Chapter 69: Summons
Early morning, Suoh Tsukasa finished his morning training.
"Suoh 3rd Seat, good work."
The bearded squad member beside him promptly offered a towel and bamboo canteen.
Suoh reached out to accept them, speaking somewhat helplessly.
"Konoe, I can handle these small things myself."
"Don't say that. You're always cooking for us—this little thing is only natural."
Konoe Shuzo, as a veteran ordinary squad member with rich experience, had been present every time Suoh led an expedition.
He not only handled communication with the division during expeditions but also assisted Suoh with various expedition miscellany, basically shouldering the responsibilities of a temporary adjutant. He'd helped considerably.
Over time, the two had developed an unspoken understanding.
Suoh's management style was far more iron-blooded than Shiba Miyako's. Their styles differed, each with distinct characteristics.
Due to her gentle, benevolent nature, Shiba Miyako liked leading from the front in battle. Her philosophy held that the strong should protect the weak, worrying about subordinates getting injured.
Suoh's style focused on commanding the overall situation while tempering squad members through missions. His philosophy held that the strong could protect the weak, but more importantly should help the weak grow into the strong, so they could protect those even weaker.
Squad members getting injured didn't concern him much at all. Injuries were merely the necessary price paid on the path to becoming stronger. With his Kido skills, he could handle ordinary wounds properly.
Under his leadership, every squad member had to undergo tempering through blood and sweat.
Unless a squad member faced a potentially fatal attack in combat, he absolutely wouldn't step in to help easily.
Yet this very attitude had earned Suoh heartfelt loyalty from some squad members.
"Time's about right. Call everyone up. Prepare to depart."
Suoh valued efficiency highly. During marches, he precisely monitored each squad member's condition, only establishing camp to rest when someone's fatigue reached a certain extreme limit.
As for this standard, he set it. Under Suoh's spiritual perception, he understood their physical conditions better than the squad members themselves.
No one had ever tried contradicting his orders. This was also the main reason squad members called him strict.
"Yes!"
Under Konoe Shuzo's coordination, after packing up the camp, the unit quickly finished preparations.
By the time the morning sun fully leaped above the horizon, Suoh had already led the subjugation squad members through West District 4, heading toward the White Path Gate.
When the unit stopped at a crossroads, his eyes involuntarily glanced toward neighboring West District 3.
In the past, he'd said he'd frequently return to Terada-ya to see everyone. But in reality, after entering the Thirteenth Division, he could only visit during occasional holidays.
Even now, standing in the area adjacent to West District 3, he couldn't make a detour to look.
Similarly, even when passing through West District 1—a necessary route on the return journey—he hadn't visited Toshiro's grandmother.
Public was public, private was private. As a seated officer, he had to set an example. This was what had to be sacrificed before achieving his goals.
The squad members followed not just him as a person, but every boundary he clearly drew.
"Move out!"
After the unit completed a brief rest, Suoh gave the order and they set off again.
After a long journey, the unit finally returned to the Thirteenth Division barracks entrance.
The sun leaping to its highest point dyed the division's wooden gate golden. Everyone returning from the expedition stopped before the gate.
Suoh turned to face the travel-worn squad members. His gaze swept across each person's face as he spoke warmly.
"Everyone worked hard on this mission. Remember to rest properly. Dismissed!"
"Thank you for your guidance, Suoh 3rd Seat!"
The squad members responded in unison. After completing their salute, the formation dispersed.
Suoh watched everyone leave, then headed toward the duty office.
The duty office door stood open. Shiba Miyako on duty looked up to see his figure. Her eyes curved into a gentle arc as she spoke joyfully.
"Tsukasa, welcome back. Good work."
"Mm, Miyako-neesan. I'm back."
"Here's this mission's report."
Suoh replied with a smile, retrieving the written report from his pack.
"Your handwriting is still so beautiful."
Shiba Miyako raised her hand to accept it, her gaze resting on the report's text as she praised him.
"Sit down and rest a moment. I'll make you some tea."
After arranging the report neatly, she stood and walked toward the tea cabinet.
"Alright."
Suoh responded, then sat on a cushion by the window to relax.
He watched Shiba Miyako warm the pot and prepare tea inside, listening to the distant shouts from the training grounds outside the window.
"I see you drink tea often. This is newly purchased gyokuro—see if you like it."
After a moment, Shiba Miyako carried the tea set and sat across from Suoh.
She slowly poured tea into the white porcelain cup before him. The clear tea color gleamed with jade-like luster in the light.
"Tastes good."
"Where is everyone else?"
Suoh picked up the teacup and took a sip, nodding.
He actually hadn't studied tea ceremony much. His usual tea drinking was simply because he didn't like plain water.
The duty office was normally quite lively. Only Shiba Miyako was present today, so he asked somewhat curiously.
"Kaien was called away by the captain earlier."
"The others showed their faces in the morning, then disappeared afterward."
"I see."
Suoh looked at the light rippling in his cup and nodded. He'd only asked casually anyway.
He then entered casual conversation mode with Shiba Miyako—discussing this mission's events intermittently while listening to her talk about recent interesting happenings in the Shiba family.
Though the Thirteenth Division area also had a library, besides that, other ways to pass time were few and far between.
Daily casual conversations with friends was one of Suoh's few pleasures since joining the division.
Just as Suoh listened to these everyday family matters, a hearty voice came from outside the duty office door.
The person hadn't arrived but the voice came first. He didn't need to look up to know who'd come.
"Tsukasa, perfect timing that you're back."
The next second, Shiba Kaien walked happily into the duty office, waving at him.
"A bit bitter—"
Approaching the two, he picked up Shiba Miyako's teacup and gulped down a large mouthful, commenting on the taste before continuing.
"Captain Ukitake wants you to find time to visit Ugendo after you return."
"Did the captain say what it's about?"
Hearing this, a trace of puzzlement flashed through Suoh's eyes as he asked.
Suoh had visited Ugendo a few times before, but basically always with others. Being called there alone like this was a first.
"He didn't say."
Shiba Kaien spread his hands.
Suspecting nothing, Suoh stood, picked up his pack, and waved farewell to the two.
"Alright, I'll head back to freshen up, then go over shortly."
"I'm off!"
"Mm."
Shiba Kaien watched Suoh's departing back, suddenly feeling an inexplicable sensation in his heart.
In his impression, Suoh had always been someone who knew how to enjoy leisure time.
Yet Suoh's enthusiasm and proactivity regarding Hollow threats after joining the division left him genuinely somewhat baffled.
"Kaien, what's wrong?"
Shiba Miyako keenly detected her husband's momentary distraction and inquired.
"Nothing."
Shiba Kaien wasn't the type for delicate thoughts to begin with. The inexplicable emotion came quickly and left just as fast. He calmed his mood and shook his head.