Eight years had passed since Taichi Kamiya first realized he had been reincarnated.
At first, he was merely surprised to have retained the memories of his past life. It wasn't until later that he discovered the world he now inhabited was one of supernatural powers—a far cry from the life he had known before.
In his previous life, Taichi had spent his leisure time consuming novels, films, and television. The concepts of transmigration and reincarnation were well within his wheelhouse. By now, the young boy had gained a solid understanding of this new world, and fortunately, it was one he found quite familiar.
This place was called the Soul Society. Everything here was composed of fundamental particles known as Reishi, including living beings like humans. Furthermore, the higher the concentration of Reishi within a person, the more powerful they became.
Those who possessed such great power usually chose to become Soul Reapers, gathering in a place called the Seireitei. Beyond maintaining the stability of the Soul Society, these Soul Reapers were responsible for the proper functioning of other worlds. It was a life of heavy burdens, but it also granted them a transcendent social status.
Based on this information alone, Taichi had concluded that he had transmigrated into a classic "battle shonen" anime he had watched in his past life. However, he couldn't shake a lingering sense of dissonance about his surroundings.
In this world of Reishi, Taichi possessed the talent to become a Soul Reaper—a fact discovered by a Vice-Captain who had visited his family on business. To be noticed by such a high-ranking official meant Taichi's talent was undoubtedly extraordinary. His family was thrilled by the news, though they wouldn't have forced him if he lacked interest. Luckily for Taichi, he had been born into good circumstances this time; the Kamiya family were prominent grain merchants in the Soul Society.
The status of food in the Soul Society was quite nuanced. Those with low Reishi concentrations could survive simply by absorbing Reishi from the atmosphere. However, for those with higher concentrations, atmospheric Reishi was far from enough to sustain them. They felt hunger, and without food, they could even die. Yet, most regions of the Soul Society produced no food at all.
Consequently, whether or not a person felt hunger became a simple litmus test for their spiritual potential.
Although Taichi could have easily lived out his days as a pampered, wealthy heir, he decided to become a Soul Reaper to elevate his family's standing even further. He approached life much like the games he played in his past; if he was the "Position 1" carry receiving all the resources, it was only natural that he should want to do something for the team.
There was another crucial reason—just as no one wants to be a pauper, no one wants to be weak.
Whether to help the family establish a foothold within the ranks of the Soul Reapers or simply to find Taichi some "study companions," the Kamiya family began searching for other children with spiritual talent. Given the reputation of the Kamiya family as great landowners, eligible children from all around flocked to them. Even children without any spiritual talent showed up to try their luck.
"I heard the young master of the Kamiya family could speak at three months and write by the age of three. He truly is exceptionally brilliant."
"He was scouted by the Vice-Captain of the First Division. He's guaranteed to be at least a Seated Officer in the future."
"If one can get into the Kamiya household, becoming wealthy might be a stretch, but they'll definitely never go hungry."
"Don't make me laugh. What's the point of being good-looking? If your kid doesn't have talent, they won't even make it through the gates!"
Amidst the chatter of the crowd, a ravenous Rangiku Matsumoto rubbed her stomach. She hadn't processed much of the gossip, but one phrase stuck in her mind: never go hungry!
A few imposing figures in black caught the attention of the noisy crowd. They wore matching black kimono tops and wide hakama trousers, each with a standard-issue katana at their waist. They were the Soul Reapers responsible for daily patrols.
One of them whispered softly, "A candidate for a Seated Officer? Perhaps even better than those souls..."
He scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on the young boys and girls, but eventually, he sighed with regret—like a lion eyeing a herd of wildebeest from a distance.
"What are you looking at?" a colleague's voice startled him.
He quickly explained, "Nothing, just thought I saw someone I knew."
"Who?"
"A guy or a girl?"
Amidst the laughter, the Soul Reapers drifted away, just as they had arrived.
After a process involving physical screening and background checks, there were quite a few suitable candidates. However, the Kamiya family only intended to train one or two. It wasn't that they couldn't afford more, but rather that having too many representatives in the Soul Reaper ranks might provoke the resentment of other noble families.
Naturally, the Kamiya family chose the path of the elite.
Eventually, the old butler led ten girls before Taichi.
The sight left Taichi speechless. Though he had the body of a child, his adult mind saw right through his family's intentions—these weren't meant to be mere "study companions."
Fearing that not choosing one might lead to even more trouble, Taichi decided to pick someone clever and pleasant to look at to accompany him to the academy.
His gaze swept over the ten youthful, pretty faces. Ten pairs of bright eyes looked back with curiosity, tension, hope, and the fear of being rejected.
A splash of unexpected, vibrant orange caught Taichi's eye—the girl's short hair. Then, he noted her features: those familiar eyes and the beauty mark near her lip.
No way... Taichi thought, internally stunned.
Noticing his gaze, the somewhat malnourished girl gave him a wide, dimpled smile. Her voice was as crisp as a songbird's. "Um, Master Kamiya... ah, hello, Master Taichi. I'm Rangiku Matsumoto. You can just call me Rangiku."
She had a slight accent from who-knows-where, and her voice was soft and sweet—a very comfortable sound.
In that moment, Taichi finally realized where that sense of dissonance had come from—the protagonist of this world wouldn't even be born for another hundred years.
"I'll take her."
Regardless of anything else, considering Rangiku's future strength, Taichi chose her without hesitation.
Though he was currently in a Japanese-style setting, Taichi had no untoward thoughts about the young Rangiku. A person's impulses are tied to their hormones; if a man went to a hospital in Thailand, his "thoughts" would certainly change. This child, not even ten years old, was much more interested in eating snacks and watching the neighborhood dogs fight.
The old butler spoke up at the right moment. "As expected of the Young Master, your eye for talent is extraordinary. Matsumoto likely has the best potential among them. There is only one boy who is her equal; I am sure they will be able to keep up with your footsteps... blah, blah, blah."
Ignoring the butler's flattery, Taichi caught the mention of the boy. He mused to himself: A Vice-Captain has already shown up; you're not going to throw a future Captain at me too, are you?
"What's the story with that boy?"
The old butler handed over the boy's file. Taichi looked down at the name. Sure enough, it was Gin Ichimaru.
The Kamiya family had originally hoped to remain prosperous for a few more centuries, but Taichi now felt that seven or eight hundred years wouldn't be an issue. If he worked hard, standing at the top for a millennium wasn't just a dream.
Compared to Rangiku, Gin's entry into the household was much more difficult, as the Kamiya family hadn't intended to take in boys. In the end, it was only because of Gin's talent that they accepted him.
Knowing Gin's future strength, Taichi would have insisted on it even if the family hadn't seen his value.
Although Rangiku and Gin were exceptionally gifted, they were of commoner birth. Their foundation was poor, and they had to start by learning to read and write. For now, they lacked the ability to truly serve as Taichi's companions.
Of course, one didn't just walk into a noble household. They had to be taught numerous rules and etiquettes. Most importantly, the concept of "loyalty" had to be subtly ingrained into their very marrow. In any world, loyalty was a value loudly proclaimed—loyalty to family, loyalty to country, loyalty to leaders.
Having heard that the Young Master was brilliant from childhood and born of a prestigious family, Gin had initially assumed Taichi would be aloof, arrogant, and difficult to serve. Though Taichi had handsome, refined features, he was a man of few words. This had made Rangiku very cautious at first; she spoke in whispers and walked on eggshells, terrified of displeasing him.
However, after two months of living together, they gradually realized that Taichi was far more approachable than they had imagined.
Taichi, who was the same age as them, was unexpectedly knowledgeable—knowing even more than the adults. Despite his wealthy and noble background, he never looked down on the servants. He would remind them to put on more clothes on rainy days, let them rest when they were tired, and would even lead them to the kitchen for midnight snacks—acting like a seasoned pro at raiding the pantry.
"Math is so hard... the multiplication tables are too complicated. I can't remember them!" Rangiku pouted miserably.
Learning to read, write, and perform basic arithmetic within a hundred had been a struggle for her.
Leaning by the window, Taichi pulled his gaze away from the dogs outside and turned to look at Rangiku's petite, doll-like face. Seeing the smile replaced by agony on her porcelain skin, Taichi found it quite amusing.
From the window, one could see a peaceful rural landscape. Houses were scattered far apart, with only two or three visible across the vast rice fields. To Taichi, who had lived through the wave of industrialization, this place seemed incredibly remote.
"All you do is think about slacking off," Taichi rolled his eyes at her. "Why can't you be more like Gin?"
Gin smiled nonchalantly. "The Young Master's methods are indeed very effective. Even the butler was quite surprised."
"I am not!" Rangiku puffed out her chest, saying shamelessly, "I'm also thinking about eating!"
Taichi sighed helplessly. Teaching a child was a massive headache, even if he was technically a child himself right now.
Rangiku leaned in boldly, shaking Taichi's arm playfully. "As long as my Master knows how to do these things, isn't that enough? Rangiku is too stupid. Let's just stop learning, okay?"
"The multiplication tables aren't that complex. You can definitely memorize them. If you finish today..." Taichi suddenly remembered something and made a proposal. "I think tomorrow is the birth anniversary of that god, Mimihagi-sama? There's a festival. Let's go check it out."
"Hakimimi?" Rangiku blinked, looking confused.
Gin rubbed his chin. "I think it's called Mimihagi."
"Whatever, who cares."
Taichi didn't care at all that he had butchered the deity's name. He figured a god wouldn't sweat the small stuff.
Accompanied by the sound of Rangiku's reciting, night fell like a rising tide.
The sky looked as if it had been dipped in ink, devoid of stars or moon. The wind rushed out from the distant mountain passes, carrying the chill of early autumn. Even the guard dogs curled up instinctively.
While everyone was washing away their fatigue in dreams, a figure dressed in black moved silently through the shadows. A sudden gust of wind caught the hem of his night-gear, revealing a strange, cold-gleaming instrument at his waist.
The man in black skillfully condensed Reishi beneath his feet. Moving as if he were one with the night wind, he landed on the roof as lightly as a sparrow.
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Bleach : Reincarnated in Bleach a Century Ago
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