The kitchen was a hive of activity.
Oil sizzled loudly in the iron woks. Kitchen assistants scurried between the stoves and cutting boards, a scene of bustling industry.
"Chef Suō is back!"
A shout went up—it was unclear who spoke first—breaking the kitchen's steady rhythm.
The assistants, busy with preparations, suddenly snapped out of it, realizing that the kitchen manager had just completed a handover.
"Oh!"
The interrupted atmosphere paused for a brief moment, then was quickly replaced by a wave of enthusiastic cheers.
Suō Tsukasa picked up the kitchen knife he hadn't touched in a long time, his voice clear and resonant, cutting through the clamor of the stoves.
"Lads, it's been a month. Let me see if your skills have gotten rusty!"
"Yes!"
The unified chorus of affirmation sounded like well-trained soldiers, and the surging energy echoed throughout the back kitchen.
These kitchen assistants were all apprentices personally trained by Suō Tsukasa. Although they could coordinate well with Ms. Terada, it was simply not the same as being led by their master himself.
"Ping, the heat needs to be higher when you double-fry, and the time shorter."
"Jie, when prepping, cut a bit more off the ends; we can use it for the staff meal and plate garnishes."
"Kotarō, bring the sauce you mixed today over for me to inspect."
With Suō Tsukasa's arrival, a new vitality was injected into the already efficient workflow of the kitchen. The assistants' movements all became sharper and more precise.
In this moment, the King of the Kitchen returned to his throne.
Since returning to Teradaya, Suō Tsukasa had not rested for a moment, working non-stop until the evening service ended.
The familiar rhythm of life gave him a long-missed sense of comfort and fulfillment.
Tonight, a private reception room in Teradaya that had not been used for a long time was reopened, and a warm yellow light illuminated the room.
Having shed his smoke-scented work clothes and changed into a light cyan kimono, Suō Tsukasa hosted his visiting friends and family.
The reception room was as tidy as ever. Even during Suō Tsukasa's absence, like his own room, it was cleaned daily.
A simple white porcelain vase sat on the main table, holding blooming spring flowers.
A few sprigs of spring cherry blossoms and several unidentified pale-purple wildflowers were arranged together. The clusters of cherry blossoms were pink and white, interspersed with the faint purple.
The light reflected on the bouquet, giving it a soft, radiant edge.
At this moment, Suō Tsukasa, Ms. Terada, Tamaki's family, and Matsuzaki's family were gathered in the room, surrounded by lively friends and family.
The room was divided into two tables. The adults sat at the main table, while the children of the two families had their own table, forming a joyful little world.
The dishes were essentially the same for both tables, except the main table had a few warmed sake flasks, and the children's table had a few more plates of snacks.
Once everyone was seated, Suō Tsukasa, as the host, was the first to raise his cup. His gaze swept over every friend and family member present, his face beaming with a smile.
"It's been a long time since we sat together like this."
"Tonight, just like before, eat well and enjoy yourselves. Come on, let's eat!"
The children at the small table waited eagerly for the meal to begin.
"Let's start!"
As Suō Tsukasa's words fell, the children cheered immediately.
The conversations at the adults' table held no attraction for them; the exquisite food completely captured all their attention.
Their core mission at every gathering was to fill their little stomachs.
At the main table, the atmosphere gradually warmed up after Suō Tsukasa's words.
After taking a few bites, Matsuzaki Yoshihito raised his cup to toast Suō Tsukasa, asking with a puzzled expression:
"I heard that the Shin'ō Academy requires six years of study, with only winter and summer breaks. How did you manage to come back after just one month?"
Originally, Shin'ō Academy was a name utterly unrelated to him. But after Suō Tsukasa enrolled, he quietly sought out the elder of West 3rd District to inquire about relevant information.
Only then did he form a vague concept of that cradle for training Shinigami.
"Yes, that's correct. Besides the long breaks, there's a chance for an outing every month, as long as your performance is good."
"And while the standard is six years, you can apply to take the exam every year. If you pass, you can graduate early."
Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, Suō Tsukasa nodded. He picked up the sake flask, refilled Matsuzaki Yoshihito's empty cup, and added some to his own before continuing to explain.
"Is that so... you can graduate early."
"Then you must be able to do it, Suō. Keep up the good work!"
Picking up the freshly filled cup, Matsuzaki Yoshihito repeated the words slightly under his breath without immediately drinking.
He then immediately put on a big smile and offered his well wishes, draining the cup in one go.
At his words, everyone paused their movements, and their attention focused on Suō Tsukasa.
The atmosphere momentarily became a little subdued. The people at the table were not fools; they could all understand Matsuzaki Yoshihito's current emotions.
Graduating early meant becoming a Shinigami, attaining a higher status and a brighter future.
But Shinigami live within the Seireitei, and that towering white wall was a chasm they, as ordinary souls, could not cross.
Although Suō Tsukasa might return during holidays or missions, those reunions would ultimately be different from the present.
They felt both happy and proud of Suō Tsukasa, yet also saddened by the inevitable parting that lay ahead.
The subtle, inexpressible sadness of the potential distance caused by differences in status and environment crept into everyone's hearts, yet they tried not to show it on their faces.
But their feelings could not be hidden from Suō Tsukasa, who offered reassurance openly.
"Don't worry. Even if I become a Shinigami, I will come back to see everyone often."
"Besides, Teradaya is here, and my home is in West 3rd District. How could I not come back?"
"That's right! Tsukasa-kun won't forget us!"
Tamaki had one hundred percent faith in Suō Tsukasa and smiled sweetly.
"Haha, my bad, my bad! I'll drink three cups as a penalty!"
Her words immediately resolved the knot in Matsuzaki Yoshihito's heart. He forcefully wiped his face, drank the cup of sake, and immediately followed up with two more strong drinks.
"Slow down, slow down. Though sake is good, don't be so greedy."
"I think you've just been craving it and want to drink a few extra. Don't drink too much; I don't want to have to carry you back later."
"Your boys won't be able to look after you tonight."
Seeing his posture, Suō Tsukasa lightly blocked his hand and joked.
"Haha."
The joke made everyone laugh, and the atmosphere at the banquet thoroughly returned to its former ease.
Although Matsuzaki Yoshihito enjoyed drinking, he was usually very restrained because he was the only adult in his household.
Seeing that everyone had moved past thoughts of his graduation, Suō Tsukasa raised his cup again and said cheerfully:
"I still have a long way to go. Don't worry so much. Let's be happy tonight!"
"Mhm!"
His words acted as a catalyst, reviving the atmosphere at the table. They turned to talking about the fun anecdotes recently circulated in Rukongai, the business of Teradaya, and the children's usual mischief.