"Cleanup crew, fourth batter—Jinta Hanakari, a beautiful backhand swing~"
The red-haired boy swung his broom like a baseball bat in front of the half-open rolling door of Urahara Shop.
"Watch closely! A murderous grand slam!"
The shout was full of momentum, but he didn't hit a thing.
"Jinta..."
The black-haired girl with twin pigtails held a broom just like his and tried to persuade him gently.
"You should really just sweep properly. If you don't, Tessai will get angry..."
"You're so annoying, Ururu!"
Jinta Hanakari pointed the broom at her.
"I'm already sweeping, so what is there to be afraid of?"
"But..."
Ururu reminded him softly.
"Aren't you sweeping because you're afraid?"
"Who's afraid of him?!"
Jinta poked Ururu with the broom.
"How rude. You're beneath me, you know!"
"That's not true!"
Ururu clutched her head helplessly.
"I'm three years older than you! Ouch!"
"Who said anything about age?"
Jinta snapped.
"I'm talking about ability, as a person..."
Smack!
A hand clamped down on the broom.
"Wh–who is it?"
Jinta turned around, his bravado instantly deflating.
"Tessai, I..."
"I believe I warned you," Muten Natsu said, looking down at Jinta Hanakari.
"If I catch you bullying Ururu again, I'll play a proper game of baseball with you."
Jinta Hanakari stiffened his neck.
"Like I'd be scared of you! I'll show you my home run!"
"You've clearly misunderstood," Muten Natsu replied with a mild smile.
"By 'playing baseball,' I mean you'll be the bat first, then the ball, and finally the baseball itself."
"What did you say?!"
"Ready~"
Muten Natsu grabbed Jinta's arm, spun him around in a powerful arc, and flicked the baseball off the ground with the tip of his foot.
"Home run!"
The baseball made very intimate contact with Jinta's body before soaring into the sky.
Jinta Hanakari screamed as he clutched his head.
"You damn lazy slob!"
"Good. Plenty of energy."
Muten Natsu lifted the broom again.
"Now it's your turn to be the ball."
"Um..."
Orihime Inoue looked uneasy.
"Is this really okay?"
"Relax," Rukia Kuchiki snorted lightly.
"That brat's tougher than he looks."
"Ah..."
Ururu greeted them with teary eyes.
"Welcome."
A towering figure pushed up the rolling door.
He stood nearly two meters tall, wore glasses, had a bald head with dirty dreadlocks, and sported a distinctive mustache.
"Well, if it isn't Natsu-san and Kuchiki-san. And this young lady is...?"
Orihime Inoue raised her hand.
"My name is Orihime Inoue~"
"Long time no see, Tessai," Muten Natsu said as he set down the still-yelping Jinta.
"The last time we met was..."
"Two years ago," Tessai replied politely.
"Please wait a moment. I'll go wake the shop owner."
"No need, I'm already up~ Huuuuuaaaaah~"
A man walked out while yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Morning, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu. And welcome, Natsu-san, Kuchiki-san, Inoue-san. So, what'll it be today?"
The shop owner wore a green-and-white fisherman's hat, a dark green short jacket, and lightweight green pants.
His light yellow hair stuck up slightly, a bit of stubble lined his jaw, and his green eyes curved with an easy smile.
Altogether, his appearance was extremely... easy on the eyes.
The owner of Urahara Shop—Kisuke Urahara.
He was the one who had previously helped Rukia Kuchiki with her school transfer paperwork.
Urahara Shop sat in the western corner of Karakura Town, a general store that sold everything from daily necessities and stationery to the snacks children drooled over.
Its range of goods was impressively broad.
Past the dazzling shelves of cheap sweets inside, one could find spiritual tools imported directly from Soul Society, with a selection no less extensive than the ordinary merchandise outside.
For Shinigami, traveling between the World of the Living and Soul Society was a troublesome affair.
Shops like Urahara Shop existed precisely as spiritual supply stations to make that process far more convenient.
"Is it just my imagination?" Kisuke Urahara tapped the brim of his hat.
"Kuchiki-san looks pretty upset. Is that because of me?"
Rukia Kuchiki didn't beat around the bush.
"You knew about Muten's situation. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Protecting a customer's privacy is basic business etiquette," Kisuke Urahara said with a shrug.
"Especially for someone like me, whose services cover a rather wide range."
High EQ: a wide range of services.
Low EQ: dancing along the edge of spiritual law.
"It's been a long time since I last came by. He probably just didn't remember," Muten Natsu said, smoothing things over and changing the subject.
"Orihime has recently awakened her Reiryoku. Could you recommend a few products?"
"A wise choice! Hollows love targeting people with spiritual power. They're more nutritious to them. Newly awakened individuals, especially those without the means to fight back, are prime targets," Kisuke Urahara said as he flipped through his stock.
"Take a look at these: Anti-Spirit Barrier Lotion Pain-Free Alpha. Apply it to sore shoulders or your lower back when possessed by a spirit. Spirit-Repelling Spray: Spirit-Repellent X. Use it when spirits are bothering you and it gets annoying. Electromagnetic Restraint Ball Z. When attacked by a Hollow, it provides temporary shelter and buys you time to escape."
Orihime Inoue listened, completely absorbed.
"Th-That's incredible!"
"Her Reiryoku awakened because of me. Put it on my tab," Muten Natsu said, pulling out his Kikanshinki.
"One can of D-rank backup fuel for the Kikanshinki. Oh, and do you have any medicine for treating injuries?"
"I've said this before," Kisuke Urahara replied, shaking his head.
"Your physical condition isn't something medicine can fix."
"That's not what I mean. I was injured earlier."
"Ah, so that's what caused the reiatsu fluctuation that day. Congratulations," Kisuke Urahara said, producing a large jar and handing it over.
"Take one pill every hour, and your injuries will heal quickly."
Muten Natsu stared at the design on the jar.
"Are you sure this is recovery medicine?"
A skull was printed right on the label.
"That's to keep children from eating it by mistake," Kisuke Urahara said, leaning in.
"By the way, want me to give you a full checkup? Two hundred fifty-five points across your whole body for only 4,980 Kan."
"I'm well aware of my own condition," Muten Natsu said, turning to Rukia Kuchiki.
"Do you still need the Inner Soul Stabilizer?"
"No," Rukia Kuchiki replied, shaking her head.
"I want a Gikon Pill."
"That's true. Staying in a Gigai for too long isn't good," Muten Natsu said, puzzled.
"But is a Gikon Pill really necessary? Couldn't you just use the Gokon Tekkō?"
"If I use a Gikon Pill, a temporary soul can attend class in my place, and I can go out with you," Rukia Kuchiki explained.
"At the very least, I can still use Kaidō now. If something like before happens again, I'll be able to treat it right away."