Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but place her hand over her abdomen, where Yuta's spiritual pressure remained faintly present. The events of the day prior-what she had done with Yuta-and the subsequent increase in her strength couldn't be ignored.
Analyzing it logically, there were several possibilities.
First: Yuta possessed spiritual power far beyond the average captain-level Shinigami. Even his blood alone contained immense power-enough to surpass her own as vice-captain. Through absorbing even traces of that power, one could enhance themselves quickly. If his strength advanced further, even his blood, eyes, organs, or hands might awaken abilities in others. That would be evolution beyond the level of Shinigami-a transformation of existence itself.
Second: Yuta had some sort of special constitution, one that allowed him to enhance others through certain acts. This was rare, but not impossible.
Regardless, Matsumoto was left with doubts. Yuta, who appeared to be just another average student, hid depths she had not even begun to understand. While she had spent time with him, it had mostly been within the bounds of daily routine. She had not truly experienced his capabilities firsthand.
…
After exiting the Kido Corps barracks, Yuta and Aizen Sōsuke walked silently. Yuta now wore three swords at his waist. Aizen wore one.
Neither spoke as they moved together across the barracks' outer corridor. Eventually, Aizen glanced over and said, "What's the reason for the name Soyosuke?"
Yuta, chewing on a blade of grass, replied casually, "You needed a fake name with me around, right? I couldn't call you Aizen or Sōsuke directly. Soyosuke's close enough - reads almost the same."
Sōsuke Aizen was briefly at a loss for words, but couldn't refute it. Yuta's reasoning was oddly sound, if informal. Soyosuke would suffice for now.
As they continued walking toward the main avenue, they crossed paths with Ise Nanao and Hinamori Momo, both just exiting from the direction of the 11th Division barracks. Nanao's right arm was bandaged, and the two women were speaking as they walked.
Upon spotting Yuta ahead, Hinamori lifted her hand and waved. "Ah-Yuta!"
As soon as she did, she seemed to second guess herself. Her eyes caught the black haori he now wore, the symbol of the Kido Corps Captain evident near the collar. Her cheeks flushed slightly with realization.
"You... You're wearing the Kido Corps Captain's uniform?"
Ise Nanao looked up too. Aizen's presence beside Yuta appeared unremarkable under Kyōka Suigetsu's illusion, but Yuta himself stood out clearly. The way he carried himself, combined with the uniform, was enough to draw attention.
Nanao's eyes lingered briefly, her expression unreadable. She lowered her head again as if avoiding his gaze, though the slight flush in her ears betrayed her thoughts. She felt her heart speed up for just a moment before she pulled her composure back into place.
Although she was momentarily affected, she reminded herself who she was. As someone from the Ise family-heir to the Shinken Hakkyōken-she wasn't allowed the freedom to fall in love easily. The family's legacy required that husbands marry into their house, and the resulting children would always be daughters. The curse said that those husbands rarely lived long lives.
Her mother had tried to break the curse by marrying into the Kyōraku family instead of bringing her husband into theirs-yet he had died regardless. That failure revealed the curse wasn't in the marriage system but likely tied to the sword itself-a legacy weapon passed down through generations much like the Tsunayashiro family's Enrakyōten. Neither weapon had been forged by Őetsu Nimaiya; both bore the weight of ancient bloodlines and mysterious restrictions.
It was why Nanao restrained herself, even at moments when her heart stirred. Even when it stirred now.
Meanwhile, Hinamori's surprise turned into physical action. She stepped forward quickly and attempted to pull at Yuta's haori with both hands, as if determined to remove it on the spot.
Her hands clawed at the fabric until Yuta reached behind her neck and lifted her off the ground by the collar, her feet dangling in the air.
"What are you doing? Why are you trying to take off my clothes?"
"I'm trying to save you! Don't you get it? You're in serious trouble! You actually dared to wear the Kido Corps Captain's uniform?"
"The Captain is appointed directly by Central 46. Impersonating one will get you locked up! I was helping you take it off before anyone noticed-and you're blaming me?"
She flailed slightly in his grip, her arms and legs moving in frustration. "Tch!"
Yuta sighed. "Can't I be the actual Kido Corps Captain?"
Hinamori shot him a look. "Come on, stop joking. You were just enrolled at Shin'ō Academy days ago. How could you suddenly become the Kido Corps Captain?"
"Do you have any idea how difficult the entrance evaluation is? Or how hard advanced Kidō spells are? Or how much authority Central 46 holds over appointments?"
"Even graduates from years ago wouldn't be chosen for that position. That seat has been empty for years for that exact reason…"
Nanao, watching the scene unfold, approached and gently took Hinamori's hand.
"I thought you were composed and gentle," she said. "Seeing you on the street trying to undress someone in public is... really unexpected."
Hinamori waved her hands quickly. "Nanao, it's not what you think! I know Yuta. He's just a new student from Shin'ō Academy. This uniform must be either custom-made or stolen-I was trying to help!"
She looked flustered but continued pleading her case. "It's not about anything improper!"
Nanao seemed convinced. She nodded slowly and reached forward, her hands moving delicately but decisively toward Yuta's clothes. Her fingers were fine-boned and pale against the dark fabric they tugged at.
Yuta stood there silently, expression unreadable as both girls attempted to strip the uniform from him.
When they succeeded in removing it, Nanao held it carefully in her arms. Her face betrayed nothing, but the tips of her ears burned red. Her nose wrinkled lightly as if catching the scent of the garment.
"Ahem." Yuta's tone turned serious. "Have you two even considered that I might actually be part of the Kido Corps?"
Hinamori tapped his chest with one finger. "Yuta, please cut the jokes. You'll cause trouble."
"Nanao, we should return this to the Kido Corps barracks right away."
Nanao nodded in agreement but said nothing else.
Now without the haori, the three Zanpakutō on Yuta's waist were fully visible.
Nanao took notice of that immediately.
Three Zanpakutō…? That was unprecedented among Soul Society's records.
Before she could ask, Hinamori glanced up and finally acknowledged the calmly standing man beside Yuta.
"Who's this? He looks… really ordinary…"
Yuta stiffened slightly-not because she was wrong, but because of the irony.
"That's Aizen Sōsuke," he thought to himself, paling slightly at the memory of how much she idolized the man in the past.
Before he could speak, Aizen offered his hand politely.
"Hello. My name is Soyosuke. I serve under Captain Hideki as his vice-captain."
Hinamori smiled brightly as she shook his hand. "Ah, Soyosuke! You must be one of Yuta's classmates… It's unfortunate that he dragged you into this, pretending to be in the Kido Corps too."
"Don't worry. I'll protect you if anything happens. As the Fifth Division's lieutenant, I'm responsible for justice."
"And Captain Aizen from my division-he's incredibly kind and fair. You'd really like him if you met him!"
"I'm honored," Aizen replied with practiced calm.
Yuta sighed slowly and looked between the two girls. "Can I have my clothes back now?"
Both women shook their heads in unison, arms crossed in front of their chests. They refused firmly.
Before Yuta could reply, everything shifted-a huge wave of spiritual pressure surged toward them without warning.
Reality itself seemed to bend slightly under its weight.
Their eyes widened as they froze in place, unable to move or react. Their knees gave way beneath them as if the space around them had turned viscous with pressure.
Their bodies went numb from head to toe.
Noses running from the overwhelming force pressing down on them, they nearly collapsed entirely. Yuta stepped forward, catching both of them before they fell.
He held them upright as the spiritual pressure vanished as suddenly as it had come. They leaned against him, breathless and weak, no longer able to stand under their own strength.
Nanao's grasp on the uniform loosened. It fell between their two bodies, caught between her chest and his. Her body was flush against him, her face turned to the side, but even now she gave him one exhausted glance-unimpressed and mildly irritated.
"Really? Even now, you're taking advantage?"
Hinamori whimpered under her breath and clutched her backside, face red and burning, unsure if she should be angry or run.
Yuta's silence was curt and focused.
"Run!" both women shouted together suddenly.
"Run? Why?"
Yuta's answer came in instinctively-
"Only the weak run."
And that was when Zaraki Kenpachi dropped from the sky and slammed into the earth with crushing impact.
Dust and debris shot outward as he crouched in the pit, sword on his back, his single eye locked on Yuta.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
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