Chapter 19: Bonds
Time flowed like water. Several months passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, Suoh Tsukasa hadn't only focused on growing stronger, completely imprisoning himself in the world of training.
Living a second life, he wanted to live brilliantly, to live differently—not blindly pursue power alone.
Terada-san's support, Kotama's care, Matsuzaki Yoshito's friendship—building bonds with others let him truly, genuinely integrate into this world.
Besides working hard to grow stronger, he also tried using his modern knowledge to change Terada-ya's business model.
He commissioned Matsuzaki Yoshito to lead people in renovating and expanding the shop, additionally adding several clean, elegant private rooms.
The expanded Terada-ya's facade had been completely renewed, giving Rukongai a surge of new vitality.
Just catching the tail end of the lunch service, Shiba Kaien's group was quickly ushered into the shop.
"Good afternoon, Shinigami-sama."
"For four customers, the main hall currently has no available seats. Only private rooms are open. Would that be acceptable?"
Kotama, now wearing a brand new light pink checkered uniform, greeted them with a graceful, confident smile.
She was now not only Terada-ya's poster girl but also the head waitress managing the female staff—she'd undergone her own transformation.
"Mm."
"Understood. Customers, please follow me."
Kotama skillfully led the four to a secluded private room, bowed, and quietly withdrew.
"Customers, please wait a moment."
Shortly after she left the private room, muffled conversation could be faintly heard from inside.
"Ah, this place looks as good as the 'Crimson Leaf' restaurant on the commercial street. Seems really expensive."
"Since Kaien-dono is treating, it should be fine... right?"
The conversation gradually quieted. Soon, Suoh Tsukasa dressed in head chef attire entered the room with a waitress carrying menus and sake vessels.
"Good day, everyone. I'm Suoh Tsukasa, Terada-ya's head chef."
"Welcome to Terada-ya. Your faces are somewhat unfamiliar—is this your first visit?"
After greeting the customers with a composed smile, his gaze swept across the four present.
This was his specially established 'chef's greeting' segment for unfamiliar Shinigami and regular customers.
Through these private rooms, he often made contact with Shinigami from various divisions of the Gotei 13.
Using the opportunity of greetings and pouring sake, he perceived the spiritual pressure they inadvertently revealed, using it as a reference for his own spiritual pressure strength.
This let him clearly confirm his spiritual pressure level's strengths and weaknesses—far more effective than training alone in isolation.
Unfortunately, in the two-plus months since opening the private rooms, he'd never encountered any familiar faces from his memories.
Fate was always this coincidental. What you couldn't find through bitter searching often appeared unexpectedly by your side one day.
Shiba Kaien, Kotsubaki Sentaro, Kotetsu Kiyone.
Except for the Shinigami seated in the corner who left no impression, the other three's obviously distinctive features let Suoh recognize their identities in an instant.
"I've come before, only Terada-ya's changed quite a bit. What do you recommend today?"
Shiba Kaien laughed heartily, his expression composed. Being former nobility, there was no possibility of him being intimidated.
The waitress calmly unfolded the elegant menu. On the yellowed pages, various dishes were neatly listed in beautiful brush calligraphy, each accompanied by concise descriptions and main ingredients.
From traditional Japanese cuisine to unique creative dishes, the dazzling array of food choices was overwhelming.
Under Suoh's perfectly timed recommendations, the four's interest grew. Shiba Kaien and his companions began ordering—one dish from him, one from another.
"Customers, these dishes are sufficient for four people to enjoy. If it's still not enough, you can order more later."
He appropriately halted the four's somewhat excessive momentum. If they kept ordering, Shiba Kaien's wallet wouldn't just bleed heavily—it would hemorrhage catastrophically.
Though the prices he'd set weren't particularly high—going for a steady, long-term business philosophy—they couldn't withstand four people ordering so generously.
While Rukongai's prices were lower than within the Seireitei, so many dishes added up to no small expense.
"Right, let's stick with these then."
After a moment's pause, Shiba Kaien smiled in understanding, simultaneously giving his companions a look telling them not to embarrass him too much.
He handed the completed menu to the waitress behind him for her to arrange, then moved into the tail end of the chef's greeting.
Suoh picked up the sake flask and first poured a round of pre-meal drinks for the customers, then poured himself a cup. After a shallow sip, he raised his cup.
"I hope everyone enjoys their meal at Terada-ya today."
"Excuse me."
"Please wait, Suoh-san. Have you considered becoming a Shinigami?"
There's a famous saying: when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.
These past days, when Suoh observed others, their gazes had also fallen on him.
Only, no Shinigami had previously discovered the extremely subtle spiritual pressure fluctuations on Suoh's body.
"Next year I'll register at the Shinoreijutsuin, so the answer to that question is: yes."
Suoh's answer was unexpectedly straightforward. Though the question was somewhat direct and presumptuous, he didn't mind chatting a bit more.
He felt no tension about his situation being exposed.
When you walk by the river, your shoes will get wet eventually. His training wasn't yet sufficient, and being discovered by Shiba Kaien—who had the highest spiritual power level among the four—was perfectly normal.
This answer made joy flash through Shiba Kaien's eyes. He'd originally thought he'd need to spend more effort persuading, but unexpectedly the other party already had clear plans. He smiled happily.
In his understanding, Terada-san was this izakaya's owner, and a Shinigami's status was naturally far greater than an izakaya head chef's status.
He didn't want Suoh's talent to be buried, which was why he'd asked just now.
"Excellent! I'm Thirteenth Division Lieutenant Shiba Kaien."
"After you graduate, you must join our Thirteenth Division."
Shiba Kaien leaned forward eagerly, his gaze intense.
"I haven't even enrolled yet. Talking about graduation and joining a division is still far off. It's too early to discuss this now."
"For today, please enjoy the food first."
Without rashly agreeing, Suoh smiled and politely declined.
"I was too hasty."
Hearing this, Shiba Kaien awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
This sudden enthusiastic invitation wasn't without reason. Among the Gotei 13's members, aside from the Sixth Division filled with nobles, other divisions rarely had capable clerical talent.
Their Thirteenth Division's leader was sickly. The burden of paperwork basically fell entirely on him as lieutenant.
Among the upper seated officers in this division, except for Third Seat—his wife Shiba Miyako—who could share some pressure, the others weren't very reliable.
He felt sorry for his wife and couldn't bear to burden her with too much, often leaving himself mentally and physically exhausted.
How he wished for a reliable right-hand person. These three troublemakers beside him were already the tallest among the short, carrying his earnest hopes, but the results were mediocre.
From Suoh's smooth speech, concise words, and meticulous thoughtfulness just now, in his eyes this was undoubtedly heaven-sent clerical talent.