Ever since Yoruichi Shihōin took on the roles of both Captain of the 2nd Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, the two entities had effectively merged—even their barracks had been relocated to the same place.
"Wait, Sis, what did you just say?"
"You want me to go to school? Are you kidding me?"
"I'm not going to school!"
In the 2nd Division Captain's Office—more like a palace hall from ancient imperial times—Yūshirō Shihōin protested loudly after hearing his sister's latest arrangement.
"Objection overruled! This is the clan's decision. You're going to school, and that's final!"
"Besides, weren't you asking me to help find jobs for those four freeloaders you brought back?"
"Let me remind you—those include three Vasto Lorde-class Hollows and one person who's already been officially declared dead in Soul Society. Do you have any idea the kind of responsibility I had to take on just to cover for you?"
Yoruichi Shihōin spoke sternly to Yūshirō. When she found out her brother had gone to Hueco Mundo and returned with three humanoid Vasto Lordes and a formerly deceased Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, even her battle-hardened heart was pounding. If the Central 46 found out, not even the prestige of the Shihōin Clan could guarantee safety from punishment.
"…Fine. I get it, Sis."
Yūshirō fell silent when he saw his sister shift into "lethal mode." He nodded obediently.
"That's more like it!"
"And it's not like I'm sending you alone. I know you don't know much about the Shin'ō Spirit Academy, so I arranged for a classmate to accompany you—your own little study buddy!"
Yoruichi added with a smile.
"A study buddy? Wait—don't tell me this is just someone to spy on me?"
"Come on, Sis, you seriously don't trust your own brother?"
"Do you think I'd be the type to skip class?"
"I've never skipped a class in my life!"
The more he spoke, the more agitated Yūshirō became—he felt like his character was being unfairly judged.
"It's because I know you too well that I'm assigning someone to keep an eye on you! Without supervision, I bet you'd even skip the opening ceremony!"
Yoruichi stood up and snapped back without giving an inch.
"Tch! With my strength, who in that school could possibly teach me anything? I should be teaching them!"
Yūshirō grumbled, still defiant.
"Enough talking back! You need to understand—this is a clan decision!"
"Come in, Sōya Azashiro!"
Yoruichi called out toward the door.
"Yes! Lady Yoruichi!"
A petite, doll-like girl with a serious expression quickly stepped into the room with small, hurried steps and respectfully greeted Yoruichi.
"This is Yūshirō Shihōin, my dear younger brother. You two will be classmates from now on. Get to know each other."
Yoruichi introduced the two of them.
"…Hello."
Yūshirō sighed and extended his hand toward her.
"H-Hello!"
Sōya Azashiro, blushing as soon as she laid eyes on Yūshirō, couldn't help but be overwhelmed knowing he was Lady Yoruichi's younger brother.
"You two need to be more enthusiastic! Come on, show some energy!"
Yoruichi suddenly wrapped her arms around both of their necks, frustrated at how stiff they were.
"We're enthusiastic! Super enthusiastic!"
Yūshirō groaned, patting her arm.
"Sigh… Alright, come on. I'll take you both for a drink~"
Yoruichi let go of them, casually tossed aside her captain's haori, revealing the tight, black backless suit underneath, and stretched a bit before speaking.
"Drink? You mean… alcohol?!"
Sōya Azashiro's face turned bright red as she frantically waved her hands.
"What?! Don't tell me you've never even tasted alcohol?"
"Tsk tsk… Such a good girl. Honestly, handing you over to Yūshirō feels like a waste—I'm not sure I can bear it~"
Yoruichi smirked as she teased Azashiro for her innocence.
"What do you mean 'handing over'—Lady Yoruichi, that's not the right phrasing at all!"
Blushing as red as an apple, Azashiro still managed to correct Yoruichi with perfect etiquette.
"See? I told you."
Yoruichi nudged Yūshirō with her elbow, as if suggesting something.
"You really enjoy bullying innocent girls, huh?"
Yūshirō sighed as he rubbed Azashiro's neatly combed hair.
"Don't let my sister push you around too much."
"Uh… um…"
Azashiro stood there, flustered and frozen.
"We've got class tomorrow, right? If that's the case, then no drinking tonight… See you in the morning~"
Yūshirō smiled at his sister, then looked to Azashiro with a small nod.
Without waiting for a reply from either of them, he turned and left the 2nd Division barracks.
"Y-Yes, Lord Yūshirō!"
Azashiro gave a small bow as he walked away.
"Then, I'll return and prepare as well, Lady Yoruichi."
Azashiro turned and bowed deeply to Yoruichi, who was about to head off drinking.
"Huh?"
"You're both leaving me like this?"
Yoruichi looked visibly displeased as she watched her cute little brother and her promising new student abandon her. She felt utterly betrayed.
At the Tavern
"You know, Urahara... my little brother Yūshirō came back, but he's changed. He's not the clingy little brat who used to follow me around anymore. He's changed..."
Yoruichi, barefoot, sat cross-legged on a floor cushion with flushed cheeks and a cup of sake in hand, venting her frustrations.
"Yes, yes, I get it, Captain! Could you at least try to maintain some dignity? People are watching!"
Kisuke Urahara kept trying to calm her down, hiding behind his fan. He was one of the future great inventors of Soul Society—he had a reputation to maintain. Let Yoruichi make a scene if she wanted; he wasn't going down with her.
At the Shihōin Residence
"School? That's just ridiculous."
Yūshirō Shihōin lay lazily on the hallway floor, staring up at the sky, lost in thought.
Due to their unusual backgrounds, Lilynette, Harribel, Szayelaporro, and Kenpachi Kuruyashiki couldn't stay at the Shihōin estate. All four had been placed into the Onmitsukidō, where their masked identities made them ideal fits.
That left Yūshirō bored out of his mind, all alone.
Zero Division
"Hey hey hey!"
"Was it really okay to let that brat Yūshirō bring back three Vasto Lordes?!"
Tenjirō Kirinji recalled the moment Yūshirō emerged from the Garganta with three Vasto Lorde-class Hollows and a supposedly dead Kenpachi Kuruyashiki—it was such a shock, he almost released his Zanpakutō on the spot.
"Hahahaha… What's the problem? A little chaos in Soul Society makes things interesting, doesn't it?"
Ichibē Hyōsube laughed heartily, his enormous eyes gleaming with mischief.
"That aside… haven't you two noticed something about Yūshirō's spiritual pressure?"
Ōetsu Nimaiya finally chimed in.
"…"
Both Ichibē and Kirinji went quiet. It was clear they had noticed it—but neither had dared to speak of it.
[Next: The Academy Arc Begins]