Chapter 192

Volume 1: 116, Hot Spring

Ōmae Kagura Dessert Shop.

The economic situation in Seireitei has been very bad in the past year.

Because a large number of Soul Reaper were dispatched to fight, and because of the frequent incidents in the World of the Living and Rukongai, many small shops that were already barely surviving went out of business.

Only a family with the financial resources of the Ōmaeda Clan could maintain such a near-empty business operation every day.

The store is spacious and bright.

Haruto, Ayaka, and Isane were enjoying their morning tea. Although they had eaten at Lily's farewell party that morning, that was a main meal, so the sweets that would automatically go into their other stomachs wouldn't be affected.

By the way...

Previously, Isane's favorite food was plain porridge because she had been terrified of her rapidly increasing height since childhood. However, after being "educated in a Western style" by Lily and experiencing her undisguised envy of tall and large people, Isane has begun to face the truth again:

At her age (Reiatsu), no matter how much she eats, she won't grow any taller.

So.

This time, Isane is completely obsessed with desserts other than porridge... This is probably what they mean by "too much of a good thing."

"Where are the Nanao?"

Haruto didn't eat anything.

He was constantly absorbing Reishi, so he had almost no concept of fullness and didn't want to put anything in his mouth at all.

"Nanao is trying her best to catch up with Isane."

Ayaka wriggled her puffed-out cheeks while drawing circles around her face with a silver fork; although the Eighth Division also had free afternoon tea, the sweets offered there were mostly Japanese-style, completely different from what was served here.

Eating the same type of food all the time, no matter how good, will eventually make you tired of it.

Didn't you tell her to balance work and rest?

"I told him, but that lackey's brain..."

You know what I mean~

Ayaka scolded him with a grin.

The nickname she gave Nanao was indeed accurate: back in the Shin'ō Academy, Nanao always followed Haruto's side; after joining the Eighth Division, it became even more so, spending almost all her time hanging around Lisa Yadōmaru except for training.

Everyone else thought Nanao was learning how to become a vice-captain, but Haruto knew that she was learning how to become a woman who could help Shunsui Kyōraku, like Lisa Yadōmaru —the two things sound similar, but their actual meanings are completely different.

"All right."

Furthermore, the cultivation of the Nanao is also goal-oriented.

While other aspects are difficult to compare, it's still easy to judge strength by Rei'i Grade: Isane was at the Sixth-Class Spiritual Pressure when she was in the Shin'ō Academy, and a few days ago, after joining the Fourth Division, she officially broke through to the Fifth Class due to the high-intensity Kaidō combat.

This is already a clear-cut Vice-Captain-level.

If it weren't for Unohana's vice-captain being a Captain-level expert like Kiyōnosuke Yamada, Isane would already be qualified to apply for vice-captainship.

Nanao, whose level was similar to Isane's during her time at school, began increasingly arduous training in an effort to break through the upper limit of the Sixth Class as soon as possible.

What about Kiyone?

Haruto turned to Isane and asked.

"Gibberish."

"!"

Isane had just stuffed something into her mouth when she almost choked on the cake after mumbling something incoherently.

"Clap clap clap."

He was now patting his chest, his face flushed red.

"... Isane, slow down."

Haruto quickly handed over the tea, and also used a bit of his icy, snow-based Kidō to cool it down—he'd definitely have to ask the waiter to refill the pot later.

"Ha!"

Isane finally managed to slide the small cake down.

"Kiyone is also cultivating."

"Kiyone also wants to be the vice-captain?"

While Kiyone isn't the type to work sporadically, she's definitely not diligent either.

"No."

Ayaka quickly picked up the second half of the sentence.

"Kiyone is trying to catch up with me~"

"You?"

Kiyone's talent is better than Ayaka's.

Furthermore, speaking of effort, if Kiyone is far from being diligent, then Ayaka is utterly idle and lazy.

Only during the last six months of the Shin'ō Academy did they put in a little more effort.

"You didn't even notice?!"

Seeing Haruto's reaction, Ayaka immediately exclaimed in surprise, her face flushed with anger.

"Sorry, it's too..."

These words definitely cannot be said aloud.

However, in Haruto's eyes, Ayaka's current Reiatsu was indeed too weak: the difference between the captain and the vice-captain, and between the vice-captain and the Seated Officer, was extremely exaggerated. Although Ayaka had unknowingly reached the Seventh-Class Reii, it really didn't make much difference to Haruto.

"It's too big. I'm still waiting for you to surprise me."

"Eh~"

Ayaka grumbled in a dissatisfying tone.

"It's obvious they didn't put their heart into it."

"..."

You can't just take a girl's complaints lying down; you have to wait patiently and she'll calm down on her own.

Speaking of which...

Haruto was also curious about why Ayaka's progress was so fast—her ceiling was what it was, and if she really had talent, judging from her current Reiatsu progress, she could at least become a vice-captain in another hundred years or so.

The only reason he could think of...

Even without the power of 'Distribution,' it can still influence those around you.

Ichigo Kurosaki unconsciously uses his Fullbring to "activate" those around him, Haruto will likely have the same effect during the absorption of Reishi... or perhaps it's similar to Haschwalth.

"Is this the essence of the Soul King system's power?"

Not only that.

If prolonging life becomes difficult, then where do those "active substances" containing powerful Reishi and life force that left Haruto's body go?

Haruto has reason to suspect that this is the key to Ayaka's recent surge in Reiatsu.

"Clang clang!"

Ayaka's announcement, "I'm full," snapped Haruto out of his brief reverie.

It's almost dinnertime.

Beside her were spacious, bright floor-to-ceiling windows, and Ayaka glanced at the sunset that was gradually turning red.

"Shall we hurry up and find another one?"

"..."

Food is essentially solid Reishi. The more powerful Soul Reaper is, the faster they can digest and absorb it, which is why Soul Reaper generally don't gain weight. As for the Ōmaeda Clan... their strong genes are only one aspect; the main reason is that their food is simply too good.

"Then we'll have to look around a bit."

They've eaten at almost all the restaurants they used to frequent when they were in school. Seireitei's poor performance has also led to a lack of new openings recently—any restaurant that opened within the last twenty years can be considered "new" within Seireitei.

"That..."

Isane rarely raises her hand to speak.

I have some recommendations.

She is usually the one who passively accepts advice and rarely offers her own opinions.

"It's an authentic London restaurant!"

"... The one Lily works for?"

"Yes!"

During her time in Seireitei, Lily also found something to do, ostensibly to experience the local customs and culture.

So it wasn't like they completely got the Eighth Division for free.

"..."

Haruto had never been to this restaurant before, even though Lily tried to lure him in with the promise of "cute maid outfits"; after all, in Haruto's mind, London cuisine didn't seem to have much to offer besides boiled potatoes and Stargazing pie.

All I can say is...

Although Isane's diet had changed a bit, she still had a strange fondness for these unpalatable foods.

"Sure."

Haruto didn't want to go, but since it was Isane who had taken the initiative to invite him, Haruto couldn't refuse.

"But you can hardly get enough to eat there?"

"..."

Haruto glanced at Ayaka's little belly but didn't say anything.

"That--?"

Ayaka's objection immediately made Isane back down.

Let's go to a hot spring inn!

"Ah?"

The Ayaka family owns a hot spring inn, and although the location is a little strange, this suggestion is even more difficult to understand.

"Anyway, the hotel's main meals are small portions. If Isane wants London food, we can just order takeout."

The concept of takeout was something Lily came up with for London restaurants after she started working there... As a seasoned Haruto, I won't comment on that.

It has to be said that Lily's takeout idea was promoted quite quickly, and the first to accept it was the Chōjirō Sasakibe, from the First Division; the monthly dining table in the British Classroom soon featured takeout specially ordered by the Sasakibe.

It was thanks to the promotion by the Vice-Captain Sasakibe that the restaurant's sales soared despite the sluggish economic environment.

"If we queue at the store, there will be too many people. What if we run into members of our own squad... Should we accept their offer to give us a seat?"

The length of the queue isn't the problem, but Ayaka's second assumption is quite pointed: what would the three Seated Officers think if they queued with ordinary soldiers?

"... the evil feudal society."

At last.

After saying goodbye to Ōmae Kagura Dessert Shop —you can tell from the name who owns the branch— Haruto ordered takeout using Hell Butterfly, and the three of them headed towards the most famous hot spring inn in Seireitei.

Late autumn.

Soaking in a hot spring at this time of year is a very enjoyable experience.

However, when Haruto and the other two arrived—

"Eh~"

Ayaka's loud voice was enough to prove how she felt at that moment.

"The whole place was booked out!?"

The innkeeper's wife clearly recognized the three men, and her attitude was quite polite.