Chapter 142
Togakushi quickly picked up the conversation.
What are you trying to say?
Gyōkaku Kumoi became curious.
"It's effortless anyway, so let's give it a try—whether it's spiritual tools or valuables, Soul Reaper's training can't be done without money."
And what about you?
"My brother owes Haruto- senpai a great debt of gratitude for his guidance."
"... Alright, I'll go ask Dad for some Soul Gold, and we'll try it out sometime!"
As a high-ranking noble family, the Kasumioji Clan is not without Captain-level powerhouses, but in Gyōkaku Kumoi's view, that "uncle" is already out of touch with the times, and even his father has no right to order around such a pillar of the family.
If you're only aiming for ordinary ways to become stronger, that's fine.
However, if one wants to become Captain-level... Gyōkaku Kumoi, who is not short of money, thinks that Togakushi's suggestion is worth a try.
――――
That night.
Dormitory building of the Shin'yō Spiritual Arts Academy.
Tomorrow this place will no longer belong to Haruto and his friends.
However, tonight is perfect for partying: the surrounding rooms are already so quiet it's almost "Hell," so even if you open the window and sing at the top of your lungs, you don't have to worry about disturbing others.
The fifth graders, along with their juniors, lived in dormitories further away.
Adding to the fact that it happened to be a holiday, and the teachers had all been temporarily pulled away to carry out missions—they didn't have any holidays this year—the huge Shin'ō Academy was almost deserted except for the five of them.
"Captain Unohana walks so fast, I can't even see you guys anymore after I turn around."
Haruto is not normally able to get drunk.
Unfortunately, today's drinks were provided by Byakuya: this guy specially brought out several vats from the depths of his family's cellar using Kukai Box.
Haruto can imagine how heartbroken the Ginrei Kuchiki must have been upon discovering it.
"Don't tell."
"Captain Unohana's Shunpo is completely different from when she was being led by Haruto; it's like when she was a child lying in her mother's arms."
Kiyone was clearly drunk.
Rather than calling them alcohol, they are more like extremely high-density Reishi fluids—similar to Captain Hikifune's food, directly increasing Reiatsu upon consumption... The feeling of being drunk is more like the "Reishi intoxication" of oxygen intoxication.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Nanao chimed in from the side.
There is no rule in Soul Society that minors are prohibited from drinking alcohol. After all, the definition of "adult" or "adult" is quite difficult to establish for Soul Reaper whose lifespans are often hundreds of years.
At this point, Nanao probably couldn't even hear what was being said.
"You're right, my foot!"
Ayaka looks like she can drink a lot.
Even though she was already seven-tenths drunk, she was still able to observe Haruto's expression and, at the right moment, use her height advantage to tap Nanao's head with her chopsticks— Ayaka had to admit that the captain of the Eighth Division was indeed quite charming; even if one wasn't into older men, it was easy for young girls to lose themselves in him... Ayaka was afraid that Haruto would be jealous.
After all, two major characteristics of young people are that they are hot-tempered and jealous.
But.
Ayaka is flirting with a blind man.
Haruto was being Isane and had no chance to think about what he had just said—
Isane's drinking etiquette is truly appalling.
"Hoo-ha."
By the way...
Byakuya, who had the strongest Reiatsu on paper among them, slammed his head onto the table as soon as he tried to drink the first cup; if Haruto hadn't been quick-witted and nimble-fingered, the good sake he brought would have been Hakuda.
Byakuya was fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Seeing this scene...
"Really."
"They forget their old loves once they find someone new."
Ayaka muttered a couple of things under her breath, then straightened up Nanao, whose upper body was swaying.
"Come here, little follower!"
Nanao heard a somewhat distant yet familiar title.
Let's keep drinking!
――――
Volume 1: 087, Fourth Seat Haruto
Ah~
Haruto yawned and crawled out of the covers.
"..."
Right hand supporting the weight.
He rubbed his temples with his left hand.
The two different kinds of softness made him pause, and he instantly came to his senses.
The warmth emanating from my right hand was different from the softness and tenderness of the pillow; the scent of roses, strong yet refreshing, flowed from my left palm toward my nose.
"..."
Haruto shifted his gaze.
This is indeed his bedroom, but on the usually spacious bedding lies a figure whose snow-white and smooth skin is fully exposed along the center line of the buttons on his clothes.
"Smack!"
Haruto slapped his cheeks hard.
He tried hard to recall what had happened last night.
"Got it."
The first thing that comes to mind is Ayaka's cheeky expression when she closed the door, and her thumbs-up after clenching her fist twice.
Then, the more he drank, the more energetic he became, but Isane had long forgotten who she was, immediately launched a face-to-face attack on him as soon as Haruto moved her into the bedroom—
The kiss, reeking of alcohol, was as forceful as a vacuum cleaner.
No way.
Haruto wasn't exactly a gentleman, so naturally he immediately—
--slightly.
――――
Haruto drank quite a bit too.
I can't remember the details at all.
Just by looking down at the messy surroundings, you can tell how tiring last night's forging was.
"We need to tidy it up."
"It's not that we're hiding anything, but if Isane wakes up like this, she probably won't be able to face anyone all day."
Haruto glanced at the bedroom with the windows tightly closed.
"Clang."
He cautiously walked to the wall and picked up the Zanpakuto all night.
"Sound Forth your music, Seisen."
"?"
Whether it was a misperception or not, Haruto seemed to sense the doubt that was sealed by the scabbard.
As a thin stream of water flowed from the tip of the knife, Haruto quickly cleaned up the scene.
Then.
"Smell..."
Haruto smelled himself in the mirror.
"Isane's bite is quite fierce."
It's June now, summer, which happens to be strawberry season.
This refers to the spectacular sight of Haruto's neck almost turning into a fruit-picking garden.
Add to that the summer breeze carrying the slightly different scents of grass from inside and outside the room, and the perfume that Isane doesn't usually wear... anyone who sees Haruto will notice something amiss.
It must be said that Reiatsu doesn't seem to offer any enhancement to this type of defense.
"..."
Haruto sheathed the Seisen once more.
I need to take a shower.
His Zanpakuto only manifests as a water-based weapon; it cannot actually conjure enough water for bathing.
Not at least not now.
――――
"Whoosh."
Haruto tiptoed into the bedroom.
From his vantage point, all he could see in the living room was Byakuya, still fast asleep.
"..."
"This guy's in trouble."
Haruto thought of the drinks he had last night.
"It does contain alcohol, but the way this drink works... this level of alcohol content is probably more than just for flavoring."
Having regained his senses, Haruto could clearly feel the changes within his body: when he advanced two days ago, his Reiatsu concentration had just exceeded the standard for the Fifth-Class Reii, but now he could clearly feel that his Reiatsu had increased again.
Two days?
If Haruto were given a hundred times more time, he might be able to achieve this level.
Without a doubt.
This improvement is definitely due to the alcohol, and it's far more powerful than Haruto originally anticipated.
The reason Byakuya hasn't woken up yet is probably because he's already on the threshold of the Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure, and doesn't have enough "capacity" to consume the high-density Reishi in the sake; otherwise, he wouldn't be so ridiculously drunk.
Not only that.
The alcohol even had a powerful healing effect: apart from Isane, the others, who were all bandaged when they arrived at the Shin'ō Academy that morning, no longer needed the expensive medicines produced by the Kotetsu Clan while they were drunk.
Haruto strongly suspects that this is all the good stuff Old Master Ginrei has hidden away, otherwise Byakuya could have easily taken an Ichigo of it after defeating Ichigo.
"..."
Haruto glanced at Byakuya, then turned and walked towards the restroom—given his current state, it wouldn't be good if someone saw him any longer; although it was only just dawn outside, these people all had the habit of morning exercise.
You never know when you might run into them...
"Click."
Haruto had just closed the door and hadn't even remembered to lock it when he saw a familiar little head peek in through the crack.
Good morning, A-Qing.