After Rangiku Matsumoto opened the door, a cold breeze drifted into the warm bathroom.
"Phew… it's so cold, so cold…"
She spoke as she quickly shut the door again.
Inoue Orihime looked up and saw Rangiku Matsumoto wrapped in a bath towel.
"It's Ms. Rangiku," Orihime said softly.
"Don't be shy, let's wash together," Rangiku replied with a smile.
Matsumoto stepped into the bathtub. Her curvaceous body displaced much of the water, making the surface rise until it spilled over the edges and splashed onto the ground. A small yellow duck floated toward Orihime as the water swayed.
Matsumoto sat opposite Orihime, the two of them facing each other without anything hidden between them.
"Little Orihime, you must have spent a lot of money buying today's meal, right?" Rangiku asked.
Orihime smiled. "Not at all… it's what I should do."
Rangiku shook her head gently. "You work in a bakery and don't earn much. You usually eat mostly vegetables. You bought so much meat today… I'm afraid you'll have to live on vegetables for the next few days."
Orihime's smile remained. "I'm very satisfied just to contribute even a little for Mr. Yuta."
"That's why you're foolish." Rangiku reached out and squished Orihime's cheeks, making her look almost childlike in her hands. "Giving up for yourself so others can eat meat…"
"No… it's fine," Orihime replied, her words muffled by Rangiku's grip. "My chest feels heavy when I walk anyway. Being thinner might even be better…"
Not long after, Orihime finished washing and wiped herself dry. Her skin glistened as she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom. She glanced into the hall, saw neither Yuta nor Kuchiki Rukia, and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Leaning against the wall, she slid down slowly until her knees were pulled up to her chest. Hugging her legs tightly, she appeared small and withdrawn. Her hair, pinned up to avoid getting wet, showed the curve of her face. She looked at her own hands, nails pink and neat. Her eyelids drooped slightly, her gaze dazed as if she had drifted away in thought.
The sound of light movement startled her back to awareness. She whispered quickly.
"Miss Rangiku…"
Before she could move further, her hands were seized, and she was pressed down onto the straw mat without resistance. The clip in her hair snapped free, and her long hair spilled across the floor like a dark veil.
The towel she wore loosened with the impact, slipping just enough to reveal bare skin. Droplets from Rangiku's body fell onto her.
Staring at Rangiku's expression above her, Orihime whispered through a trembling voice, "Miss Rangiku… Am I useless?"
Her words began to spill out through tears. "Even though the world is on the edge of destruction, Kurosaki and Ishida are fighting so hard. But I just keep going to school, eating good food…" Her voice faltered. "Mr. Yuta, Miss Kuchiki… you're all so incredible. Compared to everyone else, my abilities are so weak. All I can do is try to heal wounds… I can't change anything… I can't do anything at all. Am I just… a burden?"
Her tears broke free as she squeezed her eyes shut. She thought of the emptiness left by her father, mother, and brother-all gone. Even her closest friend, Tatsuki, was someone she couldn't bring herself to confide in fully. All of that weight pressed down on her now.
Matsumoto pulled her close, holding her tightly.
Orihime's voice trembled against Rangiku's shoulder. "That's why… I was so happy today. Because there are still small things I can do. Even if it's only cooking for Mr. Yuta, even if it means eating vegetables for days afterward… I feel happy. It's enough to support everyone in little ways. Compared to Miss Kuchiki and Miss Rangiku… I… I'm just… someone like me…"
"Probably no one would ever like me," she finished weakly.
Rangiku stroked Orihime's back gently, her voice steady. "You've done so well, Orihime. Studying, eating-those are things you're supposed to do at your age. Saving the world is our responsibility, not yours. Don't take everything onto your shoulders."
She pulled back slightly to meet Orihime's tear-filled eyes. "And your abilities are not weak. Haven't you noticed? Yuta ate every dish you made today. He didn't leave a single piece behind. How can we fight if our strength isn't restored? You're not a burden-you're our partner."
Orihime's crying softened into quiet breaths. She stared at Rangiku with wide, damp eyes. "Really… really?"
"Yes," Rangiku nodded firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
…
Yuta stood on the rooftop with his hands in his pockets, the night wind brushing against his face and tugging at his hair. His white shirt rippled lightly under the cool breeze.
Rukia Kuchiki stood beside him dressed in simple white. The wind pressed the fabric close to her frame, revealing the lines of her slim figure.
The sun had gone down, and the street below was bathed in dim light. Rukia glanced at Yuta's profile, wondering silently about his thoughts.
Yuta spoke after a long pause. "Didn't you once ask about my origin? I can tell you something now."
Rukia tilted her head slightly and answered softly, "Yes." Her eyes fixed on him, her expression quiet and calm.
"Did you know?" Yuta continued. "The evening breeze in my hometown also carried a softness like this… a fragrance that lingered in the air."
Rukia exhaled slowly, closing her eyes to feel the wind herself. She took it in with a deep breath before opening them again.
"If you have the chance, I'll take you there," Yuta added. "You can experience it for yourself."
Rukia extended her pinky with a small smile, her expression brightening. "Then it's a promise. No regrets."
"Yes," Yuta replied simply.
The two sealed their oath under the quiet night sky.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
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