Inside the small candy shop, Kurotsuki Renya stood on a wooden stool behind the counter so he could see over it, carefully serving customers. Across from him, the familiar figure of Kusajishi Yachiru — Lieutenant of the 11th Division — leaned casually against the counter.
Renya adjusted his footing and asked curiously, "Lieutenant Kusajishi, what brings you here again today?"
Renya had been working at the shop for about a month now. In that time, Yachiru had become one of their most regular customers, stopping by every two or three days without fail, always leaving with a huge bag of sweets.
No one could quite understand how someone so small could have such an endless appetite for sugar.
Yachiru pointed energetically toward the display case. "I'll have some of these—oh, and those too!"
Renya quickly weighed the candies, wrapped them up into a large paper bag, calculated the price, and handed it over after receiving the coins.
The moment she had the bag, Yachiru tore it open, unwrapped a sweet, and popped it into her mouth. Her face lit up with pure joy as she hummed contentedly, already heading toward the door.
"Wait, Lieutenant Kusajishi!" Renya called after her.
She turned, her head tilted. "What is it, Renya-chan?"
Renya didn't mind the nickname. Instead, he ducked beneath the counter, came up holding a small decorative box, and placed it in her hands. "This is for you. A thank-you gift, for helping me get this job."
He had finished his last day's shift a little early, and with his first month's pay, he'd bought her favorite kind of sweets.
Yachiru's eyes sparkled, but she hesitated. "This kind is expensive. I can't just take it."
"If you hadn't told the shopkeeper about me, I never would've been hired," Renya insisted. "Please, take it."
"Okay! I'll take it!" she beamed, slipping the box into her uniform before skipping out the door.
Renya watched her go, a small ache settling in his chest. He knew all too well that Yachiru's future was… uncertain. In the canon timeline he remembered, she would one day disappear without a trace, and he had no power yet to prevent it.
Could he really alter such a fate? Could he somehow change events so that Kenpachi didn't have to unleash his Bankai in desperation, risking everything?
Right now, even with the spiritual pressure he'd built up through relentless training, Renya knew he was still far from the level of Zaraki Kenpachi unsealed — let alone captains who fought at their full potential.
He pushed those thoughts aside. There would be time to plan… later.
Two days later, his month of work came to an end, and Renya returned to Shin'ō Academy.
A week into the new term, Jirōemon Ginjōmaru (Jirō) returned to the dormitory. At the start of the break, he had received permission to visit home in the Rukongai. Renya, Rukia, and Renji had all decided to remain at the Academy.
As soon as Jirō entered, he set down his travel bundle and produced a paper bag. "Brought something back from my district in East Rukongai — a local specialty. Renji, Renya, give it a try."
Renji peeked into the bag and raised an eyebrow. "What's this?" Inside were several round, golden-brown cakes.
"Copper-drum cakes," Jirō said with a grin. "Baked with honey and stuffed with sweet bean paste. My family's district is famous for them."
Renji handed one to Renya first, as he always did. Renya had grown used to this — Renji often deferred to him with food — but he never took it for granted. He kept a mental ledger of every kindness, intending one day to repay them all.
He bit into the cake. First came the soft, honey-scented bread, then the smooth sweetness of the bean paste, filling his mouth with rich flavor.
"This is great," Renya said, wiping a bit of bean paste from the corner of his mouth.
Renji tried one and his eyes widened. "Not bad at all. Jirō, you're not eating?"
"I've had them my whole life," Jirō chuckled. "They're all yours."
Renji grinned, but then tossed the rest of his cake to Renya. "Here — you can finish it. Too sweet for me."
Renya knew the truth: Renji wasn't avoiding the sweetness, he was just giving him more. He'd done similar things countless times over the past year. Since they'd first met in Rukongai, through their time in the dorms, Renji had treated Renya like a younger brother.
Rukia, too, had been fiercely protective of him.
Renya's smile faded slightly. He knew what would happen in the original timeline: Rukia imprisoned, eyes blindfolded, steps away from execution; Renji gravely injured defending her. And he knew their enemies — Sōsuke Aizen, a master manipulator of godlike skill, and Byakuya Kuchiki, one of the most refined and powerful captains in Soul Society.
Could he really do nothing against such forces?
The thought gnawed at him. Just like with Yachiru, he didn't want to stand by and watch their fates play out unchanged.
He clenched his fists. No — he would not allow it.
For that, he needed strength. More than he had now. More than he could imagine. And he couldn't afford to waste even a single evening.
Glancing at the clock, he saw there was still time before curfew. He grabbed his bamboo practice sword and headed for the training hall.
"Renya, where are you going?" Renji called.
"Training," Renya replied without slowing.
Renji smirked as he watched him go. "Kid's got insane talent, but he's still working harder than anyone here."
Jirō nodded. "He's already in the Fourth-Year curriculum. If he keeps this up, he'll graduate early — maybe even get scouted directly into a division before the rest of us finish. Wouldn't surprise me if he reached captain-class someday."
Renji snorted. "Not if we keep up. Can't have my little brother leaving me in the dust."
With that, Renji grabbed his own bamboo sword and headed after Renya.
Jirō just laughed, unpacking the last of his things and setting them neatly on the table.