Chapter Thirty-Five: The Title Girl Has Turned Tsundere

Chapter 35: The Tsundere Has Arrived

"Two dots!"
"One bamboo!"
"Pong! Two bamboo!"
"Pong! One dot!"
"Pong! One sparrow!"
"East wind!"
"South wind!"
"Wealth!"
"Ten thousand!"
"Hu! Self-drawn! Thirteen Orphans! Hehe, I’ve won again! That’s 108 fans! None of you three are allowed to run; it’s my turn to draw the marks!" Shuster grinned as he looked at Lolita, her shadow clone, and his own shadow clone.

Outside the White Tower, two Shinigami guards heard the shouts from within and exchanged bitter, helpless glances. While they stood outside in the cold wind, the people inside were actually playing four-player mahjong. Who exactly was the prisoner, and who were the guards?

"Sigh, the main body’s luck is really good this afternoon! You were losing miserably this morning," Shuster’s clone said, looking resentfully at the main body as he drew black lines on his face.

"Exactly, Brother is clearly cheating this afternoon!" the two Lolitas chimed in unison.

"Hey, hey! You three were winning so happily this morning, and I was losing the whole time! Can’t I make a comeback in the afternoon?" Shuster replied, deliberately pressing harder as he drew a few more lines on Lolita’s face.

"Hey! Brother, that’s cheating! One mark counts as ten! Otherwise, I’m not playing!" Feeling the increased pressure, Lolita waved her arms, which now looked like zebra legs, and protested.

"Pfft, hahaha! Fine, fine, I’ll count it as one..." Shuster was midway through his sentence when a sharp whistling sound interrupted him.

"Oh, the water’s boiling. I’ll go make some tea. Wipe your faces; it’s time to eat!" Shuster stood up and said.

"Okay!"

After washing their faces, Shuster returned with tea for everyone. He looked at the three who had cleaned the black marks off their faces, set their tea down before them, and then pulled a heap of kitchenware and ingredients from his infinite storage space. First came the stove, then the rice cooker, followed by various pots, pans, bowls, and ladles.

"Hum-hum-hum-hum," Shuster hummed a little tune while happily preparing the meal.

Outside the White Tower, the two guards could no longer remain calm. The aroma of food drifting from inside made it increasingly difficult for them to hold their composure. They prayed for the morning shift to arrive quickly so they could hand over their duties; the two of them were becoming ravenous. Little did they know that because they had been lazy and late that morning, the morning guards had decided to let the afternoon shift experience the agony of smelling a delicious meal they couldn't eat.

"Wow, Brother, your cooking skills have improved again!" Lolita exclaimed as she looked at the exquisite food that rivaled a poster, savoring the enticing scent.

"Heh heh!"

...

Listening to the laughter inside and smelling the drifting aroma, the person approaching the entrance smoothed her previously stern expression into a smile. She stepped inside amidst the greetings of the guards.

"Hmph, you didn't call me when it was time to eat! It seems this little brat needs a lesson!"

"Oh, Soi Fon is here! Sit down quickly. Looking at you, it seems you haven't eaten either. Come and taste my cooking." Shuster said, pulling out a set of bowls and chopsticks from his space and handing them to her. The three of them sat down—the clones had already been dispelled.

"Here, let me introduce you. This is my little sister, Lolita, my Zanpakuto spirit." Shuster gestured toward Lolita.

"Hello," Soi Fon said, extending her hand toward Lolita.

"Hello! Your Zanpakuto is very unique!" Lolita said, shaking Soi Fon’s hand.

"Heh, thank you." Since they weren't very familiar with each other, they exchanged symbolic greetings and began to eat.

"Brat, do you have any alcohol? Although your cooking is delicious, it feels unsatisfying without a drink!" Soi Fon tasted one of Shuster’s dishes and immediately praised it, but as someone accustomed to drinking, she felt something was missing without it.

"Here, take this!" Shuster tossed a bottle of alcohol over; it cost him only one soul crystal for a ton of food and drink anyway.

"Pop." She pulled out the cork.

"Glug, glug, glug."

"..."

"What’s wrong?" Shuster asked with some concern as he watched Soi Fon go silent after finishing her drink.

"It’s nothing... it’s just that this wine is too good!" Soi Fon looked at the bottle in her hand in surprise.

"Oh, it's nothing! I don't drink anyway!" Shuster breathed a sigh of relief. If he had accidentally exchanged some strange alcohol that made Soi Fon sick, it wouldn't have been worth the trouble.

...

The group fell silent, save for the sounds of eating.

"...Tell me, brat... is there really... no other way? ...There are only fifteen days left..." Soi Fon looked at Lolita and Shuster, who were eating in silence, and finally couldn't help but speak up.

"What other way is there? Even if my brother pleads for me, my sentence won't be reduced," Shuster said with an indifferent expression.

"You idiot! We are all worried sick for you, yet you’re sitting here so relaxed! Don't you know you’re going to die?" Soi Fon grabbed Shuster by the shoulders, shaking him as she roared.

"I know. But I can guarantee that I won’t die. Do you believe me?" Shuster calmly pushed her hands away. Beside him, Lolita gently steadied the impulsive Soi Fon.

"Even now! You’re still saying such nonsense to comfort me!? Are you a fool!?" Restrained by Lolita, Soi Fon could only shout at Shuster.

"Captain Soi Fon, has something happened?"

"Nothing! None of you are to come in! Stay outside!" With a sharp command, she silenced the guards, then stared fixedly into Shuster’s eyes.

"..." Stunned by her sudden outburst, Shuster paused for a moment before giving a bitter smile. "I’m not lying to you. Really... I won’t die..."

"You said the same thing six years ago! You said you would return to the Soul Society with me, but you never came back, you jerk!" Soi Fon continued, "Do you know? I’ve blamed myself for years. I didn't even dare to see your brother and sister. It was supposed to be me who stayed behind, but I was afraid to meet that person in the human world, so I let you stay in my place. If I had been braver back then, this wouldn't have happened... I’m sorry..."

"Sigh, I’m the one who should be saying sorry. I’ve made you suffer by being missing for so many years..." Shuster signaled to Lolita, who saw that Soi Fon was no longer so agitated and released her.

"It wasn't my fault; I shouldn't have urged you to stay," Soi Fon said, still feeling guilty despite knowing he had forgiven her.

"I said that's enough! It wasn't your fault at all! Listen here, Feng Shaoling, I told you I won’t die! Did you hear me? I said I won’t die! I stake my honor on it!" Shuster shook Soi Fon by the shoulders, hoping to bring her to her senses.

"...That’s what you said. You’d better remember it, Kuchiki brat. If you die, I will never forgive you!" Soi Fon slapped his hands away and shouted at him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I definitely won't die! Don't worry, my Lady Soi Fon." Shuster promised quickly. This had nothing to do with her; it was clearly Aizen’s fault. This silly girl...

"Kid, give me a case of your good wine. I’m taking it back with me." Soi Fon suddenly changed the subject.

"...Alright!" Shuster was taken aback for a second before readily tossing a case of wine from his space.

"Then I shall take my leave today. Remember, kid—don't die!" With that, Soi Fon vanished using full-speed Shunpo.

"Sigh, she’s such a tsundere! Goodness. Come on, help me clear the table," Shuster said to Lolita.

Just as they finished cleaning up, Shuster heard someone approaching the door...

"Lieutenant Abarai!"

"Yeah." Renji Abarai nodded and walked inside.

"Oh, it seems I’m late. I missed out on a good meal!" Renji said with a smile as he looked at the mostly cleared table and caught the lingering scent of food.

"Oh, Renji! What brings you to see a criminal like me? Did you come to show off because you took my seat?" Shuster teased, looking at the dejected-looking Renji.

"Don't mock me, Senior Kuchiki. If I had known it would come to this, I would have let you go. I didn't expect that even after Captain Kuchiki pleaded for you, there would be no response. You’re doomed this time. I’m the one who ruined you!" Renji said, full of regret.

'It seems Central 46 has been completely controlled by that guy. That bastard acts fast!'

"Forget it, if I die, I die. I’ve lived for hundreds of years; in the eyes of humans, I’m already a monster, right?" Shuster said with complete indifference.

"..." Hearing Shuster’s self-deprecating words, Renji hung his head even lower.

"Renji!"

"Yes!"

"Work hard! I expect that girl Rukia will be back in a few days; take good care of her! That boy Ichigo didn't do anything wrong; giving him a little lesson is enough, there’s no need to be too harsh. You must always leave yourself an exit strategy!" Shuster’s expression seemed to age in an instant.

"Yes! Senior Kuchiki!" Renji committed the "last words" to memory.

"Were you thinking about something disrespectful just now?" Shuster suddenly asked.

"No! No..."

"Did you remember my 'last words' just now?"

"I remembered them!" ...As expected, I’m still not good at lying.

"..."

"Forget it, I forgive you. A word of advice: on the day of my execution, you’d better go to Central 46 and see if those old fossils are still alive. Remember, don't tell anyone, including my brother," Shuster said sternly.

"Hai." Although he was no longer a noble or a lieutenant, but a criminal, to Renji, Shuster would always be his senior, and he would always listen to his senior's words.

"That’s enough, you go now. Let me have some peace..." Shuster dismissed him.

"Hai. Then I shall take my leave, Senior!" Renji said as he stepped out the door.

"Wait! Take this! Consider it a gift for becoming a lieutenant!" Shuster tossed a bottle of wine to him.

...Looking at the exquisitely packaged bottle in his hand and glancing back at the White Tower, Renji clenched his fists tightly and walked away.