As night approached, Tsunayoshi's house was still bustling with noise and excitement.
After learning that the Shinigami of the Seireitei had all come to Tsunayoshi's house, Ichigo and the others decisively decided to hold a party there. Tomorrow was a day off anyway. Even Little Shiro, who had gone to visit the Kurosaki household, was dragged back by Isshin together with his family.
After friendly negotiations between Yachiru, Rangiku, and Tatsuki, Tsunayoshi's house had become the temporary base of the Shinigami Women's Association in the World of the Living.
Tsunayoshi had no objection to this result. After all, only he and Tatsuki lived in the house, and it was perfectly fine if Yachiru and the others wanted to come over and play.
As for Nozomi Kujō, Tatsuki's new friend, she naturally became Yachiru and the others' new friend as well, even though this was something Yachiru had unilaterally declared.
To celebrate this happy event, the Sawada family's first barbecue party was promptly held. After changing into the Gigai delivered by Kisuke Urahara, the Shinigami could also enjoy proper pleasures of the World of the Living.
With Ichigo and the others arriving, Tsunayoshi's house became completely lively. Even Yamamoto, who usually looked rigid and old-fashioned, merely sat calmly in a corner drinking tea, without disturbing the young people's clamor.
Naturally, drunkards like Kyōraku, Rangiku, and Isshin gathered together. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Yoruichi, those two terrifying social butterflies, wandered everywhere, lighting up the atmosphere wherever they went.
Amid this noise, there would always be someone who did not quite fit in.
After politely meeting everyone and silently filling her stomach, Nozomi climbed up onto the roof of Tsunayoshi's house alone.
She still could not adapt to this kind of atmosphere.
Just the day before, she had been caught between life and death. Yet now, everything was warm and beautiful. She did not think she had the right to enjoy this moment of gentleness like the people downstairs.
Most people would not notice the disappearance of the party's supposed guest of honor. Nozomi was merely the excuse for their joy.
Just as Yamamoto and the others did not care what serious damage Inaba and his group might cause to Soul Society, the Shinigami treated Nozomi Kujō, one of the central figures of this incident, normally as well. They did not bring out that usual approach of detaining and protecting her.
It was precisely this attitude from the Shinigami that left Nozomi suddenly lost. She did not know what she should do.
Originally, Nozomi had even planned to find a Dangai that no one could control and exile herself there. In the end, she had not expected the Shinigami of Soul Society to be completely unconcerned about whether she would be captured by Inaba.
Or perhaps, even if Nozomi were captured by Inaba, the Shinigami were confident they could deal with the power that would emerge after the two fused. That was the perspective they had gained after witnessing the world-shaking power of Tsunayoshi and Yamamoto.
No matter how strong the enemy was, as long as they could not shake the foundation of Soul Society, there was nothing to fear. There would always be someone capable of handling the aftermath.
That was why the Shinigami had such an attitude. They did not care at all whether Nozomi stayed or left. Everyone was merely a friend met by chance. If she wanted to be alone, no one would mind.
Tsunayoshi, who had just finished grilling a batch of meat, glanced at the roof without leaving a trace. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked at his girlfriend. Tatsuki had already been plied with enough alcohol by that wicked woman Rangiku that she was starting to get tipsy.
There was no helping it. Since it was his girlfriend's decision, Tsunayoshi would support it to the end.
He quietly handed the barbecue station over to the meticulous Uryū, then took two cans of juice from the fridge and walked toward the roof.
What Tsunayoshi did not know was that his glance at Tatsuki had, by pure coincidence, been noticed by Rangiku, who was only pretending to be muddled.
After watching Tsunayoshi's back disappear indoors, Rangiku's face revealed a smile full of anticipation for drama.
"Little Tatsuki, do you want to know what Tsunayoshi went off to do?" Rangiku whispered beside Tatsuki's ear.
"Hm? Tsunayoshi…"
Tatsuki was already somewhat dazed. How could she be a match for a veteran drinker like Rangiku? In a muddled voice, she said, "I do!"
"Come on, let's secretly go take a look. Maybe he's having a secret meeting with that new little beauty."
Hearing this, Tatsuki immediately sobered up a little. Hugging Rangiku's arm, she whispered, "Let's go!"
On the roof, Nozomi Kujō's face was suddenly chilled by something icy. She instinctively shrank back, only to see that the culprit was a can of juice. When she looked up, she discovered it was Tsunayoshi.
Nozomi carefully accepted the juice and heard Tsunayoshi ask, "You're full already?"
"I'm full."
Nozomi Kujō's voice was as faint as a whisper. In the noisy environment downstairs, it would definitely have been difficult to hear what she was saying.
Tsunayoshi did not ask anything else. He simply sat down beside Nozomi on his own, opened his juice, and drank. After spending so much time by the grill, he urgently needed to replenish fluids.
Nozomi froze awkwardly. She did not know why Tsunayoshi had come to find her. It seemed there was nothing left on her that was worth Tsunayoshi's attention.
After the lively commotion downstairs and after speaking confidently with Tatsuki, Nozomi knew that Tsunayoshi was very strong. So strong that everyone downstairs held some degree of respect for him. So strong that he did not care about Inaba's schemes at all.
After hesitating for a long time, Nozomi finally asked, "Why? Why did you save me?"
Tsunayoshi understood what Nozomi meant.
With his strength, saving her had been unnecessary. Whether yesterday or now, this girl had always been out of place among everyone else, as though she had been abandoned by the world.
"There's no particular reason. I wanted to save you, so I did. Any normal person wouldn't just leave you collapsed alone in the rain at night, right?" Tsunayoshi explained.
"I'm sorry. I brought trouble to you," Nozomi said.
It was because of her that Inaba had come to Tsunayoshi's house looking for someone.
"Don't blame everything on yourself. And don't pay too much attention to that clown Inaba. Choose a happier way to live. You still have a long life waiting for you."
"Life…"
The future was a foreign concept to Nozomi Kujō. She had never thought she would have a future. Was a happy life something she could possess too?
Once this was mentioned, Nozomi became even more lost. She could not find the meaning of continuing to live. Whether she worked hard or not, the Shinigami would always be able to deal with Kagerōza Inaba's matter.
Seeing Nozomi like this, Tsunayoshi sighed helplessly. Compared to comforting others, he much preferred being a spectator who watched the fun from the sidelines.
"Life doesn't always have meaning. Just find a reason to keep living. Is there anything you're interested in? Something you want to do but haven't done before? A dream, maybe…"
One reason after another to keep living came out of Tsunayoshi's mouth.
No matter what, the most important thing was to first pull this girl out of the dispirited state of wanting to give up on herself.
"No… There's nothing I want to do… and I don't have any dreams either…"
Nozomi stared at the lively scene below. Hugging her knees with both arms, she watched in a daze, recalling the people she had met today. They were very happy and very wonderful.
But that beauty did not belong to her.
Tsunayoshi knew that if he did not open up a little today, he really would not be able to comfort Nozomi Kujō.
"I don't really have anything I want to do either. I don't have a dream either."
"When I first came to this world, I was just as lost as you are now. I thought I could simply follow the normal path and be a rich young master. In the end, that was just my own delusion."
"But what made me better off than you was that I had parents who loved me. They were the ones who accompanied me through those lost years. Later, I met companions like Tatsuki and Ichigo. Gradually, I figured out what I wanted to do."
"To protect what I have. To protect my everyday life. For that, I can give everything. Even now, I still don't really have a dream. Protecting their smiles is what I want to do most."
Nozomi widened her eyes and looked at Tsunayoshi.
She never would have imagined that such words would come from the mouth of someone powerful. There was no talk of ruling the world, no desire to become the strongest. Protecting his daily life was the motivation that had driven Tsunayoshi forward all this time.
After finishing his juice, Tsunayoshi smacked his lips. His body was still demanding water. He stood up, stretched, and said, "I'll give you a saying. It was said by a man I deeply respect, and it's also the creed I've followed all the way here."
"I don't have a dream. But I can protect other people's dreams."
After saying that, Tsunayoshi turned and left.
Comforting others was still too difficult for him. Once Tatsuki sobered up, he would leave it to her.
"No dream… protecting dreams…"
Nozomi murmured softly. She looked at the beautiful scene below in a daze.
Tsunayoshi's words automatically transformed in her ears.
She did not have this beauty, but she could protect the beauty of others.
It seemed…
She had found a goal that would allow her to keep living.
Nozomi Kujō's gaze gradually became firm. For the sake of this world, she could give up her own life and future. Perhaps that, too, was a form of protection.
"Tsunayoshi…"
Just as Tsunayoshi came down from the roof, he ran into Tatsuki and Rangiku, who had been peeking from around a corner.
Compared to Rangiku's somewhat embarrassed smile, Tatsuki, catalyzed by alcohol, had tears in her eyes and could barely control herself.
Tatsuki had never heard what had driven Tsunayoshi forward all this time. Now that she had heard it, she only wanted to hold him tightly and give him the warmest embrace.
"All right, it's okay. How about going back to your room and resting?"
Tsunayoshi comforted Tatsuki while asking softly.
Just as Tatsuki was about to agree, a strange Reiatsu suddenly came from Nozomi Kujō's direction.
Nozomi had made her decision.
And what answered her was the power hidden deep within her heart.
An Asauchi appeared amid the glow of Reishi, floating in front of Nozomi Kujō.
Holding the Zanpakutō in both hands, Nozomi Kujō's clothing also changed. White thigh-high socks, a short-skirt Shihakushō, and a look filled with youthful energy.
Nozomi and Kagerōza Inaba had originally been two halves split from Yushima Ōko's power.
Nozomi had possessed a Zanpakutō from the beginning. After making her decision, she reclaimed the Zanpakutō that belonged to her. That Shihakushō was the best proof.
Although it was somewhat more revealing compared to Soul Society's traditional style, there was no doubt that it was a Shihakushō.
Zanpakutō and Shihakushō.
Both proved that, at this moment, Nozomi had become a Shinigami.
As for her Zanpakutō's ability, it was Arazome Shigure, one half of Yushima Ōko's Zanpakutō, Sumitsukigasa.
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