Chapter 88: Banquet Begins
Green bamboo x10.
Bamboo shoots x10.
Not long after leaving Ugendo, a pile of harvests lay stacked on the ground.
Returning his Asauchi to its sheath, Suoh looked at the haul before him with great satisfaction.
"Bakudo Number Four: Hainawa."
Light ropes extended to bind the ground's harvest together. He easily shouldered them, transporting the batch back to his courtyard.
Suoh leaned the green bamboo against the kitchen wall.
First, he peeled the bamboo shoots' outer layers, soaking the pure white shoot flesh in clear water.
Then, as his hands and blade moved, the piled green bamboo before him had been split into appropriately sized bamboo tubes. The courtyard filled with bamboo's crisp fragrance.
The time had just passed nine o'clock.
Suoh turned off the faucet, wiping water droplets from his hands on a towel.
He'd already completed most of the banquet's preliminary preparations. Tonight, just a bit more work would suffice.
Through the kitchen window, his gaze fell on the willow tree in the courtyard, his face showing a confident smile.
Tonight's banquet beside the willow—he'd definitely let everyone eat heartily and enjoy themselves.
Just back at the duty office, inside remained lively.
"Must drink Hakkaisan!"
"Real men drink Kiku-Masamune—!"
Shiba Kaien and Kotsubaki Sentaro were enthusiastically debating which sake to buy for the evening banquet. Shiba Miyako continued teaching Kuchiki Rukia to organize document files.
Mitaka Hiko had disappeared, probably busy arranging tables and chairs.
Seeing Suoh enter, everyone's gazes immediately converged.
"Tsukasa, what about Rukia's situation?"
Shiba Kaien spoke first.
"No problem, of course."
Hearing this, Kuchiki Rukia's tense shoulders immediately relaxed.
Shiba Miyako gently patted her shoulder, casting Suoh an approving gaze.
Kuchiki Rukia walked before Suoh, her voice soft in thanks.
"Suoh 3rd Seat, thank you."
"You're welcome. Having fun tonight is most important."
"However, you'd best not drink alcohol."
Suoh nodded, casually instructing.
He feared that late at night after the banquet concluded, someone might come climbing through windows to assassinate him.
"Ah, yes!"
Though somewhat baffled by Suoh's instruction, Kuchiki Rukia still nodded in acceptance.
Suoh then turned toward the two arguing men.
"Especially you, Sentaro-niisan. Remember to drink less tonight."
"People from the Tenth Division will be there. You can't embarrass us!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro and Kotetsu Kiyone were both the Thirteenth Division's famous lightweights. They wouldn't go crazy drunk, just became somewhat rowdy after drinking.
As the banquet's organizer, he naturally had to somewhat control potential accidents.
"Then let's choose Hakkaisan. Don't worry, I'll watch Sentaro!"
As the banquet's proposer, Shiba Kaien made the final decision, speaking heartily.
"Damn it, don't all look at me like that!"
"The captain's here tonight. I'll control myself!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro, becoming everyone's focus, protested indignantly.
"Hahahaha!"
Pleasant laughter immediately filled the duty office. Suoh also returned to his own work.
Six o'clock in the afternoon—precisely when sunlight descended.
Slanting sun dyed the courtyard a warm hue.
Laid seating mats arranged in neat rows beneath the willow tree.
Kotsubaki Sentaro and Mitaka Hiko held lantern pillars, making final layout adjustments to the banquet site.
The courtyard gate pushed open.
Suoh carried ingredients in both hands, Shiba Kaien carried alcohol—both returning from shopping at the commercial district.
Passing through the gate, Suoh turned his head.
"Kaien-niisan, I'm heading to the kitchen to prepare."
"Just set the alcohol on the stone table by the tree."
"Alright. Anything else you need me to do?"
Shiba Kaien nodded and asked.
"Miyako-neesan and Rukia are helping in the kitchen. You all just wait."
Tonight, both divisions combined totaled just ten people eating.
Suoh had already completed preliminary preparations. With Shiba Miyako and Kuchiki Rukia helping in the kitchen now, the work was quite light.
"Good!"
Suoh carried ingredients toward the kitchen. Just sliding open the door, he smelled rich aromas.
Currently, two figures—one tall, one short—wore aprons while busily working inside.
"Tsukasa, you're back."
"The broth has been prepared as you said."
Following Suoh's instructions, Shiba Miyako stood before the stove watching over the pot's stock.
Kuchiki Rukia beside her similarly followed directions, carefully packing washed rice into bamboo tubes before plugging them with bamboo leaves.
Her slender figure made the apron Suoh usually wore appear especially oversized on her.
"I'll take over from here."
Placing the ingredients in hand on the counter beside the cutting board, he tied on his apron and nodded.
As his movements activated, the entire kitchen's rhythm fell completely under his control.
Efficiently processing ingredients, with Shiba Miyako's help, Suoh officially began cooking the banquet dishes. His Kido oven also made another appearance.
Tender white shoot tips soaked in ice water until crisp, mixed with bonito flakes and sesame into appetizing cold dishes.
Pork belly and bamboo shoots slowly stewed in clay pots, gradually taking on amber hues.
Fresh fish wrapped in verdant bamboo leaves produced sizzling sounds in the oven.
Cloud ham thin slices unfurled like clouds in clear broth.
The main dish—bamboo tube steamed rice—rice fragrance and bamboo fragrance perfectly merged in steam.
"Amazing!"
"Kido can be used this way!?"
Kuchiki Rukia, having completed her auxiliary work, opened her mouth wide, mechanically turning her head back and forth watching Suoh's hand movements, speaking dazedly.
At this moment, she keenly felt that whether as a woman or as a Shinigami, she still had a very long road ahead.
Dusk deepened. Lanterns erected in the courtyard lit one after another, diffusing warm halos in the gradually deepening sky.
Shiba Isshin, led by Mitaka Hiko, brought Matsumoto Rangiku and Toshiro to the courtyard gate.
Fragrance rushed forth. Breathing deeply, delight flashed in his eyes.
"This aroma—looks like we'll feast tonight!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Matsumoto Rangiku's face bloomed with smiles, speaking delightedly.
Though Toshiro's face maintained a reserved expression, his gaze also unconsciously drifted toward where the fragrance came from.
The guests' arrival raised the curtain on this impromptu celebration banquet.
From the courtyard gate to the banquet site took just a brief moment.
"Captain Ukitake, long time no see."
Shiba Isshin naturally walked toward Ukitake Jushiro already seated at the banquet, taking a seat beside him.
With others' assistance, exquisite dishes had been properly arranged before each person's setting.
"Captain Isshin, long time no see."
Both men exchanged smiles.
Undoubtedly, the two captains' relationship was quite good.
And Suoh's banquet merely served as a bond, naturally connecting both divisions' subordinates who weren't originally familiar.
"Miyako-san, long time no see."
"Who's this?"
Matsumoto Rangiku greeted the familiar Shiba Miyako, asking about the petite Kuchiki Rukia beside her.
The two exchanged names. The next moment, Matsumoto Rangiku submerged her with surging enthusiasm.
"This is my good friend Hitsugaya Toshiro."
On the other side, Suoh introduced Toshiro to everyone in the division.
Though Toshiro's expression remained composed while surrounded by Shiba Kaien and others, he seriously listened to each person's introduction beside him, occasionally nodding polite greetings in return.
Though two captains sat together at this banquet, the atmosphere showed not the slightest restraint.
Night deepened.
The lanterns' warm light flowed across everyone's smiling faces, illuminating tables filled with delicacies.
Members of both divisions naturally merged into a harmonious whole within this warm, joyful atmosphere.
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