The battle still raged, though the fight in West Rukongai's 62nd District was nearly done.
After felling the last Adjuchas, Yoruichi appeared before Higashino.
"Captain Shihōin, I—"
He started to explain, but she shook her head.
"I'll speak with you later. There's no time. Shunsui just messaged me—the squad escorting the nobles back to Seireitei was ambushed by a large Hollow force. The Head Captain ordered me to assist at once!"
She glanced at the girl just freed from Higashino's crystal—little Soi Fon. "Higashino, I want you to finish off the Hollows here and escort this noble girl back safely. Any problem?"
"No problem, Captain. Please go with peace of mind. With my strength, the rest here is more than manageable."
He knew it was the coordinates he had leaked that had drawn the attack. Without hesitation, he agreed.
Yoruichi was satisfied. She was curious about the strange ability he had shown, but she had no time to ask. She had recognized the girl he saved.
She remembered the Fon family's head praising a talented child, Fon Shaoling, destined to inherit the "Soi Fon" name. From the girl's display, she indeed had potential.
Given the Fon family's bond to the Shihōin, and Yoruichi's own curiosity, it was only natural to entrust her to Higashino.
He was, after all, as Shunsui had said—a Shinigami who executed orders without hesitation.
"Then I leave this to you…"
Before the final syllable finished, Yoruichi vanished in a flash of Shunpo.
"Um… Higashino-sama? Thank you."
Shaoling stood red-faced, biting her lip, clutching the broken hilt of her wooden sword to her chest.
She didn't know Higashino, but she recognized Yoruichi, head of the Shihōin, masters her family had served for generations.
And she understood from Yoruichi's words that this man—Higashino the 3rd seat—was the one who had saved her.
"Hm."
Higashino cut her thanks short, closing his eyes as Reishi flickered at his fingertips. A message from Starrk reached him: the coordinates were correct. The Gotei 13 was tied up. The rest was handled.
So that's it? Already done?
Higashino felt cheated. He hadn't even warmed up. His only notable kill was one Gillian—Yoruichi had done the rest.
But unless Aizen allowed him to wear a captain's haori, he could only ever show vice-captain level strength.
"You want to fight Hollows?"
He turned to Shaoling.
"Eh? Yes! Higashino-sama, I want to become strong, like you!"
Her eyes shone, but he shook his head.
"Wrong."
"Wrong? Where did I do badly?"
She bit her lip, anxious. She thought she had done her best. What had she missed?
He bent, ruffling her hair, then offered his hand. "Your will was right. But you forgot the most important thing. For Shinigami, Reiryoku is everything. Without it, nothing matters."
"Reiryoku…"
Her mouth pouted. She knew what it was, but at her age, her power was a spark at best. "But why your hand, Higashino-sama?"
"Because, noble lady, do you want to feel firsthand the true battle between Shinigami and Hollow?"
He smiled warmly, eyes crescented.
If he won her trust, it might serve him later. When she became a pillar of the Gotei, when Yoruichi left, when Soi Fon herself sat as 2nd Division's captain—having her backing might save his life if he ever betrayed Aizen.
Shaoling couldn't know his schemes. Her heart only raced, her small hand trembling as it slipped into his.
"…Mm!"
Higashino pulled gently, and her light body fell into his arms. His arm circled her waist naturally, holding her in place.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen!"
A transparent disk shield wrapped her safely.
Then, without giving her blush time to deepen, he flashed forward—straight into the path of a rampaging Gillian.
"Tsunshiji."
Two fingers pressed, and the towering beast dissolved in an instant.
Three seconds later, he and Shaoling were above another Gillian.
"Tazan!"
This time he didn't hold back. The giant disintegrated before it even hit the ground.
Then another. And another.
In less than ten minutes, every Gillian in the 62nd District lay destroyed by his hand.
"See? This is real battle."
On a ridge, Higashino stood with Shaoling, overlooking the ruined battlefield below.
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