If by any chance he were to raise a rebellion, they said danger would befall them personally!"
"He, hehe... was that so... Hey! Sake! Pour me sake too!!"
"Yes, yes. So, why do you look so happy?"
"It is decided that I would be happy!! I became a Soul Reaper admiring that person! If such an opponent is being evaluated like this, of course I am happy!!"
Saying that, Ikkaku downed the sake in one go.
Ah, ah, is it okay to drink so much at once?
"Ooh! Not bad, Madarame!! Good drinking style!! Alright Yukawa, another cup for me too!!"
"Is it fine like this?"
"Umu, it is good!! Master, could you also give us something to snack on while you are at it!?"
"Head Captain! Can I eat soba too!?"
"I do not mind!! Today is my treat!! Do it flashily!!"
He is drunk... extremely drunk...
"Um, for snacks, would things like this be okay?"
Saying that, Tankaho fearfully presented Inari sushi and things used for soba ingredients.
"Ooh! Is it not fine!!"
It is fine...
"Excuse me, this... what is the commotion...?"
Did they hear the noise as well?
The one who popped his face in was—
"Mu! Is that Aizen! You have come at a good time! Well, sit here!"
"Huh?! Kira-kun too?! Why...?"
"Ah, I happened to meet Captain Aizen by chance..."
"Eh, um, wait a moment!?"
Wow... The Head Captain dragged Aizen in without giving him a chance to speak.
"Yukawa! What are you doing! Sake!!"
"Yees! Yes, here you go, Captain Aizen. You too, Kira-kun."
"Um, what is happening..."
"Who is this fellow!?"
"Squad 4's promising member, Izuru Kira-kun. He is still young, but he is an excellent soldier who is already the 4th Seat."
"Ooh! Is that so, is that so!! If there are ones like you, the future of the Gotei 13 is bright!!"
"Th-Thank you very much..."
He is slapping his shoulder firmly, but Kira-kun is completely shrinking away.
"Also, Yukawa! I expect great things from you too!!"
"Eh... Ehh!?"
"After all, the Central 46 finally gave permission precisely because we secured a promise that you, who knows him well, would stop him if Zaraki or the others did anything!"
"What is that?! I haven't heard about that!?"
"Eei, Aizen! Why are you drinking with such a gloomy look!! "
"W-Wait a moment, please...!!"
"Another tempura soba!!"
"Coming up!"
In that manner, the chaotic night deepened.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]