"Huh, it's so spicy…"
Matsumoto Rangiku poured herself a large glass of sake and downed it in one gulp, trying to wash away the fiery burn left by the bowl of spicy boiled fish she had just eaten.
Across from her, Kusajishi Yachiru sat cross-legged on the chair, chopsticks in hand, swaying slightly from the alcohol. She giggled and pushed the plate forward.
"Captain Suì-Fēng, you should try some mapo tofu too~."
At Yachiru's urging, Suì-Fēng hesitated, then carefully picked up a cube of tofu and placed it in her mouth. Instantly her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed red, and a thin layer of sweat began forming on her forehead. Without a word, she reached for her beer and gulped it down desperately.
Kurotsuki Renya, watching silently, knew immediately—Suì-Fēng couldn't handle spicy food at all.
Matsumoto and Yachiru, on the other hand, seemed to thrive on it. Both loved dishes drenched in chili oil and spice.
But for Suì-Fēng, each bite was a battle, forcing her to drown her tongue with more alcohol than she could reasonably handle.
"Captain Suì-Fēng, Yachiru, let's drink!" Rangiku cheered, raising her sake glass.
Yachiru followed with her tiny cup. "Kanpai!"
Suì-Fēng reluctantly lifted her own glass to keep pace with them.
Renya quickly interjected. "Please, the three of you have had more than enough already. If you keep going…"
Rangiku turned to him with bleary eyes and kicked her legs up on the chair. "What nonsense. Who says we're drunk?"
"I'm not drunk either!" Yachiru chimed in, raising her cup again.
Suì-Fēng, unusually emboldened by the alcohol, shoved Renya's hand away. "This is between women. Don't interrupt."
The three clinked their cups and downed another round.
A moment later, there was a thud—Suì-Fēng collapsed face-first onto the table, fast asleep.
"Captain Suì-Fēng!" Renya leaned over in alarm, but her steady breathing confirmed it: she had passed out.
Meanwhile, Rangiku and Yachiru still wanted to continue.
"You two can't keep drinking," Renya said firmly, blocking their hands from reaching the sake bottle. "If you drink any more and Captain Hitsugaya or Captain Zaraki finds out, you'll be in real trouble."
Rangiku hiccupped, swaying to her feet. "You're right… Alright then, I'll stop. Captain Suì-Fēng's all yours, Renya. But don't do anything weird to her just because she's drunk…" She smirked, teasing him with a knowing look.
Renya's face turned red as he pushed her back gently. "Of course not."
"Good. Thanks for the meal~." Rangiku gave a lazy wave and staggered out of the room, clearly not as drunk as she pretended to be.
"Xiao Renya~ I'm going too," Yachiru yawned, hopping down from her chair. "Ken-chan's waiting for me."
Renya escorted them both out, settled the bill, and returned to Suì-Fēng.
The Captain of the 2nd Division lay slumped over the table, breathing softly. The spiciness had forced her into drinking far more than she could handle. Now she was utterly knocked out.
Renya sighed. "I shouldn't have let her drink so much… or ordered anything spicy."
Carefully, he lifted her up onto his back. Suì-Fēng was surprisingly light—barely over thirty kilograms—and her small frame rested easily against his shoulders. Among the Gotei 13, she was one of the shortest captains, only taller than Yachiru and young Hitsugaya, and not by much.
As Renya carried her through the streets toward the 2nd Division barracks, curious eyes followed. Whispers spread quickly. The infamous Captain Suì-Fēng, drunk? If word of this reached the other captains, it could become a scandal.
Back at the barracks, Renya laid her gently on her futon. He removed her haori and sandals, leaving only her shihakushō, then tucked her under the blanket. Just as he turned to leave, her hand shot out, clutching his sleeve tightly.
"Don't… go…" she murmured, her voice breaking.
Renya froze. Tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes. Then came the words:
"Don't go… Yoruichi-sama…"
Renya's chest tightened. Only in her drunken sleep could she voice the feelings she had buried so deeply.
Softly, he pried her fingers loose, pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders, and slipped out of the room.
The night air felt heavy. Returning to his own quarters, Renya still had reports to complete, and by the time he finished his duties, it was well past midnight. Exhausted, he collapsed into bed.
But the chaos Suì-Fēng left behind wasn't limited to her.
Earlier that evening, Rangiku, drunk and irritated with Captain Isshin Shiba's usual antics, had found him sneaking out of the barracks. In a rare fit of temper, she pinned him to the ground and unleashed her pent-up frustration in a one-sided scolding (and a few punches).
Meanwhile, Yachiru had returned to the 11th Division. Finding Madarame Ikkaku and Yumichika napping, she decided to "decorate" them—drawing a turtle on Ikkaku's bald head, tossing Yumichika's clothes out the window, and even snipping off a chunk of Kenpachi Zaraki's wild hair with a pair of scissors.
By the next morning, both the 10th and 11th Divisions were in an uproar.
—
Renya, however, overslept for the first time in years. It was already past eight when he rubbed his eyes groggily.
But as he sat up, he nearly jumped out of bed—Suì-Fēng was standing right beside him.
"C-Captain Suì-Fēng?"
She stood rigid, face stern as ever, but the slight disarray of her twin braids betrayed she hadn't properly composed herself that morning.
"Yesterday… you carried me back, didn't you?"
Renya straightened, bowing his head. "Yes, Captain. I brought you back safely."
"…I see. Thank you." Her voice was quiet, awkward.
"It's nothing," Renya said with a small smile. "If anything, I should apologize for not stopping you from drinking so much."
She glanced at him, clearly torn about something. Finally, she asked: "Did I… say anything strange while I was asleep?"
Renya's heart tightened at the memory of her calling Yoruichi's name. But he forced a light laugh. "Only that you wanted another drink."
Suì-Fēng flushed crimson, but relief washed over her face. "…I see. Then forget it. Get up—it's late."
With that, she left the room quickly.
Outside, the morning sun blazed over the Seireitei. Suì-Fēng paused at the doorway, her hand clenched at her side.
They say drinking washes away worries… But why, after last night, do I feel like the ache in my chest has only grown stronger?
Yoruichi-sama… where are you?