Rukia's message came very timely.
Previously, perhaps because the two worlds were on different planes, the birthplaces of humans from the Demon Slayer world who traveled to Soul Society were completely random and unpredictable.
Because of this, it was incredibly difficult for Shinigami to quickly locate those deceased humans.
Even Yoriichi himself only found Shinazugawa Sanemi after they had settled down and reported their names.
If they were in the seventy-something or eighty-something districts, which are unmanaged areas, even if they lived there for decades, Yoriichi might not have received any news.
Now knowing Gyomei Himejima's location, Yoriichi immediately dispatched people to act.
Not long after, several Shinigami saw Gyomei Himejima and explained their purpose.
At that time, Gyomei Himejima was cleaning his room.
Seeing the Shinigami appear and hearing their words, he was silent for a few seconds, then gently shook his head and slowly said:
"I am truly sorry, but I have no intention of becoming a Shinigami at this time."
"I am very grateful for Tsugikuni-senpai's high regard, and I understand that this opportunity is hard-won..."
"But I cannot leave here."
"I made a promise to that young man..."
Gyomei Himejima was a man of his word; he had promised Kira Iziru that he would help look after the house while Kira Iziru was away.
And he himself could use this time to interact with the surrounding residents to quickly integrate into Soul Society.
Currently, Gyomei Himejima was not even clear about the composition of this place.
Rashly becoming a Shinigami and breaking his promise was truly not within his consideration.
It was better to patiently wait for that young man to return before making further plans...
...
Principal's Office.
Upon learning of Gyomei Himejima's choice, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's face showed a look of understanding, and he gently nodded.
Regardless of the reason for Gyomei Himejima's death, as a monk, it was highly unlikely that he harbored resentment in his heart.
So, upon arriving in this new world, it was difficult for him to immediately find his life's purpose.
Shinazugawa Sanemi was purely because of his fiery temper and witnessing his brother's death before his eyes that he made such a decisive choice.
Thinking of this, Yoriichi Tsugikuni summoned Kira Iziru.
Kira Iziru was a relatively thin child, and his personality appeared quite shy due to rarely interacting with others.
His light yellow hair fell down, covering one side of his left eye.
Seeing Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the Principal, he slightly lowered his gaze, and his voice unconsciously became much softer, with a hint of cautiousness, asking:
"Principal, did you call for me?"
Yoriichi's tone was calm, and he did not engage in excessive small talk with him.
After Kira Iziru, with some restraint, cautiously sat down, he directly cut to the chase.
He first asked Kira Iziru how long he had known Gyomei Himejima, then how much Kira Iziru understood about Gyomei Himejima,
and finally, whether he had learned anything from him.
"Learned anything?" This question made Kira Iziru frown; was that monk really that strong?
Even the Principal thought he could be his teacher?
Unfortunately, it was only their first meeting today.
Their conversation lasted less than ten minutes before they hastily parted ways because the opening ceremony was about to begin...
Recalling the reason for leaving, Kira Iziru gently exhaled and replied:
"Reporting, Principal, do you know that monk?"
"I haven't learned anything from him, I don't even know where he's from."
"He just said he wanted a place to stay..."
"So you gave him your house?" Yoriichi countered, his hands clasped, his tone still steady,
"Kira, I do know him; he is a companion of mine."
"For you to meet him is both his fortune and yours."
"After all, in Rukongai, a purely good person is very rare."
"Before I called you here, I had already sent people to contact him, and he has no intention of leaving. What are your thoughts?"
What thoughts could I have? Kira Iziru sighed inwardly, already feeling pressured by the Principal.
During their school days, everyone seemed to have had such an experience, always feeling that the school leaders were very serious, as if they possessed an invisible authority that made people dare not easily offend them...
Sitting face to face with Yoriichi Tsugikuni at this moment, Kira Iziru found it difficult even to look up.
He unconsciously clenched his hands tightly and whispered:
"I... I have no thoughts."
"It's all up to you, Principal."
Since the Principal said he was a good person, then he must be a good person.
Kira Iziru really didn't want to get too entangled in this matter, only hoping that this tense conversation would end quickly.
Kira Iziru's answer clearly satisfied Yoriichi.
He gently nodded, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, as if everything was already within his expectations:
"Hmm, I see, I understand. Then let's handle it according to the rules of Rukongai."
"Kira, how old are you this year?"
"I heard your parents have passed away. So, are you interested in having him become your family?"
At these words, Kira Iziru felt as if he had been struck by a sudden bolt of lightning.
He abruptly looked up, his previously somewhat orderly thoughts instantly becoming chaotic, and he couldn't recover for several seconds.
"Eh~!" He instinctively let out a cry of surprise, completely unexpected that things would develop in such a direction...
Become family?
...
...
"Amitabha..."
At the same time, in Rukongai, after Gyomei Himejima finished tidying the house, he began to converse with Kira Iziru's neighbor,
"I see, there's such a rule..."
Gyomei Himejima frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by this newly learned rule,
"Whoever lives in a house must become family with the owner of that household..."
"This humble monk has never known about this before."
The neighbor, hearing his words, looked at him suspiciously:
"Monk, how do you not even know this? Didn't the Shinigami tell you when they distributed the numbered tickets?"
"Numbered tickets?"
Gyomei Himejima frowned slightly again, a hint of confusion on his face.
He had never seen such a thing, so he could only softly chant another Buddhist prayer, his hands still tightly clasped, about to continue explaining...
But the neighbor interrupted:
"Never mind whether they told you or not, I'm telling you, Monk, we've known that child Kira since he was little. You must not bully him."
"His parents died early, and it's only because this is South District Three, where the Public Security is relatively stable, otherwise, he alone wouldn't be able to hold onto such a large house."
"Since you've moved in, you have to be responsible for him."
"But I see you're also alone, so there's nothing wrong with being companions with him. Everyone goes through this."
"How old are you this year?"
The neighbor was a bit garrulous, but in Gyomei Himejima's ears, he felt a strong sense of concern.
This was probably the purpose of the numbered tickets.
Even mere strangers, neighbors they had never met, would try their best to consider things for themselves and for Kira Iziru...
--Simple people.
"Amitabha..."
Gyomei Himejima softly reported his age, not much, just over sixty, which would be considered old in the human world, but in Soul Society...
"So young?"
The neighbor, hearing this, showed obvious surprise, staring at Gyomei Himejima with wide eyes.
They had thought he was over a hundred years old, after all, he looked quite old...
"If he were over a hundred, perhaps he could be that child Kira's father, but you're only sixty-something..."
The neighbor scratched their head, pondered for a moment, then said,
"That child Kira is only sixty this year. At your age, I think you can only be his older brother, Monk, what do you think?"
"If you think it's suitable, when that child Kira comes back, we'll tell him."
"He most likely won't refuse."
"Of course, Kira went to become a Shinigami, so suddenly having an older brother might seem a bit abrupt..."
"Monk, how about a distant relative?"
Gyomei Himejima: "..."
Distant relatives are also family, so there's nothing wrong with that.
Thinking about it carefully, this was much better than being an older brother or similar identity.
Since this was the rule of Soul Society, he would follow local customs.
He wondered how the other Pillars were doing.
Hopefully, nothing unexpected would happen...
Gyomei Himejima silently lowered his head, and the topic of family quickly passed in the neighbor's chatter.
Subsequently, the neighbor enthusiastically began to introduce other aspects of Soul Society.
Gyomei Himejima listened attentively, occasionally asking a few questions...
...
School.
After Kira Iziru left the Principal's office, the complex expression on his face still hadn't faded.
Suddenly having an extra family member...
He had to admit, he was quite surprised, but also quite worried.
Because, from Yoriichi Tsugikuni's words, Kira Iziru knew that Gyomei Himejima was a purely good person who liked kind children.
And his own personality tended to be gloomy... No, to be precise, somewhat pessimistic.
What if he was disliked? What then?
He really wanted to refuse, but this was the rule of Rukongai, and besides, Gyomei Himejima was Principal Tsugikuni's friend.
In a sense, Gyomei Himejima moving into his house might even be him punching above his weight...
Ah, it's a bit annoying, I can only take it one step at a time. I hope my choice is correct...
Kira Iziru was filled with mixed emotions, torn and anxious.
When he returned to the classroom, this expression was noticed by the sharp-eyed Abarai Renji.
Soon after, Renji inquired and learned everything that had happened to him.
Abarai Renji immediately felt a pang of envy.
Having an extra family member, wasn't that a good thing?
Orphans like them couldn't even find a family.
Although Yoriichi took good care of them, in Renji's opinion, that was just pity born out of sympathy.
It was ultimately different from the kind of affection between real family members.
Because of this, Abarai Renji's expression was slightly unusual,
He secretly decided that when he had a day off, he would follow Kira Iziru to his house to see what that monk looked like.
It was said that the person was a master, and he wondered how strong he was, could he give him some pointers?
He felt that the opportunity for him to become stronger might lie with this person...
After all, the other party knew Principal Tsugikuni.
Even if the other party isn't a Shinigami yet.
Given Yoriichi's status as acting principal, he usually doesn't stay long at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
After handling some affairs, Yoriichi returned to the Ninth Division.
As soon as he returned to the division, a lively sound suddenly reached his ears. Following the sound, he saw Ichimaru Gin and Komamura Sajin sparring with swords.
Seeking personal growth through sword sparring is a common occurrence in all divisions.
However, what caught Yoriichi's eye at this moment was not their exhilarating sparring match.
It was...
Kuchiki Sōjun, standing among the onlookers.
"Why are you here?"
After their sparring ended, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stepped forward.
He looked at Kuchiki Sōjun, who had a smile on his face and a relaxed expression, and asked:
"Is something wrong?"
"It should be work hours, shouldn't it?"
As he spoke, Yoriichi Tsugikuni suddenly noticed something unusual.
He looked at the subtle changes in the white haori on Kuchiki Sōjun's body and couldn't help but frown slightly:
"This is… a Captain's haori?"
"That's right."
Seeing that Yoriichi had finally noticed the crucial change on his body, the smile on Kuchiki Sōjun's face deepened.
He gently straightened the haori on his body, his gaze becoming serious, and slowly began:
"My father intends to retire. I came here specifically to inform you of this news. The Captain succession ceremony will be in one week…"
"How about it, Yoriichi, aren't you surprised?"
He wasn't very surprised, but Yoriichi found it strange.
Previously, Kuchiki Ginrei's body seemed quite robust, and by all accounts, he could have lasted for a few more centuries.
Unexpectedly…
Yoriichi Tsugikuni slowly raised his head, his eyes thoughtful, and asked:
"Since you are about to become Captain, who will succeed the Vice-Captain position?"
"Are you planning to hand it over to a branch family of the Kuchiki Clan?"
The Sixth Division currently operates on a hereditary system; both the Captain and Vice-Captain are almost certainly members of the Kuchiki Clan.
Only in this way can power be concentrated, avoiding internal strife.
Furthermore…
After a period of work experience, the Vice-Captain can naturally take over the Captain position when the Captain retires.
This also indirectly saves a lot of effort in re-training.
If it's handed over to a branch family…
As if knowing Yoriichi's thoughts, Kuchiki Sōjun gently shook his head, his tone quite amiable:
"No, I plan to let Byakuya take it."
At this time, the crowd near the two had gradually dispersed as the sparring ended.
Kuchiki Sōjun strolled to a stone chair, slowly sat down, and looked up at Yoriichi, exhaling softly:
"I know very well that Byakuya's talent is superior to mine. This Captain position of mine is only temporary."
"Also, once Father retires, the heavy responsibility of being the head of the Kuchiki Clan, the twenty-eighth generation head, will fall on my shoulders."
"Byakuya is still very young, and as his father, I must pave the way for him…"
At this point, Kuchiki Sōjun's expression gradually became serious from the initial hint of melancholy.
He looked at Yoriichi, his words sincere and earnest:
"Yoriichi, I came here not only to tell you this news but also to ask for your help."
"I remember, Miss Hisana should be attending school, right?"
"She's also a member of the Elite Class, and also from a noble family."
"So."
"After she graduates, could she be trained by my Sixth Division?"
Seemingly worried that Yoriichi might misunderstand something, Kuchiki Sōjun paused and added:
"Of course, this is not a request from my son. Although my son admires Miss Hisana, he would not do such an abrupt thing."
"It's just that as a father, and also as the twenty-eighth generation head of the Kuchiki Clan, I hope our two families' relationship can be further deepened."
"After all, you know my experience."
He sighed softly, his eyes slightly lowered, a hint of emotion appearing on his face,
"If I had died decades ago, and if Byakuya had also met with some accident, I'm afraid the Kuchiki Clan would inevitably decline."
"As the saying goes, 'what goes up must come down.' Even setting aside my role as a father, just as the head of the family, I must make ample preparations in advance."
"Yoriichi, you should understand me."
He could understand, after all, Yoriichi himself had experienced it.
However, shouldn't the person involved be the one to decide on such a choice of division?
He could certainly make the decision for Hisana, but what would Hisana think?
His brows slightly relaxed, Yoriichi Tsugikuni walked to Kuchiki Sōjun's side and replied:
"I personally have no objection, but it also depends on whether Hisana herself has any objections."
"Are you telling me this because you want me to ask Hisana for her thoughts?"
"Sort of," Kuchiki Sōjun said, raising his head,
"Choosing a division is the first major decision a Shinigami faces in their life, and Miss Hisana is no exception."
He sat up a little straighter, his tone becoming serious,
"If Miss Hisana is willing to join my Sixth Division, I will directly grant her a Seat Officer position, the kind that leans towards clerical work."
"After all, I am a father. I understand your concerns, and naturally, I won't let her go into danger."
"Regarding this matter, I'll leave it to you."
Kuchiki Sōjun stood up and bowed deeply to Yoriichi. This uncharacteristic and sincere demeanor made Yoriichi unsure how to respond.
He was, after all, one of the Five Great Noble Clans…
Fortunately, the old man named Ginkei wasn't by Kuchiki Sōjun's side.
Otherwise, he might have been furious.
Yoriichi sighed, helplessly saying:
"I understand. I'll help you ask, but if she's unwilling, then there's nothing more I can do."
"There's still a long road ahead; there's no need to view this as the only opportunity."
"I know, but it's always worth a try."
The two continued to discuss some matters for a while longer.
When a member of the Sixth Division appeared outside the Ninth Division's gate, directly asking for the Captain, Kuchiki Sōjun realized it was getting late, so he quickly got up and prepared to leave.
At the same time, he didn't forget to remind Yoriichi not to forget today's agreement.
Yoriichi's expression was complex.
Given Kuchiki Sōjun's personality, he was probably the most easygoing of the noble family heads.
Byakuya…
He wondered how much he resembled him.
On the other side.
Kuchiki Byakuya sat at the dining table, but he seemed somewhat distracted. During dinner, he lost his manners more than once due to daydreaming.
After being reprimanded a few times, he quickly finished eating and returned to his room, filled with sorrow.
Heaven knew how he felt when he learned that Hisana was a Freshman at the Spiritual Arts Academy this year.
He knew that many nobles wanted to establish connections with the Tsugikuni Clan.
Coincidentally, most of the Tsugikuni Clan were female…
Feeling deeply annoyed, Kuchiki Byakuya originally wanted to slam the table to vent.
But as soon as he raised his hand, he stopped himself due to years of self-cultivation.
Taking a deep breath, Kuchiki Byakuya seemed to be trying to calm his emotions, then gritted his teeth, as if he had come to a realization, and decisively stood up.
Bang.
He quickly went to the study, walked directly to his grandfather, his eyes firm, and said straightforwardly:
"Grandpa, I don't want to be a Vice-Captain anymore, I want to enroll!"