"It's obvious you've already noticed her," Father said quietly beside him.
"Yes," Shirō nodded hurriedly. Well? Hurry up and introduce her already! Doesn't he know how anxious his son is right now?! This could decide my entire future! Of course, at that moment Shirō wasn't actually thinking about marrying Yoruichi—he just wanted confirmation. If this really was the Bleach world, then his whole life had just been rewritten.
Based on the uniforms around him, his guess was already ninety percent certain. But until he heard it from his father's lips, his heart wouldn't settle.
"That person is the princess of the Shihōin family, head of the Tenka Garrison Division. She is your lady, the star of today's ceremony."
Thump, thump! Thump, thump! His heart pounded in his ears. The rest of his father's words blurred into static. Inside, Shirō was screaming: Yoruichi! It really is Yoruichi! This really is the Soul Society! Wahaha! Incredible, just incredible! So many beauties here, and I know the plot in advance. The timeline is still early, there's plenty of time to maneuver.
As for talent? Impossible! He was a transmigrator—how could he ever be a useless nobody?
"Someday, that young lady will become a major figure in the Onmitsukidō," Father continued. "You must earn her trust, become her confidant, and in turn, revitalize the Emiya family!"
"No worries, really," Shirō said with a shrug. Restoring the family's name was the easy part. After all, once he married Yoruichi, he'd be tied to the Shihōin clan.
A devilish grin curled at the corners of his lips.
Right—if Yoruichi was up there, then Soi Fon should be down below. Reluctantly dragging his gaze from the princess, he scanned the crowd.
There! That adorable little girl—Sui-Feng in her childhood form. He spotted her immediately, head bowed, listening earnestly.
"Remember this, Shaolin," her guardian was saying, "someday you must become the princess's right hand and devote your life to following her."
"Yes!" the little girl nodded with fierce determination. In her heart, that woman above was already a goddess.
"Good eye, son," Father said, following Shirō's line of sight.
"Of course," Shirō replied smugly. He already knew exactly what she would grow into.
"That's the Feng family's girl, Shaolin. Cute, isn't she?" Father teased.
"Cute," Shirō said automatically.
"Heh. That's your future wife," Father declared, utterly calm.
Sui-Feng—Shaolin—was the youngest of six siblings, the only daughter among five older brothers. The Feng clan were lower nobles, generation after generation specializing in executions and assassinations. Their entire line lived to serve the Onmitsukidō. Those who failed were exiled. For Shaolin, a marriage alliance was a safety net; if she failed to join, she would still have a place in the Emiya family. For the Emiya, it was protection too. A weak-weak alliance, perhaps, but together it made them stronger.
"'Pfft!' Shirō nearly choked in shock. Future wife?!"
He was just about to howl his excitement when Father's hand clamped over his mouth again.
The silence was deafening.
Every head turned. Amusement, pity, scorn, malice—the crowd's stares pierced him from every direction. A moment ago, all eyes were on Yoruichi. Now every gaze was on Shirō.
Even Yoruichi herself.
Gulp.
Shirō swallowed hard and instinctively looked up. His father stood pale as a ghost beside him, drenched in cold sweat.
Yoruichi's face betrayed no emotion, but Shirō felt it keenly—he had been marked.
Marked by a cat.
Cats were cute—sometimes aloof, sometimes playful. But Shirō felt none of that warmth. Right now, he wasn't human in her eyes. He was a mouse.
And mice didn't die quick. Cats played them to death.
Finally, her piercing gaze shifted away. Just as relief washed over him, Shirō felt a new wave of killing intent from all sides.
These were the diehards of the Shihōin clan, loyal to the core. He had disrupted their ceremony, even "disturbed" their princess. If looks could kill, he'd already be minced meat.
One glare in particular burned hotter than the rest. What the hell—who hates me this much?! He followed the line of fire…
Shaolin.
That little girl was glaring daggers at him, eyes full of killing intent.
Seriously? I'm your future husband! Shirō cursed inwardly. But then he remembered—she was Soi Fon. For Yoruichi's sake, she really might murder her fiancé without hesitation.
Cold sweat streamed down his back. Maybe the Soul Society wasn't going to be the easy playground he'd imagined.
Yoruichi wanted to toy with him. Soi Fon wanted to kill him. Forget grand schemes of recruiting Kisuke and Aizen—he'd be lucky to survive!
Life really was a table covered in cups… and all of them tragedies.
Maybe the real question wasn't how to rise, but whether his family would be executed. If they were exiled to Hueco Mundo… just the thought made Shirō shiver. Surely Yoruichi wouldn't go that far? She only wanted to play with him, not erase him… right? And technically, she wasn't even head of house yet. Could she actually decide?
The realization that his life and future were entirely in someone else's hands drained the blood from his face.
He didn't know how long it was before the crowd dispersed. Father and son stumbled home in a daze.
"You're late," Mother scolded the moment they stepped through the door.
"We're doomed," Father muttered.
"I'm dead," Shirō whispered.
"What on earth happened?!" Mother cried.
"Our family is finished!"
"I'm done for!"
They spoke in unison.
"You can't mean you really caused trouble?!" Mother gasped.
"Yes. Even the princess noticed…" Father groaned.
Mother collapsed to the floor.
As for punishment—what use was scolding the boy now? All they could do was wait for judgment. And escape? Impossible. The Shihōin clan controlled the Onmitsukidō. Where could they possibly run? The moment they stepped outside, they'd be surrounded.
In that instant, the Emiya household trembled like a house about to collapse.
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter