Uryū Ishida cut a piece of pale green fabric suited to Isane Kotetsu. "I see."
He couldn't help but feel that Soul Society and the World of the Living were quite different. In the World of the Living, those fighting on the front lines often lived in poverty, while those safely in the rear made a great deal of money.
For example... his grandfather, Sōken Ishida, a Quincy who protected people and fought Hollows without asking for anything in return.
And his father, Ryūken Ishida, who refused to become a Quincy because it didn't pay, choosing instead to become a doctor.
Although his grandfather believed his father had a point, Uryū Ishida still couldn't accept it.
But when he thought about it, there were far too many things he couldn't understand.
Like Muten Natsu. Like the Shinigami.
This time, while he had come to save Rukia Kuchiki, what he said earlier about wanting to see what Shinigami were really like hadn't been just an excuse.
A part of him truly wanted to see for himself.
Yet now that he had arrived in Soul Society, he felt even more lost.
Lost in thought, his hands kept moving, but he had no mind for conversation.
Seeing his expression, Isane Kotetsu assumed he was sympathizing with her low pay.
"But I'm still proud of working in the 4th Division! My abilities may be limited, but I'm really happy to be able to use them where they're needed. Even if the pay isn't high, I truly love the 4th Division!"
"Ah... yeah... I see."
Uryū Ishida realized she had misunderstood, but it wasn't something he could easily explain. Instead, he steered the conversation elsewhere, asking a few casual questions as they chatted on and off, finishing the second dress in the process.
After thanking him several times, Isane Kotetsu hugged the dress and returned to her duties.
Uryū Ishida stretched lightly and took a short break.
He couldn't help but feel a bit reflective.
If the first Shinigami he had met hadn't been Muten Natsu, things might have turned out very differently.
A female Shinigami from the sewing team brought him a cup of tea.
"If it's alright, please have some."
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
Uryū Ishida accepted it politely. He was indeed a little thirsty, and he drained the warm tea in one go.
The color and taste were similar to green tea, but the aroma was different. It carried a subtle sweetness, something almost indescribable, and as it spread through him, it felt as if the fatigue deep inside his body had been completely swept away.
This was a special tea from the 4th Division, brewed with various medicinal herbs to quickly restore energy.
"Um... if you're not too tired, could you make one for me too?" the Shinigami who brought the tea asked expectantly.
"I don't mind, but what I just made was clothing for the World of the Living..."
Before Uryū Ishida could finish, more female Shinigami gathered around him.
"That's not fair! I want one too!"
"Me too!"
"And me!"
"Please~"
Uryū Ishida pushed up his glasses several times. "E-everyone wants one...?"
A whole crowd of female Shinigami stared at him.
He thought for a moment. "If it's just the patterns... I should be able to draw them all."
The Shinigami cheered and started deciding the order with rock-paper-scissors.
What am I even doing...
Surrounded on all sides, Uryū Ishida let out a quiet sigh.
Come to think of it, Kuchiki-san seems to like dresses too.
But she probably doesn't have the time to think about that right now.
Before going to find Isane Kotetsu, he had actually intended to look for Rukia Kuchiki.
But seeing her busy with paperwork, he decided not to disturb her.
"I... I heard you were here handling paperwork." Izuru Kira stood at the doorway, not daring to step inside, his voice faint. "So... um... Kuchiki-san..."
"What is it?" Rukia Kuchiki looked at him with a hint of surprise.
Although they had been classmates at the Shin'ō Academy, Izuru Kira was in Class 1 while Rukia Kuchiki was in Class 2, so they had barely interacted during their school days.
In fact, Rukia Kuchiki hadn't had much interaction with anyone back then.
She had come from Rukongai and was later adopted by the Kuchiki Clan.
To the people of Rukongai, she was a noble. To the nobles, she was someone from Rukongai. Neither side truly accepted her.
After graduating from the academy, Izuru Kira had spent some time in the 4th Division, but he had been in such a poor state back then that he hadn't had the energy to get to know anyone.
So coming here now, he...
Izuru Kira held out the food box in his hands.
"I heard from Abarai-kun that you like sweets, so I made this... shiratama dumplings with sweet red bean paste."
Inside the box was an appealing dessert: clear agar jelly, paired with small, delicate white glutinous rice dumplings, topped with candied black beans and red bean paste, all flavored with brown sugar.
"You made this yourself?" Rukia Kuchiki's eyes widened in surprise. "It looks delicious... Are you sure I can accept it?"
She tilted her head slightly, a thought crossing her mind. Could it be that Muten Natsu had done something behind her back again, and that was why Izuru Kira had brought this?
"I like making agar jelly, so I usually try making it myself..." Izuru Kira fidgeted with the hem of his clothes. After a brief silence, he suddenly bowed deeply, his shoulders trembling as he forced the words out. "I'm sorry! I... helped bring forward your execution..."
"Huh?" Rukia Kuchiki blinked, confused. "But that has nothing to do with you, does it?"
"I still... did something..."
"But..." Rukia Kuchiki smiled gently. "Please raise your head first. Lieutenant Kira was only carrying out orders from your superiors. I'm not blaming you."
Izuru Kira slowly lifted his head. In Rukia Kuchiki's soft violet eyes, he saw his own reflection, and his lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
Looking at his dry hair and gaunt face, Rukia Kuchiki could understand the pain he was carrying.
"Please don't take it to heart."
"I'm sorry..." Izuru Kira murmured again, his voice barely audible.
There was no one here being narrow-minded.
Izuru Kira finally understood what Abarai Renji had meant.
He had simply locked himself inside a cage, never truly seeing others for who they were.
Not wanting to disturb Rukia Kuchiki any longer, Izuru Kira left the 4th Division.
It was time for him to return and handle his duties.
But after a moment's hesitation, he realized that his own struggle wasn't unique.
Thinking of how Shūhei Hisagi had taken care of him in the past, he changed direction and headed toward the 9th Division barracks.
If it was Hisagi-senpai, it should be fine.
But recalling Shūhei Hisagi's deep admiration for Kaname Tōsen, Izuru Kira still felt he needed to see things for himself to be at ease.
However, when he arrived, he was told that Shūhei Hisagi had already gone to Rukongai.