From "Back in my day..." all the way to "I'm only saying this because I care about you."
If I felt like it, I could have kept her there all day, but I didn't want to hold a bride-to-be hostage like that on the eve of her wedding. I stuck to the essentials.
Being an adult isn't just about biting your tongue. There's a fine line between patience and being a fool. If something's eating at you, don't let it fester—speak your mind... I wrapped up my sermon by lecturing her on the pillars of a successful marriage.
"And finally, this is the most important part."
"There's more...?"
I hadn't even been talking that long—hardly over an hour—and she was already looking exasperated. I let out a small chuckle.
You chose this father, kid. Grit your teeth and deal with it.
"Listen up, even if you hate it, because this matters. This is the very last thing. Even if you beg for more after this, I'm done."
"...Fine."
"Be happy. That's the best thing you can do."
I stood up and gave Furufushi's head a rough, affectionate rub.
With a dazed expression, Furufushi touched the spot I'd ruffled and stared up at me.
"Your old man's heading out. I'll see you at the ceremony tomorrow."
I gave a dismissive wave and headed back to the Squad 4 Captain's office.
Inside the office, Sakurano was already there, organizing a mountain of paperwork.
"Ah, Captain, you're back?"
"I thought I cleared everything this morning. It's piled up this high again? Good grief, it never ends."
"You're still going to do them, right?"
"Of course. Bring them here. I need to clock out early today."
Taking the stack from Sakurano, I tore through the documents at high speed.
Despite the volume, the content wasn't much different from the morning's load. A quick scan was all I needed; I finished the entire pile in about seven minutes.
"Every time I see it, that speed is just marvelous... But why are you working so frantically today? During the day, I figured it was to get lunch before the meeting, but you don't have anything scheduled now."
"Well... it's a bit of a long story. I ended up taking in an adopted daughter, and it turns out she's getting married tomorrow. I'm a bit busy getting things ready for that."
I tried to explain it as simply as possible to make it easy to understand, but Sakurano just stared at me with a look that screamed, 'What did I just hear?'
I knew that feeling all too well.
That feeling where your hearing is perfect and you speak the same language, but you have absolutely no idea what the hell the other person is talking about.
"So... some crazy... ahem! Some patient with severe psychopathological issues is getting married tomorrow, and she suddenly approached the Captain and asked you to be her adoptive father?"
"Spot on."
"And you just happily agreed, so now you're busy preparing for the wedding tomorrow? Wait, 'asking to be the adoptive father'—does that mean you're going to be sitting in the seat of the bride's parent?! I mean, of course it does! Good heavens, what kind of lunatic asks a man who already has a pregnant wife to be her adoptive father?! I seriously don't get it!"
"Saito Furufushi, Captain of Squad 6."
"Aha! Well, that makes sense! Yes! I completely understand!"
The dramatic shift in her reaction was so extreme that I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Her intense reaction wasn't even that strange. To be fair, anyone would probably react like Sakurano did.
"Please, whatever you do, do NOT tell Captain Saito I said that...! I might actually die!!"
If I mentioned that it was probably time for her to retire as Lieutenant, she might end up wailing like she did at lunch, so I just waved her off with a smile.
"It's fine, it's fine. I thought the same thing at first. I expected that kind of reaction. I won't say a word, so don't worry."
"Whew... really... My heart can't take being around you, Captain... It's like a roller coaster. If I die young, are you going to take responsibility? I haven't even gotten married yet..."
"Don't worry, if you die young, I'll just bring you back."
"Pfft, that's a funny joke."
I just offered a serene smile, and Sakurano, who was picking up the fallen papers, began to eye me warily.
"It... it was a joke, right?"
"Ah, I'm going to be late if I stay any longer. I'm heading out first, so finish up the rest of these papers and go home. Later~"
"Tell me it was a joke! Captain! Captai-i-i-i-in!!"
Leaving the shouting Sakurano behind, I returned home.
It was a bit ridiculous to 'consult' after the decision was already made, but I couldn't just go through with this without saying anything.
That was the real reason I'd blasted through the paperwork at maximum speed.
I needed to have a serious talk with Unohana.
"...And that's what happened."
"Yes, I know."
"?"
Now it was my turn to be in Sakurano's shoes.
How did she know?
Actually, wait. The signs were already there.
When I'd had lunch with Sakurano, Unohana had mentioned 'that girl.'
That probably meant Furufushi. Furufushi was the only person Unohana treated with such... rough familiarity.
Then did she go to Unohana before asking me to be her father?
"Did the Saito brat come to you first?"
"Yes. I can't tell you how flustered I was at first. But well... given how long we've known each other, and the fact that there clearly wasn't any strange intent... plus, it officially places me above that girl... I mean, Saito, doesn't it? If you are her adoptive father, then I become her adoptive mother."
"I might be mistaken, but that last part sounds like your primary objective?"
"Hehe. Of course you're mistaken. It was just a joke. And I don't truly intend to be her adoptive parent either. It's a bit unpleasant to go from being friends to a mother-daughter relationship."
"True enough."
I thought they did nothing but bicker, but it seemed they really did consider each other friends.
It made me feel unexpectedly good, so I gave a satisfied smile.
"Then I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back before dinner, so just wait a little."
"Alright. Oh, are you going to see Saito now?"
"Hmm? No, the Kuchiki Clan. Since the wedding is tomorrow, I should show my face at least once. Since I'm the 'father' and all."
I planned to go give them a gift and tell them to take good care of my daughter. She's a tomboy, but at least she isn't the type to betray anyone, so I'd ask them to look kindly on her.
Even if I'd only been her adoptive father for a day, a parent is a parent, and I had to fulfill the role.
As I thought that, Unohana blinked in surprise.
"The wedding is tomorrow? I didn't even know that."
So she'd told her everything else but forgot the most important detail.
"Sigh... You know how it is. She's never been one to pay attention to these kinds of details."
Unohana and I shared a wry smile.
Though it wasn't exactly how I'd pictured it going, I had her blessing. I stood up, draped my Squad 4 Captain haori over a stand, and stepped outside.
It was far too late for a formal meeting between the families, given the wedding was tomorrow, but a visit was still a visit.
I debated what to give as a gift for a moment before deciding to pull some strings in my network.
"So, that is why you have sought me out?"
"Yeah. I need a Shiromuku with a Wataboushi, a Junihitoe, a Tsunokakushi, and a Reso. Two headpieces and three outfits. Can you help me out?"
"To suddenly appear and demand wedding raiments... and to do so without even bringing the measurements of the one who will wear them?"
"My bad for that. I only just heard the news myself, so I was in a bit of a rush."
"Sigh. And to top it all off, you come to me empty-handed, offering nothing but your demands... How truly lamentable. Do you possess no shame at all? If that is the case, then I truly apologize for touching upon such a painful subject."
"I'll grant you one favor later. Whatever you want."
"Three."
"Two. No more. And I won't just do anything blindly—if I look at it and think it's a no-go, I'm refusing."
"Hmm... Very well, that is not a bad offer. Wait here a moment. I shall return with them shortly."
Senjumaru departed, and I waited while sipping tea brought by her divine soldiers.
By the time I was finishing my third consecutive cup, Senjumaru returned carrying three outfits and two headpieces.
"They are finished."
"I think this every time, but you are frighteningly fast."
"Simple ceremonial robes without special functions can be made in an instant, provided the fabric is ready. Of course, since this was your request, I spent extra time spinning the thread and weaving the fabric 'personally' on the loom."
Senjumaru gave a low, elegant chuckle as she folded the garments neatly and placed them into a box.
"...Just what exactly are you planning to ask of me? I'm starting to get nervous."
"It is nothing major. I simply wish for you to assist me with a small experiment of mine. But we can speak of that later, when time is more plentiful. Come visit me again another day. After all, time is the one thing we have in abundance, is it not?"
The word 'experiment' was a bit ominous, but I just nodded and took the clothes before dropping down in front of the main gate of the Kuchiki estate in the Seireitei.
"Wha—?! Someone just fell from the sky...?!"
I showed the box to the panicked gatekeepers and spoke.
"I'm the father of Saito Furufushi, who's getting married tomorrow. Mind if I step inside?"
"Ah, yes..."
Just as one gatekeeper was about to open the gate in a daze, the gatekeeper on the other side snapped to his senses and smacked his partner in the back of the head.
"You idiot, why are you just opening it?! He obviously looks way too young! Get it together!"
"Oh, ri-right. I was so shocked seeing someone drop from the sky. Halt! Identify yourself!!"
These guys are a bit of a mess. Is it really okay for gatekeepers to be like this?
Actually, I suppose being that coherent after seeing a man fall from the sky is impressive enough.
"Shimon Meio."
"Shimon... Meio... Hup! It can't be. A distinguished guest! Open the gates at once!!"
"G-got it."
What's with these two? Are they a comedy duo?
With a bewildered look, I glanced at the two gatekeepers and entered the Kuchiki estate.
And as soon as I entered, what I saw was...
"So the wedding is finally tomorrow."
"Yeah, I guess so. Ki-hee... Time really flies, doesn't it?"
"Now we can be together without ever being apart."
"Ugh, stop with the cheesy lines. Besides... we've basically been attached at the hip even before getting married."
...I'm just going to pretend I didn't see anything.
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