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Chapter 207 - 207: Breakfast
"It's delicious, so good!"
As Isane Kotetsu eagerly devoured her breakfast, Kiyone Kotetsu, who had just picked up her bowl and chopsticks, narrowed her eyes and stared at her intensely.
"Big sister..."
Hearing the resentment in Kiyone's voice, Isane instinctively shivered and immediately set her bowl and chopsticks down on the table.
Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but smile. To an outsider, these sisters seemed to have completely swapped roles—the taller elder sister was actually afraid of her smaller younger sister.
"I always thought you liked eating porridge because you didn't want to grow taller, but now I see it's just that my cooking isn't good enough."
Kiyone's brow twitched as she spoke, staring at Isane, whose lips still had a few grains of rice stuck to them.
"That's not true... Your cooking is delicious too!"
Sensing an inexplicable pressure, Isane, driven by sheer survival instinct, hastily reassured her sister with a panicked expression.
"Of course, your cooking is great! It's just that Masatsuki said I could eat as much as I wanted and didn't have to worry about... about... managing my figure."
Masatsuki Aozaki's mouth twitched. No wonder even Retsu Unohana said Isane was too timid and introverted. Who needed to justify themselves to their sister just for eating a meal?
And she sold me out so easily... I'll have to teach her a lesson later.
"Oh? So you're not calling Brother-in-law 'Captain Masatsuki' anymore? Just using his name now? That's pretty close!"
Kiyone smirked as she looked at Isane, her teasing tone instantly turning her sister's face bright red.
"Cough, cough..." Isane choked in embarrassment, flustered and shy. "S-Sister... B-Brother-in-law? Why would you call him that? We're not even married yet! You can't just say that!"
"What's there to be embarrassed about?"
Kiyone's playful grin only grew wider. Her large eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned in closer to her blushing sister.
"Alright, alright, Kiyone, don't tease Isane anymore," Masatsuki Aozaki interjected, stepping in to defuse the situation. He gently held Isane's hand, comforting her.
"You really dote on her..."
"And who else should I dote on?"
Looking at the beautiful and bashful woman before him, Masatsuki sat down beside her, running his fingers through her soft silver-grey hair before pulling her into his embrace.
There was a faint fragrance lingering on Isane's body—one Masatsuki knew all too well. The familiar scent made him feel like he had returned to last night.
Leaning down, he planted a light kiss on her lips.
"Because she's Isane."
"Not in front of my sister..." Isane murmured, her face flushing even deeper.
"I don't see anything! You two go right ahead!"
Kiyone covered her eyes dramatically with both hands but shamelessly peeked through her fingers, watching the display of affection unfold.
Despite her teasing, she felt genuinely happy. Her sister had finally found someone who truly cherished her. And to top it off, that person was one of the most prominent captains in Seireitei. Maybe now, her sister would finally start carrying herself with more confidence.
"Enough talk, if we wait any longer, the food's going to get cold."
Masatsuki picked up a piece of omelet and fed it to Isane, while Kiyone, watching them eat so heartily, reached out with her chopsticks and picked up a piece of grilled fish.
Unlike the Western nations, which had a wide variety of breakfast options, the cuisine here was primarily rice-based.
"...Delicious."
The moment the grilled fish touched her tongue, Kiyone's eyes widened in shock. She suddenly understood why Isane had been eating so eagerly earlier.
Something as simple as grilled fish had completely overwhelmed her taste buds. How was she supposed to stop eating now?
Jūshirō Ukitake was always generous to his squad members, and the barracks' meals weren't bad, but they simply couldn't compare to this.
Looking at the four simple dishes laid out before her, Kiyone's eyes suddenly turned a little red.
"Sister, just because you're done eating doesn't mean you can steal my food!"
Watching Isane Kotetsu, who hadn't stopped eating since the meal started, Kiyone Kotetsu instinctively reached out with her chopsticks, trying to snatch some food back.
"Sis, you're a grown woman—how can you still be fighting your little sister for food?"
Kiyone quickly grabbed a piece of egg roll with her chopsticks while simultaneously biting into the grilled fish in front of her.
"But, Kiyone, you never eat breakfast! And I'm still not full!"
Isane, unwilling to back down, reached out with her chopsticks as well. At this moment, caught up in the frenzy, she was brimming with determination.
"...Is this really necessary?"
Masatsuki Aozaki sighed as he watched the two sisters battle over food.
Still, he understood why. The dishes he made were practically on another level compared to the usual fare in Soul Society at this time.
After all, he had once dreamed of becoming the number-one seat at Tōtsuki Culinary Academy (not that it mattered here). His ultimate goal was to create food so delicious that people would literally burst out of their clothes in sheer ecstasy. He was still far from that, though.
Once they were full, Kiyone Kotetsu patted her stomach and grinned in satisfaction.
"Brother-in-law, you're amazing! Brother-in-law is incredible! Brother-in-law's cooking is the best!"
She clenched her fists, raised them high, and beamed as she spoke.
Isane Kotetsu furiously nodded in agreement beside her.
Hearing Kiyone repeatedly call him "brother-in-law," Isane couldn't help but flush red, shooting her a sidelong glare.
Still, considering that while they didn't have the official title of husband and wife, their relationship was already that in practice, Isane silently accepted the term.
"Since we're all done eating, I'll clean up the dishes. You two have a good chat—I'll be back soon," Masatsuki Aozaki said.
"I'll handle it..." Isane murmured shyly, casting Masatsuki a glance before gathering the dishes and heading toward the kitchen.
"...Brother-in-law."
As soon as Isane left the room, Kiyone carefully tugged at Masatsuki's sleeve.
"What is it, Kiyone?" He looked down at her, puzzled.
"I'm trusting my sister to you."
For once, Kiyone's usual playful expression disappeared, replaced by the maturity and seriousness befitting her age. She lifted her head, her gaze unwavering.
She might always seem loud and mischievous, the one who kept the atmosphere lively, but when it really mattered, she was surprisingly reliable.
Masatsuki looked down at Kiyone and sighed inwardly.
Today, everything she said and did was out of concern for Isane. Her whole heart was set on her sister's well-being.
A family like this... was impossible to dislike.
"Still, isn't this underestimating me a little? Taking care of Isane is something I should be doing anyway," he thought to himself.
"Don't worry," Masatsuki said with a bright smile. "I will protect her. That's our promise."
"Mm. That's our promise."
Kiyone nodded, her expression serious.
"...Honestly, how did it end up like this?"
Isane, who had just returned from the kitchen to clear the table, leaned against the wall and muttered softly as she gazed up at the sky.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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