Time in the office drifted away amidst the warmth. As the bells chimed, the day's idle chatter and work drew to a close.
"Alright, everyone, let's call it a day," Shiba Kaien announced, stretching his limbs broadly.
"Be careful on the road, and have a good time," Shiba Miyako said, looking toward Suō Tsukasa with a gentle reminder.
"I will. Kiyane-san, shall we go?" Tsukasa replied with a smile, having already tidied his desk. He stood up, grabbed a soft wool scarf from the back of his chair, and draped it casually around his neck.
Kotetsu Kiyane had also yet to buy her New Year's gifts and had previously asked to accompany him. Since he was already heading out, adding one more person didn't make a difference. If anything, bringing Kiyane along might make the upcoming shopping trip a bit easier. Besides, it wasn't a date; the more people there were, the livelier it would be.
The two walked out of the squad barracks side by side. The air was filled with the crisp, quiet chill unique to the season. Winters in the Seireitei were quite cold, but snowfall was rare; consequently, there was usually no accumulation on the roads. Today was different, however. As evening approached, light snow began to fall from the leaden sky.
"It's snowing! How rare!" Kiyane exclaimed in delight, reaching out her hand to catch a few flakes, watching them melt instantly into tiny droplets in her palm.
Tsukasa stood in the snow. The black of his Shihakusho paired with the gray of his scarf and the white of the snow created a harmonious aesthetic. The bracing air brushed against his face, and cold flakes landed on his eyelashes, melting quickly.
"Kiyane-san, let's move out." He pulled his scarf up slightly, covering the lower half of his face and leaving only his calm eyes visible.
The Seireitei appeared more solemn than usual in the snow, and the two walked at a slightly slower pace than normal.
"So, Tsukasa," Kiyane began, tightening her own scarf and asking softly, "do you, Matsumoto-san, and Third Seat Hitsugaya have private gatherings often?"
"Quite often," Tsukasa replied directly, his pace steady.
The Kotetsu sisters were very close, and Kotetsu Isane's movements could never be hidden from those nearest to her. Kiyane had hounded her sister relentlessly until Isane, after getting Tsukasa's permission, told her everything she had seen and heard.
"What do you guys do? Just... eat? Train?" Her curiosity about their secret base was practically overflowing.
"A bit of both. Do you want to come too, Kiyane-san? Next time we go, if you're free, I can bring you along." Tsukasa glanced at her and spoke casually.
The cultivation and growth of the ginseng and purple lingzhi were proceeding more smoothly than expected. The plans Tsukasa had for the future could now officially be put on his agenda.
"Really?!" Kiyane chirped happily, though she quickly tried to suppress her outward excitement. "But I can't tonight, I'll have to wait a few days."
"I know," Tsukasa replied with a light smile, finding her excitement quite amusing.
As they spoke, the two arrived at the designated entrance of the shopping district. Beneath the signpost, Toshiro was already waiting. Wrapped in a white scarf, flakes of snow rested upon his silver hair, and his emerald eyes looked exceptionally cool against the snowy backdrop. With his arms crossed, he stood quietly by a pillar, his posture straight, possessing a steady composure that surpassed his years.
"Have you been waiting long?" Tsukasa approached and brushed the snow off Toshiro's shoulder.
"I just arrived," Toshiro replied, shaking his head as his breath formed white mist in the cold air. "Matsumoto said she was hungry and went to buy some food."
As soon as he finished speaking, a bright voice called out from the distance.
"I'm here, I'm here! Sorry, the line held me up for a bit!"
Matsumoto Rangiku waved her hand and came jogging over, her blonde hair exceptionally dazzling against the white snow. She held a delicate cloth bag that swayed with her movements. A fluffy white stole wrapped tightly around her neck and chest, making the skin of her cheeks and neck appear even fairer and more radiant. She stopped in front of Tsukasa, exhaling a cloud of white mist and looking at him with a smile.
"Tsukasa, you look very handsome today. That scarf color suits you well." Her praise was direct and natural.
"Thanks. It's rare to see you bundled up so tightly as well," Tsukasa nodded, his tone relaxed as he returned the compliment just as naturally. "But, you look very beautiful."
Rangiku gave him a playful, mock-angry look. "The last half of that sentence was enough. You and your smooth talk."
"Hello, Matsumoto-san, Third Seat Hitsugaya!" Kiyane raised her hand in greeting, her eyes darting back and forth between the radiant Rangiku and the handsome, composed Tsukasa. Even though she knew nothing was going on between them, the visual was a treat for her eyes. It was a sight that stirred the heart.
"Fourth Seat Kotetsu," Toshiro replied with a brief nod of acknowledgment.
"Kiyane came too? That's great!" Rangiku said, enthusiastically taking Kiyane's arm. "Alright, we're going to have a proper look around tonight."
"Okay, everyone's here, and the snow isn't going to stop anytime soon," Tsukasa suggested, looking up at the thickening veil of snow. "Let's find a place to eat something first to warm up."
"Agreed!" Rangiku seconded immediately. Her fluffy stole looked warm, but she had very little resistance to hunger and cold. "I know a great place, follow me."
The four turned and blended into the bustling shopping district. The streets were brightly lit. The glow of the lanterns diffused through the snow, casting warm pools of orange light that made the dancing flakes look crystal clear. Shops lined both sides of the street, their windows bright and clean. Stalls in front of the shops displayed various New Year's goods, accompanied by the calls of vendors. Despite the cold, the streets were still teeming with people. The mix of noisy voices created the festive, year-end atmosphere unique to the Seireitei.
Rangiku walked at the very front, leading the way with great enthusiasm. They reached their destination—a small but very elegant tea house. The four took a seat by the window. Through the paper-screened panes, they could vaguely see the restless silhouettes of people outside. They ordered simple snacks and hot tea, and the warmth of the food soon dispelled the chill from their bodies.
"Alright, now that we're warm, time for the main event." Tsukasa set down his teacup and pulled a long list from his robes. It was a list of names with various brief notes.
"So many!" Rangiku leaned in to look, her eyes widening in surprise. There were nearly thirty names in total. In her relatively long life, the number of people she kept in her heart didn't even fill one hand. She finally understood where Tsukasa's "friend of everyone" personality came from.
"Wait, I'm on here too?" She froze when she saw her own name. An inexplicable wave of warmth, mixed with a hint of bittersweetness, quietly rose in her heart. To her, this feeling was both novel and heartwarming.
"Of course," Tsukasa answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His gaze didn't leave the list as he continued to calculate their shopping route. "Kiyane-san and Toshiro are on here, too."
To him, these standard social courtesies were merely the basics of conducting oneself in the world.
"Wait a moment, I'll be ready in just a second."
The fragrance of tea lingered as the blurry shadows of snow drifted past the window.