"All right, your back is clean now." Muten Natsu's voice sounded by Orihime Inoue's ear. "Next, I'll wash the front."
Orihime Inoue instinctively shrank back. "The front... I can do that myself..."
"Of course I have to help with such an important part." Muten Natsu's breath tickled Orihime Inoue's ear. "Relax. Just leave it to me."
Orihime Inoue nervously closed her eyes, lightly biting her lower lip as she let Muten Natsu do as he pleased.
Warm hands began to move, gently working the soft foam. Muten Natsu's hands kept moving while his mouth continued describing everything by Orihime Inoue's ear. "First like this... then like this... As long as I control the pressure, it won't take long... and a delicious cream cheese cake is done!"
Orihime Inoue opened her eyes. Her startled, delighted gaze reflected the large cake on the dining table before her. "This is..."
"Happy birthday, Orihime." Muten Natsu, sitting across from her, lit the candles on the cake. "You eat first. I'll wash your legs for you."
Orihime Inoue had just blown out the candles when Muten Natsu's words made her freeze. Her bewildered big eyes blinked and blinked.
Could eating cake and washing legs be done at the same time?
Before she could figure it out, the warmth of Muten Natsu's hands was already on her legs.
Muten Natsu had actually started!
Was she dreaming...?
Orihime Inoue opened her eyes. The darkness in front of her left her dazed for a moment, but the hands on her legs quickly brought her back to herself.
Muten Natsu's hands hooked around the backs of her knees and applied a little force, bending her legs.
His palms slid down naturally until they reached Orihime Inoue's toes. He gently squeezed each one, as though confirming something.
Orihime Inoue looked at Muten Natsu's profile and found his eyes closed, his breathing long and even. He was probably still asleep.
But the entire sequence was smooth and skilled, flowing without pause. Before Orihime Inoue could react, it was already over.
If this was something he did because of a dream, then Muten Natsu's movements were far too precise.
That level of familiarity seemed more like muscle memory formed through countless repetitions.
Why would Muten Natsu have that kind of muscle memory?
While Orihime Inoue was thinking, her other leg had already bent in cooperation with Muten Natsu's movements.
After Muten Natsu finished counting her toes, he reached out and pulled Orihime Inoue into his arms, his hand lightly patting her back, the strength gradually fading.
So Muten Natsu did this every night?
If he had not kissed her cheek today, giving her that strange dream and waking her in the middle of the night, Orihime Inoue probably never would have noticed.
Nestled in Muten Natsu's arms, Orihime Inoue closed her eyes.
Then she suddenly remembered something important.
When he slept with Unohana-san, did Muten Natsu do this too?
...
Just as Muten Natsu expected, after destroying several Hollows in succession, his body quickly returned to its original state. He had recovered enough to return to school without being mistaken for a child.
But before going back to school, Muten Natsu still had one important thing to finish.
"I'm home~" Orihime Inoue opened the front door, changed into slippers, walked through the entryway, and entered the living room. She immediately caught a mouthwatering aroma. "Wow, what a feast~"
Orihime Inoue leaned closer to the dining table and sniffed, then turned to ask Muten Natsu in the kitchen, "Are we having guests today?"
"It's just the three of us today." Muten Natsu walked out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of noodles. "No one else."
"Then is today a special day?" Orihime Inoue tilted her head in thought. "I remember your birthday is in December."
It was still November.
"The answer will be revealed soon." Muten Natsu took Orihime Inoue's schoolbag from her hands and placed it on the sofa. "Go wash your hands first."
"Mm-hmm." When Orihime Inoue returned after washing her hands, she found a large cream cheese cake had appeared on the table. "This is..."
"I wanted to celebrate for you before, but all sorts of things got in the way." Muten Natsu lit the candles. "The gift I originally prepared was destroyed in the battle, and preparing a new one took some time, so it ended up being delayed until now."
Muten Natsu took out a small gift box and handed it to Orihime Inoue. "Happy birthday, Orihime."
Orihime Inoue accepted the gift, then immediately opened her arms and threw herself into Muten Natsu's embrace. "Muten..."
Soft pressure pressed against his body. Muten Natsu gently patted Orihime Inoue's shoulder. "See if you like the gift."
"I like it!"
Muten Natsu could not help laughing. "You should look at it first."
Only then did Orihime Inoue come back to herself. She carefully opened the gift box, so careful that she could not even bear to damage the wrapping paper.
The little box opened, revealing a small pure white ring inside. Faint ink marks flowed across it.
Orihime Inoue lowered her head to look at the ring, then raised her head to look at Muten Natsu. The surprise and joy in her eyes were almost spilling out.
Muten Natsu explained with a smile, "I made this Ink Ring using the Bokukō Gigai. Wearing it every day can enhance your ability to absorb Reishi. If you encounter danger, it can also release Ink Fortress to block one attack."
Obvious conflict appeared in Orihime Inoue's eyes. "Something this useful should be given to Unohana-san and Rukia instead..."
"I already gave Rukia's to her on the day of her appointment ceremony. As for Captain Unohana's, I'll choose a suitable time to give it to her too." Muten Natsu rubbed Orihime Inoue's head. "So just accept it."
Orihime Inoue's cheeks flushed as she held the little box up in front of Muten Natsu. "Then... can you put it on for me?"
"Of course." Muten Natsu was familiar with this. He took out the Ink Ring, held Orihime Inoue's raised left hand, and skillfully slipped the Ink Ring onto her ring finger.
Orihime Inoue lightly pressed her lips together, light rippling through her bright eyes. She clasped both hands in front of her chest. "Then... please take care of me for the rest of my life."
"Mm." Muten Natsu pointed at the candles on the cake. "Make a birthday wish."
Orihime Inoue closed her eyes. The warmth on her ring finger made her thoughts drift.
I hope...
Ririn stood off to the side, tapping on her phone.
"Orihime said yes!"
Tatsuki Arisawa: "???"
Orihime Inoue opened her eyes and blew out the candles in one breath. "Phew~"
At the same time, a brilliant rainbow appeared, flower petals fell all around them, and a cheerful birthday song echoed through the room.
Ririn waved her little hand to control the illusion. "Happy birthday, Orihime."
Orihime Inoue picked Ririn up and kissed her. "Thank you, Ririn."
"I'm the one who should thank you." Ririn's smile was gentle.
Back then, Ririn had originally wanted to leave and escape Soul Society's pursuit.
But because of Orihime Inoue, she stayed.
She had not ended up wandering from place to place as she first expected. Instead, she was in this warm room, witnessing this heartwarming scene.