The only player in the world of Bleach

Soi Fon strode forward without any hesitation, until she stood in front of Matsushita Yusuke.

She crossed her arms over her chest, making a snorting motion through her nostrils, and then said with a defiant look on her face.

"You live in such a poor and shabby place?"

"Please consider the surrounding environment before making sweeping generalizations. The other people living here are innocent victims..."

and so.

Closer to home.

"What exactly are you here for?"

Soi Fon pursed her lips, as if just mentioning this matter was somewhat unpleasant. She turned her head away and said in a resentful tone.

"I came to tell you that Lord Yoruichi is having a cocktail party tomorrow night, and that guy hope Zhijin asked me to invite you."

Oh...another cocktail party.

That's all I can say about the Lunar New Year.

As part of the same Confucian cultural sphere, even the most feudal Soul Society takes these festival-related things quite seriously.

No matter how tense and serious people are on ordinary days, at this time... most people will force themselves to relax and enjoy the hard-won brief 'peace'.

If even serious people are like this, then it goes without saying that relaxed and casual people are even more so.

It's understandable that someone like Yoruichi Shihouin would take the opportunity to throw a large party or something.

There's no reason to refuse...

"I'm fine."

"Then come with me."

Soi Fon readily turned her back, and gestured to Yusuke Matsushita behind her to 'come along'.

"...What do you want me to do?"

The other person stopped, turned their head slightly, put one hand on their hip, and looked both disgusted and embarrassed.

Matsushita Yusuke even clearly heard her click her tongue.

"Are you really planning to wear this to Yoruichi's party? I know you people don't really care about appearances... but if you do, you'll be embarrassing Yoruichi!"

and so.

"Come with me! I'll take you to buy a nice set of clothes!"

His tone was direct and left no room for argument.

Yusuke Matsushita stopped in his tracks, blinked, and after a moment of contemplation, spoke.

"Then... can the expenses be reimbursed?"

Soi Fon's imposing figure stiffened for a moment, and when she looked over again, there was a hint of disdain in her eyes.

"I'll pay you! Get over here!"

Hehe, this sheep's wool is really easy to pluck!

Soi Fon took Matsushita Yusuke to a rather remote place, which from the outside looked like a rather old-fashioned kimono shop.

But once you step inside the store, you'll find it's quite different...

Matsushita Yusuke stared at the price tag, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

"Soi Fon, Soi Fon..."

Soi Fon, who was looking through the clothes and had a thoughtful expression, frowned as she looked over.

"what?"

"Is this a rip-off shop... or does the owner not know how to count? Why are there two extra zeros after every item?"

"Shut up... This is a kimono shop exclusively for nobles! Nobody cares how much it costs; the important thing is to look presentable and elegant!"

It seems to be because of his loud voice.

The people who were busy inside all turned to look this way.

People who are already easily embarrassed are even more likely to break down in this situation... as if they feel ashamed.

Soi Fon's face flushed red, and at that moment she moved closer to Matsushita Yusuke, reached out her right hand, and grabbed his face.

He pinched his mouth into an 'o' shape and then said fiercely.

"I'll pick one for you, now shut up... say another word and I'll kill you!"

They were very close.

Yusuke Matsushita could smell the faint scent of soap on the other person.

The night clothes inside all look the same style... They must smell really bad running around every day.

So you pay quite a bit of attention to personal hygiene?

"I see……"

"That's good. Just be good, and I won't treat you badly!"

She glared at Matsushita Yusuke one last time before releasing her right hand.

The latter stood there, stunned for a moment.

……Um?

You won't treat me badly?

Holy crap, is there going to be some bonus CG?!

054: Reciprocity

In fact, there is definitely no such thing as "welfare CG".

Soi Fon means that she paid for all the clothes this time...

"Take this set and give it a try."

Perhaps due to the environment, Soi Fon, who usually speaks rudely, became much gentler in her tone.

She held up the maroon kimono in her hand and examined it for a long time, seemingly agonizing over it, before picking out a grass-green version of the same style for Matsushita Yusuke.

"Take them together."

This is a troublesome thing to wear, but because it is a men's style, many aspects have been simplified and overlooked.

This makes trying on clothes much easier.

Moreover, the service at this store is also quite excellent.

After Yusuke Matsushita changed his clothes, someone came up to help him with some simple grooming and styling based on his outfit.

Of course, the technique itself is not complicated.

At most, it's just tying your hair up or letting it down, or lightly applying some makeup to your face.

But this is exactly what is meant by "dotting the eyes and transforming the dragon"... making an accurate judgment at the most appropriate moment can achieve a 1+1>2 effect.

"Please turn around, guest."

Matsushita Yusuke's face stiffened, and he let the other person do as they pleased.

Having no experience in this area, he had no reaction whatsoever at this moment.

The two women, who looked to be over forty, worked very efficiently, quickly tidying up Matsushita Yusuke and then patting him on the shoulder.

"It should be fine now. Please go outside and look in the mirror, guest."

Matsushita Yusuke nodded stiffly and pushed open the door to leave.

Soi Fon, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed outside the door, heard the noise and looked up.

"...!"

Her expression visibly stiffened for a moment.

The light in his eyes held surprise, mixed with a hint of approval and appreciation.

However, this hesitation lasted only a moment... Soon, with the blink of her eye, her dazed expression disappeared.

Instead, he adopted that familiar look of disdain.

"Hmph, he does look somewhat respectable... Take a look in the mirror and see how he feels."

This guy really doesn't know how to talk properly...

Yusuke Matsushita didn't retort; he simply looked at himself in the mirror.

Don't tell me, really don't tell me.

The saying "clothes make the man" is certainly true... Matsushita Yusuke already has a somewhat androgynous appearance, and now, with a simple makeover, he exudes a gentle, scholarly air.

Yusuke Matsushita stood in front of the mirror, looked around, and blinked silently.

Wearing this to a cocktail party is definitely fine, but the price is just too outrageous...

Are there any affordable alternatives?

"Let's keep this set. We don't need to change the other color; let's pack it all together."

Soi Fon stepped forward, raised her hand and patted Yusuke Matsushita on the shoulder, her tone unusually light.

"Just wear this outfit. As for the old one... just throw it away. You won't have a chance to wear it again anyway."

Yusuke Matsushita opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but Soi Fon didn't give him a chance to argue.

This girl pays the bill incredibly fast.

I thought he was just joking, but it turns out he really is living off his girlfriend?

Feeling a little uneasy... Yusuke Matsushita stood there awkwardly, looking around.

He quickly came up with an idea.

After paying the bill, Soi Fon took the packed clothes and casually called out to the person behind her.

"Let's go, we still need to prepare some gifts... Since it's Lord Ye's banquet, we should prepare something decent, not something too casual."

This wine shouldn't be drunk for nothing.

Of course, the main reason is the New Year.

Visiting each other during festivals requires exchanging gifts to emphasize the occasion and to maintain relationships in a similar way.

As for this kind of relationship that is inherently superior-subordinate, it is even more so... Matsushita Yusuke was somewhat prepared for this, so he didn't say much.

"Take your own things. Do you expect me to carry them for you?"

"Um... Soi Fon, wait a minute."

"what happened?"

"Here, take this."

"...?"

Seeing what Yusuke Matsushita handed her, Soi Fon stood there, her mind seemingly blank for a moment.

"what?"

“I just saw it in the store, and I thought it would suit you quite well, so I bought it.”

It was a small cloth bag in a semi-circular shape.

—Although it is simple to describe, its actual form is far more intricate than described.

The red fabric is outlined with gold thread, and below the oval-shaped deep opening, there are subtle outlines of purplish-red, giving it a sense of dislocation, as if it were crawling in the sunlight with a hazy glow.

The color scheme is bold, but the overall look doesn't feel tacky.

In terms of workmanship, you can see some stitch-like structures... which is enough to show its true identity as a 'handmade item'.

However, it's well hidden and completely unnoticeable unless you look closely. Therefore, these minor flaws don't affect the overall impression at all.

Soi Fon took the thing.

It was only about half the size of Matsushita Yusuke's palm, but it felt like a heavy lump in Soi Fon's hand.