It was impossible for Shiraha to lend money, but helping Hirako Shinji transfer into any school he wanted was something he could accomplish with trivial ease. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he watched Hirako Shinji's expression shift between embarrassment and forced nonchalance. The exchange between Shinji and Urahara Kisuke made everything clear. Shinji had come to Urahara for money again. It was hardly the first time, and likely would not be the last. In the original course of events, Shinji had been able to slip into Ichigo's school with Urahara's assistance, another simple manipulation involving Hypnosis. For Shiraha, such an arrangement required less effort than raising a hand.
"Shiraha-kun, I'll leave it to you then."
Shinji's carefree grin returned the moment Shiraha agreed. He hadn't expected such an easy acceptance. Their relationship with Shiraha wasn't exactly deep; the only real contact came when Muguruma Kensei had clashed with Shiraha during his last visit to the Human World.
"Let's go. I'll arrange your enrollment now." Shiraha's smile was effortless.
"Oh, Tessai Hachigen told me to greet you."
Shinji paused at the doorway to call back to Tessai Tsukabishi.
Hachigen, formerly the deputy chief of the Kidō Corps, had served directly under Tessai. After the Hollowfication incident, he had been living with the Vizards but still occasionally visited Tessai in person.
"I understand." Tessai's deep voice carried both warmth and restraint.
Shiraha, holding Yoruichi in his arms, placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder, invoked the spell Ao, and vanished.
---
In Class 3 of Karakura High's first-year division, Kurosaki Ichigo sat at his desk surrounded by Ishida Uryu, Inoue Orihime, and Sado Yasutora. The four formed a small, tightly knit orbit. Keigo Asano watched from a distance, heartbreak painted across his face, convinced Ichigo and the others had abandoned him.
"Kurosaki, have you noticed anything unusual these past few days?" Ishida asked, nudging his glasses up with a composed but perceptive gaze.
Ever since Ichigo's training, the previous Hollow incident hadn't reappeared.
"No. It feels like it disappeared," Ichigo answered, wearing a light expression.
In truth, the Hollow's voice still echoed inside him, slipping into his mind when he least expected it. But seeing Uryu and the others already worried enough, Ichigo kept the truth buried.
"Is that so?"
Ishida's eyes glinted, sharp and unconvinced, but he pressed no further. He knew Ichigo was lying to protect them from needless anxiety.
"Ichigo, why hasn't Teacher Shiraha been at school lately?" Arisawa Tatsuki approached, confusion creasing her forehead. She and the others had even asked Ochi Miyuki about it, but not even the homeroom teacher knew Shiraha's whereabouts.
"Well, Shiraha-sensei only teaches an elective. His class just hasn't come up yet."
Ichigo scratched at his hair, improvising with ease.
"I see." Tatsuki accepted the explanation after a moment. Shiraha's elective didn't require daily attendance, so his absence was nothing strange.
"Hey, Ichigo, tell us how did Shiraha-sensei save you before?"
Kojima Mizuiro leaned forward, curiosity bright in his eyes.
They all knew Shiraha had saved Ichigo, but details were scarce, and out of respect for their teacher, no one pried too deeply.
"Well… this…"
Ichigo's eyes darted toward Ishida for help. Ishida immediately buried himself in a book, pretending not to exist. As for Orihime and Sado, Ichigo didn't even consider asking them one wrong sentence from either of them and the situation would spiral out of control.
"Alright everyone, back to your seats," Miyuki Ochi's voice cut through the chatter as she entered the room. Shiraha followed right behind her, Yoruichi cradled comfortably in his arms.
Ichigo and his friends exchanged puzzled looks. The rest of the class hurried back to their desks.
"Everyone's here, great. Today we have a new transfer student, a relative of Teacher Shiraha."
Ochi Miyuki smiled as murmurs spread through the room.
After arriving at the school, Shiraha had once again used Hypnosis on the principal, crafting a flawless identity for Hirako Shinji as Shiraha's relative who had just transferred in.
"Wow, a relative of Shiraha-sensei?"
"No wonder he came today!"
"I wonder what they look like. They must be good-looking!"
The classroom buzzed with excitement.
"Mr. Shiraha's relative? Kurosaki, did you know about this?" Ishida asked, still baffled. Shiraha was from Soul Society how could he have relatives here?
"…No idea. I've never heard him mention anything like that." Ichigo whispered back, equally confused. Renji had told him clearly: Shiraha and Rukia were from the noble Kuchiki clan. They couldn't possibly have relatives living in the Human World.
"Alright, quiet down. New student, come in."
Ochi opened the door.
"Yes!"
Hirako Shinji strode in with his typical careless energy.
"Ochi-sensei, I'll leave things to you. I'm heading out."
Shiraha nodded politely and stepped into the hall with Yoruichi.
"Teacher Shiraha, are you free this weekend? Maybe we could get dinner?"
Ochi Miyuki hurried after him, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with uncharacteristic nervousness.
"I might not have time. Perhaps next time."
Shiraha offered a polite decline. Ochi's features weren't unpleasant, but she simply didn't match his tastes.
"Alright… next time then."
Her disappointment was obvious as she returned to class.
---
The system's voice rang out within Shiraha's mind.
Successful sign-in. Reward granted: Dior template progress increased by ten percent.
First Template: Fujitora Issho Template – one hundred percent.
Second Template: Gojo Satoru Template – one hundred percent.
Third Template: Dio Brando Template – fifty percent.
Abilities unlocked: Perfect Immortality, Perfect Regeneration, Intermediate Hypnosis, Advanced Transformation—currently limited to targets with less than one-tenth of the Host's Reiatsu. After transformation, the Host may grant them portions of his abilities without diminishing his own power and may revoke those abilities at any time.
Exclusive Ability: Time Stop, intermediate level. Capable of stopping time for four seconds while moving freely within the frozen world. Cooldown: twenty minutes. Range: equivalent to the breadth of the Soul Society.
The voice faded, leaving Shiraha standing still for a moment, the echo of new power settling into his body like a second heartbeat.