"I don't know exactly what the Captain needs to do, but I don't think it's official business." Muten Natsu looked at Rukia Kuchiki's flushed face. "Just focus on getting your own work done."
"Then..." Rukia Kuchiki stole a glance at Muten Natsu before quickly looking away as though she'd been burned. "Then stay home and be good while you wait for me to come back. It'll only be two or three days."
"Mm." Muten Natsu admired Rukia Kuchiki's adorable expression. "When you get back, let's go to the aquarium together."
"Who said I wanted to go to the aquarium...? But if you want to go, I guess I can come along." Rukia Kuchiki glared at Muten Natsu. "What are you smiling about? Are you that happy I'm leaving?"
Muten Natsu's smile widened. "I'll be even happier when you come back."
"You said it yourself." Rukia Kuchiki put her hands on her hips. "When I get back, if you're not as happy as you are right now, I'll... Anyway, you'd better be even happier than this."
Almost as if she were fleeing in embarrassment, Rukia Kuchiki hurriedly packed a few things and, guided by a Jigokuchō, passed through the Senkaimon and left the World of the Living for Soul Society.
"Not bad~" Ririn looked Muten Natsu up and down. "Did you get a personality transplant?"
"I think you mean I've changed my ways..." Muten Natsu corrected her helplessly. "Did you put on your Reigai because you're going out?"
"Yeah. I'm meeting Nozomi to go shopping."
Muten Natsu reached for his wallet. "Do you have enough money? I still have plenty."
Orihime Inoue chimed in, "I have some too."
"You don't need to worry about money." Ririn lifted her chin proudly. "I'm a writer now!"
"A writer?" Muten Natsu froze. "Since when?"
"While you guys were busy doing this and that," Ririn explained. "My novel has been serialized for quite a while already."
"How come you've never mentioned it before?" Muten Natsu narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly sensing something suspicious. "What exactly are you writing?"
"Ah!" Ririn glanced at the wrist where she wasn't even wearing a watch. "Look at the time! I'm going to be late. I'll tell you later. Bye!"
Watching Ririn hurry away, Muten Natsu looked suspicious. "I feel like something's not right."
"She's probably embarrassed. When she feels like talking about it, she'll tell us herself." Orihime Inoue pursed her lips. "Muten Natsu, why did Unohana-san leave, anyway? Was it because you tried a little too hard?"
"Mm... More than a little."
Muten Natsu had tried so hard last night that he'd passed out.
Orihime Inoue asked worriedly, "She left so early. Was she angry?"
"She wasn't angry..." Muten Natsu thought back for a moment. "Actually, she was very happy."
Orihime Inoue's eyes widened in delight. "Unohana-san agreed?!"
"Why do you seem even happier than I am?"
"Of course I'm happy! That means the four of us can be together." Orihime Inoue began picturing it. "When Rukia and I go out together, you can have a heart-to-heart with Unohana-san. When Unohana-san and I have a heart-to-heart, you can go out with Rukia. When you and I go out, Rukia can have a heart-to-heart with Unohana-san... Wait, Unohana-san needs to go out too. Then I can go out with her while you and Rukia stay home and talk. Or you can have fun at home. We could all stay home together... or all go out together... Huh?"
Orihime Inoue snapped out of her daydream. "Wait. If Unohana-san agreed, then why did she still leave?"
"She agreed, but there was one condition." Muten Natsu recalled what she had written in the letter. "I can only go looking for her after I've made you both happy."
"So it's a test..." Orihime Inoue scratched her head. "Then next you need to make things official with Rukia and make her happy... Ah! You should've gone with her just now. Even if you couldn't help with her work, you could've kept her company."
"There's no need to rush." Muten Natsu shook his head. "If I only act because I'm trying to pass the test, then I'll never truly pass it."
"I see..." Orihime Inoue nodded, though she only half understood. "Well... if you've already made up your mind, then I'm sure you'll work it out."
"You have that much faith in me?"
"You're the one who gave me that confidence. It's always been like this, and this time won't be any different." Orihime Inoue smiled easily.
Everything that had happened in the past had taught Orihime Inoue the same thing over and over. Once Muten Natsu made up his mind, it meant the problem was already on its way to being solved.
From the way he had acted earlier, Ririn thought Muten Natsu had... changed his ways.
But Orihime Inoue didn't feel that way at all. To her, this was simply the Muten Natsu she had always known.
Whenever something first happened, he could be strangely slow to catch on, as though he were completely passive and had no idea what to do.
But once the time came to solve the problem, he would show initiative far beyond that of an ordinary person, moving relentlessly in the direction he had chosen and sweeping through every obstacle in his path.
"That's right." Muten Natsu nodded firmly. "This time won't be any different."
Filled with anticipation, Orihime Inoue finished the rest of her breakfast, then helped Muten Natsu clear the table and tidy the kitchen.
"Huh?" After sitting down on the sofa and turning on the TV, Orihime Inoue suddenly realized something. "It looks like we're the only two people left in the house."
"Yeah." Muten Natsu kissed Orihime Inoue's dazed face. "There are so many things we can do now."
Orihime Inoue blinked her large, watery eyes. "So many things?"
Muten Natsu gently kissed her forehead. "Lots of things that can make you happy."
"Happy...?"
Orihime Inoue closed her eyes, letting Muten Natsu's kiss fall against the edge of her brow as the warmth of his breath brushed across her cheek.
Suddenly, she remembered that Muten Natsu's test wasn't only about Rukia Kuchiki's happiness.
But Orihime Inoue already felt very happy. Could she really become even happier?
Before Muten Natsu's lips could reach hers, Orihime Inoue parted her lips first.
The familiar intrusion left her slightly dizzy, and her arms rose instinctively to wrap around Muten Natsu's neck.
This did seem just a little happier than before...
What exactly was happiness?
Orihime Inoue was starting to lose the ability to think.
"Muten..." The moment their lips parted, Orihime Inoue spoke up. "I think my clothes..."
Muten Natsu guessed what she was about to say. "They're not dirty."
Orihime Inoue gently bit her lower lip. "Really?"
"Really."
Muten Natsu lowered his head and caught the button at Orihime Inoue's collar between his teeth.
"But I still want to do this."