"Eiji!"
Running, he went in front of Eiji and gave him a huge hug.
Eiji smiled and hugged him back.
Normally, even when they had not seen each other for a long time, they would still just enthusiastically greet each other and may do a hugh five or a fist bump.
But the current stress and situation of Renji nearly made him tear up when he finally saw someone who was a close friend.
Eiji, understanding that there were some circumstances happening in his life right now, just went with the flow and hugged him back.
"It's been a long time, Renji!"
"Haha! Indeed! How have you been Eiji! I heard the rumors that you were in the IAI Department! Is it true?!"
Renji enthusiastically asked.
"Well.. You know, I've been doing missions here and there, and yeah, I'm in the..uhh..IAI Department!"
"Awesome!! Eiji! Let's have dinner together! I know a place! The food there is very good! That, I can guarantee!!!"
"Haha! Alright!"
Patting Eiji's shoulder, the both of them walked as Renji continued to ask questions and Eiji answering back.
A few minutes later, they arrived at a tavern in a bustling street.
Yet even though, there were a lot of travelers and people outside, the tavern seemed a bit odd and stood out being a bit deserted.
Sensing Eiji's perplexed gaze, Renji sighed and said.
"Sigh! Don't let the atmosphere fool you Eiji, Even though it looks very deserted, it still has very delicious food and has great service!"
Eiji smiled and looked at Renji.
"Alright! Let's go eat!"
Opening the door, both of them entered as Renji happily called out.
"Hey! Everyone, I'm back! I have a friend of mine that came and we're eating here!"
"Ohh?! Renji! And a friend of yours?! Come! Come! Come! Tonight your meal's on the house!"
The one who talked was a gentle looking woman in her 40s, a bit on the plump side and was a bit shorter than Eiji.
"Dear!! Renji came with a friend of his! You better whip up something good for them!!"
"Really?! Alright!! I'll let them taste my signature dish!"
After the woman shouted at the back, a man's rough voice could be heard answering her happily.
"Renji!"
Just then, a young woman, about in the early twenties came running down the stairs.
She happily called out Renji's name.
Eiji looked at the woman. She was just a bit taller than the both of them, she was slender and had an apron in her yukata she was wearing.
She was quite pretty if he had to describe her appearance.
"Renji, this is?!..."
As she saw Eiji staring at her, she asked Renji.
"Oh! Ahh!! This is my friend and classmate back then at the school, Noya Eiji!
And Eiji! This is Shibai Ryuko!"
"Ah! Hello! Pleased to meet you!"
Bowing her head, she greeted Eiji, which he also answered back!
"Oh! Ah! Me too! Pleased to meet you!"
"Then I'll go help father first!"
Ryuko said, she then went towards the kitchen as she talked with her mom.
Then both Eiji and Renji on one of the tables.
After a few minutes, their food came by.
It was Ryuko who served them and her father also came out greeting Eiji, and just as his couce sounded, he was a tall and big man! Although Eiji could feel that he doesn't know how to fight with just a look, but his huge built can be a bit intimidating, but he was a funny man in reality though.
Just like that Eiji and Renji ate as they talked.
----
In a while, Renji noticed that Eiji would sneakily look at the other tables or the tavern door.
*Sigh!"
"What's wrong Renji?!"
Noticing his sigh, Eiji asked Renji.
"You're wondering why there's hardly any people here right? Even though it's dinner time and it's supposed to be the peak time where customers come in..."
"... Yeah...."
"Well..."
Taking the bottle of wine in front of him, Renji gulped it on one go.
"It happened a few months ago .."
---
It took Renji quite a while to finish his recent activity and what had happened to him.
Eiji frown his eyebrows and looked quite pensive.
"Does that son of a noble really held that much authority?"
Eiji asked.
He was truly perplexed.
In his line of work, he had been dealing with traitors and even nobles, so in his mind, the nobles did not have that much of power or authority in his mind.
But it would seem like, it was just because of his line of work, and for others, the thought of a noble targeting you and your family sent shivers down the spine of ordinary people.
As Eiji slowly understood Renji's circumstances, both of them enjoyed their reunion as they ate and drunk.
After the night deepened, Eiji went back to the inn where his team was currently resting.
*End Of Chapter.