Soi Fon narrowed her eyes. "I understand, please step back."
Her gaze remained sharp as she moved forward. What had happened to Yuta again? His power seemed overwhelming. He had just become the captain of the 12th Division-shouldn't he be more restrained? Yet clearly, Yuta was not holding back. There was nothing else to do but see for herself. In an instant, she disappeared and rushed toward his location.
By the time Soi Fon arrived, Yuta had already completed the creation of three Hōgyoku fragments. When he picked one up, her eyes widened in disbelief. What was happening? Weren't all the Hōgyoku fragments in Aizen Sōsuke's possession? Why did Yuta now have three in his hand?
Even from a distance, just catching sight of them made her feel the immense power radiating from them-a power so overwhelming it seemed capable of erasing her very soul. Yuta placed the three Hōgyoku fragments carefully into his robes and looked directly at her as the residual storm of energy still lingered in the chamber. The force blew her clothing and hair back, making her braids shift and her bangs lift away from her forehead, exposing a face of concealed surprise that, in this moment, appeared almost softened.
Yuta spoke calmly, his clothes still fluttering from the lingering wind. "I wonder why Captain Soi Fon has come here?"
Her voice carried hesitation as she answered. "What... were you studying just now?" Even having seen it with her own eyes, she found it hard to believe they were truly Hōgyoku fragments. Perhaps what she saw only resembled them?
Yuta dismissed it easily. "It's just three beads, nothing very powerful."
Soi Fon considered his words carefully. She could not push further, not with matters involving research of this scale. Forcing the issue would only be reckless. Instead, she composed herself and replied in compromise. "Since I've come this far, why don't you visit the 12th Division's research facility with me and share a cup of tea?"
"There's no issue with that," Yuta said evenly, stepping forward. She followed behind him as they entered the Division 12 research building together.
The structure ahead was striking-transparent glass reflecting sunlight across its surface. Soi Fon's expression shifted in confusion. How long had Yuta even been captain? She remembered the 12th Division clearly, and it had never appeared like this. How could such a transformation take place in less than a day?
Yuta glanced at her without comment. Instead, Nemu Kurotsuchi, standing by the door to welcome him, spoke first. "Captain Soi Fon, only a single morning has passed."
The three stood before the entrance as the infrared-controlled glass doors opened automatically. Seeing the door open in such a manner stunned Soi Fon. Was this truly still the 12th Division research headquarters? Had it become something beyond the knowledge of the rest of Soul Society?
Inside, Nemu guided her through the facility. "This is the nanomaterials research laboratory," she explained.
Soi Fon frowned at the term. "Nanomaterials?" The word was foreign to her. "What is that? And what is 'nano'? Why have I never heard of it? Are nanomaterials strong?"
Nemu herself appeared uncertain and glanced toward Yuta for clarification. He spoke evenly. "The term 'nanometer' is a unit of distance." He paused briefly and asked, "Do you have strands of hair?"
Without hesitation, Yuta reached forward and plucked a black hair from Soi Fon's head with a sharp snap. A flicker of pain traveled across her scalp, and anger flashed immediately across her expression as her forehead tensed. He dared to pull her hair? She restrained herself with visible effort, forcing her breathing steady as irritation built inside her.
Holding up the strand, Yuta explained clearly. "Because your hair is fine, its thickness is about 0.2 millimeters. Five strands together would equal about one millimeter." Without hesitation, he reached again and pulled four more strands.
Her fists clenched tightly as her patience thinned further, but she remained silent as he continued. Placing the hairs together, Yuta carried on: "This is one millimeter. Now, a micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter, and a nanometer is one-thousandth of a micron."
Nemu nodded in realization and added, "So nanomaterials are made at a thickness of one nanometer?"
"Correct," Yuta replied. "If produced at the nanometer level, such materials-though as fine as silk-are extremely strong. They could cut through steel with ease, even sever a Zanpakutō without strain."
Soi Fon's anger subsided under the weight of his explanation. Shock replaced it as she registered the scale of strength such material could represent. If nanomaterials were refined into weapons, the destructive capability would be immense.
"If nanomaterials could be made into a blade," she asked, her voice measured, "what kind of power would it hold?"
Yuta replied, "It wouldn't even need to be a blade. As threads alone, nanomaterials would have cutting strength against anything they encounter. Consider the average diameter of a human cell: 10 to 20 microns. Nanomaterials would function on a level capable of slicing through every cell structure with precision."
His explanation unsettled her further. He had only joined the division that morning, and yet he was already researching technology with consequences this profound. What did he intend to accomplish with this knowledge?
As they continued the tour, they came to additional sections of research. Yuta explained as they walked. "Here is communications and network research. Once completed, power grids and signal towers will be established across the Soul Society. Someday, no one will need Kidō communication channels for messages. Everyone will carry a mobile device for communication."
Hearing this, Soi Fon felt her thoughts scattering. The technology of the human world in recent years could not match what he described. From here, would Soul Society surpass even that?
They moved on through the facility. "This is one-way light-transmitting glass," Yuta explained. "From outside, it appears transparent into the room, but from inside, visibility outward is limited. It can be useful for observation of prisoners." He gestured further. "This section is for research into quantum physics, including quantum computing systems. Here is serum research and development."
The longer they walked, the more Soi Fon found herself overwhelmed. She recognized every word spoken but could not connect their meanings into something she fully grasped. She could only listen in silence, her expression betraying both her confusion and her contemplation. At moments, she stretched her hand toward Yuta's hair with the quiet intent of pulling strands in return, yet each attempt was evaded without effort.
Their progress was interrupted by the sound of a meow. A black cat leapt smoothly onto Yuta's shoulder, perching there calmly as if it belonged at his side. Soi Fon's eyes landed on the cat instinctively, her composure faltering as a subtle reaction stirred within her. For reasons she could not explain, she found the animal's presence oddly captivating. (T/n: my favorite cat has appeared..)
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