Imagining Rukia Kuchiki wearing the pajamas, Muten Natsu nodded in complete agreement. "They really do suit Rukia."
"Then this is the one!" After paying, Orihime Inoue naturally took Muten Natsu's hand. "There are some other things I want to buy too..."
"Other things meaning...?"
Finding himself in the lingerie section once again, Muten Natsu felt completely different from the last time.
There was nothing embarrassing about accompanying his wife while she shopped for lingerie.
Orihime Inoue felt differently from before as well. Last time, she had been perfectly comfortable asking Muten Natsu to help her choose. This time, however, she only clutched his hand nervously, too embarrassed even to pick anything out herself.
He was going to see her wearing it~
Not just see it in her hands, but see it on her body.
The mere thought of that made Orihime Inoue blush uncontrollably.
Muten Natsu noticed the flush on her face. "Want me to wait over there?"
"No!" Orihime Inoue refused instinctively, tightening her grip on his hand. "I want... I want you to help me choose..."
"You want me to pick..." Muten Natsu's gaze shifted. "Give me a moment."
What kind would Muten Natsu choose? Something cute... or something really daring?
The more she thought about it, the redder Orihime Inoue's face became.
It didn't take long before Muten Natsu returned with two bras in completely different styles, one white and one pink.
"I asked the sales clerk. She said that for larger sizes, an underwire usually provides better support, but it can also cause some pressure. For a high school girl, a wireless bra is generally more suitable. If you do choose an underwire, you need to make absolutely sure the size fits properly." As he spoke, Muten Natsu showed Orihime Inoue the white one. "This one uses a Wind Nest Cup design. The breathable mesh openings are larger than ordinary mesh, so it releases heat better. It also uses a flexible soft underwire, which gives gentler support than a standard rigid one."
Orihime Inoue stared at him in disbelief. "You learned all that... already?"
"They had a reference book here. I skimmed through it and asked the clerk a couple of questions. It didn't take long." Muten Natsu then held up the pink one. "This one uses a petal cup design with a biomimetic molded-cup structure. The center petal is cotton for comfort, while the rest is mesh lace to keep it cool and breathable. The back band combines stitching with adhesive bonding and doesn't use rigid side boning, so it's less likely to dig in or feel tight across the back."
So he was choosing based on practicality...
Orihime Inoue had thought Muten Natsu would pick whichever style he liked best, but all he had been thinking about was what would feel most comfortable for her.
Of course. Muten Natsu had always been like that.
"Then I'll take these two." Orihime Inoue smiled and nodded. "As for the size... Huh? They're both the right size. How did you..."
Halfway through, Orihime Inoue's face turned red again.
Of course. With Muten Natsu's abilities, he could probably tell just by looking, never mind the fact that he had spent... so long using his hands.
Holding Muten Natsu's hand as they walked home, Orihime Inoue suggested, "How does wine-steamed oyster pasta sound for dinner tonight?"
"Sounds good, but if there's wine in it, won't you get drunk?" Muten Natsu asked worriedly.
"There won't be much alcohol left by the time it's done~" Orihime Inoue swung their joined hands. "Besides, even if I really do get drunk, I won't have anything to worry about with you beside me."
"Really?" The corners of Muten Natsu's mouth lifted. "Then while you're drunk, I might just..."
"No!" Orihime Inoue's face turned bright red. "You're not allowed to do that while I'm drunk..."
Muten Natsu laughed. "Then when am I allowed?"
"I..." Orihime Inoue thought for a moment. "When I'm pretending to be drunk."
"So when are you going to start pretending?"
Seeing no one else around, Orihime Inoue tilted her face up slightly. "I'm already feeling a little..."
Her bright eyes fluttered, and a hazy white mist escaped her slightly parted lips.
Muten Natsu lowered his head and sealed off the source of that mist.
Orihime Inoue closed her eyes. She was gradually beginning to understand the way Muten Natsu had felt before.
If every day could be this happy, then she didn't want anything to change either.
She wanted these days to repeat over and over, all the way to the end of time.
Muten Natsu steadied Orihime Inoue as her body went limp. "You're way too drunk. I'd better hurry and get you home."
"I'm already drunk..." Orihime Inoue pursed her glossy lips. "I can't hear what you're say... Huh?"
Her voice abruptly stopped, and she turned toward a certain direction. "That Reiatsu... It's Rukia! She's hurt!"
Muten Natsu's eyes narrowed, veins bulging on his forehead as the Hell's Eye opened instantly. His strange vision extended in the direction Orihime Inoue was staring and locked onto Rukia Kuchiki as she fell from the Senkaimon.
Viscous spiritual ink surged around them, lifting both of their bodies and carrying them swiftly toward Rukia Kuchiki.
Her slender body dropped helplessly through the air. Just before she struck the ground, Muten Natsu caught her in his arms.
"Rukia!" Feeling the unnatural cold of Rukia Kuchiki's body, Muten Natsu called her name anxiously.
"Sōten Kisshun, I reject!" Orihime Inoue immediately began treating her, enveloping the injured Rukia Kuchiki within a golden barrier.
"Muten..." Rukia Kuchiki struggled to open her eyes. "Zan... Zanpakutō..."
Before she could finish, she lost consciousness.
While in Soul Society, Orihime Inoue had learned a great deal from Retsu Unohana. As soon as the barrier formed, she quickly gained a rough understanding of Rukia Kuchiki's condition. "Rukia isn't in serious danger. She's just exhausted herself and suffered some injuries. She relaxed when she saw you, so she passed out."
Given Rukia Kuchiki's condition, she should have lost consciousness long ago. The only thing that had kept her going this far was sheer willpower.
The moment she saw Muten Natsu and knew she was safe, she could no longer fight her body's exhaustion and finally lost consciousness.
Muten Natsu carefully laid Rukia Kuchiki flat on the ground so Orihime Inoue could treat her more easily.
"What exactly happened..." Muten Natsu frowned deeply, then suddenly turned and stared at a spot nearby.
There, another Senkaimon was slowly opening.
A figure gradually came into view. A white-haired woman dressed in a white long-sleeved kimono appeared before them.
The instant she stepped into the World of the Living, the already frigid winter wind became even more piercing.