7:00 PM
Everyone had finished unpacking and arranging their belongings and rooms. Now, they were all seated around the new dining table—large enough to fit them all comfortably.
Since everyone had been busy with work and there wasn't enough time to cook, Isshin had called a restaurant in advance and ordered enough food to feed everyone.
The table was full of all kinds of food: steamed rice, miso soup, sushi, and even fast food like pizza and burgers. It was clear that Isshin spared no effort for this dinner—he sincerely hoped his new family would start bonding tonight.
"Alright! To celebrate our new family—cheers!!" Isshin beamed with happiness, raising his beer glass toward everyone. He was clearly in a great mood.
"Cheers!!" everyone echoed, lifting their drinks. Unlike Isshin, Hina, and Tsukiko, who were adults and drinking beer, the others were minors and had juice or soda instead.
"Thank you, Ren-kun," Hina said with a warm smile as she placed a plate in front of him. "Just a small thanks for helping us carry all those things."
Ren blinked slowly, glancing from the plate to Hina.
"Isn't this... my dish?" he asked in a deadpan tone.
"...Yes, but I presented it to you in a new way," she replied with a slightly mischievous smile.
Ichigo chuckled from the other side of the table, while Karin whispered to Yuzu:
"This is how psychological domination starts. One food offering at a time."
"Please, stop acting like we're in a tactical war," Ren sighed as he took a bite in silence.
Meanwhile, Tsukiko sat beside Isshin, watching the warm family banter with soft, grateful eyes.
"I didn't expect them to blend this quickly..." she whispered to him.
"Told you, my kids aren't ordinary," Isshin said proudly, waving his beer can. "They're the best anyone could ever wish for!"
"Are you complimenting yourself now?" Hina raised an eyebrow while sipping her drink.
"Of course!" he replied immediately. "I'm a parenting genius!"
"...With your nightly snoring, I'm amazed we haven't all fled the house," Karin muttered, earning a soft elbow from Yuzu, who tried to stay polite as she giggled quietly.
Rui, as usual, sat silently, chewing her food slowly, her eyes drifting across the dishes—as if analyzing everything. But she was listening. Her eyes subtly moved between family members, observing the dynamics, as if testing how real this warmth truly was.
"Is everything alright, Tachibana-san?" Ren asked casually, though his eyes focused on her face for a brief second.
"...The food's good," she replied quietly, then after a pause, added, "And the atmosphere... isn't bad."
"What a compliment," Ichigo murmured, though he looked satisfied.
Laughter filled the room again as plates moved around, each person picking what they liked while small conversations bloomed across the table:
Yuzu asking Hina about her favorite dishes.
Karin challenging Isshin to eat the spiciest tempura.
Rui leaning quietly toward Ren and asking, without looking at him:
"Is it always like this?"
He thought for a moment before replying:
"Yeah... sort of. Sometimes even weirder."
"Weird doesn't mean bad," she muttered under her breath, picking up another sushi piece. "Also, you can just call me Rui."
"..." Ren stared at her briefly before nodding in silence and biting into a slice of pizza.
And amid the laughter, whispers, and mini-battles over the last piece of meat—it seemed this new family had just begun building something special.
After dinner and showers, everyone returned to their rooms, exhausted and in need of rest.
Ren was the first to shower. Once done, he went straight to his room, summoned his Zanpakuto, and began to meditate. Communing with Mikazuki through meditation was the fastest path to achieving Bankai.
"Sigh~" Ren exhaled softly, standing up as Mikazuki vanished from his lap. He walked toward his new balcony—added during the renovations as a stylish modern touch.
Swish!
He gently slid open the door, letting the cool night air brush against his face. He stepped onto the balcony, staring down at the garden below with quiet indifference.
"Never thought we'd become siblings..." Ren muttered to himself, as an image of a beautiful girl with short blue hair and ruby eyes appeared in his mind. He remembered their relationship, which began three months ago and ended within a week. Back then, he was just looking for pleasure—while she was trying to prove she was an adult.
Swish!
The door to the adjacent balcony opened quickly—the same girl he had been thinking of stepped out. Rui. She had likely sensed movement outside and came out to investigate.
"..." The two stared at each other in silence. Even though Ren wore a blindfold, Rui felt like he was looking straight into her eyes. She returned the gaze, even though she couldn't see his.
"I think... we need to talk a little," Ren sighed softly, then with a small hop, crossed the short distance between balconies—his physical strength making the jump effortless.
"..." Rui gazed into his face—handsome, delicate yet masculine—and without saying a word, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into her room.
As soon as Ren stepped into her room, Rui quietly closed the door behind them. The lighting was soft and warm, adding intimacy to the atmosphere. The scent of jasmine—her favorite—filled the room. Ren recognized it instantly; he used to smell it every time he got close to her in the past.
Feeling a sudden rush of courage from an unknown source, Rui stood on her toes and pressed her rosy lips against his. Ren arched back slightly—Rui pulling him closer by the back—trying to reach his height.
They fell back onto her new bed, entangled in a kiss both passionate and shameless.
Moonlight spilled softly through the translucent curtains, casting silver over their figures as desire filled their eyes. The jasmine scent now mixed with the subtle aroma of green tea still clinging to Ren after his shower—creating a heady mix that reminded them of their past.
This time, Rui didn't hesitate. One hand gripped Ren's collar, the other wrapped around his waist as she yanked him toward her. Her lips—like red rose petals—crushed against his with sudden ferocity, punishing him for months of silence and avoidance.
Ren, usually cold and indifferent, found himself responding eagerly. His hands slid along her waist, then her back—pulling her tighter. Their breathing turned ragged and hot, as if the very air around them thickened with suppressed desire.
"Is this your idea of talking?" Ren murmured between kisses, his voice rougher than usual.
"It's better than words... isn't it?" Rui replied, pushing him back so he sat at the bed's edge. Standing between his legs, her fingers ran through his short black hair as she leaned down, biting his lower lip gently before letting go.
Ren didn't wait this time. With stunning speed, he reversed their positions, pinning her wrists and pushing her down onto the bed beneath him. His golden eyes, usually expressionless, now burned with naked lust.
"Don't think you're the only one who knows how to play this game..." he growled near her lips.
Rui didn't answer. Instead, she gently raised her knee between his thighs—making him groan low. She smiled victoriously, enjoying his reaction.
"Still sensitive here, huh?" she whispered, her voice dripping with mockery and confidence.
Ren didn't let it slide. With one hand, he pinned both her wrists above her head; the other slid beneath her thin shirt, tracing the skin he remembered so well.
"And you... still purse your lips like that when I touch you here?" he teased, running his thumb over the spot through the fabric.
Rui stifled a moan, her lashes fluttering, her hands twitching slightly under his grip. "Y-You're so rude..." she whispered, her voice trembling as Ren began planting soft kisses along her neck and collarbone.
Outside, the night was calm. A breeze rustled the leaves in the garden. Faint laughter echoed from Ichigo and Karin's room as they argued about something trivial. But here, in this room, the world had shrunk down to nothing but rapid breaths, whispered lust, and lingering touches that reminded them how badly they'd missed this.
Ren suddenly stopped, raising his head to look into her eyes. "Are you sure...?" he asked, his voice unusually serious. "There's no going back after this..."
Rui held his gaze for a moment, then slowly leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Who said I want to go back...?" she whispered, nibbling gently on his earlobe—making him clutch the bed sheets tightly.
In that moment, everything became clear. This wasn't just a return to the past... it was the start of something new—something far more dangerous... and far more thrilling.
Swish!
The curtains drew closed in a single sweep—leaving only the moon as witness to what came next.
...
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