"Good grief, yesterday was a disaster."
In the end, that day, Byakuya's 'My wife's cooking is delicious, so eat it!' attack was limited only to family and very close associates.
To be fair, they hadn't made enough food to serve to everyone in the first place.
However, I was kept at the Kuchiki household long after that—or rather, detained by your selfishness—and I wasn't able to go home until nightfall.
Well, anticipating that this would happen, we did save the Kuchiki house for last.
"I hope I can get home early today..."
However, the greeting rounds themselves continue for just a little longer.
Since we focused on the Seireitei yesterday, we decided to head outside—mainly to the Rukongai—today.
And so, I am currently walking in that direction, but—
"...Oh?"
—I suddenly stopped, my attention caught by someone I passed.
"That person just now..."
I stopped and turned around, staring at the back of the person I had just passed.
Though, to be fair, they were just an ordinary family.
Are they also doing their New Year's greeting rounds? Led by the parents, with children and even grandparents in tow; they look like a very, very ordinary family.
If there was one slight difference, it would be the exceptionally old woman—a great-grandmother, perhaps?—with them.
I recognized her.
"It's Kosuzu, isn't it..."
Renjoji Kosuzu-san, who was also my classmate during my Academy days.
She has aged even more since the last time I saw her, and her face is etched with many wrinkles, but even so, you could call it the atmosphere she was born with; I somehow recognized her by the air she carries around her.
Surrounded by family, she must be playing the role of a good grandmother.
An aura of happiness drifts from her, even from her back.
"..."
"...Ah...!"
Did she notice my gaze staring at her back?
She turned around as if startled—facing me—and then gave a light bow with a gentle smile on her face.
Seeing that, I reflexively bowed my head as well.
Just that simple exchange.
Immediately after, she returned to attending to the children.
Only words like "That was a Captain" and "An old acquaintance" reached my ears from the distance, mingled with the wind and the hustle and bustle of the town.
'It feels like a scene from one's youth...!'
It's fine, isn't it! She is living happily like that!
'If My Lord could live like that, perhaps we could have avoided being dragged around by "The Two are Kenpachi: Dangerous Hard".'
Ugh...! That actually sounds a little attractive...
---
"Hello, Happy New Year."
"Oh, it's you."
"Isn't that reaction a bit harsh?"
Today, I am visiting the Shiba family, whom everyone loves.
Unusually, neither Kin nor Gin were around, and when I called out at the entrance, Kukaku came out.
But even though I went to the trouble of showing my face, her reaction is the same as always.
It's the New Year, surely there's a little more... you know, something!
"So, what do you want?"
"The year has changed, so I came to give my greetings. Also, I was curious about how Miyako-san and the little one were doing, so I came to check on them."
"You too, huh...? Geez, what a pain..."
Scratching her head roughly, she muttered as if spitting the words out.
"Did something happen?"
"Not exactly. It's just that a bunch of folks from the Rukongai have been gathering at our place since morning. They say it's to celebrate with Miyako-neeki, but it's annoyingly noisy...!"
"Now, now, I'll give you this, so fix your mood."
I take a small envelope out of my pocket.
"What's this?"
"It's Otoshidama, a New Year's gift. For you, Kukaku."
"Hah!? Why the hell would you..."
"If you don't want it, give it back."
"I didn't say I don't want it!!"
She snatched the envelope from my hand and tucked it straight into her chest pocket.
Yep, this part of her is honest and cute.
"What I want to ask is, why so suddenly... You never did anything like this before!!"
"Heey. Don't make a racket at the entrance, Kukaku... wait!?"
Hearing the argument, Kaien-san poked his head out from the back and froze when he saw my face.
"Yukawa... Captain...!? Why are you at our house...!!"
"Kaien-san, Happy New Year to you too. Here, Otoshidama."
"Ah, thanks. Happy New Year. Thank you for your politeness... wait, that's wrong!! Something about this is wrong!!"
'Ooh, a straight-man retort!!'
"If you hate it, give it back."
"I didn't say that, though..."
Kaien-san also firmly tucked it into his pocket.
They really are related in these aspects...
"If I had to say, maybe it's because I became a Captain? Don't worry about it, I'm handing them out to the squad members of the Fourth Division too. So, where are Miyako-san and the others? I came to see how they're doing."
"They're in the back. I'll guide you."
Good grief, finally we're making progress.
...Ah, right, right. I almost forgot.
Before coming here, I went to the North Rukongai and showed my face at the General and Landlady's izakaya. I just gave a quick greeting and a gift before leaving, though.
It was rough with people drinking since morning just because it's the New Year. I got entangled with drunks.
After that, I came to the Shiba house.
Since it's from North Rukongai to West Rukongai, the travel was a bit of a hassle.
'Walking from gate to gate takes ten days!? Ignore the minor details!!'
"Hello. Everyone, Happy New Year."
"Oh my, Captain Yukawa."
"Wah! The Big Sis from the Fourth Squad!?"
"Ooh!! It's the Reaper Big Sis from the other day!!"
"Come in, come in! This spot is open!!"
When I went to the back, it was a large hall-like area.
Naturally, it's narrow and modest compared to the Kuchiki house, but the comparison is wrong. Viewed as a normal house, it is sufficiently spacious.
Inside, just as Kaien-san said, Miyako-san and the baby were there, and furthermore, residents of the Rukongai were gathered having a drinking party.
Ganju-kun is wearing a cooking apron and a triangular headscarf—he must have been doing kitchen work.
Probably the likes of Kin and Gin too.
In other words, since the people she could push the work onto were fully occupied, Kukaku had to come out.
"Ganju-kun, Miyako-san, here is Otoshidama."
"Eh...!? Ah, thanks for this... Big Sis..."
"Um... is this really okay?"
Ganju-kun accepted it honestly while being surprised.
And Miyako-san is blinking her eyes in surprise. Her husband started whispering into her ear in a low voice.
"(Miyako. You might have forgotten, but this person has been a Reaper longer than Captain Ukitake...)"
"Oh my! Now that you mention it, that is true."
"That is how it is. Also, I have become a Captain, so please accept it without hesitation."
Miyako-san accepted it surprisingly simply.
"Eeeeh! Is there nothing for us!?"
"I want Otoshidama from the Reaper Big Sis too!!"
"I do not give money to brazen children who demand it themselves."
"That's cold~!!"
I haven't prepared enough for the people of the Rukongai.
Complaining won't do any good!
"The only one remaining is the baby's share, but..."
I lowered my gaze slightly and looked at the baby sleeping soundly in Miyako-san's arms, but...
"...It's still too early, isn't it?"
This child was just born, after all.
Let alone their own name, they can't even speak properly yet. They haven't grown that much.
I will say it again: they were just born.
Naturally, even if handed Otoshidama, they wouldn't even know what it is.
"Oh, then I'll hold onto it for—"
"I can't entrust it to you. I'll hold onto it."
"Ow!! You don't have to hit me, Brother!"
The proposal to deposit it into the Kukaku Bank was rejected by Papa's hand on the grounds that bankruptcy was foreseeable.
"Waaaa... Ogyaa! Ogyaa!"
Oh my, was it because they were performing such a comedy routine?
The baby, who was supposed to be sleeping, has started crying.
"Oh dear, oh dear, what's wrong? Are you hungry, I wonder?"
Just as I thought that, as expected of a mother.
Miyako-san opened the collar of her kimono and brought those rather large breasts to the baby's mouth—
"Daaaaaaaah!! You bastards, don't look!! Turn around!!"
Kaien-san, in a great panic, began forcibly blocking the line of sight of the Rukongai people.
Specifically, using the super rough technique of grabbing the men by the neck one after another and forcing them to turn around.
"No, I'd rather blind them!! If the Captain is here, she can heal that much, right!?"
"Calm down!"
That is too violent no matter how you look at it!!
And so, ignoring Kaien-san, Miyako-san is currently breastfeeding the baby.
The baby latched onto the nipple and is skillfully using their jaw to drink the breast milk.
It's such a incredibly precious sight... it makes me feel like I want to straighten my posture just watching...
'Aaaahh~... My proud black shiny slippery body is being purified... goodness...'
Oh? It seems it had an effect on my black rubber ball too.
Amazing, isn't it, Miyako-san's "Big Sister" power? It feels like it could purify everything...
...
...
...
...I want to fondle Miyako-san's breasts. I want to fondle those breasts and scatter breast milk everywhere.
'Me too!!'
You aren't purified at all!!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]