Chapter 194
The difference and the demeanor...
This is the real reason Soi Fon chose to back down.
"Knock knock knock."
But...
Judging from the heavy and hurried footsteps she made as she left, it was clear that Soi Fon was in a state of deep unease that it would take a long time for her to calm down.
"..."
After the only sound left in the entire bathing area was the sound of flowing water.
I was careless.
Haruto walked towards the bathhouse.
"No wonder Byakuya couldn't handle it; these people are impossible to guard against once they get into a good mood."
Because they were inside the Seirei, Haruto did not use his Kakushitsuijaku probe the Reiatsu.
Even with normal perception, discovering someone inside should have been an easy task: Soi Fon's concealment skills weren't that advanced; it was likely Yoruichi spare moment.
You need to know.
It had been less than ten minutes since he entered the hotel.
In such a short time, Yoruichi was able to set up such a high level of completion, and it wasn't even a concealment of her own aura...
Even the "young" Yoruichi is far stronger than Haruto.
"Splash."
Haruto plopped down in the water.
Then...
"Dankū!"
They simply blocked the main entrance with the Kidō Wall!
--While eliminating the hopes of some people who wanted to use their talents, it also ensured that my own comfortable life would not be affected.
Two hours later.
"Gulp, gulp!"
The bright Ayaka was, as usual, gulping down the hotel's special chilled strawberry milk; this way of drinking was like washing your hair with cold water after exercising in the summer—very refreshing, but extremely unhealthy... Of course, Soul Reaper wouldn't need to worry about all that.
It's obvious.
Even without using the Dankū the door, Ayaka wouldn't have had a chance to sneak out of the women's bath—the sauna's chatter time wasn't just for men.
"Ah!"
Ayaka, who downed his drink in one gulp, revealed the bold expression of a drunkard chugging a beer bottle.
Sitting by the window in a massage chair—a non-spiritual tool created by the Twelfth Division using their experience from the World of the Living, supposedly already available in various inns both inside and outside the Seireitei —was a completely different Isane:
She was very elegantly savoring the various fruit-flavored daifuku, but if she were to peek over the trash can next to her... the oil paper wrapping it was full of flour would instantly shatter her preconceived notions.
As for Haruto...
He was lying on the massage chair next to Isane, resting with his eyes closed.
"Little Haruharu!"
"..."
The deafening sound instantly woke Haruto.
"... Lieutenant Kuna."
Even if you can't see the person, you can tell from the name that it's Mashiro Kuna's catchphrase... His naming style is comparable to Yachiru's.
Haruto sat up from the chair.
As expected, there was a head of lush Mashiro Kuna to the shaman, who was holding a food bag that looked like the kind used for popcorn, except that the food inside was peony mochi made from shaman soybean powder...
The sweet aroma had already filled the entire room.
Let's play table tennis!
Zhuoqiu?
Ah, ping-pong!
Haruto was stunned for a moment before he realized what the other person was saying.
"That..."
Haruto was just about to refuse—to engage in such strenuous exercise immediately after taking a bath, he wondered where this tradition came from—when he heard Mashiro Kuna take a step back and say in a very seductive voice:
"The president proposed this competition, saying that the winner can choose one of the Heavenly Bestowed Armaments she brought today!"
"... Actually, it doesn't matter whether there's a prize or not. I was just thinking of signing up anyway, since I was able to get here thanks to Captain Yoruichi's help."
Haruto changed his tune very decisively.
Heavenly Bestowed Armaments?
Even the smallest piece of Heavenly Bestowed Armaments is far more powerful than the spiritual tools developed by the Twelfth Division; it's something that can't be measured in money.
Yoruichi was actually willing to use the Heavenly Bestowed Armaments as a prize...
Even though her apparent strength surpasses that of everyone present, anyone with even a little confidence in Shunpo and Hakuda would be in a different league.
None of them would be afraid to participate in this competition.
That's right.
The competition format is indeed table tennis, but what it actually tests is the participants' ability to use Hakuda and Shunpo.
Slow?
If you're too slow, you won't even see the ball!
"Me too! Me too!"
Haruto had just agreed when Ayaka eagerly signed up.
Are you sure you won't come in last?
Haruto offered a few words of advice.
Members qualified to join the Soul Reaper Women's Association are generally at least vice-captains or have close to vice-captain Seated Officer skills.
Ayaka has made great progress recently, but that doesn't mean she's qualified to compete with these people, not to mention that we also need to focus on her abilities in Hakuda and Shunpo: Ayaka's skills are basically half Kidō and half Zanpakuto.
Shunpo? I have absolutely no idea about that!
So what if we're at the bottom?
Ayaka poked Haruto with a "Are you stupid?" look on her face.
"I heard while I was taking a bath that even the participation prize in this competition is a magical item worth over ten gold!"
"I was just worried that since I wasn't a member, I wouldn't have a way to sign up!"
"..."
OK!
Before Haruto could speak, Mashiro Kuna gestured "no problem".
"Isane!"
"Ah?"
While observing others and eating daifuku, Isane had no idea that this matter was related to her.
"What are you waiting for? Sign up together!"
Ayaka quickly pulled Isane up from the massage chair.
"But I've never played table tennis before!"
"Just treat it like an after-dinner walk. Don't you need to digest all that daifuku?"
"Hmm..."
Ayaka's incisive observation instantly made Isane's face turn the same color as hers.
"Okay, alright!"
Isane put down the large, blessed hill she was holding.
A sweet tooth is an innate instinct, especially for Yuu-on, who has only recently grasped the true meaning of sweets. It took immense Isane for her to achieve this.
It has to be said.
Isane agreed to come here largely thanks to their unlimited daifuku; forget about takeout from the London restaurant, even dinner hasn't started yet, and Isane is already practically unable to walk...
However, according to her own account, she was simply enjoying the bath too much.
That's all.
The table tennis competition finally gathered enough participants. Mashiro Kuna didn't explain the "murderous table tennis" in detail, and it was so difficult to even gather enough participants. The competition started before Haruto and the other two could figure things out at all.
10 PM.
"Ah!!"
Ayaka threw herself onto the soft bedding, declaring herself a captive of this white creature.
Isane, who also suffered from back pain, was helped into the bedroom by Haruto.
"..."
"I made you insist on participating."
Haruto looked at the "participation prize" in his hand, a wry smile on his face: This thing is indeed a spiritual tool, and it's certainly not cheap, but it seems Yoruichi didn't need to spend any money to get it:
The Shiba Clan's fireworks.
--It seems that not only the Thirteenth Division, but also the Second Division has a serious problem with kickbacks.
"How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this? crying"
Haruto has three firework balls in his hand.
As it turns out, in the "Killer Table Tennis" match, techniques like "Hakuda" and "Shunpo" are irrelevant, and Haruto's table tennis skills honed before his time travel are equally insignificant. What truly determines the outcome is...
It's a rule.
Aside from the specially designed table, the rackets and balls themselves are not what Haruto imagined at all: whether it's Zanpakuto or Kidō creation, anything that can be held in the hand can be used as a racket for hitting.
Haruto finally understood why the hot spring inn had a "gym" with Captain-level strength, and why the members of the Soul Reaper Women's Association dressed so warmly before watching the battle... It seems they all learned from experience.
"A-Qing."
"..."
Ayaka's weak voice went unanswered.
"A-Qing ~"
Then Ayaka immediately switched to an incredibly sweet and coquettish tone.
"What?"
"Come over here and give me a massage!"
"Where does it hurt?"
Immediately, immediately.
Although Haruto verbally agreed with Ayaka, he actually started massaging Isane first... after all, she was a victim who had been dragged into this mess by Ayaka.
By the way...
Although Haruto didn't win, he still managed to squeeze into the top three thanks to his overwhelming physical advantage. Unfortunately, after squeezing out Kuchiki Hine, he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Mashiro Kuna. Despite having an advantage in Reiatsu, Hakuda, and Shunpo, Haruto lost to Mashiro Kuna due to a difference in skill, which was something he never expected.
And...