A week later, at the Hōōden in the Soul King Palace.
Early that morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the window, and Senjumaru opened her eyes, stretching lazily.
She washed up as usual, looking forward to the delicious breakfast Aozaki Reiji had prepared.
However, when she arrived in the living room, she found the dining table empty.
"Huh? Aozaki Reiji didn't make breakfast?"
Senjumaru muttered to herself, a little surprised.
She curiously walked into the kitchen, wanting to see what had happened.
As soon as she entered, she saw Hikifune Kirio busily preparing food in the kitchen.
Hikifune Kirio's movements were skilled and orderly, as if she was accustomed to such a scene.
Hikifune Kirio's recent life had been very regular; she would appear in the dining room around eight every morning.
As for when she arrived exactly, Senjumaru wasn't clear, as she was usually the last one to wake up.
But even if he went to learn sword forging at a fixed time every day, Aozaki Reiji would still come back and prepare all three meals.
But today, Aozaki Reiji wasn't home; instead, Hikifune Kirio was personally cooking breakfast.
Ever since Aozaki Reiji came to the Soul King Palace, Senjumaru had rarely seen Hikifune Kirio cook personally!
Looking at Senjumaru's speechless expression of surprise, Hikifune Kirio still wore her radiant smile, then slowly parted her lips and said:
"Reiji's learning task is about to end; he hasn't been back since last night."
"Ah... Has he already learned to forge Zanpakuto? That fast!?"
Hikifune Kirio smiled and nodded.
Aozaki Reiji had been learning how to forge Zanpakuto for the past few days, and Senjumaru was aware of this.
However, what surprised her a little was that this matter was so important to Aozaki Reiji that he even gave up coming to prepare breakfast for everyone.
This guy is really annoying! Senjumaru secretly complained in her heart.
Don't forget I haven't agreed to his confession yet, and now he doesn't even come to make breakfast for me.
Men are indeed all big pig trotters!
Senjumaru thought to herself as she walked forward to help Hikifune Kirio.
The breakfast Hikifune Kirio prepared was very simple, just some ordinary Western-style dishes, like bread and hot dogs.
Then, Senjumaru showed her specialty, cracking two eggs and having Hikifune Kirio fry them into two delicious omelets.
Adding a steaming cup of milk, this was the delicious breakfast carefully prepared by the two elder sisters.
At this moment, the dining room was exceptionally quiet, because the man who was cherished by the two beauties was not present.
Only the two ladies sat quietly at the dining table, enjoying their meal in small bites, the entire space filled with a tranquil atmosphere.
It wasn't until Hikifune Kirio finished her meal early and returned to her room that the empty dining room was left with only Senjumaru.
The serene smile that befitted her senior status gradually disappeared from her face, replaced by a slightly downcast expression.
She silently sighed, her heart full of helplessness and melancholy.
She had been like this for these past few days, her emotions relatively low.
Although she still tried to maintain her usual demeanor in front of Aozaki Reiji and Hikifune Kirio, they had actually seen through everything long ago.
Senjumaru's mind was a complete mess now.
Ever since that day, Aozaki Reiji had never confessed to her again, but those words were deeply etched into her heart like a brand.
Although Aozaki Reiji's behavior remained as usual, Senjumaru couldn't help but repeatedly savor every word and every syllable from that day.
"What on earth should I do!?"
She whispered, her tone revealing a hint of confusion and bewilderment.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Soul King Palace, the culprit behind all this, Aozaki Reiji, was smiling happily.
He held up a rather unremarkable katana and swung it a few times.
"A Zanpakuto, forged by me!"
"Well done, Reiji-kun, I knew you could do it!"
Nimaiya Ōetsu raised his fist, excitedly saying, seemingly even happier than Aozaki Reiji himself.
"You can take this sword back and train it well, but I don't know if a sword spirit can be born from it."
Aozaki Reiji raised his eyebrows:
"In other words, the sword I made might not have a sword spirit?"
No sword spirit?
Doesn't that mean he learned sword forging for nothing?
He learned sword forging precisely for those sword spirits!
Aozaki Reiji was a bit dumbfounded; he had spent a lot of time and effort learning sword forging.
If the sword he finally made didn't have a sword spirit, wouldn't all his previous efforts be in vain?
Nimaiya Ōetsu nodded slightly:
"There is indeed such a possibility, but I cannot give a definite answer."
"After all, you are the second person after me who can forge Zanpakuto."
"Before I ascended to the Soul King Palace, I also taught others, but no one was able to master this technique."
"If you have time, you can go ask the Monk. He has the ability to see the names of all things in the Three Worlds."
"Once an asauchi is handed to a Shinigami, he can discern the name of the Zanpakuto."
"If he can see the name of this sword, then wouldn't you know the result?"
"If..." Aozaki Reiji muttered to himself.
He noticed the uncertainty in Nimaiya Ōetsu's words.
"Do you understand, Reiji-kun?"
Nimaiya Ōetsu waved his hand in front of Aozaki Reiji, a slight smile on his face.
Aozaki Reiji nodded in response, but a hint of reluctance showed in his eyes.
To be honest, he really didn't want to go find that big Monk.
"Since even you, the 'Sword God,' are..."
Nimaiya Ōetsu smiled and waved his hand:
"Don't underestimate that big Monk. Although I forge swords, he is in charge of the names."
"Don't look at his Zanpakuto also coming from my hands; you should have learned in the Shin'o Academy that a Zanpakuto is an extension of a Shinigami."
"His Zanpakuto's abilities have nothing to do with me; they are merely an extension of his own abilities."
"Simply put, his authority is above mine, the 'Sword God,' the creator of Zanpakuto."
"So, regarding names, it's more reliable to ask him than to ask me."
Aozaki Reiji stood there in silence, tightly gripping the asauchi in his hand, his gaze fixed on the distance, as if lost in thought.
Nimaiya Ōetsu stood by, quietly watching Aozaki Reiji.
His face was expressionless, his eyes hidden beneath sunglasses, making it impossible to discern his inner thoughts.
Nimaiya Ōetsu simply observed Aozaki Reiji silently, waiting for his decision.
A moment later, under Nimaiya Ōetsu's gaze, Aozaki Reiji suddenly scratched his head.
His movement seemed a bit casual, and he suddenly asked:
"Then I'll find a chance to ask, but before that... now that I've learned sword forging, shouldn't we celebrate properly? I haven't really enjoyed the Hōōden yet!"
This question made Nimaiya Ōetsu pause, but he quickly recovered his composure and nodded, replying:
"That's right, we should celebrate..."
Hearing Aozaki Reiji's words, Nimaiya Ōetsu also smiled.
He put an arm around Aozaki Reiji's shoulder and laughed loudly:
"We're truly of one mind! I've already prepared everything! Party! Party! Let's go!!"
His laughter was full of enthusiasm.
The two walked together towards the luxurious palace, ready to enjoy a wild party.
Their figures gradually receded, disappearing into the palace gates, leaving behind a gentle breeze.