The noise along the way turned into a harmonious silence. Only the sound of footsteps could be heard, but only the two of them knew the waves in their hearts.
In the silence, the two of them walked to the Urahara store. Instead of identifying the location by the smell of the snacks, the store manager greeted them.
Taira Shinko, the captain of the fifth division of the 13th Division, was actually kneeling in front of the store to welcome the Grim Reaper who had no seat.
Makoto Hikari stood aside, his face full of astonishment. Lucia, on the other hand, was very calm. She could vaguely see Taira Shinko's eyes hidden under the shadow of the hat. They were sincere and firm. She couldn't help but feel touched.
Taira Shinko said, "Thank you so much for what you did at the Nightmare Lake, Lucia."
"It's okay, it's what I should do."
Lucia said casually, then looked into his eyes. She couldn't bear to see him like this. Just as she was about to say something to comfort him, Taira Shinko suddenly stood up.
"Oh, that's great, it's finally over. I thought I would be asked for a reward this time. Ahahaha, as expected of Her Excellency Lucia. Now I'm relieved."
This time, Makoto Hikari was very calm. Lucia, on the other hand, felt helpless, embarrassed, angry, and all kinds of feelings.
Then, she gave a heavy punch and let out a long breath. She felt much better now.
Taira Shinko got up from the ground and covered her nose. She said leisurely, "I asked Sarutobi and the others to stock up. It's quite lonely to be alone. Stay and have a meal with us!"
"Okay." Lucia agreed readily. She wanted to recover some of her losses.
Taira Shinko glanced at Makoto Hikari. Makoto Hikari understood and entered the house with an awkward expression.
"Ah, Miss Lucia, let's go to the living room and wait for dinner!" Taira Shinko said with a smile.
"Okay, but sister …" Before she could finish, Lucia was pulled in by Taira Shinko.
Lucia couldn't help but ask, "Where's sister?"
Taira Shinko said with a smile, "You'll know in a while." Her expression was somewhat mysterious.
Lucia asked again, "Where's Lord Ye Yi?"
"I don't know. Damn it, that guy didn't even say anything when he went out." Taira Shinko grumbled helplessly.
The two of them continued to chat about random things, until …
"The rice is ready." Lucia looked in the direction of the voice and saw Makoto Hikari wearing an apron. His face was already red, and he was holding a Zanpakuto with vegetable leaves in his hand.
Lucia laughed loudly with tears in her eyes. She only laughed and occasionally glanced at Makoto Hikari. She didn't say anything for a long time.
Taira Masako smiled as if her scheme had succeeded. "Thank you for your hard work." Her tone was filled with emotion.
Then the three of them sat around the table to eat. Taira Masako kept looking at Makoto Hikari with a bowl in her hand, as if she wanted to say something.
Lucia and Makoto Hikari sat opposite each other. Whenever she thought of her sister's appearance, she couldn't help but laugh. There were a few times when she almost choked to death.
Makoto Hikari ate very little and left to wash the dishes.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, Taira Masako's ethereal voice came from not far away.
"Makoto Hikari, I'm going to take a nap later. After washing the dishes, go and clean the warehouse. Don't damage the goods!"
"Sigh." Makoto Hikari sighed deeply. "Got it."
At that moment, Lucia slowly walked into the kitchen.
Makoto Hikari thought that he would inevitably be mocked again. Unexpectedly, Lucia said, "Sister, let me help you!"
"This … Okay …!" Makoto Hikari was a little flattered.
Perhaps Lucia wanted to make up for her previous lack of honesty. In short, she wanted to do something for him.
Thus, the two of them walked into the warehouse together after washing the dishes.
There was dust everywhere. Obviously, there were no customers in the store.
"I really don't know how Taira Masako makes a living," Lucia said helplessly.
As far as the eye could see, the whole room was filled with discarded cardboard boxes used for moving. There were labels on the boxes, but most of them were of inferior quality.
Lucia said helplessly again, "No wonder Soul could survive!" Lucia stopped feeling helpless and said, "Let's get started."
"But your new dress …" Makoto Hikari reminded her.
Lucia hesitated for a moment. She thought of Ichigo's cold attitude in the morning and said, "It's okay. It's dirty!" However, she still couldn't bear to see it.
"Or you can change the dress!"
Lucia was a little excited. "Do you think I look good in it?"
After she said that, the two of them looked at each other for a long time. Suddenly, Makoto Hikari said as if he was crazy, "Aha, aha, aha, what are you talking about, Lucia? Why do I feel like you're a little girl?
Aha, aha, aha. "As he said that, he patted Lucia's back.
Lucia was stunned for a moment. Then, she immediately retorted, "You're the one who's like a child. When you smile, your eyebrows are even weirder."
Makoto Hikari felt that the awkward situation had been resolved by his witty words. Then, he clicked his tongue and continued to clean.
The air was filled with fine dust. In the dim basement, only a small light could prove that one's sense of smell was accurate.
Makoto Hikari joked, "It's really suffocating. It's like Kirito's spiritual pressure. Cough, cough."
Lucia was still in a daze. Then, as if she was responding to this sentence, the corners of her mouth curved slightly. She replied, "Ah."
After Makoto Hikari said that, he regretted it. It wasn't easy to return to the two of them like before. Why did he have to mention another man? Moreover, it was that person.
He glanced at Lucia. She was working very briskly. Although the surrounding was filled with floating dust, she seemed to be fighting against the spiritual pressure-like dust. Or perhaps, she was dancing with it. Makoto Hikari was a little lost in thought. It was just like a certain evening many years ago when they were by a stream.
But now, she seemed to be happier. Or rather, she was grasping at happiness harder.
Was it because of what he said just now? Did it make her feel like something was right beside her?