Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84 - 84: Hot Springs

"No surprise there—it's you, after all. You mastered Kidō compression and wrapping in just one day."

Yoruichi Shihōin's voice carried a hint of amusement, followed by the gentle sound of water rippling.

Something seemed to explode in Masatsuki Aozaki's mind—boom—and clarity returned to his gaze. He lifted a hand to cover his eyes.

"You coming in? I'm not wearing anything."

Lying in the underground training hall's hot spring, he rested his head on a towel, leaning back against a large stone.

This was, without a doubt, Kisuke Urahara's most useful invention yet— _{f\ree webn ovel(.)com}

A recovery hot spring inspired by Kirinji Tenjirō's White Bone Hell and Blood Pond Hell.

And Kisuke had not let him down.

Masatsuki had only been soaking for a few seconds, yet the injuries from his Shunkō training had already healed almost completely.

"Don't be shy..."

Yoruichi crouched at the edge of the spring, dipping her foot into the water to test the temperature.

She glanced at Masatsuki, who seemed innocent as he covered his eyes, and pouted in annoyance.

Did he really think he was fooling anyone?

Anyone could tell he was totally peeking.

Would it kill him to show a little respect and at least press his fingers together to make the gaps smaller?

After hesitating for a moment, she feigned indifference, loosening her sash and slipping out of the form-fitting Onmitsukidō uniform.

In the blink of an eye, the dark-skinned beauty sat at the hot spring's edge, her delicate legs fully submerged in the water.

If you're this embarrassed, why even try to act tough? Masatsuki thought to himself.

Though Yoruichi appeared relaxed on the surface, the telltale redness creeping up her ears said otherwise.

There was no mistaking it—she was flustered.

At this point in time, Yoruichi wasn't as uninhibited as she would be in the future.

No—if anything, after observing her for so long, Masatsuki had noticed something odd.

Instead of becoming more carefree, her sense of embarrassment had only increased over time.

She was getting more easily flustered, not less.

That... wasn't how it was supposed to be.

It was a strange realization because, in the original timeline, Yoruichi was never like this.

Of course, there was nothing wrong with it.

But the problem was—

This version of Yoruichi made him feel something.

Something he hadn't expected.

And it led to a strange thought.

He didn't want her to become... the person she was supposed to be.

...

Yoruichi, meanwhile, seemed to realize that her body temperature was spiraling out of control.

With a quick push off the ground, she plunged headfirst into the hot spring with a plop.

She tried to say something, lips parting slightly—

But all Masatsuki could hear were bubbles rising to the surface. Cute.

Watching her, Masatsuki suddenly spoke.

"Yoruichi."

"...Hm?"

Her body tensed slightly.

Half her face remained submerged, golden eyes blinking curiously up at him.

Seriously, calling my name out of nowhere like that? You trying to give me a heart attack?

She exhaled, surfacing just enough to take a deep breath before casually swimming over to Masatsuki's side.

Then, without hesitation, she draped an arm over his shoulder in a casual, brotherly gesture.

Though, judging by the way her flushed cheeks were rapidly turning crimson—and how that blush was creeping down her neck—

She wasn't nearly as composed as she pretended to be.

"The last time I saw you this honest... must have been about a year ago," Masatsuki Aozaki said, his tone laced with nostalgia.

Yoruichi Shihōin blinked in surprise before forcing out a laugh, trying to sound nonchalant. However, her voice trembled slightly.

"Nonsense. I don't remember anything like that. Or... are you saying you peeked at me at some point, huh?"

Masatsuki chuckled.

"You've forgotten? Our first meeting—back at Shin'ō Academy, in my dormitory."

Yoruichi paused before realization dawned.

"Oh, that time..." She waved a hand dismissively. "Didn't I already tell you? A cat's fur is its clothing. That doesn't count as 'honest.'"

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify