"Shut up!"
This was the third gag order today.
However, Saito only paused slightly.
She looked at Halibel's fish tail, then at Fujimiya Makoto, finally sighing like a parent:
"You're impossible."
For some reason, her voice carried a hint of pride.
As if she'd outdone the fish tail!
This idiot always felt proud in strange places.
The girl kicked off her straw sandals, stuffing her tabi socks inside.
Her small, bare feet stretched onto Fujimiya Makoto's knees, casual and carefree.
However, her feet were like delicate porcelain, naturally pink toenails glowing faintly in the eternal night of Hueco Mundo, untouched by a day's fatigue. Her slender foot arch was snow-white, with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin.
Clean and beautiful.
Sometimes, Fujimiya Makoto felt that someone like Saito, who only loved killing, having such beautiful features everywhere, was truly a waste.
"Here."
After sitting down and taking off her shoes, Saito finally remembered the task, tilting her head to ask:
"By the way, what are you going to do with your feet out?"
"Is it the same as last time?"
Saito referred to the previous "Thai foot massage" in Fujimiya's room, almost caught by Katori Batsuzai.
Back then, Makoto mentioned something about a massage.
It wasn't comfortable at all.
And it was embarrassing!
But today, Saito had completely overcome it.
Her face pretended to be nonchalant.
Fujimiya Makoto looked at Saito's defenseless feet, instinctively widening his eyes.
Little broken sword, it's all you!
He looked at her feet, seeming to think of something, then at his status panel.
[Shunpo: 12th Level (99/100)] · [Talent Restricted]
[Foot Fetish Enthusiast]
If that's the case...
Fujimiya Makoto looked at Saito's feet on his knees, probing:
"Can... you step on my back?"
"Huh?!"
Saito was about to explode.
What kind of fatherly massage was this, treating her like a child?!
But seeing Fujimiya Makoto's eager gaze, and glancing at Halibel's sweeping fish tail, she subconsciously raised her pitch:
"You—!"
"..."
"Fine, whatever."
"Lie down."
[What about me?! My foot massage?!]
The little broken sword's childish voice kept ringing.
However, Fujimiya Makoto had no more gag orders left today.
Helpless, he could only let it whine and complain beside him.
"Stay aside."
Saito looked at Fujimiya Makoto lying on the sand by the campfire, a strange thought flashing through her silly mind—had she fallen for it?
But she'd already said it, she couldn't take it back!
That wasn't something she could do.
Moreover, this was an effort to save Makoto's poor XP system.
If Unohana later found out that after a trip to Hueco Mundo, this idiot developed a liking for fish tails, that bastard would chop her to pieces!
Just thinking about it, even someone as fearless as Saito shuddered.
Such an unjust death!
So, her small, bare feet gently stepped onto his back.
Fujimiya Makoto lay on the ground, his face in the campfire's shadow showing a comfortable expression.
Though Saito always called herself "old," she was actually a standard loli build, light in weight. Stepping on his back with her body weight, the force was just right.
Simply lying there, he could feel her porcelain-like toes slightly curling, softly moving on his back.
The fatigue from a day of intense battle seemed to vanish in this moment.
Foot-stepping on the back, what a great civilization!
However, his goal wasn't this.
Fujimiya Makoto stared at the panel, seeing no change in the Foot Fetish Enthusiast progress—seemingly, this level of interaction wasn't enough to upgrade.
So, he began remotely instructing Saito.
"Slightly to the left."
Hearing his fatherly tone, Saito frowned but complied.
"Good! Harder."
Saito grew impatient, her forehead veins slightly bulging.
"Don't stomp, use technique!"
Saito's feet fiercely rubbed his back—what technique!
"Heels, do you know where the heels are?"
"Saito..."
The next second, as he turned his head, a foot slammed into his face, her pink toenails and half her small foot shoved into his mouth, nearly burying his head in the sand.
Saito glared with her single eye, complaining loudly:
"Annoying!"
"Be grateful I'm stepping on you, you jerk!"
"So many demands!"
As a result, after all that effort, it worked with just one stomp.
"Ptooey, ptooey!" Fujimiya Makoto spat out her foot, shouting, "Idiot! We just ran around all day!"
"I don't care!"
Just as Fujimiya Makoto was about to speak, a panel popped up before his eyes.
[You've taken another step on the "Path of Foot Fetish"!]
[Shunpo (Talent Restricted): "15th Level" ↑]
[You bastard! Let me try too!!]
He instantly fell silent, his gaze at the little broken sword incredibly complex.
Since it's your fetish, why don't you eat it yourself?!
Fujimiya Makoto suddenly felt like a living tool at this moment.
Pitiful, helpless.
Only breaking through Shunpo restrictions could comfort him.
But...
He looked at Saito's angrily retracted feet, suddenly thinking of something.
If the little broken sword is already this perverted now, to continue upgrading the restriction later...
His gaze gradually shifted downward.
"..."
No way, right?
Soon, Fujimiya Makoto stopped imagining.
If it really comes to that... he'll just use talent points.
Humans have limits.
Pushing further, Fujimiya Makoto couldn't guarantee he wouldn't get stabbed—especially from below.
"Ugh... so sticky."
Saito kicked her feet in the sand, looking disgusted.
Noticing Fujimiya Makoto's gaze, she turned her head with a "hmpf."
But unnoticed, her ears slightly flushed.
Her feet were eaten.
Slightly embarrassing.
That jerk Makoto always plays weird tricks!
Hmph!
But the well-informed Saito wouldn't be shocked by such a small scene.
Saito always finds pride in strange places.
Just as the two returned to silence, Fujimiya Makoto and Saito's minds suddenly received a familiar spiritual pressure reaction.
It was the 77th Binding Spell · Tentei Kura's remote communication.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice came from the base, with faint sounds of fierce battle in the background.
His voice was calm and steady:
"Reporting to headquarters."
"Headquarters is under attack by at least three groups of Adjuchas, numbering seven to fifteen."
"Groups 1, 2, 9, and 11, return to defend the base."
"Others, stay away from the base and ensure your safety."
"Over."
Fujimiya Makoto and Saito's expressions suddenly turned serious, jumping up from the sand.
They were Group 11.
"Makoto!"
"Let's go!"
Completely different from the shy fool who just had his back stepped on.
Saito, hearing the voice in her mind, regained her signature sinister smile.
As long as there's a fight, she's the most reliable Saito Futaba!
"Let's kill to our heart's content!"