Realizing that her question had still caused Suō Tsukasa to misunderstand.
"No."
"Wait for me for a moment."
Ms. Terada did not explain further, rising and leaving after she finished speaking.
A short while later, the sound of footsteps returned.
Ms. Terada held a delicate purple sandalwood box, its corners wrapped in dark gold metal, giving it an ancient, valuable look.
She sat down again in front of Suō Tsukasa, gently placing the wooden box on the table between them, which landed with a heavy, muffled thud.
She opened the lid, pulling back the dark blue satin lining the inside. Stacked within the box were clear, golden koban coins.
The gold coins were oval-shaped with smooth edges, each one gleaming with a lustrous shine—a fortune that ordinary people might never see in their lifetimes.
"Ms. Terada, what is this?"
Suō Tsukasa had never owned such wealth in two lifetimes. Without the greed that might be misled by the gold, he looked at her and asked, somewhat confused.
"That life-risking training method of yours... simple food supplements shouldn't be enough."
"Though I don't know why you are pushing yourself so hard, I support you."
Ms. Terada raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice gentle yet firm as she looked at him and spoke.
Unlike the listless souls in Rukongai, the aggressive drive and soaring vitality on Suō Tsukasa seemed to almost overflow.
This vigorous "sense of life" was something she had never encountered or experienced in her long span of time.
Simply watching the youth's focused form made her feel as if she were "alive" again.
It was as if her long-stagnant time had begun to flow once more.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice and struck her shoulder, coating her simple kimono with a faint golden outline.
She sat there quietly, her face possessing the seasoned charm of the passage of years. Her lowered eyes, carrying a smile, conveyed trust and encouragement.
Her long black hair was loosely tied at the back of her head, with a few strands hanging by her neck, adding a touch of tenderness.
"I support you."
Startled by the words, Suō Tsukasa lowered his eyes, silently chewing on the sentence.
He did not reply, because the weight of that sentence was too heavy for him.
In his previous life, only one woman had said those exact words to him, and though the voice and appearance were completely different, the unreserved trust in the words was identical.
The figure of the woman before him briefly created a strange overlap with her.
"I cannot accept this."
"This favor is too great. I cannot repay you now, and I don't know what I could possibly repay you with in the future."
Taking a deep breath, his gaze was clear when he lifted his eyes again.
He reached out and closed the box, shaking his head with an unwavering refusal of her kindness.
He could repay Ms. Terada's daily care by working hard for her and making her exquisite, delicious confections with his own skills.
But he truly could not think of any way to repay this sincere kindness from her.
Suō Tsukasa's resolute rejection plunged the room into a brief silence.
The sunlight in the room remained warm, the faint aroma of tea still drifted in the air, and the heavy box of gold became an invisible boundary between the two.
Ms. Terada gazed at his firm eyes, which held no false refusal, only the most sincere response.
"Have you seen that white wall?"
She suddenly smiled softly, without disappointment, but with understanding, and spoke.
"Yes."
Suō Tsukasa nodded, of course knowing what she was referring to. What he knew was far more than she did.
The Seireitei wall, built of pure white Sekkiseki, towered into the clouds, where no birds could be seen.
Standing in the widest part of Rukongai, it stretched from the leftmost point of sight all the way to the rightmost edge, and the ends of the wall could not be seen in the distance.
The white of that wall was not sacred, but a kind of colorless pallor, absorbing the warm sun yet refusing to reflect even a hint of warmth.
It was like a vast, pure white line drawn by a deity's brush, splitting the enormous Soul Society into two.
It was not only the dwelling place of all Shinigami, but also contained the mansions of the Soul Society's nobles.
The existence of this white wall silently declared the chasm between the two worlds to the souls of Rukongai—We are here, you are there.
"I've been on this side of the wall for too long; there are no new sights."
"I am very curious about what the view behind the wall looks like. I want to experience a different world."
"Can you take me to see it?"
"This is your payment."
It was not a command, not a request, but a simple invitation, like asking someone out for a stroll.
Her words were like a stone tossed into a calm lake, spreading ripples in Suō Tsukasa's heart.
He looked at her earnest expression, realizing this was not an excuse.
The woman who had given him a place to live was, at this moment, entrusting him with the last remaining spark of her desire to explore the world, which had been worn down by the long passage of years.
"Alright, I accept this payment."
He did not refuse this time. He met her gaze, placing his hand on the box, and stated solemnly, his eyes burning like a vow.
This action of acceptance held more power than any empty oath.
An invisible contract between the two was established on this warm, sunny morning.
Though the Seireitei was reserved only for Shinigami and nobles, ordinary souls were generally not allowed entry.
However, Seated Officers, Lieutenants, and Captains were different. As elites within the Gotei 13, they possessed rights distinct from ordinary Shinigami. Starting from the Seated Officers, they could own their own residences.
With Ms. Terada's full support, the realization of this goal would not be too far away.
"Please keep this money with you for now."
Since the task was not yet complete, there was naturally no reason to accept the full payment first.
"Very well. Then you will manage all future procurement."
"If you have any needs of your own, arrange it yourself. The Teradaya store has a wide network; as long as the money is right, they will arrange for someone to find even uncommon items for you."
The business of the Teradaya store covered more than a dozen districts in West Rukongai, employing many hands, and they could supply most conventional materials.
For a true merchant, the only fear is having price but no product.
"However, these items are quite heavy, so you'll have to help me move them back to their original place."
Her gaze fell back onto the heavy wooden box, teasingly.
"My pleasure."
The conversation, which had been slightly solemn moments ago, returned to normal. Suō Tsukasa followed her, holding the wooden box, and passed through the tranquil backyard to return the box to its original position.
"Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, Gotei 13..."
After leaving the main house, Suō Tsukasa stood silently for a moment beneath the old tree in the courtyard.
He raised his hand and looked at his palm. The skin, reddened from the training, had long since recovered.
In this world, he was no longer alone. A future that must be realized, and an expectation that must be answered, rested upon his shoulders.
This responsibility did not feel heavy to him. Instead, it made his heart even more resolute.
His thoughts became clearer. With more resources to support him, his training plan would need to be adjusted.
The daytime training was over, and the ingredients for lunch also needed to be prepared soon. He set his feet into motion, his figure appearing even more firm and upright like a pine in the morning light, his steps steady and solid.