chapter 24

Mikami Asui spoke in a playful tone, "Could it be that because the three of us are together every day, our talents are rubbing off on each other?"

Kuranosuke Kiyota shook his head. "The word 'infection' isn't quite accurate-but there may be similar examples in reality."

"For example, some individuals who originally had latent abilities might awaken them after prolonged exposure to abnormal forces."

He exhaled slowly, easing the tension in the room.

"Well, it might all be coincidence."

"Or perhaps the three of you are naturally gifted with Jinzen. That's also possible."

Yuta gave a calm smile. "It simply means all three of you are geniuses-it's only that no one had recognized it until now."

The three girls looked at one another. Although they had lingering questions, they couldn't draw any further conclusions for the time being.

"Alright, that's it for today's lesson. Get some rest."

The group dispersed gradually, heading back to the dormitories for the night.

"Mikami glanced at Yuta before leaving and noticed he was standing rooted to the spot. She walked over and asked, "Yuta, do you know the way to the dormitory? Why don't you come with us?"

"No thanks." Yuta shook his head.

"Okay, see you tomorrow then." Mikami and the others waved and said goodbye as they left.

Yuta headed toward the front gate of Shino Academy with the intention of finding rental housing off campus.

As he approached the entrance, voices and movement drew his attention.

"Hey, look-isn't that Rangiku Matsumoto, the vice-captain of the 10th Division?"

"She's gorgeous-and that figure... unreal."

"But what's Vice-Captain Matsumoto doing at the academy?"

Matsumoto Rangiku stood at the gate with her Zanpakutō at her waist, her thick lashes sweeping over students as she searched for someone in the crowd.

The moment she spotted Yuta, her eyes lit up. Without warning, she ran straight at him and jumped on his back, arms wrapped around his shoulders like he was her personal support post.

"Brother Yuta! I finally found you!"

"What the hell are you doing? Let go-you're heavy."

Matsumoto ignored the complaint and pinched his waist with her index and middle fingers. "Brother Yuta is so moody-but you're the one who made yourself irresistible," she teased with a grin.

"What are you doing at the academy?"

"I came to take you out for drinks."

"Yeah-not interested."

"Don't be like that, Brother Yuta~~" Matsumoto clung to his arm and pulled him right out of the academy gates.

…

Murmurs rustled through the nearby students.

"What's happening?"

"She tracked down a student to drink with?"

"They look… seriously close."

"How did some random student charm Vice-Captain Matsumoto into chasing him down for drinks?"

"And he turned her down?"

…

To be honest, Rangiku hadn't planned it this way either.

She'd gone drinking after work as usual-but everything tasted bland. The wine that normally lit her up felt like flavored water compared to that one miraculous bowl Yuta had brewed for her once. She couldn't shake that taste from her mind-it lingered in her mouth no matter what else she drank.

She wasn't about to hold back anymore. She came straight to find him.

Luck was on her side when she saw him standing at the gate. Her timing couldn't have been better.

"I'll drink with you," Yuta finally said. "Right after I find somewhere to live off campus."

"That's easy-I know a great spot."

They traveled together to a residential community called Momo.

The area had stone-paved paths lined with gardens and decorative ponds. Metal benches stretched along the walkways, their surfaces rusted slightly from years of rain. Above them, tree branches shifted in the breeze. Shafts of sunlight broke through leaves in scattered patches of white light overhead.

Soon they reached a three-story detached house.

The property manager was a middle-aged man named Shisui. His thinning hair hinted at years of hard work behind him.

"Our service package in Momo Community guarantees satisfaction and offers aristocrat-level comfort," he began proudly.

"This unit faces south. It's got open lawn space and direct lake access-you can fish out there any time."

"There's also a swimming pool on the rooftop. Imagine lounging by it on hot days with the breeze blowing in."

"We've got a rooftop garden where you can plant flowers or herbs too-it's a perfect space to unwind."

As Shisui gave his pitch, Yuta walked through each floor to get a closer look.

The first floor had a semi-enclosed kitchen lit by natural light. There was a glass dining table with multiple chairs set near it. The living room connected directly from there-with spotless mirrored tiles across the floor reflecting glimmers from the setting sun through nearby windows. Inlaid lights spilled gentle glow across furniture: one large chandelier above and a floor-length brown lamp near the wall-side wine cabinet. There was also a fireplace across from it-all framed by potted Seireitei foliage that gave color and freshness to every corner.

Elsewhere on the first floor was a tea room lit by wide windows, two bathrooms, and two separate rooms.

The second floor featured additional bedrooms and a central resting area furnished with sofas and twin bookcases filled with calligraphy scrolls and artwork along the walls.

The third floor had four distinct rooms: one as a dressing room, one bathroom, and then a wide swimming pool stretched across the middle, connected by balcony access on one side.

Upstairs on the rooftop were carefully arranged flower beds and open space with panoramic views of Shino Academy's towers off in the distance and dark hills beyond them.

"How much is rent?"

Back on the first floor, Shisui rubbed his palms together and raised three fingers. "Thirty-seven thousand kan per year."

Matsumoto pulled at Yuta's sleeve immediately. "That's insane. Let's go somewhere else."

"Wait! I could do thirty-six thousand!" Shisui quickly interjected.

"Thirty thousand!" Yuta shot back without missing a step.

"Thirty-five is my lowest!"

"Deal."

They sealed it right then. Shisui handed over the key and left after bowing twice.

With rent paid-and their wallets noticeably lighter-they were finally alone inside.

Yuta took mental stock of what remained after paying for drinks too: barely over twenty thousand kan left altogether.

Matsumoto flopped face-first onto the plush couch without ceremony and buried herself in its cushiony comfort…

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