"Head Captain, how is this? Should I use a bit more force...?"
"Mm... indeed. My apologies, but please go a bit stronger."
"Yes... about this much...!"
As per the Head Captain's order, I put power into my fingertips and strongly pressed his lower back.
"Ooh... t-this is...! I see, I had heard stories that female squad members were flocking to your place... but I can nod in agreement now...! Unbearable!!"
He was making a voice that sounded like it felt incredibly good.
I felt like I was just massaging my grandfather's shoulders, though.
'Milady... this is truly unpleasant for me... can I go home now...?'
'Ah, you can just sleep. I'll do all of this myself.'
'I am grateful...'
Even Nubatama seemed to find this a bit impossible to handle.
That couldn't be helped.
Giving a massage to the Head Captain seemed painful for that child.
I... might be enjoying it a little.
Because—as I said earlier—if I thought of it as an extension of massaging a grandfather's shoulders, I didn't really think anything of it.
...Eh? ...Why am I massaging Head Captain Yamamoto right from the opening?
We ate soba noodles with the Head Captain, right?
At that time, the drunk Head Captain asked, "My lower back and back hurt lately. Could you massage them?"
So I just came to give a chiropractic treatment.
Also... he seemed to have accumulated a lot of stress regarding Captain Unohana, so this was also meant as at least a small atonement.
"I am humbled that it pleases you."
"No, no... this is... I should have asked for this sooner..."
It might have been good to make amends.
The Head Captain seemed tired in various places.
I wonder if he really has been exhausted from being constantly swayed by Captain Unohana...?
Ah, you might misunderstand.
Nubatama ran away. So this was truly, purely a chiropractic treatment.
I was just loosening muscle stiffness, improving blood circulation, and adjusting his condition.
'It sounds as if... there is such a thing as an impure chiropractic treatment... judging by your tone...'
Nubatama... your guts to come out just to make a retort, even when forcing yourself, are admirable...
This body, which at first glance looked like a withered tree, appeared to be nothing but that of an old man no matter how you looked at it. But deep within, muscles that would put a clumsy young squad member to shame were sleeping.
Moreover, they were high-performance muscles squeezed into high density.
How in the world did he build up a body like this...?
Setting aside purity or impurity, I was interested in how this body was made.
...Ha!! Could this be a battle junkie way of thinking...!?
"Is this sufficient for the back to the waist? If you wish, I can continue a little longer."
"No... I feel as if I am about to ascend to heaven... paradise, paradise..."
"Then I will move on to treating your legs next."
Like this, I massaged everything from his arms to his shoulders, back, waist, and the soles of his feet.
"My word... I feel as if I have rejuvenated five hundred years...!!"
When the massage was finished, the Head Captain muttered with satisfaction while moving his body lightly to check his condition.
"I am happy if you are satisfied. However, next time, um..."
"Ah, I understand. I also spoke somewhat unreasonably. Next time, I will properly wait for my turn."
In this case, I only accepted because I was forcibly asked at a drinking party.
It was what you call a first-time service and an apology for the former Captain.
"Yes, I look forward to it then. Well then, please excuse me."
And so, I left the Head Captain's office.
---
"Oh, if it isn't Captain Yukawa."
"Hello, Vice-Captain Sasakibe."
As I was walking through the unfamiliar First Division barracks, I happened to meet Vice-Captain Sasakibe in the hallway.
He was a veteran Shinigami who would put a clumsy Captain to shame in terms of experience alone, having been a Vice-Captain since around the time I became a Shinigami.
He had silver hair and a mustache—what do you call it, a Kaiser mustache?—and looked like a Westerner at first glance, and on top of that, he wore a mantle like a cloak over his Shihakusho.
This mantle resembled a captain's haori, so it was a little confusing.
There was a time in the past when I thought Sasakibe-san was a Captain.
"Did you have some business with the First Division?"
"Yes, a little. The Head Captain asked me for a massage, and I just finished a moment ago."
"What! Did Lord Genryusai make an unreasonable request?"
"No, no. It was a selfish request at a drinking party, but a promise is a promise."
"You are dutiful."
He looked at me with a 'hmm', and eventually opened his mouth apologetically.
"...Captain Yukawa, if you don't mind... would you listen to my selfish request as well?"
"Selfish request... is it?"
Ehh, I want to go home already...
"It depends on the content, but I will listen to the story for now."
"I'm glad. I wondered what I would do if I was refused. Come, it will be a somewhat complicated story, so I will guide you to the Vice-Captain's room."
Saying that, Vice-Captain Sasakibe started walking as if to lead the way.
Well, well, following the Captain, what kind of unreasonable task would I be made to do this time?
Vice-Captain Sasakibe's private room was quite elaborately Western-style.
There was a carpet, a fireplace, a sofa, a chandelier, a stand light... wow, Impressionist? There were even oil paintings and sculptures like that. I couldn't help but feel it was slightly wrong.
And as for the crucial content of the unreasonable task—
"...By tea leaves... you mean black tea and such...?"
"Yes, those tea leaves. I sometimes procure them from the World of the Living, but they just won't grow well... I wonder what on earth is wrong..."
He scratched his head lightly while letting out a sigh.
The Vice-Captain's selfish request was, "I cannot grow black tea well. Can something be done about it?"
"Just as I was thinking that, I heard a story that the Fourth Division started making a medicinal herb garden. If so, I thought I might be able to get at least one good idea..."
"A medicinal herb garden, is it? We certainly started growing one... but will it be that useful...?"
I never thought it would connect like this from Togakushi-chan's opinion.
Also, I had heard about Vice-Captain Sasakibe's obsession with the West, but I never thought he was intending to cultivate tea leaves...
"I thought it would be much more constructive than worrying alone like this. Besides, I hear that Captain Yukawa also taught World of the Living studies at the Academy. I was hoping to borrow some of your wisdom..."
"Hmm... I understand the feeling, but tea leaves, huh..."
"And one more thing."
There's still more!?
"The egg rolls that were introduced in the Seireitei Communication the other day."
Was that the one I took as a souvenir instead of a gift when I visited the Female Shinigami Association?
"I saw that and thought! I want to provide that kind of food at my tea party!!"
"Tea party... is it...?"
"Yes! I believe you know that Lord Genryusai holds a monthly tea ceremony."
The Head Captain recruited participants from the squad members once a month and treated them to matcha he made himself.
Moreover, there was a splendid tea room facing the garden, and he made tea there.
I've heard that he has good skill since he's been doing it for many years.
...Come to think of it, I've never participated in a tea ceremony even once. I should participate at least once if there is an opportunity next time.
"I want to do that tea party myself! I want to treat people to black tea brewed with tea leaves I grew myself! At that time, since light meals are also served in the West, I am thinking of getting your help with that as well."
"Um, does that mean... you want to try doing a so-called 'tea time'...? With scones and such?"
"Oh! As expected, you are knowledgeable!! That is exactly right!!"
He was speaking in a somewhat excited manner.
Was it because he gained someone who understood?
"Lord Genryusai is of the Japanese food school, and does not show much understanding for Western food or black tea! If so, I want to hold a tea time once and gain the understanding of other squad members... If a knowledgeable person like Captain Yukawa is there at that time, it would be exactly like giving wings to a dragon!!"
Giving wings to a dragon, he used another cool expression.
I felt like I was being lifted up strangely, though...
"Ehh... to summarize, you 'want to grow your own tea leaves' so you 'want someone knowledgeable about how to grow tea leaves'. And because you 'want to hold a tea party with those tea leaves', you 'want me to make light meals and sweets that match black tea'... is that it?"
"That is correct!! Could I ask for your cooperation!?"
'Another outrageous difficult problem has befallen us, hasn't it?'
Oh, you woke up, Nubatama.
'So, what do you intend to do?'
Hmm... well, I guess it's okay to cooperate if it's just this much.
Besides, black tea and Western sweets seemed like they would be popular with women.
'I see! To think you were aiming for that... as expected of Milady!! Way to go! Chief!!'
Stop it, I'm blushing...
"I understand. I don't know how much help I can be, but I will do as much as I can."
"Oh! I am awed by your kindness!!"
He was swinging my hand up and down in a frenzy of emotion.
"That said, growing tea leaves seems like it will take time, so we can't produce results immediately."
"That cannot be helped."
"For now, do you have materials on what kind of failures you made with your previous cultivation methods? After seeing that, the child in charge of the medicinal herb garden—..."
In that manner, we boiled down the discussion.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]