Three hours later, Matsumoto Rangiku sat up, swallowing once before making her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
After returning to Yuta's room, she wrapped her arms and legs around him and held him close as they drifted to sleep.
Perhaps due to what had happened earlier, her gaze toward Yuta had softened. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. It was the first time she had experienced anything like that. She hadn't expected Yuta to last so long-it left her both fond and exhausted. Her cheeks felt numb from how long it had continued.
She hugged Yuta tightly and fell asleep beside him.
Yuta stared at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep easily.
His physical needs had been satisfied.
However, he recalled his growing connections with the women of this world. If he ever had to leave it-what would become of them?
Was there any way to take them with him?
He shook the thought from his mind. That answer was far off. He would face it when the time came.
One thing was certain: he couldn't just leave them behind. If he ever left this world, he had to bring them with him.
...
In the Second Division barracks, built atop the mountain with long stone steps leading toward its entrance, the structure stood solemnly near a pillar engraved with the character "二". Trees and thick undergrowth lined both sides of the stairs.
Inside the knife training room-
Soi Fon gripped one of the large throwing knives in silence.
Thud!
Her knife flew forward and embedded itself fully in the wooden training doll labeled 007.
Each blade was thrown with precision and force; the puppet had started with just one embedded knife, and quickly became covered in dozens.
Ŏmaeda Marechiyo, round-faced and always with snacks in hand, wandered outside in search of food. As he passed by the corridor, he froze when he glimpsed his captain throwing knives at the training dummy with unexpected aggression.
Why is she stabbing the poor dummy with that much force…?
She usually didn't train this way-and certainly not with that expression.
"Captain… are you… training?" Ŏmaeda asked cautiously, his words tentative.
Soi Fon's cold gaze turned to him sharply. "What did you say?"
"N-nothing, Captain! Please carry on with what you were doing!"
Ŏmaeda shuffled away sideways like a crab fleeing danger.
Just as he was about to vanish from view, Soi Fon called out again. "Wait."
Ŏmaeda froze. "Y…yes, Captain?"
"I want the full database on every student currently enrolled at Shino Academy. Gather and organize the information immediately. The sooner the better."
"Yes ma'am! I'll handle it right away!"
Once out of her sight, Ŏmaeda disappeared in a blur of movement, surprising even himself with the speed of his Shunpo exit.
Stopping by the trees far from the barracks, he leaned heavily against the trunk and exhaled.
"What's gotten into Captain Soi Fon? Her expression just now… it was terrifying. I'd nearly forgotten to move."
"Who could've possibly provoked Captain? No one usually dares challenge her."
"And she's asking about Shino Academy students… could one of them have done it? That seems impossible…"
Ŏmaeda shook his head, dismissing the idea.
...
Early the next day, Yuta woke refreshed. Even without long hours of sleep, his body felt light and at ease.
Matsumoto Rangiku was curled up asleep beside him, worn out from the night before. Yuta looked at her calmly, pulled the blanket up over her shoulders, and stepped outside.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Rangiku opened her eyes slightly. The warmth Yuta had shown made her chest feel tight. She shifted deeper into the covers and took in the scent he left on the sheets. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she closed her eyes again, deciding to rest for just a bit longer.
What she didn't notice was the subtle warmth lingering in her abdomen-an unusual rise in spiritual pressure that had been left behind within her. Although faint in quantity, the quality of Yuta's spiritual energy was unmistakable and had begun influencing her own spiritual power.
In time, when she fought again, the difference would be undeniable.
...
Yuta walked along the road that led toward Shino Academy when he noticed Aizen Sōsuke standing nearby.
"Planning to head to the Academy with me?" Yuta asked flatly.
"That's right. My goal is you," Aizen replied with his hands tucked in his pockets.
Yuta took a bite from the sesame seed cake in his hand. "You've really nothing better to do? Using Kyōka Suigetsu to pose as some ordinary student now?"
"I've already handled everything pressing in the division. If anything serious arises, I'll be informed in time." Aizen bought himself the same cake and walked beside Yuta without changing pace. "More important than those things is understanding you. You're someone wrapped in endless secrets… and possibly the only source of novelty left."
"Do what you want," Yuta said without glancing back.
They continued on toward the Academy, cakes in hand-casual in appearance, though no one watching would guess the man beside Yuta was the Captain of the Fifth Division.
Before they passed the gates, they encountered three girls-Mikami, Juri, and Kanae-who rushed over upon sighting Yuta.
When they reached him, the three looked at each other for confirmation before Mikami stepped forward, speaking with certainty.
"Yuta, that wine you gave us before… it wasn't wine at all, was it? It was some kind of spiritual spring!"
"Spiritual spring…" Aizen repeated softly, eyes narrowing in thought.
It called to mind Kirinji Tenjirō from the Royal Guard-the "Hot Spring Demon." He possessed two special springs: one that expelled blood and reiatsu from the body, and another that replenished them to dangerous degrees. The first, White Bone Hell, could heal, but overuse caused collapse. The second, Blood Pond Hell, flooded the body with spiritual pressure-too much of which could cause physical damage.
What sort of abilities did Yuta's "spiritual spring" hold?
"We tested it," Mikami said clearly. "Now, the three of us have reached sixth-level spiritual pressure-the strength of chief officers. And we've awakened our Shikai."
"It's because of you… Yuta."
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