After finishing dinner at the Academy's great hall, Soma and the others headed straight without delay.
It was still early. Though there had been some trouble, it didn't seem to have escalated, and Junrinan's atmosphere remained the same as ever.
Lanterns hung from eaves, casting a warm glow. Children darted about, their laughter blending with the night air, while voices and laughter drifted with the evening breeze through streets and alleys.
Some of the townsfolk, children and adults alike, waved greetings when they spotted Soma and Ichigo.
"We've only been here a few days, but they already treat us like their own."
Ichigo felt touched, though at the same time, he didn't quite understand where such pure-hearted acceptance came from.
Soma, however, understood perfectly.
"People in Rukongai come from every corner of the world, even different eras. They've long adapted to forming new families with strangers, unrelated by blood. That's why they welcome outsiders so easily, even happily treating them as new family… It's the perfect breeding ground for organized gangs."
"That last part was unnecessary."
Ignoring the bickering up ahead, Akari peered around curiously like a cat.
"I've heard that the districts close to the border have good security and lots of interesting shops that draw Shinigami here often. Looks like that wasn't just a rumor."
Atae, however, was silent—lost in thought, or perhaps carefully observing their surroundings, piecing together threads of information.
Before long, the four of them arrived at the elder's residence.
As they stepped inside, they were nearly stopped short by the suffocating tension that hit them like gunpowder smoke.
The large wooden house, as spacious as a warehouse, was normally a place where children could play, eat, even sleep together.
But now, not a single child was in sight.
Only the elder and a man and woman stood locked in confrontation.
A suspended kettle bubbled furiously between them, the roiling water mirroring the heat of their tempers.
On closer inspection, Soma realized it was actually the man and woman squaring off, with the elder sitting helplessly on the side, more like a weary mediator than an opponent.
And Soma instantly recognized the two.
The woman was Kūkaku Shiba—unsurprising, since the fireworks master from West Rukongai often wandered between districts.
But Marechiyo Ōmaeda being here felt completely out of place.
"Oi? Who let these brats in here!"
Having just been scolded head to toe by Kūkaku, Ōmaeda was still simmering with resentment, and the sight of newcomers immediately set him off again.
"This is the elder's home. Who asked you to stick your nose in? If you've got a problem, run back to Seireitei and have your captain come deal with it—before you make things worse."
Kūkaku sneered before Soma or the elder could say anything.
"You…! I've put up with you long enough! Don't think just because you're a Shiba you can step all over me! I'm the Commander of the Onmitsukidō Patrol Corps!"
"I'm here investigating a case. You don't have the authority to order me around. In fact, you should be following my orders, same as this old man—cooperating and handing over intel. Otherwise, when the Captain arrives, you'll regret it!"
Ōmaeda's face flushed with anger as he rose to his feet, his massive, barrel-like frame radiating a weight of intimidation. Even just the faintest leak of his Vice-Captain-level Reiatsu was enough to make people take him seriously.
Ichigo and Akari tensed, ready to step in if a fight broke out.
Kūkaku, however, remained seated cross-legged on the floor, utterly unimpressed.
"Hah~ Trying to scare me with Soi Fon? Then by all means, bring her. That'd actually be perfect. Go on, hurry—I'll be waiting. The moment she shows up, I'll hand over everything without a word."
"Bastard!"
Her casual tone—treating Soi Fon like a subordinate sent to clean up his mess—made Ōmaeda want to draw his blade and chop off her remaining arm. But he didn't have the guts.
In the end, all he could do was bark out, "Even without you, I'll catch the culprit!" before storming toward the door.
As they crossed paths, Soma stepped aside and offered a deceptively helpful suggestion:
"You might want to check in with the local Shinigami in charge. Could be you'll dig up something unexpected."
"…Hmph."
Ōmaeda gave him a sidelong glance and growled mockingly:
"Better get to bed early, brat. Otherwise, when you show up late tomorrow, the Academy instructors will tear you apart."
With that parting shot, he stomped away like he'd finally vented some of his frustration.
"That guy is seriously irritating. Compared to the 5th Division, he's leagues behind."
Ichigo clicked his tongue.
"Which is exactly why you'd better not turn into a Shinigami like that one day. If I ever catch you acting like him, you'll end up the same way he just did."
Kūkaku's voice floated from inside.
They were still wearing Shin'ō Academy uniforms, so their identities weren't hard to guess.
"And she is…?"
"She's Kūkaku Shiba, the most famous fireworks master in Rukongai," the elder introduced.
"I've heard her name! She basically handles all the fireworks for Seireitei's ceremonies. She's got huge influence with both Rukongai and Seireitei merchants—she's even my mom's idol!"
Akari's eyes lit up.
"Hah! First time anyone's ever introduced me like that. But your mom's got good taste, kid."
"If it's not too much trouble, could I get your autograph?"
"Of course. I'll sign it on one of my own fireworks—you can keep it as a collectible. Its value will never drop, I guarantee it~"
"That's amazing!"
Watching the two social butterflies bonding like old friends, Soma couldn't help but roll his eyes, even with his thick skin. He turned instead to exchange pleasantries with the elder, who had been pouring them water, and took the chance to introduce Akari and Atae.
As the conversation went on, Kūkaku gradually pieced together who they were.
"Ohhh, so you're the prodigies the elder mentioned, huh? The youth these days really are something else."
She eyed Soma and Ichigo with interest, though for some reason her gaze lingered more on Ichigo.
"We owe a lot to the elder's guidance back then."
"Think nothing of it. Just seeing you two doing well at the Academy and making new friends puts me at ease. Though I didn't expect you to show up at this hour."
Soma and Ichigo exchanged a glance, before Ichigo stepped forward to explain why they'd come.
Understanding dawned on the elder's face.
"So that's it. You were worried your classmates' disappearance might somehow be tied to this old man, and rushed here to check."
"But with Lady Kūkaku here, it seems we had nothing to worry about."
Soma's tone carried a subtle implication.
"Don't flatter me. This whole business has been a real headache for me too."
Kūkaku waved them off irritably.
"Because something happened to the Shinigami in charge of Junrinan as well?"
"?"
Soma's sudden question made Kūkaku freeze—and drew startled looks from everyone else.