June was upon them, and the night was growing deeper.
The first floor of Teradaya had closed and was cleaned up. Suō Tsukasa returned to his attic room.
Pushing open the sole small window, the sounds of people below had long faded. The streets of Rukongai were quiet, with only the sporadic chirping of insects audible nearby.
The slightly cool night breeze rushed in, sweeping over his bare upper body and dissipating some of the stuffiness left by the daytime heat in the room.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Suō Tsukasa didn't immediately begin his nighttime training. Instead, he lifted the small table laden with food closer to him.
There was a large bowl of steaming, glistening rice, a plate of ginger-fried pork with a rich sauce and overflowing with meat juices, a dish of sparkling, stir-fried shrimp, accompanied by a plate of tender, yellow tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), and a dish of fresh green seasonal vegetables.
The dishes were simple, but the portions were ample—enough to satiate three grown men. The aroma of the food radiated a rustic warmth.
These were his fifth meal, a serving size capable of satisfying three grown men.
"I dig in."
After serving himself rice, he picked up the bamboo chopsticks and brought a mouthful of warm grains to his mouth.
Next, he picked up a slice of meat saturated with sauce. After a slight chew, the perfectly balanced sweet and savory flavors bloomed in his mouth, the thick slice of meat blending flawlessly with the fragrant rice.
He ate quickly but not hurriedly, concentrating on every bite.
"Hiccup—I'm full."
A slight burp escaped him, and the food before him was entirely gone.
This was not merely enjoyment; it was also part of his training.
If someone were to ask him if eating so much ordinary food in the world of Shinigami was useful, Suō Tsukasa would answer without hesitation: Yes, it is!
After these few days of training, Suō Tsukasa had gained a clear understanding: food was the shortcut to rapidly enhancing himself.
Delicious food is not created out of thin air; it symbolizes the connection between all things in nature and human society.
Air, water, soil, plants, and all living things—everything in the Shinigami world is composed of spirit particles (Reishi).
Reishi is ubiquitous, yet the vast majority of people in this world are unaware of it.
The spiritual pressure (Reiatsu) within a soul body does not increase out of nowhere. The Reishi required to enhance spiritual pressure must be absorbed from other sources.
Hikifune Kirio of the Zero Squad was his best inspiration. Her overly plump figure was the literal manifestation of massive Reiatsu.
Her ultimate theory, Gikon (Artificial Soul), was to inject spiritual pressure unrelated to oneself into the body to enhance one's own Reiatsu.
Although he currently didn't understand the specific operation of her unique technique, the most basic method—eating—was something he could emulate.
Gently pushing the cleared table aside, Suō Tsukasa sat cross-legged on the bed.
What followed was the true training for the night.
Spiritual power instantly covered Suō Tsukasa's right palm at a speed invisible to the naked eye, coating it with a flowing micro-light.
He raised his index finger, gazing at the fingertip. The surging Reishi quickly gathered and compressed at the tip.
Finally, it condensed into a structurally complete, clearly edged number '1', suspended in the air.
With a slight thought from Suō Tsukasa, the number gradually changed, from 1 to 2, equally complete and clear.
Under his control, the numbers sequentially reproduced, like a young child tapping numbers on a keyboard, from 1 to 0, and back from 0 to 1, in a cycle.
Each complete transition between numbers took about 2 seconds, indicating significant room for improvement.
"Haha."
He stopped only when his head began to feel slightly dizzy from the training, then lay back on the bed to rest, a light laugh escaping his throat.
This type of training was merely to hone the fine control of Reishi.
Through his own refinement and adjustment, the consumption of his spiritual power could be considered minimal. What was consumed more heavily was his mental energy and physical stamina.
During the prolonged training process, he could clearly feel the consumption of food within his body and the slow but distinctly perceptible growth of his spiritual pressure.
Feeling the change in his total Reiatsu, a bright light flashed in Suō Tsukasa's eyes.
Such a clear increase was enough to make Suō Tsukasa feel excited and delighted.
The total amount of spiritual pressure could be accumulated by utilizing resources.
Since the Shin'ō Academy had no entry requirements, his previously somewhat anxious state of mind eased slightly.
What he needed to do now was steadily improve his foundation. Time was not something he currently lacked.
Over the next ten or so days, Suō Tsukasa's life settled into an unchanging, fixed rhythm.
Before the light of day, the sound of air being sliced would reliably ring out in the courtyard.
In the morning mist, the woman in the kimono would always sit nearby with a gentle smile, quietly watching the figure of the young man diligently training.
During the day, he completed his work with efficiency far exceeding the average person. Teradaya's business prospered, with a continuous stream of customers.
When the night was late and quiet, the spiritual power control training in the attic proceeded without fail.
It was this perfectly ordinary routine and somewhat monotonous training that made him feel unprecedentedly fulfilled.
In the back kitchen.
Teradaya had just finished its day's business. Suō Tsukasa was humming a tune while cleaning his area in the kitchen.
This task was easy. His hands were extremely steady, his work habits were excellent, and since Japanese cuisine cooking was relatively light, there was little grease and grime generated on the stove and cutting boards.
In truth, there wasn't much to wipe down; it was just his personal habit.
It was less a cleaning and more a ritual to bring a perfect conclusion to the day's work.
"Tsukasa-kun, someone's here to see you at the door."
Just then, a sweet, smiling voice broke the leisurely atmosphere of the back kitchen.
Tamaki leaned her hands on the service window, peering in with a cheerful smile.
"Hmm, wait a moment. I'll be right there."
After putting away the last item, Suō Tsukasa turned and replied.
He unhurriedly washed his hands, dried them, and casually hung the cloth on the wall. Only then did he straighten his collar and walk toward the entrance.
He had a rough idea who the visitor was, and a hint of anticipation showed on his face.
Arriving at the door, under the dim, yellow glow of the lantern, a slightly stooped figure stood holding a long, wrapped item by the doorway.
The light outlined his slightly messy hair, and on a face etched with fatigue, a pair of eyes shone astonishingly bright, his expression betraying suppressed excitement.
Recognizing the person waiting under the light, Suō Tsukasa greeted him.
"Matsuzaki, long time no see. You're here."
"Suō, long time no see."
"Here, this is your sword. I've finished making it. Quick, take a look and see what you think."
Hearing the voice, Matsuzaki Yoshito looked up, his mouth splitting into a grin as he responded.
He approached and solemnly presented the long, wrapped object forward.
"No hurry. Come in and have a cup of tea, eat something, and rest."
Suō Tsukasa took the package, cradling it in one hand without rushing to open it. With the other hand, he took hold of Matsuzaki Yoshito's arm, inviting him inside.
Seeing the wood chips and grease stains on Matsuzaki Yoshito's clothes, he realized his friend had probably just finished his work and rushed over without even taking the time to clean up.
"Uh, I don't..."
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Matsuzaki Yoshito felt an undeniable force pulling at his arm.
His steps became light, and his body somewhat involuntarily followed Suō Tsukasa into the shop.
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