A few minutes after Senna left, Yato grabbed the remote and switched on the television, letting it land on a random channel without bothering to check what was playing. The room filled with flickering light and exaggerated sound effects, but he paid it little attention.
His focus was elsewhere.
He moved into the kitchen, opening cabinet doors one after another. The soft thud of wood against hinges echoed faintly in the otherwise quiet apartment. He checked the countertop. The table. He crouched slightly to peer inside the lower cupboards, then stood and opened the refrigerator, staring at its contents as if the missing item might materialize under pressure.
"…Huh? Where did I put it…?" he muttered to himself.
Earlier that same day, he had stopped by a small neighborhood market and bought a few extra groceries—nothing fancy, just practical things. Bread. Instant noodles. A couple of drinks. He'd wanted to keep something in reserve, just in case. Lately, just in case had become a recurring theme in his life.
But now the bag was nowhere to be found.
He straightened slowly, one hand resting on his hip as he replayed his afternoon in his head.
"…Did I leave it at Tatsuki's place…?"
The realization hit with quiet dread.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled to her name, hesitating only briefly before pressing call. The line rang twice.
Then—
"I figured you'd call."
Tatsuki's voice came through steady and dry, carrying that familiar edge of restrained amusement.
Yato winced faintly. "Yeah… sorry," he said immediately. "Did I, by any chance, leave my groceries at your house?"
There was a small pause on the other end, followed by the faint sound of movement—maybe footsteps, maybe a door sliding open.
"My mom moved them to the kitchen," Tatsuki replied. "You left the bag in the dojo."
Yato lightly smacked his forehead with his palm.
"Of course I did…"
He could practically picture it now—setting the bag down absentmindedly after training, getting distracted by conversation, and walking out without it.
"Is it okay if I come by and grab them?" he asked.
"Sure. It's fine."
"Thanks, Tatsuki. I owe you."
"You owe me a lot of things," she replied flatly before hanging up.
Yato lowered the phone and let out a soft sigh.
"And here I thought I'd finally get to relax at home…"
He walked back into the living room and reached for the TV remote to turn it off before heading out. For a brief second, though, his eyes caught the screen.
Some kind of Tokusatsu show was playing.
The scene was mid-climax: a young actress in a stylized armored suit—sleek, metallic, clearly inspired by Kamen Rider aesthetics—struck a dramatic pose. The costume was accented with sharp lines and luminous details, and behind her—
Boom!
A perfectly timed explosion erupted in a burst of fire and smoke, backlighting her silhouette. The blast highlighted her short green hair as it fluttered slightly from the shockwave. She raised her arm triumphantly and shouted at the top of her lungs:
"VICTORY!!"
The over-the-top sound effects and dramatic music filled the room.
Yato froze for half a second.
Something about the image tugged at him. A flicker of recognition. Not of the show itself—but of the feeling. The stance. The explosion framed just right. The exaggerated confidence.
It felt… familiar.
He frowned faintly.
"…Weird."
The sensation lingered just long enough to make him uncomfortable.
Then he shook his head.
"Probably nothing."
With a quiet click, he turned off the television. The room fell back into stillness.
Grabbing his keys from the small dish near the door, Yato slipped on his shoes and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind him with a muted click. He turned the key in the lock, giving it an absentminded tug to make sure it was secure before stepping back onto the quiet sidewalk.
"At least she lives nearby," he murmured to himself.
He walked at an unhurried pace, right hand tucked into his pocket while his left came up to scratch the back of his neck—a habitual gesture whenever his thoughts felt heavier than usual.
The neighborhood was calm. A few bicycles passed by. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. Ordinary sounds. Grounding sounds.
As he passed in front of the Kurosaki Clinic, Yato slowed slightly.
The modest building stood just as it always did, the sign out front catching the fading light. For a moment, he considered stopping by. Maybe he should tell Ichigo about Senna. About what she'd said.
He stared at the entrance.
'…Nah. Maybe later,' he decided, shrugging lightly before continuing down the street.
A familiar silhouette appeared further ahead—tall, broad-shouldered, walking with that calm, deliberate stride that was unmistakable.
Yato narrowed his eyes slightly.
Sado.
The large teen seemed to notice him as well, slowing his steps until he came to a stop.
"Oh… hey, Chad," Yato greeted, lifting a hand in a casual wave.
"Mm." Sado acknowledged him with a small nod and closed the distance between them. "Were you looking for Ichigo?"
"Actually, no. Why?"
"We were at the gym earlier," Sado explained in his usual steady tone. "Talking while I trained. We decided to stop by Urahara-san's shop. He went ahead. I'm meeting him there."
Yato's mouth twisted slightly.
"For you two to go to Urahara's place… that's rarely good news," he muttered as they began walking side by side. "What's the problem this time?"
"A Hollow Inoue and I encountered it a few days ago."
Yato glanced at him. "Another one with special abilities?"
"Not exactly," Sado replied. "It wasn't hostile. It was watching an elderly woman. Said she was his wife when he was alive."
Yato blinked once.
"Well… that alone isn't strange. Some Hollows retain their consciousness for a while after transforming." He thought briefly of Orihime's brother.
Sado nodded. "He seemed weak. He told us his name was Suzuki. Died in a car accident." There was a brief pause before he continued. "He also mentioned another Hollow."
Yato's expression sharpened. "So… another Hollow turned him?"
"He said this one was called Shemihaza. Claimed he offered him more power."
"Shemihaza…?" Yato repeated under his breath. The name felt foreign. Unfamiliar.
"He seemed sad and scared of us, but didn't attack anyone." Sado continued. "He just left after watching his wife."
Yato exhaled through his nose slowly.
"That's… weird."
"Mm."
They walked a few more steps in silence before Sado added, "I think this Shemihaza might be connected to the recent Hollows appearing with unusual abilities. Just a guess."
"And you're going to Urahara to confirm it," Yato concluded.
"Mm."
Yato sighed lightly. "I guess I'll stop by too. Let me just grab my groceries first and—"
He stopped mid-step.
A ripple brushed against his senses.
Reiatsu.
Two signatures.
One was precise, refined—distinct.
Nemu.
The other felt familiar yet distant, like a memory half-remembered.
Sado turned his head at the same moment. He'd felt it too.
"It feels like Nemuri-chan," Sado said slowly. "And the other one… I can't quite—"
Before he could finish, a figure appeared in front of them in a clean shunpo.
Nemu materialized with flawless precision, her hand firmly holding the arm of another Shinigami—tall, silver-haired, clearly startled.
Isane Kotetsu.
The lieutenant of the 4th Squad had one hand pressed against her chest, breathing out as if steadying herself after being abruptly relocated.
"Hello, Yasakani-sama," Nemu greeted calmly, releasing her grip with mechanical grace.
"Hey there, Namuri-chan." Yato smiled.
"That's not how one escorts someone, Lieutenant Kurotsuchi," Isane said between breaths, adjusting her black shihakushō and smoothing down her uniform with dignified composure.
After regaining her posture, Isane looked at the two boys—and her expression softened when her eyes landed on Sado.
"Oh, Sado-kun. You're here as well."
"Mm. Good to see you again, Isane-san," Sado replied with a respectful nod.
Yato's eyebrow arched exaggeratedly.
His gaze shifted from Sado… to Isane… then back again.
"…Wait. You two have talked before?"
Sado hesitated just slightly.
"Mm… we have."
Yato blinked once.
Then twice.
"…We have?" he repeated slowly, as if the words themselves had personally betrayed him.
His gaze moved between the two of them, confusion settling firmly across his face.
Beside Nemu, Isane tilted her head slightly. There was a gentle warmth in her expression—something polite and faintly embarrassed.
"Yes," she said kindly. "Sado-kun was very considerate." She clasped her hands together lightly in front of her uniform, as though recalling the moment. "He even took the time to teach boxing to me… and to a few other Shinigami."
Silence fell over the street.
A passing breeze rustled the nearby trees.
Yato's brain stopped.
"…He what?" His head snapped toward Sado so fast it was almost audible. "Since when do you run a martial arts academy inside the Seireitei?"
Sado, as always, remained utterly unmoved.
"It wasn't an academy," he replied in his usual steady tone. "Just training."
"I also learned a little, Yasakani-sama," Nemu added in her perfectly even voice.
That did it.
Yato slowly turned his head toward her.
Then back to Sado.
His eyebrow climbed even higher.
"…You," Yato said, pointing vaguely at Sado as if accusing him of a crime. "Teaching boxing?"
He squinted suspiciously.
"When did that even happen? Didn't you only start learning boxing after we got back from Soul Society because Tatsuki suggested it?"
His confusion was genuine. He could swear that was the story he'd heard—that Sado had picked up boxing recently after Tatsuki encouraged him to try it.
Sado nodded slightly.
"Mm… it's true that Tatsuki suggested I train in boxing."
There was a small pause before he continued.
"But I had already learned boxing years before that. I simply stopped using it."
Yato's eyebrow climbed even further—an impressive feat at this point.
Sado seemed to notice the expression and realized further explanation was necessary.
"My abuelo was a professional boxer in Mexico," he said quietly. "During the time I lived with him, he taught me some things."
He slid his hands into his pockets, his gaze lowering slightly as he spoke—reflective, thoughtful.
"But back then… I only used boxing against people I disliked. To hurt them." His voice remained calm, though the words carried weight. "I saw boxing only as a way to injure others."
He shook his head faintly.
"So I decided not to use it anymore."
The evening breeze passed between them again.
"The truth is… even after Tatsuki suggested I start boxing again, I was hesitant," he admitted.
For a moment, Sado turned his head toward Isane.
Just briefly.
"But I ended up changing my mind."
———————————————————
Week After Rukia's Rescue — Seireitei, Soul Society
A quiet hallway near the barracks of the 7th Squad
The Seireitei was unusually calm that afternoon.
Sunlight filtered softly through the paper-paneled windows of the long corridor, illuminating the polished wooden floors in warm golden tones. The distant sounds of Shinigami training somewhere far away echoed faintly through the barracks, accompanied by the occasional rustle of wind brushing against banners and tiled rooftops.
Sado had just left the grounds of the 7th Squad. Originally, he had intended to stay a little longer. His plan had been simple: speak briefly with Sajin Komamura, offer a few quiet words, perhaps thank him properly for everything that had happened during the rescue of Rukia Kuchiki.
But when Sado arrived, the captain was nowhere to be found.
The members of the division mentioned that he had stepped away earlier and hadn't returned yet.
Sado didn't ask further questions.
He understood. After all, Komamura had just witnessed the betrayal of someone he once called a close friend.
The revelation that Kaname Tōsen had sided with Sōsuke Aizen was not something a man like Komamura would easily accept.
Some wounds needed solitude and Sado respected that.
So instead of waiting, he quietly left the squad grounds and began walking toward the outer districts of the Rukongai.
His footsteps were slow and steady, echoing faintly through the empty hallway. That was when—
"Excuse me."
Sado stopped. A group of Shinigami stood further down the corridor, clearly waiting for him. Standing there were four lieutenant-ranked officers. Rangiku Matsumoto of the 10th Squad, Nanao Ise of the 8th Squad, Nemu Kurotsuchi of the 12th Squad and Isane Kotetsu of the 4th Squad. The group looked… oddly coordinated.
Almost like they had been waiting to intercept him. Sado paused in front of them, his large frame casting a shadow across the hallway.
"…Do I understand this correctly?" he asked in his calm, deep voice. His expression remained composed, but there was a clear trace of disbelief behind his eyes. "You want me… to train you?" The four women exchanged glances.
Then Rangiku stepped forward first. "Yes, indeed!" she said cheerfully, placing one hand on her hip while the other gestured casually toward him. "I heard from Orihime." She leaned slightly closer, examining him with open curiosity. "You're good at boxing, aren't you?"
Sado immediately understood.
At some point earlier that day, while he had been practicing a few punches in an empty courtyard—trying to shake the rust off techniques he hadn't used in years—Orihime Inoue must have seen him. He gave a quiet sigh.
"I do boxing," Sado admitted calmly. "But I wouldn't necessarily say I'm good." His brow lowered slightly. "And I'm not sure how that's relevant."
Before anyone else could respond, Nanao gently adjusted her glasses. Her sharp eyes gleamed with analytical interest.
"According to our information," she began in her composed and scholarly tone, "boxing is practiced in the World of the Living as a form of physical exercise." She paused thoughtfully. "Many people use it to lose weight due to its exceptional ability to burn fat."
Sado remained silent. A faint, almost invisible comedic sweat drop appeared near his temple.
Nanao continued calmly. "However, more importantly… boxing is originally a combat technique." Her glasses reflected the light. "That means it has practical applications in battle."
Sado stared at her.
Still silent.
Behind Nanao, Isane suddenly stepped forward with visible excitement. "We from the Shinigami Women's Association would love to try it!" she said enthusiastically. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "We want to see what it's like!"
Rangiku crossed her arms beneath her very generous bust and leaned forward with a playful grin. "Aww, come on," she said. "Please?" Her tone became teasing. "We'll make it worth your time."
Sado looked between them.
One by one.
Still trying to process the situation.
"…Look," he finally said. "You should understand that boxing and exercising are not exactly the same thing. I might be able to teach boxing. Maybe." Then he added honestly "But I don't know anything about burning fat."
Nanao waved a hand dismissively.
"We won't concern ourselves with such minor details." Her tone was incredibly matter-of-fact. "We simply want to try." Then she added with absolute seriousness "Truth be told, as long as we burn some fat, that will already be sufficient."
Sado stared at them.
A long pause followed.
"…Are you serious?" he asked slowly.
Isane suddenly clasped her hands together and stepped forward again.
"Please help us!" she insisted earnestly. "These slim figures of ours require maintenance!"
Another long silence.
Sado sighed quietly. "…Well." He scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "If you insist…" The women leaned slightly forward, anticipation rising. "…I suppose it's fine."
Rangiku immediately smiled in victory.
But Sado raised one finger calmly. "However," he continued, "give me some time to prepare." His voice carried quiet determination now. "If I'm going to teach you… I want to make sure it's done properly."
———————————————————
"So let me get this straight…" Yato said slowly, rubbing the side of his temple as if trying to process the absurdity. "You changed your mind and decided to help them lose weight… by teaching them how to punch people?" His tone carried a heavy layer of sarcasm.
Sado, as always, remained completely calm.
"Actually… that wasn't the reason," Sado replied in his usual steady tone.
Yato tilted his head slightly, curiosity replacing his earlier skepticism.
"When I was helping them practice," Sado continued, "there was a small misunderstanding."
As he spoke, his eyes briefly shifted toward Isane and Nemu again, recalling the moment.
"Iba-san, Hisagi-san and Renji suddenly appeared. They assumed that I had gathered the lieutenant officers for something… inappropriate."
Isane couldn't hold back a soft laugh when the story reached that point.
Her laughter was gentle but bright. She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she spoke, her expression warm and slightly amused by the memory.
"But we cleared that up pretty quickly," she said. "After we knocked the three of them down and explained everything."
There was a faint hint of pride in her voice.
"After that," she added with a small grin, "Lieutenant Iba even decided to join the training with us."
Sado nodded once.
"At first, I believed boxing could only be used to hurt others," he admitted. "But seeing how it brought all of them together… it made me curious."
His deep voice remained calm, but there was a quiet sincerity in his words.
"So I decided to dedicate myself more seriously to my own training."
Before Yato could respond, Isane suddenly lifted her arm enthusiastically.
"I'm getting amazing results!" she said brightly.
She rolled up the sleeve of her shihakusho, revealing her right arm. The fabric slid up her forearm, exposing a surprisingly well-defined bicep. When she bent her arm and flexed, the muscle tightened clearly beneath her pale skin, showing the results of her recent training.
Her expression was cheerful and proud, though not arrogant—more like someone excited to share their progress.
"I've gotten into great shape," she continued happily. "And it's been really helpful whenever members of the 11th Squad start causing trouble in the 4th."
Yato's reaction came a second slower than usual.
For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on the unexpectedly toned arm. It wasn't something he had expected to see from the normally gentle and somewhat shy lieutenant of the 4th Squad.
Only after a couple seconds did he realize he'd been staring.
He quickly looked away.
But what Isane had said next caught his attention again.
For a moment, his attention drifted away from the quiet street of Karakura and into a vivid mental image forming in his imagination.
He pictured the peaceful halls of the 4th Squad in the Soul Society—usually calm, filled with the soft rustle of robes, the scent of medicinal herbs, and the quiet focus of healers tending to injured Shinigami.
Then the scene shifted.
A few loud and reckless members of the 11th Squad barged in, laughing loudly, causing trouble as they often did. Their heavy footsteps echoed through the corridors as they argued and joked in their usual rough manner, completely ignoring the peaceful atmosphere of the medical division.
And then—
Isane Kotetsu stepped forward.
In Yato's imagination she still had her usual gentle expression, her calm demeanor unchanged. She politely asked them to calm down… perhaps even tried reasoning with them first.
But when that didn't work—
The image in his mind jumped straight to the next moment: one of the Eleventh Division members suddenly being sent sprawling onto the floor by a perfectly clean punch.
Another one dropped a second later.
And then another.
All delivered by the normally soft-spoken lieutenant of the 4th Squad.
The image was so unexpected and strangely amusing that Yato couldn't stop a quiet laugh from escaping him.
"Now that," he said with a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck, "is something I'd actually pay to see."
Standing nearby, Nemu briefly turned her head toward him.
Her eyes studied Yato for a short moment. The movement was subtle—barely noticeable—but it seemed as though she had quietly registered the fact that his gaze had lingered slightly longer than usual on Isane's arm earlier.
However, as expected of Nemu Kurotsuchi, she said nothing about it.
Her expression remained calm and unreadable.
She simply returned her attention forward as if nothing had happened.
Sado then shifted the conversation.
"By the way, Isane-san," he asked politely, his deep voice calm and respectful as always, "what brings the two of you to the World of the Living?"
His eyes briefly moved between Isane and Nemu.
"I can understand Lieutenant Kurotsuchi being here," he continued, "but I don't believe it's very common for someone from the 4th Squad to come here… especially the lieutenant."
The question caused Yato to blink slightly.
It was almost as if only now he had fully processed that detail.
'Wait… he's right.'
The lieutenant of the healing division being in the World of the Living wasn't exactly a routine occurrence.
Especially not without a very clear reason.
Isane nodded lightly, her posture straightening a little as she shifted into a more professional tone.
"To be honest," she explained, "I was originally supposed to come here with my captain."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"But she had an unexpected situation come up and will only arrive a few hours from now."
She gestured slightly toward Nemu beside her.
"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi is accompanying me in the meantime."
Yato kept his expression relaxed, but internally his thoughts immediately began turning.
'The lieutenant of the healing squad… and the lieutenant of the Research and Development Institute… and Unohana…. What exactly is happening this time…?'
Despite the question forming in his mind, he didn't let it show on his face.
Sado spoke again. "Do you need help?" he asked sincerely.
Isane's professional posture softened again as she smiled in her usual kind and reassuring way.
"Please don't worry," she said gently. "From what we were informed, there have only been a few strange occurrences."
Her tone suggested caution, but not alarm.
"It doesn't seem to be anything serious," she continued. "At least for now."
She looked between the group of them.
"You've all dealt with enough trouble before," she added with a small chuckle. "So you can relax and leave this to us. If we end up needing assistance, we'll be sure to let you know."
Yato's mind immediately jumped to a possibility. 'Strange occurrences…? Could it be because of Senna?'
He kept the thought to himself.
Instead, he stretched his arms casually behind his head, trying to look as relaxed as possible.
"Well," Yato said with an easy grin, "at least that means we can enjoy a little time off."
He turned slightly toward Nemu.
"If you need help, just say the word, Nemuri-chan." He raised his hand and gave her a confident thumbs-up.
Nemu watched him silently.
Her gaze first met his face, then slowly lowered to his hand.
Her eyes focused on the gesture.
She seemed to be analyzing it.
For a moment she simply stared at the raised thumb, as if mentally processing its meaning.
Then she looked down at her own right hand.
Carefully, almost experimentally, she lifted it.
Still maintaining the same calm, stoic expression as always, Nemu slowly copied the gesture—raising her thumb upward in the same way.
And just like that, she returned the thumbs-up.
Yato blinked once.
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
The whole interaction had felt oddly mechanical—like watching someone try to imitate a social gesture purely through observation rather than instinct. It wasn't mocking or sarcastic; it was simply… literal.
Isane gave a small polite smile beside her, clearly used to Nemu's unusual mannerisms.
Not long after that, the two Shinigami prepared to leave. Their visit had been brief, and as they turned to depart, it became clear to Yato that their appearance had likely been little more than a quick check-in.
Watching them walk away down the street, the black robes of their shihakusho moving softly in the evening breeze, Yato reached a quiet conclusion.
'So they really just came to say hello…'
The street gradually returned to its calm atmosphere as the two figures disappeared around the corner.
Yato stretched his arms slightly as he began walking again beside Sado.
The sky above Karakura was slowly darkening now, the orange hues of sunset fading into deep blue. Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting long reflections across the pavement while distant city sounds hummed softly in the background.
"The more I start thinking about finally getting some time off," Yato grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck, "the more problems start showing up."
He sighed dramatically.
"At this point I'm seriously considering ignoring everything that happens for at least a week so I can reorganize my thoughts."
Sado walked beside him in silence.
His heavy footsteps were steady and unhurried, his tall figure calm as always. He glanced briefly at Yato but didn't comment, seemingly content to simply listen.
The two continued down the quiet residential streets until they eventually stopped in front of Tatsuki's house.
Yato stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
A moment passed.
Then another.
Footsteps approached from inside the house before the door finally opened.
Tatsuki appeared in the doorway holding a small grocery bag in one hand.
Her short hair was slightly messy, as if she had just returned from outside, and she wore a casual outfit rather than her usual training clothes.
The moment she saw Yato standing there, a mischievous smirk immediately spread across her face.
It was the unmistakable expression of someone preparing to tease him.
But the smirk lasted only a second.
Because right behind him stood Sado.
Her expression shifted instantly.
"Sado?" Tatsuki said, clearly surprised.
She looked from one to the other, her eyebrows lifting slightly.
Sado simply nodded politely in greeting.
"Sorry about forgetting my groceries here," Yato said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Tatsuki rolled her eyes.
"That's what happens when your head's in the clouds all the time," she replied dryly.
She handed the bag over to him.
Yato accepted it with a sheepish grin.
"I just wasn't expecting Sado to show up with you," Tatsuki continued, folding one arm casually while studying them both. "Did something happen?"
"We're heading to Urahara-san's shop," Sado explained calmly.
The moment she heard that name, Tatsuki's face twisted into an exaggerated grimace.
She let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"Oh great," she muttered. "What happened this time?"
Yato shrugged helplessly.
"I'd like to know that too," he said.
Sado, standing calmly beside him with his usual quiet composure, spoke up.
"We're going to meet Ichigo there," he explained. "You can come with us if you want. It's related to something that Inoue and I witnessed."
Tatsuki's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"You and Orihime?" she repeated, clearly trying to recall whether her friend had mentioned anything unusual earlier.
Her gaze shifted between the two of them.
"What exactly did you see?"
Sado considered the question for a moment before answering.
"I think it would be better to explain everything at Urahara-san's shop," he said. "That way we can clarify everything at once."
Tatsuki fell silent.
For a few seconds she simply stood there, thinking. Her fingers absently rubbed the back of her neck as she weighed whether it was worth getting involved.
Finally, she turned her head toward the inside of the house and inhaled deeply.
Then—
"MOOOOM!!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "I'M GOING OUT FOR A BIT!! I'LL BE BACK LATER!!!"
The sudden burst of volume was so intense that Yato instantly jammed his fingers into his ears.
His expression remained completely casual, as if this reaction was something he had learned through experience.
Beside him, Sado maintained his usual stoic posture… though a comical bead of sweat slowly slid down the side of his face.
From somewhere deeper inside the house, a cheerful voice immediately responded.
"IS THAT YATO-KUN!?" came the excited voice of Junko Arisawa.
Her tone carried unmistakable enthusiasm.
"DID HE ASK YOU OUT!?" she continued loudly. "AT LEAST DRESS NICELY!!!"
The reaction from Tatsuki was instantaneous.
Her face turned bright red in less than a second.
"DON'T SAY STUPID STUFF!!" she yelled back, flustered. "I'M JUST GOING OUT FOR A BIT!!"
Without another word, she quickly slipped on a pair of sneakers near the doorway.
Then she stormed outside.
SLAM!
The door shut with such force that the wooden panel around the doorknob visibly cracked with a sharp crk sound.
Yato still had his fingers firmly plugged in his ears.
Sado blinked slowly.
Tatsuki turned toward them, her face still red and her expression deeply annoyed.
"Let's just go!" she snapped, already marching down the street. "And neither of you say a word about that!!"
She walked ahead of them with fast, irritated steps, clearly trying to escape the embarrassment as quickly as possible.
Sado glanced sideways toward Yato.
Yato, however, still wore the same relaxed expression he had before—as if none of the shouting had reached him at all.
A few seconds later, once they were a safe distance from the house, Yato finally removed his fingers from his ears.
He slid his hands casually into his pockets and started walking.
The two of them followed behind Tatsuki, who had gotten quite a bit ahead during her embarrassed escape.
The evening air had grown cooler, and the residential street was calm again. Streetlights had fully turned on now, casting warm circles of light onto the pavement.
After a short distance, Tatsuki seemed to realize she had walked much farther ahead than the others.
Her steps slowed slightly.
Yato noticed.
But something else caught his attention too.
Further down the street, two figures were approaching from the opposite direction.
They were still a short distance away, but their silhouettes were already becoming visible.
Yato's eyes narrowed slightly in quiet curiosity as he watched them draw closer. Then recognition clicked.
'Ah…'
Walking toward them was his current boss from the X-Coffee shop—Giriko Kutsuzawa.
Beside him walked Riruka Dokugamine.
Giriko carried several shopping bags in one hand, their contents rustling faintly with each step. With his free hand he had just pulled out a polished pocket watch. He glanced at it briefly while walking, the metal reflecting the streetlight for a moment.
Click.
He closed the watch with practiced precision and slipped it neatly back into the pocket of his trousers.
Riruka, meanwhile, walked beside him with her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her expression looked deeply annoyed as she muttered under her breath about something—though the exact words were too quiet to hear.
"Good afternoon, Yasakani-san."
Giriko greeted Yato politely as soon as they were close enough.
The sudden greeting caused Tatsuki and Sado to slow their steps and stop beside Yato.
"And a good afternoon to you as well, young ones," Giriko added in a calm, courteous tone.
Riruka, on the other hand, reacted very differently.
She crossed her arms even tighter and turned her face away in a distinctly childish, sulking motion—clearly refusing to acknowledge anyone.
"Good afternoon, Kutsuzawa-san," Yato replied politely, straightening his posture slightly.
Then he scratched the back of his head with mild embarrassment.
"Sorry for disappearing like that," he continued. "But I'll be working normally tomorrow. I promise."
Giriko smiled faintly.
"I'm glad to hear that, my young friend," he said in his composed, gentlemanly voice. "It seems taking some time for yourself has done you good."
As always, he managed to slip a reference to time into his sentence.
Yato was starting to suspect the man did that intentionally.
Giriko then glanced toward the others standing with him. "I imagine these are your friends?"
"Yes, they are," Yato replied.
He still wasn't entirely used to Giriko's peculiar way of speaking. The man always seemed to weave the concept of time into nearly every sentence.
Yato gestured lightly toward the two beside him.
"By the way, this is my boss from X-Coffee, Giriko Kutsuzawa. And next to him is my coworker, Riruka Dokugamine."
Even though Yato spoke casually, his thoughts were moving quickly. He already suspected that Xcution was watching him, and possibly Ichigo as well. Riruka herself let that slip when they were alone at X-Coffee, and she even left a Xcution card with Yato in case he wanted to get in touch.
What he didn't know was whether Xcution had any interest in the people around him.
Especially his friends.
"It is certainly a pleasure," Giriko said.
He placed his right hand lightly over his chest and bowed his head slightly in a polite greeting.
Riruka, however, turned her face even further away, as if she were extremely irritated by the entire situation.
Tatsuki noticed immediately.
Her eye twitched slightly at the rude display.
She forced herself to ignore it.
"These are my school friends," Yato continued, gesturing toward them. "Yasutora Sado and Tatsuki Arisawa."
"It's nice to meet you," Tatsuki said, giving a confident smile.
"Hm." Sado simply gave a calm nod.
Yato glanced toward Riruka, raising one eyebrow.
"Are you okay, Riruka?" he asked, attempting to start a conversation.
"Don't talk to me," she snapped immediately, still refusing to look at him. "You annoy me."
Her blunt response caused Tatsuki's expression to darken slightly.
She crossed her arms slowly, clearly looking ready to fire back with a sharp reply.
But after a moment she decided to stay quiet to avoid escalating the situation.
Giriko chuckled softly.
"Let us say that lately Riruka-san has been somewhat… irritated with certain personal matters," he explained calmly. "But please, do not worry."
He gave a small reassuring gesture.
"Give her time."
With that, Giriko resumed walking beside Riruka, continuing down the street past the trio. As he passed Yato, he gave a polite nod.
"I will expect to see you tomorrow, Yasakani-san."
Then he glanced briefly at Tatsuki and Sado.
"And as for you two… I would be honored to serve you a good cup of coffee should you ever have the time to visit our establishment."
With that courteous remark, he continued walking down the softly lit street—Riruka still sulking beside him as the two gradually disappeared further into the distance.
Tatsuki had already started walking again, clearly eager to move on after the somewhat awkward interaction. Sado followed calmly behind her.
But Yato lingered for just a second longer.
His gaze narrowed slightly in thought. 'Wait a second…' A quiet realization surfaced in his mind. 'How did Tatsuki not feel their spiritual energy…?'
Giriko and Riruka had walked right past them.
They weren't even trying to keep much distance.
And yet Tatsuki hadn't reacted at all.
Not even the smallest sign of sensing something unusual.
Given her spiritual awareness, that should have been impossible.
The street stretched ahead, bathed in the fading glow of late afternoon. Tatsuki's voice cut through the silence, urgent and impatient. "Come on, Yato!" she shouted from a distance, halting mid-step when she realized Yato had fallen behind. Sado stood beside her, calm and steady as always, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the pavement.
Yato scratched his cheek slightly as he finally turned and began walking again, each step heavy with thought. He walked slowly toward his friends, his expression clouded with suspicion.
'Could Giriko have used his Fullbring…? He was fiddling with that pocket watch of his, so that must have been it…' The idea unsettled him, but he kept it buried beneath a mask of composure as he drew closer.
The three of them resumed their path together, yet Yato's mind remained distant, consumed by another, darker realization. His thoughts drifted back to the words of Isane, her calm insistence that no assistance was required. But the memory carried weight, a contradiction that gnawed at him.
'Even if Isane said help wasn't necessary… the fact that Unohana herself is coming to the world of the living means something is terribly wrong.'
---
Soul Society, Seireitei – 1st Division Barracks | Captains' Assembly Hall
The vast assembly hall stood in solemn silence. At the center of the room stood Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
His posture was as firm as an ancient pillar, his presence alone enough to command absolute respect. His staff rested lightly against the floor, yet even that small contact seemed to echo with quiet power.
To his right stood a line of captains:
Soi Fon, Retsu Unohana, Byakuya Kuchiki, Shunsui Kyōraku, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
To Yamamoto's left stood: Sajin Komamura, Kenpachi Zaraki and Jūshirō Ukitake. The absence of captains was noticeable.
Three positions remained empty.
Yamamoto's voice broke the silence.
"Before we begin," he said, his tone deep and authoritative, echoing across the chamber, "I would first like to make an announcement."
Every captain remained still, listening.
"Yesterday," he continued, "after a long expedition into the most distant districts of the Rukongai, the Patrol Corps finally returned."
A brief pause followed.
"Without a single casualty."
Even among captains, that statement carried weight.
"That," Yamamoto added, "is no small achievement." His gaze shifted slightly across the room.
"At present, the 3rd, 5th, and 9th Squads remain without captains. This is a situation that cannot be allowed to persist within the Gotei 13."
The atmosphere grew more serious.
"Yesterday, the individual responsible for leading the Patrol Corps was brought before me."
A faint shift in attention passed through the captains.
"I, along with two other captains, evaluated him."
Another pause.
"We found no cause for objection."
The words were simple—but decisive. "Therefore," Yamamoto declared, "I will now present to you the new captain. The one who will succeed Gin Ichimaru. The new Captain of the 3rd Squad of the Gotei 13…"
He turned slightly toward the entrance.
"Shūsuke Amagai. Enter."
The large doors at the far end of the hall slowly opened with a low creak.
A figure stepped inside.
Shūsuke Amagai walked forward at a steady pace.
He was tall, with a somewhat unrefined appearance that contrasted sharply with the composed elegance of captains like Byakuya.
He wore the standard black shihakushō, though a folded piece of paper was tucked loosely into the front of his robes—an odd detail that hinted at a more casual, perhaps even careless personality.
Over it, he wore a long-sleeved captain's haori, the emblem of the 3rd Squad clearly displayed across his back.
His blue hair fell messily across his forehead, and a light, unshaven beard gave him a slightly rough, laid-back look.
But what truly stood out— Was what he carried.
Two zanpakutō.
One resembled a kodachi, its olive-green hilt paired with a bronze, bow-shaped tsuba. It rested in a red sheath, hanging from the left side of his waist.
The other was smaller. Unusual. It did not resemble a typical katana at all and was stored in a wide white sheath, suspended at his right side. That detail alone was enough to draw subtle attention from several captains.
As Amagai walked further into the hall, he could feel it—
The weight of their gazes.
Each captain observing him.
Judging.
Measuring.
For the briefest moment, his confidence wavered. He glanced around, just slightly.
Then stopped at the center of the room.
"Ah…" He hesitated. A small, awkward pause. "I'm… Amagai."
Not exactly the most refined introduction.
"I'll do everything I can," he continued, straightening slightly. "I'm still a newcomer, but… it's a pleasure to meet you all."
His tone carried sincerity— But also a trace of unease.
A sharp contrast to the overwhelming presence of the captains surrounding him.
Yamamoto gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
It was enough.
Shūsuke Amagai reacted immediately, straightening his posture before moving without hesitation. His footsteps echoed softly against the polished wooden floor as he took his place to Yamamoto's left, positioning himself beside Sajin Komamura.
Standing there among the captains, Amagai's presence still felt… new.
Komamura remained still, offering only a brief sideways glance—acknowledging the newcomer without words.
Once Amagai had settled into position, the room fell silent again.
"Now," Yamamoto spoke, turning his head slightly to the right. "We will begin this meeting."
His voice carried authority that filled every corner of the chamber. "A matter has arisen."
A brief pause.
"Two days ago, following the conflict that occurred within the Valley of Screams…" At the mention of that place, a subtle tension rippled through the room. "…a series of unusual events has begun occurring within the Dangai."
The captains remained attentive.
"According to reports," Yamamoto continued, "many souls passing through the Dangai are failing to reach their intended destination."
That alone was enough to raise concern.
The Dangai—the Precipice World—was meant to be a controlled passage between realms.
If something there was interfering with the flow of souls…
It threatened the balance itself.
A low, intrigued chuckle broke the silence.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi stepped forward slightly, his grin widening in unsettling curiosity.
"I conducted several precautionary analyses within the Dangai," he said, his voice sharp with interest. "Yet, I detected no structural changes… nor anything directly linking it to the Valley of Screams."
He tilted his head, fingers twitching slightly as if already dissecting the mystery in his mind.
"Which is precisely what makes this so… fascinating." His eyes gleamed. "After all, we all still retain our memories of that incident, do we not?"
A subtle shift passed through the captains.
"It is common knowledge," Mayuri continued, "that once the Shinenju disappears, all memories and events connected to it vanish from existence."
He smiled wider. "And yet… here we are." A pause.
"This leads me to a rather hypothesis…" His voice dropped slightly. "That the Shinenju girl may not have disappeared at all."
A heavier silence followed.
Komamura was the first to speak.
"Are you suggesting," he asked, his deep voice steady, "that the Shinenju could be involved in these current events?"
Mayuri waved a hand dismissively.
"I find that unlikely," he replied. "There have been no reports of Blanks gathering, nor any formation of a new Valley of Screams within the Dangai." His tone was analytical.
Detached.
"But that does not eliminate the anomaly."
Jūshirō Ukitake stepped slightly forward, concern evident in his expression. "That doesn't change the fact that something is happening within the Dangai," he said quietly. "And if souls are being delayed—or worse—then this could escalate quickly."
At that moment, Retsu Unohana spoke.
"I will personally investigate the situation," she said.
Her tone was gentle.
Yet absolute.
The room seemed to grow stiller at her words.
"It is true that these souls are not reaching the Soul Society," she continued. "However, there is no evidence suggesting they have been removed from the cycle of reincarnation." She paused briefly. "I have also received reports that some of them have been seen injured."
That detail shifted the atmosphere. "If that is the case," Unohana added, "then many of them may still be trapped within the Dangai… in need of assistance."
Komamura frowned slightly. "Would it not be too dangerous," he asked, "to send both the captain and lieutenant of the 4th Division into such an unstable environment?"
Unohana turned her gaze toward him.
Her expression remained calm.
"It would be far more reckless," she replied softly, "to send inexperienced personnel into a place as unstable as the Dangai." Even without raising her voice, there was no room for argument.
At the center of the room, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood in silence for a moment.
His eyes closed briefly as he weighed every detail.
Then—
"I will assign the investigation of the Shinenju to Captain Kurotsuchi." His decision was immediate. "Determine whether the Shinenju has truly disappeared… or if it remains a threat to the balance of the worlds. As for the incidents within the Dangai…" Yamamoto's gaze shifted toward Unohana. "I entrust that responsibility to Captain Unohana."
A brief pause.
"But proceed with caution." His voice hardened slightly. "We do not yet know whether these events are connected to Sōsuke Aizen… or something else entirely."
The weight of that possibility settled heavily over the room.
Whatever was happening— It was far from ordinary.
---
World of the Living
Farther down the street, several blocks away from where Yato, Sado, and Tatsuki now walked, Giriko and Riruka continued their own slow pace through the quiet neighborhood, their footsteps echoed faintly against the pavement.
After a few seconds of silence, Giriko calmly reached into his pocket again.
He retrieved the polished pocket watch he had checked earlier.
Click.
The lid opened with a soft metallic sound.
He studied the hands of the watch for a brief moment. "Exactly five minutes," Giriko said in his composed, measured voice.
Riruka glanced sideways at him, clearly still annoyed.
"For those five minutes," Giriko continued, "our spiritual energy could not be detected while we maintained what appeared to be a friendly conversation."
He closed the watch again with another precise click and slid it neatly back into his pocket.
"Riruka-san," he added calmly, "you should try to be a bit more sociable in situations like that."
Riruka immediately threw her hands into the air in frustration.
"This is such a pain!" she snapped.
Her boots scuffed the pavement slightly as she walked.
"Why do we even have to keep watching that idiot?" she complained. "Everything would be way simpler if he'd just call already!"
Her voice carried the impatience of someone who hated waiting.
"If he just made the call," she continued, "then everything would be settled. He'd start learning Fullbring, and we wouldn't have to keep pretending with this stupid job."
Giriko listened without interrupting.
His calm expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Everything has its proper time, Riruka-san," he replied patiently.
"Trying to force things before the right time always leads to severe consequences." His tone remained polite and composed. "It is no different from my Fullbring."
He placed a hand lightly against his coat pocket where the watch rested.
『Time Tells No Lies』
The name left his lips quietly, almost reverently.
"Handing over Xcution's contact card to Yasakani-san so early was reckless, Riruka-san," he said, his tone measured, almost like a teacher correcting a student. "I understand your frustration with him for not reaching out to us, but you must also recognize that people act in different ways. Patience is a weapon as sharp as any blade. Let time flow at its own pace while we continue to observe."
Then he continued walking as if discussing something entirely ordinary.
"Remember," Giriko continued, his voice now lower, more deliberate, "our duty does not revolve solely around Yasakani-san and Ichigo Kurosaki. They are important, yes, but they are only pieces of a much larger puzzle." he added, glancing forward down the street
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"We must uncover the reason why so many Fullbringers have begun appearing suddenly in this city. And more than that—we must guide them properly." He paused briefly.
"Just like the three young ones who visited our establishment two days ago."
Riruka's expression shifted slightly at that reminder.
The quiet street stretched ahead of them as the two continued walking through the night, their conversation fading into the distant hum of Karakura Town.