Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō

"Mmm... Mmm..."

Masatsuki Aozaki's pupils suddenly dilated, his body stiffening.

This woman… she's too cunning!

She hadn't swallowed that awful dessert—she had held onto it this whole time just to feed it to him!?

How long had she been waiting for this moment?

Yet before he could dwell on his outrage, his thoughts were abruptly cut off.

As the taste of the dessert faded, he finally sensed something else—the softness and sweetness that belonged to a girl over a thousand years old.

"Haa... Haa..."

The warmth between them lingered, and though the kiss didn't last long, it was enough to make his heart race.

Senjumaru Shutara, moving with unpracticed awkwardness, slowly pulled away. Her golden eyes, slightly dazed, shimmered with an intoxicating glow.

Then, with a seductive smile and a teasing glint in her gaze, she murmured,

"Consider this my way of making it up to you. Well? How was it?"

"...Oh..."

For once, Masatsuki was left speechless.

A moment later, he turned on his heel and strode out of the kitchen.

Even as he walked away, the image of Senjumaru's flushed, triumphant smile lingered in his mind.

Damn it. Senjumaru Shutara—of all people—had almost managed to charm him.

He couldn't deny it. His heart had definitely skipped a beat just now.

...

Meanwhile, the older sister who had boldly made her move was feeling her heart pound furiously.

Taking several deep breaths, she tried to steady herself.

"...I finally didn't run away this time. Good!"

This time, she had been the one to kiss Masatsuki. That alone made her feel victorious.

She had done something so daring because she had come to a realization.

Masatsuki was her junior. It was unacceptable to let a junior lead her around.

As his senior, she needed to turn the tables.

She had to retaliate properly for everything he had done to her.

It wasn't like this was the first time, anyway. No matter how many times it happened after this, it would all be the same!

There was no need to overthink things.

Masatsuki had been the one to confess first.

And according to the romance manga drawn by Master Suichūgetsu in Seireitei, the one who confesses first… loses.

That meant, no matter what, Masatsuki was already the loser.

And as for her—she at least had to reclaim her position as the winner in this relationship!

Though she still felt a little shy, she swore she wouldn't back down anymore.

...

Night fell, and the sky was adorned with scattered starlight.

Masatsuki, full of energy, prepared a feast for dinner.

As he enjoyed the meal, he casually shared the news he had received earlier with Kirio Hikifune and Senjumaru Shutara.

"A month from now, I'll have an audience with the Soul King. After that, I'll likely return to Seireitei. I'll visit when I get the chance. Thanks for everything, Kirio, Senjumaru."

"..."

At his words, the ever-free-spirited Kirio Hikifune and the ever-composed Senjumaru Shutara both momentarily paused.

However, within seconds, they resumed eating as if nothing had happened.

The three quickly finished their meal.

Time passed in quiet stillness.

Now, deep into the night—the hour when young spirits were at their liveliest—Masatsuki found himself reflecting.

He genuinely enjoyed life at Gatonden.

Cooking for two beautiful older sisters every day, getting up to mischief with Kirio, teasing Senjumaru—it was never boring.

If he ever had the chance to visit the Soul King Palace again, he would return without hesitation.

Of course, ideally, he'd rather just bring them to his home instead.

After all, his house was huge—and still far from full.

With only a month left, he began considering how to spend his remaining time here.

"One month really isn't long… No matter what, I should cherish the time I have now. Ah… Somehow, I'm already looking forward to our next reunion."

...

In Kirio Hikifune's private kitchen, Masatsuki prepared food while absentmindedly planning the days ahead.

On the stove, a pot of braised pork simmered—a dish he had always favored.

Despite having sampled all manner of exquisite cuisine, this particular dish remained one of his favorites.

Maybe it was nostalgia.

It had been the first dish he ever learned to cook.

Lost in thought, he methodically adjusted the Reiatsu fluctuations within the artificial soul handling the cooking.

The dish was nearly finished—just a final reduction of the sauce, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and it would be ready.

As he started pondering what kind of breakfast to make in the morning, the kitchen door quietly creaked open.

He didn't need to turn around to know.

It was Kirio Hikifune.

So he took a bite of the freshly cooked dish and smiled lightly.

"Kirio, are you hungry? Why don't you try some of your favorite braised pork? It tastes just like before—I guarantee you won't be able to resist."

Masatsuki Aozaki had no doubt that Kirio Hikifune would enjoy it. As a self-proclaimed master chef, he had absolute confidence in his cooking.

However, to his surprise, Kirio didn't reach for the dish—this braised pork, a meal so good it could send the entire Tōtsuki Academy into a collective food-induced euphoria.

Instead, she slowly stepped closer to him.

Very close.

Masatsuki didn't press her to eat.

After all, she wasn't the same as before. Cooking was no longer her top priority.

The atmosphere between them remained as calm and comfortable as it had been for the past few days.

Only the quiet sounds of Masatsuki chewing and tidying up the dishes echoed through the room.

His body had long adapted to a peculiar state—he didn't need to eat or drink. He could go on indefinitely, even until the end of the world.

At this point, both cooking and eating had become more of a pastime than a necessity.

Kirio stood behind him in silence, watching.

For about half an hour, neither of them spoke.

Then...

Kirio moved.

As if she had finally conquered some inner hesitation, she reached forward and wrapped her arms around him.

She pressed herself against his back, holding him tightly.

The fabric of her Shihakushō clung to her form, her warmth seeping through as she leaned into him, making him pause mid-motion.

Then, without a word, she brought her lips to his neck, leaving behind a soft, lingering kiss.

A quiet gasp escaped her, as if she were savoring the moment.

Taking advantage of the pause, Masatsuki turned around, lowering his head slightly as he asked,

"Kirio… what's gotten into you today?"

"..."

Kirio lifted her long, delicate eyelashes, her deep violet eyes filled with something unreadable, almost sultry.

Then, a flicker of realization lit up in her gaze—like she had found her moment.

The next instant, she shifted targets.

Before he could react, her lips were on his.

Unlike before, she wasn't simply following his lead.

Though her movements were still a little hesitant, she was making an effort to take control.

Imitating the way he had always kissed her, her tongue sought him out, gently exploring.

She poured as much passion into it as she could manage, her breath quickening, soft, urgent sounds escaping between their lips.