Chapter 40: Holiday
Dong—
The class dismissal bell rang, echoing through every corner of the training ground.
Almost the instant the bell's first note sounded, those two dizzying afterimages in the training ground suddenly froze.
The female teacher's figure stopped about three feet from Suoh. Her slender fingers extended, halting at a palm's width beside Suoh's shoulder.
Suoh maintained a sideways evasive posture, the corner of his eye locked on her position.
Both withdrew their movements. The female teacher's fingertips flicked away a strand of hair dampened by fine sweat at her temple as she praised:
"Very good speed. You're almost catching up to me."
"Haa—"
"Sensei is too kind. I'm still far behind."
Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, his tense body finally relaxed.
Suoh was very clear—his shunpo still fell far short of hers. He shook his head with modest words.
As the one fleeing, he only needed to consider the speed of his shunpo underfoot. His movement position was entirely under his own control.
While chasing, she also had to use her detection sense to capture the direction of Suoh's next landing point.
Even so, at the very beginning he'd nearly been caught several times. Only her holding back had let him escape.
"Good boy, as long as you know!"
Kandou Shiki laughed lightly, her tone carrying some teasing, yet not completely denying it either.
Her words were half and half. In the latter half, using only the same footwork, purely discussing shunpo speed, the two indeed weren't very far apart anymore.
"Almost forgot—I'm Kandou Shiki."
"Stop constantly calling me 'sensei.' In private, just call me Kandou-nee."
"If you have any problems at the Shinoreijutsuin, come find me. Generally, there's nothing I can't handle!"
Kandou Shiki had originally wanted to pat his head. Raising her hand halfway, she discovered Suoh's height was considerably taller than hers.
She could only settle for second best and patted his shoulder instead, speaking heartily.
"Understood, Kandou-nee."
Suoh very tactfully responded. Out in the world, calling someone "nee" didn't hurt—he still understood this principle.
Kandou Shiki's mouth curved in satisfaction. She led Suoh back to where the students were and announced dismissal.
Before parting, she deliberately shot a look for Yuuki Shinosuke, who'd substituted for a class, to comprehend on his own.
...
Academy life was plain yet fulfilling.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed. Suoh's proficiency in the four combat arts steadily progressed, always far ahead of everyone in the elite class.
Hitsugaya Toshiro displayed his powerful potential as a late bloomer.
Not only did he pass the assessment to enter the advanced group in zanjutsu starting the second week, his kidou and shunpo levels were second only to Suoh's in the class.
As for hakuda, it remained the same old way. Each class was either basic fist technique practice or striking wooden posts—consistently simple and straightforward as always.
And besides the four combat arts and required theory classes, the Shinoreijutsuin also offered various elective courses.
Music, board games, dance, calligraphy, painting, and more...
However, Suoh didn't choose any elective courses. When others attended electives, he chose to immerse himself in the library reading and selecting books.
The enthusiastic administrator had even recommended multiple times that he take the calligraphy elective. He'd declined with reasons like "the class is too popular" and "wanting to focus on training," persisting in his own life plan.
"Toshiro, after we finish breakfast, do you want to go check out the commercial district near the academy together?"
"While we're at it, you could buy some things to bring back to your grandmother."
Walking on the small courtyard's gravel path, Suoh with Hazy Night at his waist turned his head toward Toshiro beside him carrying his wooden sword.
The friendship between the two who spent every day together had long exceeded ordinary friends' scope. When their forms of address had changed, they couldn't even remember which day it happened.
Today was a different kind of day.
Since enrollment, Suoh and Toshiro were welcoming their first small holiday—two days of monthly leave.
The Shinoreijutsuin's regular holidays and outing privileges were closely tied to students' individual comprehensive performance. Only those with excellent performance could obtain this freedom.
And the academy was quite generous. Besides granting holidays, there was also a small bonus—quite thoughtful indeed.
"Alright."
"Just don't know if the commercial district sells her favorite amanatto."
Mentioning his grandmother living alone in West District One, Hitsugaya's cool brow and eyes filled with tenderness. His voice carried unconcealed longing as he nodded in agreement.
"Stop fixating on your amanatto."
"Have you considered that maybe she likes it because you like it? I suggest you buy some seasonal fruit and light foods instead."
Hearing this, Suoh couldn't help rolling his eyes and complaining.
He'd also eaten amanatto before. The taste was purely sweet and somewhat chewy—really not something elderly people would like eating.
In Rukongai, ninety-nine percent of those who loved eating this were children, roughly the external appearance size of Toshiro standing beside him.
Especially Matsuzaki Yoshito's third and fourth kids—every time they saw his oil paper package, they'd drool.
"Eh, really?!"
Being told this, Toshiro suddenly froze.
He unconsciously stopped walking, his mind recalling scenes from his childhood.
Every time he brought amanatto home, Grandmother always smiled as she accepted it, saying "Little Lion is so good" while opening the bag with the amanatto and pushing it before him.
She herself only occasionally picked up one piece, lightly taking a small bite before stopping. More often, she'd smile watching him eat.
Those details he'd never noticed before seemed exceptionally clear now as he recalled them.
"You make a good point."
"...I never noticed before."
Hitsugaya's face couldn't help showing some embarrassment, his voice softening in reply.
"Noticing now isn't too late."
"Seasonal fruits suitable for elderly people this season include cantaloupe and white peaches."
"The former might be very expensive. Your budget probably isn't enough. Buying some fully ripe peaches would be most appropriate."
"As for sweets, I recommend buying some yam cakes. The price is affordable, the texture soft and glutinous, and the taste mildly sweet and pleasant."
Watching Hitsugaya's suddenly enlightened yet somewhat awkward appearance, Suoh couldn't help laughing heartily.
Patting Hitsugaya's shoulder, as a veteran foodie and head chef, he very practically offered his suggestions.
"Tsukasa, thanks."
Regarding authority on eating matters, Hitsugaya only trusted Suoh beside him. His tone was extremely serious as he expressed thanks.
If not for Suoh's reminder, perhaps it would take him a very long time or maybe forever to discover this detail he'd never noticed.
"Thanks for what? Besides, it's rare to get a holiday and see each other. Of course you should find ways to make the elderly happy."
"Let's go."
Suoh waved his hand dismissively, his tone casual.
Hitsugaya's stopped steps immediately caught up, his face full of anticipation for returning home.
While speaking, the two had already walked to the moon-viewing gate at the small courtyard's entrance.
Just exiting the courtyard after walking only a few steps, they were met head-on by an extremely crude male voice.
"You're that Suoh Tsukasa brat?!"