Chapter 74
"?"
Under Haruto's curious gaze.
A man wearing a standard Shinigami uniform, with drooping eyebrows and looking a little weak, walked in evasively.
"That..."
It was obviously a big challenge for the newcomer to speak in front of so many people. If there were no two familiar faces here, he would have turned around and ran away.
And after a brief but huge psychological struggle:
"I am the 42nd seat of the 4th Division, Yamada Hanatarō!"
It was obvious that he bit his tongue, but he didn't stop introducing himself... Cowardice may be innate, but his serious personality will not be affected.
"Please take care of me!"
Perhaps because he was too strong, Yamada Hanatarō almost broke his spine when he bowed.
"..."
So this is what Qingyin meant.
Yamada Hanatarō is the younger brother of Yamada Seinosuke, the vice-captain of the 4th Division who just treated Haruto's injury.
"Haruto, a sixth-year student at the Shinō Spiritual Academy."
Haruto quickly stood up from the tatami and extended his right hand to Yamada Hanatarō with a serious look.
"Thank you for your brother's care. Please give me more guidance in the future--"
"Hanatarō."
Don't think that Yamada Hanatarō is only a low-ranking officer in the fourth division. That's because he doesn't like competition. Even though his spiritual pressure and Kaido are not as good as his brother Yamada Seinosuke, when it comes to real skills, it's easy for him to be a high-ranking officer.
Haruto took the initiative to stand up and greet.
Even if he didn't like such a scene, Byakuya could only introduce himself:
"Kuchiki Byakuya."
Hanatarō, who looks timid, is actually very thoughtful, otherwise he wouldn't be scared by Byakuya's concise introduction and almost jump up.
Fortunately, in this situation, Ayaka can always make the atmosphere lively quickly... plus Kiyon, it's too lively.
"Hi, hi~ This is Ayaka Kurumiya, Daze~."
"...... Nanao Ise, please take care of me."
If Nanao is the only one left to answer, then the silence will be beyond Haruto's control.
"......"
After everyone answered.
"Kiyone."
Haruto said to Kiyone who was about to close the door.
"Hmm?"
"Isn't there another person outside...would you like to introduce her?"
There were more than one person's footsteps in the corridor just now. Haruto was not the host, but he thought it was better to remind her.
"Ah~"
Kiyone spread her hands helplessly, shook her head and sighed.
It would be fine if Haruto didn't notice it - this possibility did not exist from the beginning - but since he had already expressed it, Kiyone, who had done her best, could not pretend not to know.
"Hey!"
Kiyone poked her head out of the door and said weakly.
"Come in..."
"Yes!"
The louder voice than Kiyone's usual voice almost scared away the birds that had settled in the tree.
"Dong, dong, dong!"
Accompanied by the sound of powerful footsteps.
A man with a white rope tied on his head, a rudimentary goatee on his chin, and skin tanned red by the sun appeared in front of everyone.
"I am a soldier of the 13th Division, Sentaro Kotsubaki!"
The man bowed deeply and hard, and the bundle in his hands did not tremble at all because of this large movement.
"I just moved from Rukongai to next door to Yamada-kun today. These are some gifts prepared by me. Please don't be polite!"
"..."
The atmosphere that was quite inconsistent with the temperament of the room made everyone fall into a brief silence.
"Kiyone."
At this time, Haruto had to come out.
"Huh?"
"He came with a gift, how could you turn him away?"
Haruto took the initiative to step forward.
He first took a bundle from Sentaro Kotsubaki with both hands and held it under his armpit, then stretched out his right hand and said:
"Welcome another 'Taro-kun' to join us."
"Thank...Thank you for your care!"
The Yamada family is very interesting.
Because the name Taro is usually used for the eldest son in the family, Hana Taro, who has a brother, should be called "Hanajiro".
For example, Kotsubaki Sentaro is more normal.
Although he couldn't tell them apart at first glance, after hearing the other party's self-introduction, Haruto recognized his identity:
The future vice-captain of the 13th Division, the adjutant of Kuchiki Rukia.
"......"
Thinking of this.
Haruto glanced at everyone in the room without leaving a trace.
Except for Ayaka and Hana Taro, everyone gathered here tonight seems to be the backbone of the future Gotei 13:
Byakuya and Yuine are the captains.
Kiyone, Nanao, Kotsubaki Sentaro are the vice-captains... It seems that the name with "flower" is a debuff.
————
Haruto returned to his seat and held up the bag and gestured to Kotsubaki Sentaro.
"Can you open it?"
"Please... please feel free!"
For some reason.
When facing Haruto, Kotsubaki Sentaro is always a little reserved, which is completely different from his attitude towards Kiyone and Hana
Taro:
I am afraid he has some Japanese-style machismo.
Through the self-introduction just now, Haruto already knows the situation of the Kotsubaki family - although he claims to be from Rukongai, since he can be neighbors with the Yamada family, it means that he has obtained noble status.
This is inside the Seireitei. If you can have a house here, you will be a middle-level noble who is relatively well-off.
After two simple conversations, Haruto knew the reason:
Kotsubaki Sentaro's father, Kotsubaki Bladeemon, is the current vice-captain of the 7th Division and the slicing arts instructor of the Gotei 13th Division.
He is also a swordsman who has climbed up from Rukongai step by step.
The beheading instructor of the Gotei 13.
Such a status is not low, and it is only natural that he would be given a title of nobility by the Forty-Six Central Chambers...
It's easier to control.
As for the identity of the general instructor, it has always been Yamamoto Shigekuni; that is to say, on the premise that the Zanpakuto ability is not involved, Kotsubaki Sentaro's father's slicing skills can be ranked first in Soul Society. second......
On the bright side.
"This is?"
Haruto opened the baggage sent by Sentaro Kotsubaki, and the fragrance slowly came out.
"Tea from our hometown."
Sentaro Kotsubaki replied.
"..."
"Is this what Deputy Captain Xiaochun means?"
"No, that's what I meant."
Kochun Sentaro shook his head in denial.
Being from Rukongai shows that the family has little background. A father with the rank of vice-captain does not have the salary to give out the gifts that the nobles would love.
But since he was moving into the Seireitei, it would be inappropriate to give out gifts and it would not be in line with the friendship, so he might add a few more gossips when he was already not considered highly.
So......
Specialties from your hometown are a very suitable gift.
Although Sentaro Kotsubaki looks rough, he is still very delicate in his thoughts. Maybe this visit is an opportunity that he found after thinking about it for a long time - judging from Kiyone's performance, it is clear that she was not prepared to invite Sentaro Kotsubaki at the beginning.
"Thank you very much."
Keep the box of tea cakes next to you.
"OK OK!"
After Haruto ended the conversation with the "loud voice", Kiyone finally took the opportunity to interject into the topic.
"Sister, please bring the things up quickly."
"Everyone came here for your flower arrangement tonight!"
Although this was just an excuse made by Qingyin, Yongyin still took it seriously when it came time to play.
"Um!"
Seeing that everyone was focusing on him, Yongyin not only did not have stage fright this time, but nodded firmly with a look on his face.
Even the most introverted people have their own areas.
————
Half an hour later.
"call!"
Yongyin took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"..."
After she placed the fern scissors by her side, leaned down and bowed slowly, the entire "flower arrangement" process was completely over.
"Pap-pap-pap-pap."
Haruto took the lead in applauding.
This is not an act of courtesy, Haruto's own aesthetic level can only be considered average - most of his attention is focused on the opposite sex, and he has basically no understanding of flowers and plants - but after seeing Yongyin's works, he still felt the beauty. Existence: The bouquet standing in the vase looks particularly beautiful against the branches and leaves.
Not only that.
The most important thing is the intention contained in it.
