I think I’ll go for a dip in the outdoor bath!
Rangiku…
I’m coming to be "killed."
Drive it that way!
We’ll drive it away from the town!
Lieutenant!
Were any of the townspeople injured?
No!
Good.
I’ll let you handle it from here.
Lieutenant, where are you going?
To my next job.
“Editor-in-Chief”
Abarai hasn’t turned in his manuscript?
No, sir.
Have you contacted him?
We haven’t been able to reach him since yesterday.
That bastard.
What shall we do?
It’s our job to figure that out!
Y-Yes, sir!
For now, go to Squad Six's Barracks and see how he’s coming along.
Yes, sir!
Man, they’re all useless.
I see you’re busy as always, Hisagi.
Kira, I’m sorry. Mind waiting a minute?
Sure. I’m not in any hurry at all.
Hey, send this to the printer.
Yes, sir.
Now then… So this is the Men’s Soul Reaper Association’s budget for this term?
I don’t think there are any issues with anything in there,
so please put your stamp of approval on it.
As an officer of the association, you know I can’t do that.
I’m telling you, it’s fine.
The Vice-Chairman, Third Seat Iemura, is a very meticulous man.
Well, all right.
There don’t seem to be any issues.
“APPROVED”
Thank you for doing this.
Well, I’ll be going now.
Wait, Kira.
It’s been a while. What do you say we go for a drink tonight?
I’ll be happy to join.
Any seats available?
Yes. Wait just a second.
If it isn’t Lieutenant Hisagi.
Captain Unohana.
What brings you here?
It’s ladies' night out!
Huh?
Come to think of it,
I haven’t yet thanked you for the other day, Lieutenant Hisagi.
Thanked you? Did you do something, Hisagi?
Well, when we all went on a picnic, he made lunch for us!
What?
I may not look it, but I’m a good cook.
It was a 60 out of a 100 points!
The meal was ordinary. It lacked creativity!
It needed more…
Lieutenant Kusajishi!
We’re sorry.
It tasted all right, honest.
“All right,” eh?
Well, we must be going.
Bye bye!
Now, let’s get going.
Yes, let’s!
Ladies' night out?
What do you suppose they were talking about?
Hisagi, you take on too much work!
You’re busy enough already being a Squad Lieutenant
and running the Seireitei Bulletin.
Why accept the Executive Chairman position
for the Men’s Soul Reaper Association?
I don’t mind. I do it because I enjoy it.
No, it’s not okay!
And why are you making lunch for the Women’s Soul Reaper Association, anyway?
That’s…because they depended on me. What was I to do?
It’s not easy being a talented man.
I’ll bet you did it to get Matsumoto’s attention, didn’t you?
W-What are you talking about?!
Work isn’t something you do for its pros and cons.
Besides, if you do your best,
there’ll always be someone who will take notice of you.
Is that how it works?
You sure it’s not just them taking advantage of you?
Oh, shut up.
Excuse me! Can we get another bottle?
Coming up!
And therefore, in order to solve the disappearances
that have been occurring in the Rukon District,
it’s been decided that you three will be sent to investigate.
Yes, sir!
So I get to be the leader of this group, right?
There is no need for one.
Huh? But no matter how you look at it, I’m the leader here!
How did you come to such conclusions?
Hisagi, keep an eye on Matsumoto to make sure she doesn’t
do something crazy on her own.
I’m counting on you.
Yes, sir!
Captain, that’s mean!
When do I ever do crazy things on my own?
Always!
Now, now, Rangiku. Calm down.
Captain Hitsugaya put his trust in me.
People do take notice of one’s hard work. I knew it.
Boy, the captain can be so rude!
The skies are looking like rain, so we’d better hurry.
What? But I’m a bit tired. Let’s rest a bit.
You rested just a while ago.
We’re almost at our destination,
and it’ll be difficult to move once the sun sets.
Man, I wish I could’ve come later with Isane and the others.
Lieutenant Kotetsu is leading the rescue party,
so she has a lot of material and people with her.
That’s why we’re going on ahead.
I know that.
Cold!
Let’s hurry!
Oh! I hate this!
If we’re in the field shown on this map,
then our destination is somewhere around here.
There’s no need to rush.
It’ll take time for Isane and her group to catch up with us anyway,
so let’s take our time to look around and investigate along the way.
Hey! I think the rain has stopped!
Lovely, isn’t it?
Shuhei, stop looking so serious over there and take a look around you.
Uh… Sure.
Wait a second.
We’re in the boonies of the Rukon District with no one around.
Is it possible that Rangiku is enjoying her time alone with me?
And that smile…
Is something wrong, Shuhei?
Uh, no… Nothing wrong, ma’am!
Stop thinking silly thoughts, Shuhei Hisagi!
W-Wow… Sure is a soothing sight for the soul, isn’t it?
Do you like it?
Huh?
Uh…Y-Yes.
I mean, it’s a lovely landscape.
Yes, it is. We’ve kept this landscape this way for a long time.
Uh… I see.
Shuhei!
Rangiku?
Are you from these parts?
Yes. I run an inn over that way.
Oh, is that so?
What do you say, Shuhei?
Since we’re here, want to spend the night?
What?!
You have a room, right?
Yes.
W-W-Wait a minute!
That wouldn’t be right, Rangiku!
Oh come on, what’s the problem?
We’re going to be here on a mission anyway. What’s wrong with staying at an inn?
I don’t want to sleep outdoors.
Yeah, but…
Show us the way.
Yes.
Let’s go! Shuhei!
W-Wait…
Wow…
This is quite a nice room.
Excuse me.
Let me make your tea.
We’ll manage.
Oh, thank you.
It’s okay, I don’t mind doing this.
We’re guests here, so why not let her make the tea?
But…
Let her.
O-Okay.
What’s gotten into Rangiku?
Could she be jealous?
Now that I think about it, when the proprietress and I first started talking,
she suddenly wedged herself in.
No, but…
Shuhei, why are you so out of it?
Have some tea, too.
R-Right!
Here you go.
Oh, thank you.
Hot!
I’m so sorry.
Was the cup too hot?
Oh, it’s fine.
This is nothing.
I see… My sincerest apologies.
Oh no! We have to cool it down!
Are you all right? Does it hurt?
Um… No…
Proprietress, could you get us some water?
Yes! Right away!
Uh… Rangiku, your…hand, it’s…
Shuhei, you mustn’t let your guard down with that proprietress.
Huh?
Just do as I say, okay?
Okay.
Just as I thought, Rangiku is conscious of the proprietress.
Which means, she thinks of me as…
Whew! I'm so full!
Huh? What’s the matter? You weren’t hungry?
No, that’s not it.
Drat. I was so conscious of her my food wouldn’t go down.
You need to eat.
Or else, you won’t be of use when trouble occurs.
I don’t want that to happen.
You won’t be of use when trouble occurs.
I don’t want that to happen.
R-Right!
Excuse me.
I’ve come to take away your trays.
Thank you. I’ll be finished shortly.
Shuhei, you don’t need to try to be so nice to her.
We’re the guests here.
I know, but…
That’s all right. Please take your time.
Say, there’s an outdoor bath outside this room. Is it usable?
Yes, it is.
You’re welcome to use it.
Yes!
Please enjoy.
The bath’s just right.
I knew it. Rangiku is jealous of the proprietress.
It proves how interested she is in me.
No, no, no!
Wait! Calm down, Shuhei Hisagi!
We’re here on a mission.
Don’t think of such perverse thoughts.
Work comes first!
Get your act straight, Shuhei Hisagi!
I need to confirm the agenda of this mission!
I think I’ll go for a dip in the outdoor bath!
I’ll go for a dip.
In the outdoor bath.
In the…
Here they are.
What’s a hot spa inn without yukata?
I’m going in first, Shuhei.
Right…
Shuhei, I think you already know this, but…
If you peek, I’ll kill you.
R-Right!
Calm down, Shuhei Hisagi.
Let’s sort out the situation.
The weather worsened, and the sun set.
By perfect coincidence, there was an inn.
So, we decide to stay the night.
Okay, so it’s simple logic.
I get it, I get it.
It was totally out of my control.
Rangiku, too, had no choice but to stay the night with me.
That has to be it.
And as for the proprietress,
it was nothing more than Rangiku showing concern for me as a colleague.
By the way, Rangiku!
Where is my room?
Surely we’re not going to stay in the same room, are we?
We’ll be together.
I asked earlier to have the bedding set out together.
What?!
What? You don’t want to share a room with me?
N-N-No, that’s not it at all!
Then there’s no problem.
The water feels so good.
What’s the matter? Why are you sighing?
Uh, um… How’s the weather?
There’s a lovely moon out.
I-I see.
The breeze feels nice, too. Nothing beats an outdoor bath.
Th-That’s nice.
Why don’t you come in too? You must be tired, right?
What?
You haven’t taken any days off recently.
Working is fine, too, but you need to rest sometimes, or you’ll wear yourself out.
Rangiku is worried about me.
Just as I thought, people do watch!
It isn’t just Captain Hitsugaya!
Rangiku understands how I feel as well!
I’m so glad I did my best.
WHY DON’T YOU COME IN TOO?
She just said, “Why don’t you come in too?”
Does that mean…she wants me to join her?!
Wait, just a moment ago, she said she’d kill me for that.
If you peek, I’ll kill you.
Or should I not take it literally?
If you peek, I’ll kill you.
I think I get it. Could that “I’ll kill you” have meant she was inviting me?
I’ll…kill…you.
No, no, it couldn’t be…but…but…
What should I do?!
Rangiku?!
Rangiku,
I’m coming to be “killed.”
Growl!
Haineko!
Shuhei! Come here quickly!
What’s going on?!
A Hollow?!
This was the culprit in the string of disappearances!
What?
Growl…Haineko!
Reap...Kazeshini!
You did it, Shuhei!
I don’t get it. What’s going on?
The proprietress of this inn
was the culprit responsible for the disappearances.
What?!
At first, I wasn’t certain, so I came here to investigate,
only to have her suddenly appear before us.
I didn’t see that coming.
And what’s more, she was definitely sending you some strange Spiritual Pressure.
Strange Spiritual Pressure?
Didn’t you feel it?
Not at all.
I knew it.
You see, only men have been attacked.
Handsome ones at that.
That’s why I had you come with me as a lure.
It turned out to be the right decision.
What?! Nobody told me anything about that!
They say to deceive your enemy, you have to deceive your friend first.
I wanted to do this after Isane and the others arrived and we were set up,
but the enemy snapped at the bait.
Huh? What’s the matter?
That’s cruel, Rangiku.
Sorry, sorry.
But you were the only one who could pull off this role.
There aren’t any other good-looking guys with great skills.
And you just forgave her?!
When Rangiku said that, I didn’t feel bad about it.
Do you think she meant that?
Maybe she’s still pulling the wool over your eyes.
Kira, it’s not good to be so cynical.
You sure?
Kusajishi.
Hey, listen.
Kenny busted the wall, can you help us repair it?
Why me?
Because I heard that if we ever need help, we should ask you, Hisa-hisa!
That’s probably Matsumoto who’s spreading that around.
Yup! And also…
Shuhei is the only person I can count on.
That’s what she said!
I see.
So Rangiku’s counting on me.
It’s not easy being a talented man.
What? Hisagi?!
Okay! Where’s the site! Let’s go!
He is hopeless.
Hisa-hisa sure does prove his title as the Best Male Soul Reaper!
Wow, that’s impressive. Guess I have a lot to learn from Hisagi.
Yup, he is! In our last ladies' night out,
he got our unanimous vote as the most useful errand boy.
That’s his title?!
Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers.
Shuhei!
Yes, Rangiku?
Can you carry these to the Squad Barracks?
Gladly!
Shuhei!
Yes?
Stamp these for approval, will you?
Gladly.
Shuhei!
Y-Yes?
Can you wash these for me?
He seems to be losing his health lately. I’m worried.
It’s your fault!