Capítulo 37: Chapter 37: Glasses
Seireitei – The Heart of the Soul Society
Seireitei stands as the political, military, and even commercial hub of the entire Soul Society.
Not only are the barracks of all Gotei 13 located within its borders, but so are the residences of various noble families, the Kido Corps headquarters, the Central 46, the Great Spirit Book Gallery, the Maggot's Nest, and other essential institutions, nearly all concentrated in Seireitei.
Outside Seireitei lies Rukongai, a district home to ordinary souls. Here, the area is simply divided into zones—such as "East District 1" and "North District 2." The Shinigami only venture into Rukongai if there are incidents of hollows attacking souls, and, outside of these cases, Seireitei maintains minimal oversight. This hands-off approach has led most parts of Rukongai to fall into a state of disarray—chaotic, dirty, and disorderly.
Rukongai's poor environment and the fact that souls without spiritual power don't feel hunger have stunted the district's economic potential. To cater to the Shinigami and noble families seeking food and entertainment, a lively commercial street within Seireitei has sprung up, providing the Shinigami and nobility a place to unwind.
Makoto had often heard about this bustling market, but since joining the Fourth Division, he had hardly had the opportunity to explore.
Unlike Seireitei's usual air of solemnity, the commercial street brims with merriment, and wherever one looks, one can see Shinigami indulging freely. Shops on both sides of the street offer not only food and entertainment but also a wide variety of goods, creating a scene of lively prosperity.
"Hold on…"
Makoto suddenly called out to Soi Fon, who was leading the way. Her gaze had fallen on a glasses shop. "Ms.Fon, could you wait for a moment? I'd like to buy a pair of glasses."
"Glasses?" Soi Fon followed Makoto into the shop, glancing at his bright and gentle eyes as she asked, "Is there something wrong with your eyesight, Doctor Senju?"
"Just a little," he replied, casually deflecting her question with a vague answer. "I've been practicing acupuncture a lot lately, which strains the eyes a bit. Sometimes, things look blurry…"
While responding to her, Makoto's eyes scanned the various glasses displayed in the shop.
One pair caught his attention first—the understated, black-rimmed glasses that resembled those worn by Aizen Sosuke. They were undoubtedly the perfect choice for refining one's demeanor, concealing a sharp gaze, and projecting an air of mystery.
But...
Makoto recalled Unohana's offhand remark about his faint resemblance to Aizen and quickly dismissed the idea of choosing the same style.
With the shopkeeper's guidance, he tried on several other pairs, each one making him appear even more refined and attractive, which left him a bit dissatisfied.
After all, Makoto's main goal in buying glasses was to adopt a disguise—not to the extent of a superhero transformation where glasses and a change of clothes render one unrecognizable, but he at least wanted something that would subtly downplay his looks, mask his gaze a bit, and make him appear less threatening.
At that moment, Soi Fon handed him a pair with a tinted color...
With a soft clink of silver-framed glasses, he walked over and spoke.
"Um... Doctor Senju, maybe you could try this pair?"
Makoto turned his head, slightly surprised, looking at Fon. She glanced away, her gaze wandering to the street outside, and replied.
"Don't... don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want to waste time. It's absolutely not because I think this pair would suit you better."
Just then, an evening breeze drifted in from the street, lifting Fon's black hair off her shoulders and fully exposing her flushed ears.
Makoto blinked, then took the glasses from Soi Fon's hand and tried them on in front of the mirror.
"Hah..."
As Makoto reached for the glasses, Fon let out a quiet sigh, already beginning to regret her impulsive gesture.
After all, since she was young, Fon's life had largely revolved around the rigorous training imposed by the Gotei 13. Opportunities to simply wander through the streets were rare, which was why, upon spotting a pair of glasses she liked, she couldn't help but recommend them to Makoto.
"How is it?" he asked suddenly, his voice as gentle as the evening breeze.
Instinctively, Fon turned to look at him. Makoto's delicate features took on a touch of maturity and a slight air of elegance under the narrow, dark-gray frames.
In that moment, Fon couldn't help but recall the image of Kuchiki Byakuya, the young master of the Kuchiki family, and subconsciously compared him with Makoto.
While their appearances were nearly on par, unlike the aloof and prideful Byakuya, the young man before her exuded a warmth, as if he were a spring breeze, making her feel inexplicably close to him.
She didn't know why, but hearing Makoto's gentle, soothing voice stirred a sudden nervousness within her, as if her hidden thoughts had been laid bare. Her tone grew slightly tense as she responded.
"Why are you asking me?"
Noting Fon's seemingly distant tone, Makoto replied in his usual gentle voice, "Well, these are glasses recommended by Miss Fon. Your opinion, naturally, is quite important."
"They're... they're okay, I guess. Nothing special," she answered, her voice a bit stiff.
"Alright."
Makoto responded and, to Fon's slight disappointment, took off the glasses and set them aside before moving on to browse other pairs.
For a brief moment, Fon felt a pang of emptiness, like a precious first gift had been rejected.
'Damn it, didn't I say they were fine?'
'Could it be... I wasn't clear enough? But... what else could I have said?'
'No, why am I even so worked up? This has nothing! Nothing!! to do with me at all.'
While Fon continued to stew in her frustration, Makoto selected two more pairs and handed them to the shopkeeper, indicating for them to be wrapped.
Then, with Fon still lost in thought, Makoto casually placed the narrow, dark-gray frames back on his nose and asked the shopkeeper, "How much for all three pairs?"
"2,000 rings."
(Author's note: The currency of the Soul Society is divided into small rings and rings. The exact purchasing power is unclear, so I used a rough real-world equivalent for easier understanding.)
Makoto paused, slightly surprised. "That expensive?"
Though Makoto was Unohana's disciple, his position was just an ordinary member of the Fourth Division, with a monthly salary and allowances totaling only 6,000 rings.
Of course, his income had been especially low these past two months, as he hadn't taken on any medical cases, leaving him with only the basic departmental pay.
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