(I was thinking that just writing about his progress is boring so I add some fillers about the characters I already make around the 'Shiro' identity.)
Tonight was the promised Sunday and Adam is currently in a tavern Shiro's friends always frequented.
Rather than a tavern, it's more like an entertainment house owned by a Low ranking noble in the upper district close to the Noble District. It's a place to drink and enjoy the nightlife for people within Seireitei with plenty of Shinigami, both Seated and Unseated. There are Geisha performing dances, singing or playing music and other forms of entertainment like calligraphy, etc. There is also the legal prostitute, Oiran but only the nobles could afford those entertainers.
"This way, please. I already arranged everything like the usual." One of the friends kneels on his knee like loyal subordinates reporting to his leaders.
"Good. Good. Let's celebrate! The return of our brother! Shiro!" Another said before the group happily walked into the room they booked, singing and locking arm on shoulders as they walked.
Once inside the room, Adam sat with the group. He sits in the center like the most important person in the room and quietly drinks alcohol and peacefully enjoys the entertainment and the night. Thankfully Shiro usually likes to drink in silence and his current act isn't out of place.
The room was partially open aired with a portion of it being a balcony that showed the view of the district and cold wind constantly blew toward the balcony which felt both pleasant and refreshing on his skin.
After nearly half an hour, the dancers stopped their performance to take a rest. They sat with the group to serve drinks and talk with them. Since the guy that prepared this, prepared a girl for each person. Adam had one sitting next to him to pour him a drink and he somehow felt like he knew her but the heavy make up on her face made it difficult for Adam to recognize who she is.
The girl sat next to him with her body facing him. Her face was frowning and had a pout as she looked at him with a mix of annoyance and elation.
Adam felt bothered, so he asked the AI to figure out who she was and apparently her face and body matched the girl named Tsugumi who he had forgotten about months ago to focus on his training.
"Haah…" Adam sighed while looking at her before he downed the entire cup of sake which she immediately helped to refill.
"Is a sigh all you can say to me after ghosting me for 8 whole months?" She said with neither a loud or angry tone. Perhaps because she is currently working and getting angry at her customer for personal reasons is definitely not professional.
"Yes." Adam said bluntly and tried to gauge her reaction.
Surprisingly, Tsugumi simply just rolled her eyes like she was saying 'whatever' before she smiled.
"I said this before, don't you think you can throw me away that easily. Just mere 8 months? I can wait for another 8 years if I have to." She smirked smugly like she just won something.
"Please don't." Adam sighed while rubbing his forehead.
"Hmph. Too bad. I will. Besides, I heard many talks about you from the other Shinigamis and your friends." She said before her voice started to be laced with worry. "I heard you were so obsessed with training that you often do not eat, sleep or even rest. Would you really be alright? I know Shinigami is much stronger than usual people but even a Captain can get sick or ill if they do not eat, sleep and rest."
She is worried about him which made Adam feel warm inside to have someone worried for him. But also reminded him of his family and people he left behind in order to be here. Neither Tsugumi or his friends missed the brief sorrowful look on Adam's face.
"Thank you for worrying about me. But I am fine. I am not stupid enough to work myself to death. I don't have such luxury to fail." He said which slowly became low mutters that trailed off.
Tsugumi figured Adam has a secret he isn't willing to share and she didn't press on for it either. She instead changed the topic.
"So, I guess you have been doing all this to get stronger. Are you trying to climb up the rank and be a Captain?" She asked. The friends behind her immediately get rowdy. "Is that true, Shiro? You are trying to become a Captain?"
"Sure. Let's leave it at that. I am gathering my strength in preparation for the future." Adam said.
Even after Adam left, Shiro will remain and he will have to live through the chaos that will take place in Seireitei. The Hollowfication incident, the Zanpakuto Rebellion and the Thousand Year Blood War with the Wandenreich among the few major events that would take place. If Shiro wants to live through those turbulent times, he must have appropriate power and influence. So, becoming a Captain might as well be Adam and Shiro's goal.
"If that is the case, you don't have to worry. We will definitely support you, brother!"
"Yeah!" They all passionately announced their support and loyalty to Adam.
"Piss off. You all are just gonna leech on me for money or just ride on my coattails." Adam said with a joking manner despite how harsh it sounded.
"Well, not everyone is as strong or as genius as you, Mr Future Captain. Of course you have to look after your poor and unfortunate brothers." They said before they laughed jovially. The atmosphere in the room is good and filled with joy as they drink and talk.
"Of course you guys are poor. Your salary is just a measly 200k Yen. An amount of money is not enough even for a small family for a month. Try to climb up rank at least or do a bounty like me. I easily earn 5-10 times my monthly salary each week hunting Gillian Menos." Adam advises but instead meets with frown.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Not everyone is as strong as you who can defeat a Lieutenant in a duel." They retorted.
"Then just hunt common Hollows. That should get you extra income. Or you all can take a Hollow bounty on the Human world. The Hollow there is much weaker than in Hueco Mundo." Adam pointed out.
"Well… We never thought of that. It might work." They collectively said and nodded. "We will try it out." They said before someone lifted his cup and cheered with everyone.
"Bring more alcohol! Tonight we will get wasted! The bill is on our brother, Shiro!"
"Wooh!" They rowdy bunch start to drink like crazy. At least they have the decency to not order expensive wine or sake to bankrupt him.
"Haah…" Adam sighed and downed another cup of wine before Tsugumi on his side silently refilled his cup.
Adam moves closer to the balcony and enjoys the night wind, away from his drunk and rowdy bunch of friends.
"You don't have to follow me." Adam said when he noticed Tsugumi followed him to the balcony.
"What are you talking about? You are my customer. If I don't tend to you. I will be scolded by the boss later." She frowned at Adam's ridiculous words.
"Then. If I gave you enough money to retire and buy a home to settle down. Would you quit?"
"What is this? A confession or pity?" She wondered as Adam's blank stare gave little information to guess his intention.
"Neither. Just preparation." Adam said and refused to elaborate to her.
Tsugumi obviously is head over heels for Shiro or Adam or both. Adam does not need her because he already has his three lovely wives but Shiro does. Once Adam left, Shiro would take over and he would need a lover. Besides, Shiro also has a budding feeling for Tsugumi. So, Adam can only see this as an absolute win.
Hearing Adam's admittance, a beautiful smile bloomed on Tsugumi's face. She couldn't feel any happier than right now as she coquettishly cuddles up to Adam's side.
"So you do like me. Here I always thought that I was inadequate." She said excitedly. "But, what about your wives?" She suddenly remembered and Adam had been vehemently refusing her previously because of his wives.
"You don't need to worry about them. They are irrelevant." Adam said the one that will stay with her later is Shiro, not himself. So, the matter of his wife's approval was irrelevant and something he shouldn't have brought up in the first place.
"Irrelevant?" Tsugumi grew curious because last time she remembered that Adam sounded very fond of his wives and suddenly right now he said they were irrelevant.
"Yes. They are irrelevant. After all, we are two different people. The me there and the me here." Adam vaguely explained and refused to further elaborate.
"Well, if you said so." She nodded and moved on from the topic but she couldn't bring up any topic after the previous one still occupied her mind.
It felt like a dream. Shiro was an exemplary Shinigami. A very hard working person, talented and very good looking. Speaking about his look… Tsugumi couldn't help but feel dazzled by his visage under the dim moonlight as he brought the cup to his lips and drank its content in one gulp. His hair white as snow that faintly reflected the moonlight, his always stoic and distant icy blue eyes that made him look like a fleeting illusion that might fade away at any moment. His skin was pale, almost sickly but not as worse as a year ago since he now looked healthier although not very apparent unless the one looking is very attentive. His body was neither frail nor bulky under the all black hakama typically worn by Shinigami. However, when one is able to peek underneath it, one will find his absolutely chiseled body that can make any lady blush. Just like herself.
"Like what you see?" Adam asked with a faint and playful chuckle which caused her face to turn deep crimson.
Tsugumi felt like a child caught doing a bad thing. As she stuttered to push out an excuse from her throat but failed as she felt too embarrassed to be caught peeking at Adam's body in a daze. However, she mustered her courage. Much to Adam's surprise by her boldness.
"Yes." She replied back.
"Well, wait for another 8 months first and then you can claim it."
"Eight months?" Tsugumi wondered why Adam would need that much time.
"I wish to focus on my training. Until then, I wouldn't have time for anything else but training." Adam explained while she nodded in understanding. "Today is special. So, don't expect me to visit anytime soon."
"Hmph, just 8 months? I already waited over a year. Another 8 months is easy." She declared.
Adam nods satisfied and continues to enjoy his drink peacefully under the glow of the moon.
"Hmn. Why don't you drink with me tonight?" Adam asked as he drank almost five jars and she didn't even drink a single drop.
"Well… I can't. I am a worker in this establishment. Unless you privately book me for the whole night. I can't indulge in any alcohol." She said with dissatisfaction in her voice. She clearly wanted to drink but she couldn't due to the rule.
"How much?" Adam asked with an expression that said he didn't care.
"Idiot. It's very expensive that even some nobles couldn't afford since I am one of the best this establishment can offer." She boasted how she is ranked third among all other Geisha and the price to book her privately for a night cost almost as much as a Shinigami's salary for a month.
"Just a month? I make ten times as much each week." Adam sighed and fished out a pouch out of nowhere and called for Minoru, his so-called 'most loyal retainer' and sworn brother.
"Anything I can help, Aniki?" Minoru suddenly appeared using Shunpo and kneel down like a loyal retainer indeed.
"Haah…" Adam sighed and was too lazy to correct the way he addressed him which progressively got worse each time. At least he didn't use titles like 'my lord' or 'my liege' anymore.
Adam hands Minoru the pouch which Minoru opens and sees yellow glow shoot out the pouch and quickly seal it back.
"Who are you trying to hire to kill, Aniki?" Minoru wondered because the money inside the pouch is a lot.
Commoners mostly use copper ringed coins, very rarely they use silver ones that are worth a hundred copper ringed coins. The gold one is worth a hundred silver ringed coins. That means each gold coin is 50k Yen and in the pouch is at least 50 gold ringed coins or 2.5 Million Yen. This kind of money is a significant amount even for the great five noble clans. Enough to buy a decent home in the upper district.
"Help me book her for the whole night. You can pay off everyone's tab and what remains after that you can share with the rest." Adam instructed before making a shooing gesture.
"Don't worry, Aniki. You can rest assured and enjoy your time with…" Minoru looked at Tsugumi latched next to Adam with a blushed face not even her makeup could hide anymore. "With sister-in-law."
Adam made an acknowledging grunt before Minoru vacant the balcony in an instant.
"There you go. You can enjoy it without reservation." Adam poured sake on an empty cup before offering it to Tsugumi who shily accepted and gulped down the sake in silence.
Adam's message couldn't have been more clear to her. He basically just said money isn't an issue for him and to spend time with her, no amount of money is too expensive. Basically a flex on his wealth.
Now the offer he he made earlier about her retiring and buy a home to live without worry about anything else, sounded more realistic for her which she earlier assumed was just a joke or an idealistic dream.
"Uhm… Shiro. S-Since you already booked me for the night. Why don't we re-rent a room and s-spend the ni-night together?"
Adam looks at the girl with one eyebrow raised before he shifts his sight to her. "Unfortunately, I only plan to share a drink with you and nothing more. I still have to do my routine training starting at 3 AM, tomorrow morning."
The rejection felt with a bucket of cold water doused her entire body from head to toe.
"You remember our deal? After eight months. As for now, why don't we just enjoy the atmosphere and the alcohol?" Adam said and Tsugumi bashfully nodded her head and accompanied Adam for the rest of the night drinking and nothing more.
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