Chapter 17: The Return Journey
Gurgle—
The fresh rice fragrance mixed with nori's distinctive salty-fresh aroma drifted into his nose. Matsuzaki Yoshito froze slightly, his throat rolling as he swallowed.
Rice balls were regular fixtures on his family's table too, but they never looked this refined or appetizing.
The rice balls before him were each plump and beautifully shaped, as if stamped from the same mold.
Carefully picking up one warm rice ball, warmth transmitted through his fingertips. The rich food aroma thoroughly awakened his appetite.
For that brief instant, it made him—someone who shouldn't feel hunger—experience the illusion of being hungry.
"Thanks for the meal."
Matsuzaki Yoshito bit down. The rice's firm texture was just right.
Lightly salted rice and crispy nori mixed in his mouth. After swallowing, a solid warmth flowed from his stomach throughout his entire body.
As the rice balls on the plate disappeared one by one, his face regained its healthy color.
The simplest, most honest deliciousness reactivated his somewhat overextended body.
"I'm full."
Swallowing the last bite, Matsuzaki Yoshito spoke with a satisfied, happy expression on his face.
"My apologies for the modest hospitality."
"Let's go. I'll see you both home."
Under his spiritual perception, Matsuzaki Yoshito's spiritual pressure had completely returned to normal—lively and stable. Suoh inserted Hazy Night back at his waist and waved his hand.
Moonlight spilled like water across the dirt road. The three walked slowly through the night.
West District 3 was especially quiet at night. Most souls who rested at sunset had already gone to sleep. Only a handful of houses still showed faint lamplight.
The newly risen moon shone cold and clear, making their shadows short and distinct, outlined sharply before them.
Reaching the end of the street, Kotama's home came into view. Warm lamplight glowed from the window—clearly her family was still waiting for her.
"Tsukasa, I'm here. See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Matsuzaki-san. Be careful on your way."
"See you tomorrow."
Kotama stopped at the door, smiling and waving goodbye to the two.
She turned and pushed open the door, her figure disappearing into the lit doorway. When the door closed, they could still faintly hear her conversation with her family.
After saying goodbye to Kotama, the two redirected their course and continued toward Matsuzaki Yoshito's direction.
They hadn't walked far when they reached a fork in the road. Matsuzaki Yoshito suddenly stopped and spoke.
"Suoh, seeing me this far is enough. You should head back and rest."
"Let's go. If you're a man, don't be so fussy."
Too lazy to deal with his politeness, Suoh's steps didn't stop as he continued forward. Seeing this, Matsuzaki Yoshito could only smile helplessly and hurry to catch up.
Previously, worried about bringing trouble to Terada-ya, Suoh had already carefully inquired about West District 3's general situation from the well-informed Kentaro at Kuramoyo-ya.
The scarred thug's group he'd eliminated had been West District 3's largest gang of hoodlums, with no massive local criminal organization backing them.
Other scattered small-time thugs were distributed throughout various corners of the district, posing no real threat to even slightly robust ordinary souls.
Though the scarred man hadn't died on the spot, there was no difference from death. With the injuries Suoh had inflicted, without sufficient food and healing techniques, death was certain.
The scarred man's four other underlings had kept their lives but could never cause trouble again.
Suoh had his own code of conduct. The scarred man's malice toward him had been most naked and intense, so he'd struck hardest.
The other four's emotions had been more greed-driven, their eyes fixed constantly on the bundle over his shoulder. Their malice hadn't been strong, which let them narrowly keep their lives.
Though the probability of Matsuzaki Yoshito encountering thugs and having trouble was small, Suoh didn't want to gamble on that unlucky one-in-ten-thousand chance.
"We're here. It's too late, so I won't invite you in to sit and have some water."
The Matsuzaki family's small courtyard was pitch black. Matsuzaki Yoshito spoke with some apology.
Night had deepened. The children were young and had all already entered dreamland.
"Mm. You worked hard during this time, Matsuzaki."
"I'll head back now."
Patting his shoulder and making a simple farewell, Suoh turned to leave. The night wind brushed past his collar, carrying early summer night's distinctive cool touch.
Matsuzaki Yoshito stood at the door watching Suoh's figure gradually recede, finally melting into the night and disappearing around the corner before turning to head inside.
Suddenly his steps halted abruptly. He'd discovered something unusual about himself.
Reaching into his chest, he pulled out something that hadn't originally been on his person.
Borrowing the bright moonlight, he saw clearly the item in his hand—
A heavy plain-colored coin purse.
The purse had been slipped silently into his chest by Suoh during their parting shoulder pat just moments ago.
Matsuzaki Yoshito was a man among men.
Suoh had only learned later that besides the lead child being his son, the other three smaller ones were as well.
But none of these children were his biological offspring. They were all orphans he'd adopted in Rukongai.
In the Soul Society, even people who died at the same time and place in the living world would still be separated into different districts in the vast majority of cases.
For ordinary souls to find their original relatives was harder than reaching heaven. Children who died young naturally became orphans.
Of course, ordinary souls could still communicate with new souls, make contact, grow close, even marry and have children. Many souls in Rukongai with spiritual power aptitude were born this way.
Souls with different surnames recombining into families was normal in Rukongai. But Matsuzaki Yoshito adopting four children by himself was extremely rare among them.
Even though souls didn't feel hunger, the other survival needs were still a heavy burden.
Under the moonlight, Matsuzaki Yoshito gripped that coin purse tightly, his knuckles going somewhat pale from the force.
He looked up toward the direction where Suoh had disappeared, emotions surging in his heart. The truest friendships were always this heavy.
He ultimately didn't chase after him, only carefully putting away that weighty gesture before turning to gently push open his door.
Creak—
"Father, you're back."
His eldest son hadn't fallen completely asleep. Rubbing his drowsy eyes and recognizing the figure, he spoke softly.
"Mm, I'm back. Go to sleep quickly."
"Mm."
Sitting down beside the bedding, he gently rubbed his eldest son's obedient, soft little head, speaking tenderly.
The child responded and closed his eyes again under his gentle touch.
When his breathing became even and steady, Matsuzaki pulled the blanket snugly over the children before standing, removing his outer clothes, and gently lying down on the outer side.
On the other side.
"The night is truly beautiful."
On his return journey, Suoh's fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on Hazy Night's hilt. He looked up at the bright moon suspended in the sky, enjoying this moment's pleasant time.
Tonight, Matsuzaki Yoshito's soul transformation affected not only himself but also Suoh, who'd been at his side throughout.
During this time, Suoh could clearly feel himself gradually establishing some connection beyond material with this Shinigami world composed of spirit particles.
Changes in his state of mind seemed to let Suoh and Hazy Night at his waist begin constructing a hazy connection. The blade's movements and his breathing gradually synchronized.
He slowed his steps, allowing this newborn bond to quietly grow beneath the moonlight.