Sunlight lazily filtered through the luxurious window frames of the Shihōin Clan, casting mottled shadows on the smooth floor of the quiet room.
Hiroki, who had just made a "tactical retreat" from the pile of tedious documents at the Sixth Division Barracks, was currently slumped without any dignity on his priceless soft couch, feeling the unique coolness and tranquility of the mansion.
Slacking off—that was the true essence of noble life.
However, this tranquility was soon broken.
The door slid open soundlessly, and a tall, athletic figure leaned against the doorframe.
It wasn't Izumi, but that familiar figure with a wild aura—Shihōin Yoruichi.
She seemed to have just returned from the Human World. Her obsidian-smooth long hair was draped loosely, her honey-colored skin gleamed healthily in the light, and her golden-brown cat-like eyes held a hint of mischievous amusement as she looked at the defenseless Hiroki on the couch.
"Ho, Captain Hiroki really is busy with a myriad of affairs," Yoruichi's voice carried its usual lazy banter, her tone rising slightly at the end. "Slinking off home so early?"
Hiroki didn't feel the slightest embarrassment at being caught. He just lazily lifted his eyelids and said in a tone thick with disdain, "Tsk, back so soon? Where's the thing I wanted?"
Yoruichi walked in with silent steps, her gait carrying the lightness and power characteristic of a feline.
She stopped a few paces from the couch. Under Hiroki's slightly wary gaze, she suddenly reached into a hidden pocket of her tight-fitting combat gear and pulled something out.
It was a box about the size of a palm, made of an unknown material. It was entirely black, without any carvings on its surface, possessing only a deep, restrained luster that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
A faint Spiritual Pressure with a peculiar rhythm was vaguely emanating from the box.
"Here," Yoruichi said, her fair, slender fingers pinching the black box as she casually handed it over. "The thing you wanted."
Hiroki's half-closed eyes snapped wide open, his sharp gaze landing on the small black box with physical intensity.
Without much hesitation, he sat up from the couch and reached out to take the box.
The box felt slightly cool and heavy in his hand.
"Is this the 'Hōgyoku'?" Hiroki's voice didn't betray much emotion, but someone familiar with him like Yoruichi could catch a fleeting flash of heat in the depths of his eyes.
His thumb gently rubbed the edge of the lid, and then, with a soft click, he flipped it open.
Inside, a gem the size of a thumbnail lay quietly on a black velvet cushion. It displayed an indescribably magnificent color, neither blue nor purple, more like a teardrop condensed in the deep universe, with countless tiny stars seemingly being born, dying, flowing, and rotating within.
Wisps of extremely pure, highly condensed energy fluctuations, like physical streams, radiated slightly from the core of the gem, causing visible ripples in the air within the small space.
Hiroki leaned in, carefully examining this legendary "Stone of Miracles."
He watched with extreme focus, but his brow furrowed imperceptibly.
"Hmm..." Hiroki let out an ambiguous hum.
This Hōgyoku from Urahara Kisuke, although its appearance, Spiritual Pressure characteristics, and that strange fluctuation aimed directly at the essence of the soul were highly consistent with the projection description provided by the system, but... how should he put it?
He subconsciously measured it with his fingertips through the air.
It felt... a bit smaller than what the system had shown? It was exquisite enough, but this size... the difference seemed a bit obvious?
After looking for a few seconds, Hiroki closed the lid of the black box with a snap.
Most of the fluctuation was immediately cut off by the peculiar material of the box.
He looked up, his face having returned to its usual calm and... a hint of roguishness?
"Not bad," he said in a relaxed tone, as if he had received some worthless candy. "I've received the payment."
He casually stuffed the black box into the inner pocket of his oversized Sixth Division captains haori, the movement natural and smooth, as if it were just an ordinary coin purse.
"Don't worry, I'll return it when I'm done. I, Shihōin Hiroki, always keep my word."
Yoruichi crossed her arms, her golden-brown cat eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized Hiroki like prey. "Hey? You're that confident? Aren't you afraid I'll... regret it halfway? Run off with the stuff?"
Hearing this, Hiroki looked as if he had heard something extremely funny. His lips curled into an arrogant arc, and he leaned back, slumping into the soft couch again, resting his long legs casually on the low table in front of him with a soft "thud."
"Ha?" He let out a short, mocking laugh. "Afraid? Why should I be afraid?" He pointed his thumb at himself in a manner very unbecoming of a noble.
"I'm the master of your house now, okay? I am currently the grand Captain of the Gotei 13's Sixth Division and the Head of the Shihōin Clan, the leader of the Four Great Noble Clans."
Then, he extended his index and middle fingers in a very unrefined gesture, almost like a small middle finger, pointing in the direction of the Human World.
"If he doesn't give it, fine. I'll just take a group of thugs and storm the Human World, finding that run-down shop of his that looks like it'll blow over in the wind! And then..."
He deliberately drew out his words, a malicious glint in his eyes.
"I'll smash all his junk! Throw every little gadget he's researched and treated like a treasure into the sea! And finally... well, I'll beat that face he thinks is so handsome into a pulp!"
Yoruichi: "..."
Even with Yoruichi's carefree and unflappable personality, she couldn't help but fall silent at this moment.
"Ahem," Hiroki cleared his throat, breaking the silence. He urged her in a tone that said 'hurry up and get to the point, I want to go back to being a vegetable':
"I've received the item. Why haven't you left yet?"
Yoruichi was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on (though she was one herself). Her golden-brown vertical pupils snapped toward Hiroki as she replied crossly, "Leave? Why should I leave?"
Hiroki immediately became wary. His body instinctively shrank back, arms crossed in front of his chest, putting on an exaggerated expression of a "chaste man":
"Hey, hey, hey! Yoruichi! What... what else do you want?! I'm warning you! In broad daylight! Under the watchful eyes of the heavens! I'll scream for help!"
Yoruichi was completely speechless at his melodramatic "virtuous husband" reaction. Her mouth twitched violently, and veins seemed to bulge on her forehead.
"...What kind of perverted trash fills your head all day?! Who wants you?! I'm staying to watch—what you're going to use this Hōgyoku for! Although Urahara trusts you, he told me I must confirm your specific usage! You can't be unaware of how dangerous this thing is, right?"
Hiroki's expression relaxed instantly. He rolled his eyes grandly and even patted his chest exaggeratedly. "Whew! Scared the baby to death! You should have just said so! You're just being a supervisor, right? Fine, fine, whatever you want."
"Anyway, it's just some shady business."
Yoruichi: "..."
He got off the couch carelessly, straightening the luxurious and exquisite captains haori that he had worn into a wrinkled mess, and casually brushed the long purple hair draped over his shoulders.
He pointed at Yoruichi: "Old rules, change back!"
"Huh?" Yoruichi was stunned. "Change into what?"
"Nonsense! A cat, of course!" Hiroki had a "are you an idiot" expression. "Are you going to turn into a tree stump instead? Your human form is too conspicuous. Turn into a cat to keep a low profile."
Yoruichi curled her lip: "Tsk, so many demands."
As soon as she spoke, a faint wave of spiritual light flashed. The curvaceous woman was gone, replaced by a black cat with smooth, glossy fur and golden-brown eyes that glinted with cunning in the sunlight.
The black cat flicked its tail elegantly and looked up at Hiroki.
Hiroki nodded with satisfaction, leaned down, and unceremoniously scooped up the black cat Yoruichi.