{🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please support me.🥰 You can access upto 70+ advance chapter through Patreon by using the link: https://patreon.com/Oreski}
The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom as Sui-Feng sat outside, her face flushed, her mind lingering on the sweetness of the moment before. Even as she tried, the memory refused to fade. After a while, the water stopped; she swallowed nervously, glancing sideways at the wooden door with a mix of anticipation and restraint.
The door creaked open and a figure emerged—hair still slightly damp, face fresh and clean, the spotless Captain's Haori draped over his shoulders. Sui-Feng was momentarily stunned by the tall, graceful man whose elegance felt almost surreal. Realizing she was staring, her cheeks burned and she turned away sharply to hide her embarrassment, muttering, "Seriously... he's just getting more and more shameless." Who else could stir Sui-Feng's icy heart but Su Li?
He stepped forward, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, a warm, sunny smile on his face. It would be his last bath at Yuanzi School, and after forty years, he was finally leaving. This bath felt like a farewell. The cracked tiles, aging beams, and weathered walls all held memories; despite everything, he felt reluctant to go. Yuanzi School had been his world for four decades—quiet, forgotten, but to him, home. "Bee," he said gently, "let's go. It's time we reintroduce ourselves to some old friends." His voice was light, but his soul glowed. Sui-Feng gave a quiet nod, and together they walked toward the gate as the once-bustling Yuanzi School, after forty years of silence, saw its guardians depart.
Down the narrow trail, a red-haired man strolled forward, exchanging half-hearted greetings with those who called out to him. Now vice-captain of the Sixth Division, Renji had worked forty years to reach this rank, but he never believed the hype about being among the top three lieutenants in Seireitei. He had seen real genius and knew he wasn't there yet. What weighed on him more was Rukia Kuchiki—dispatched to the World of the Living and then gone silent. She had disappeared, and that unknown gnawed at him. Today, he was heading to the First Division, hoping Captain Byakuya would finally speak.
Lost in thought, Renji looked up and froze. Two figures walked toward him, one wearing a Haori. Instinct made him bow. "Good afternoon, Captain—" but then a warm, nostalgic voice interrupted, "Yo, Renji. Been a long time. Looking good…" It was both unfamiliar and intimately known. Renji lifted his gaze, heart stopping. "S-Su Li?!" Before he could react further, Sui-Feng's cold, sharp voice cut in, "Watch your tone, brat." Su Li, calm and mature, smiled. "It's alright, Bee. We were classmates, after all." She clicked her tongue, muttering under her breath about his shamelessness, while he turned back to Renji with a grin. "Vice-captain now, huh? Sixth Division... well done, man." Clapping him on the back, Su Li pulled him into a hug. Forty years of retreat had made him miss these bonds, and he didn't hold back. By the time Renji's mind cleared, they were gone, leaving him standing in the alley, heart thumping violently. The man was back.
After bidding Renji farewell, Su Li and Sui-Feng headed toward the First Division barracks. The first thing Su Li intended was to greet Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, who had enforced the strict death order forbidding interruptions to his retreat. He owed the old man that peace, and now, as a disciple, it was time to report back. Along the way, everyone who saw him reacted with the same sequence: confusion, stunned disbelief, and jaws dropping. Su Li simply waved warmly, thinking it wasn't his job to fix their dropped jaws. The sound of shock followed him through the Seireitei until he vanished from sight and the crowd erupted in cheers—some crying out in joy, others declaring him their idol, and many swooning at how much better he looked than before.
A few new recruits, however, were baffled. "Wait... Captain Su Li? Isn't the youngest captain Hitsugaya TĹŤshirĹŤ?" one asked. "And the strongest is Kenpachi Zaraki, right?" another added. They dismissed it as some old magazine exaggeration, never realizing the legend was real. But to the veterans, his return was monumental.
Among the crowd, Hinamori Momo stood quietly, eyes fixed on the place he had vanished, her mind replaying something Captain Aizen had once whispered. Without a word, she turned away and walked toward the Fifth Division barracks. She had something to report—to him. That man.
{ Enjoying the chapters? Please Support me on Patreon and unlock 70+ advanced chapters, with 3 new chapters released every two days!
The fanfic is also available for one-time purchase on Patreon – unlock lifetime access to the full collection, no membership needed! Don't miss out –support and own it forever!
patreon.com/Oreski}