Now That It's Come to This, Let's Eat
Wang Xun stood where he was, mulling over the conversation he had just had.
Tokinada Tsunayashiro was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Aside from the invitation and the terms he had been offered, Wang Xun hadn't taken the rest of their conversation to heart.
Half truth, half lie, all meant to win him over.
Wang Xun didn't even know whether Tokinada Tsunayashiro had really seen through his disguise.
Just as Tsunayashiro had said, a man who had grown up in that kind of environment might seem to be baring his heart to you, while secretly having already decided where to bury you.
As for Tokinada telling him to use his name, Wang Xun paid that even less mind.
If Wang Xun actually did so, he would inevitably be branded as a member of the Tsunayashiro Clan's camp, and who knew what kind of butterfly effect that might have?
Being a noble's retainer might look glamorous, but there were too many rules and restrictions, and the risks were great.
Wang Xun wouldn't accept the invitation, but perhaps their paths would cross again in the future.
After all, the Tsunayashiro Clan was among Seireitei's top Brahmins.
Besides, in Wang Xun's memory, the Tsunayashiro Clan had always been conducting all sorts of strange research in secret.
In the end, they had even cobbled together a half-finished artificial Soul King.
As for what Tokinada had said about Nanao at the end, Wang Xun naturally knew about that too.
The Ise Clan was a family of priests who tended a sacred weapon. Women had always headed the family, and the clan continued its line by taking in husbands. But its women were cursed to bring their husbands an early death.
The men who married into the Ise Clan all died young after sowing their seed, without exception.
The reason didn't bear thinking about too deeply.
But it seemed a little too early to be considering any of that now.
Who could say what would happen in the future?
Wang Xun opened his panel and looked at the special ability section at the bottom.
[Hōgyoku (awakening: 0.05%)]
The tiny fragment was inside him now, completely fused with his soul as though it had grown from his own body.
But Wang Xun could sense that unless he deliberately activated it, the fragment was as good as nonexistent.
Just like the Hollow spiritual pressure granted to him by the Hollowfication skill, it lay silently hidden within him.
That put Wang Xun at ease. He no longer had to worry about Aizen suddenly discovering it and dragging him off to be sliced up for research.
Wang Xun still didn't know what this Hōgyoku fragment could do for him, though.
Wang Xun remembered that a fully evolved Hōgyoku had the power to make the desires of one's heart come true.
The future looked promising.
The past few days had been peaceful since he returned from the valley, and he had truly breathed a sigh of relief.
If the person hidden in the shadows back then had been Kisuke Urahara, that would have been fine. He might simply not have wanted his research into the Hōgyoku exposed.
But if it had been Aizen, that was a much bigger problem.
I'm not going to get chopped into mince one day, am I...?
Wang Xun looked at the darkening sky and sighed.
Now that things had come to this, there was no use thinking about it any more.
First, he would eat.
He turned and headed for the cafeteria.
By the time Wang Xun arrived, only a few students were seated here and there, since mealtime had already passed.
Unexpectedly, a petite figure was still sitting inside the cafeteria, quietly leafing through a book.
Surprised to see Nanao, Wang Xun took his meal and walked over.
"Why haven't you gone back yet?"
"I'm eating dessert."
Nanao gestured at the little cake and fruit in front of her.
"Really? Just for dessert?"
"Of course."
Seeing Wang Xun sit down with a smile, Nanao shifted her gaze slightly away.
"What took you two so long?"
Nanao looked back at him. Her tone seemed casual, but she couldn't quite hide the curiosity in her eyes.
"Well, Tokinada Tsunayashiro wanted to recruit me as his retainer."
He hadn't mentioned it to Nanao before, but after thinking about it, Wang Xun decided it was nothing worth hiding and told her directly.
Nanao's hand paused when she heard that.
An invitation from one of the Four Great Noble Clans was a rare opportunity even for some lower-ranking nobles.
But for Wang Xun?
"Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe he thinks I have potential."
Nanao made no comment.
"Did you accept?"
"No. I don't think that kind of life suits me."
"True. You're so used to lazing around that I can't even imagine you being someone's lackey."
"Was that a compliment?"
"What part of that sounded like one?"
Nanao rolled her eyes at Wang Xun, but she also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
As she ate her dessert in small bites, her brows soon knitted again.
"The Tsunayashiro Clan is one of the Four Great Noble Clans. Will rejecting his invitation get you into trouble?"
"Probably not." Wang Xun shook his head, looking unconcerned. "He seemed pretty reasonable."
His being reasonable wasn't much of a reason.
Nanao stared at Wang Xun for a few seconds, then said quietly, "As long as you know what you're doing."
"Speaking of which, Wang Xun, is there a division you want to apply to?"
Although he was only a fifth-year student, he was in the elite class, so the division entrance assessment wouldn't be a problem.
It wasn't too early to think about such things.
Wang Xun thought for a moment.
"You know I like getting around. I can't sit still. I might join the Eighth Division, which handles intelligence gathering, or the Tenth Division, which handles security patrols."
"I see. If only I had a Zanpakuto too, so I could join a division..."
Nanao muttered under her breath. She had already decided to apply to the Kidō Corps, after all.
Wang Xun looked at the somewhat downcast Nanao, puzzled.
This girl had always been strong at heart before.
He didn't know what had gotten into her lately, but she had become a little sentimental.
Wang Xun smacked his lips.
"Hey, after the exam tomorrow, how about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen in Rukongai?"
"Ichiraku Ramen... your shop?"
"Yeah. You haven't eaten there in ages, have you? The new shop just opened, and it has lots of new dishes."
Nanao's eyes lit up, but she immediately looked at Wang Xun suspiciously.
"You're treating?"
"Of course."
"You said that last time too, but I ended up paying."
"Did that happen?"
Wang Xun froze for two seconds before the memory came rushing back.
It had been a few months ago.
Ichiraku Ramen's second branch had opened in West District Two, and he had specifically taken Nanao there to try the food.
After the meal, Wang Xun had searched all over himself, only to find he hadn't brought any money.
The woman running the second branch was a shrewd, capable older woman, and she had stood beside the table with a smile.
"Young Master Wang Xun, this is a small business. You know the rules: no credit."
"I'm the owner. I have to pay for a meal too?"
"The owner has to pay too. If the owner doesn't have to pay, then the customers who come later will all claim to be the owner's friends. One will want credit, another will want a free meal. How are we supposed to keep the business running?"
Looking at the smiling woman, Wang Xun had suddenly felt like a student caught cheating on an exam by his teacher.
He had chosen her as manager because of her overwhelming presence and firmness, which would let her keep order in Rukongai, where all sorts of people mingled.
He hadn't expected her to use them on him.
"Th-then how about a discount? I am the owner, you know..."
"Sure. From now on, mention the owner's name at this shop and you'll get twenty percent off. Now, where's the money?"
"Uh, uh..."
Just as Wang Xun was about to be hauled into the kitchen to wash dishes, Nanao had sighed and counted out the cost of the meal from her own pocket, saving his life.
"Ah... I remember now."
"I just forgot my wallet that time. I didn't expect to nearly come to grief in my own shop. Don't worry, Nanao-chan, it won't happen this time."
Wang Xun patted his chest in assurance.