Assessment in Progress (1)

Shinji Hirako and his companions were hiding in the fire escape of an office building, each wearing a different expression.

Kensei Muguruma paced back and forth in the cramped space, frantic as an ant on a hot pan. "What's there to discuss? Liu Ziyun must have run into trouble! Let's just go over there!"

He stopped and looked at the others. "With what he's capable of—his little bit of healing ability—he can barely protect himself! If we don't help, he might not hold out until the captains arrive!"

His words were heartfelt, full of brotherly concern.

But after hearing him out, Shinji Hirako gave him a look as if he were an idiot. "Kensei, did a Hollow kick you in the head?"

Kensei Muguruma: "...Huh?"

Shinji Hirako began counting on his fingers. "First, you say Liu Ziyun can't hold out until the captains arrive—but can you guarantee you'll get there faster than they will?"

Kensei Muguruma: "...No."

"Second, the captains went there using Shunpo. What about us? Are we going to run? By the time you get there, it'll be far too late!"

Kensei Muguruma: "...Good point."

"Third, Liu Ziyun specifically warned us to keep our distance from him so we wouldn't draw the nobles' attention. If you go over there now, are you trying to get the nobles to come after us along with him?"

Shinji Hirako paused, his tone serious. "When that happens, will the captains help him or us?"

Kensei Muguruma opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi cut in from the side. "Actually... I don't think there's any need to worry about him."

Everyone looked at him.

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi scratched his curly hair. "You might not know this... but Liu Ziyun is really strong."

He paused, then added, "Last time, in the Trial Grounds, when Captain Kyōraku came to rescue us, my team members and I were about to be killed by a Menos Grande's Cero."

He recalled the scene. "At that critical moment, Liu Ziyun and Captain Kyōraku rushed over—and guess what happened?"

He looked at the others. "Liu Ziyun didn't even use an incantation. He raised his hand, cast an Enkōsen, and stopped the Menos Grande's Cero in its tracks!"

When he finished, the place fell deathly silent.

A few seconds later—

"What?!" Shinji Hirako's eyes went wide. "An Enkōsen without an incantation?! And it stopped a Menos Grande's Cero?!"

Kensei Muguruma was dumbfounded too. "Wait... isn't that guy unable to even memorize an incantation?! How could he possibly cast without one?!"

Love Aikawa looked thoughtful. "Maybe... it's precisely because he couldn't memorize the incantations that he practiced so hard at casting without them?"

Kensei Muguruma slapped his thigh. "Damn! That makes a lot of sense!"

Shinji Hirako rolled his eyes. "Like hell it does! He doesn't even know the incantations, so how could he start practicing casting without them? That's a more advanced technique, you know?!"

He paused and scratched his head. "Looks like... he's been hiding even more than we thought."

He looked at Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi. "Why didn't you tell us something so important?"

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi looked innocent. "Didn't I? I thought I did..."

Everyone: "..."

Just how unreliable is this guy?!

Shinji Hirako sighed. "Forget it. Since he's been hiding so much of his strength, we really don't need to worry about him."

He looked out the window. "Besides... he must have had his reasons for specifically warning us to keep our distance."

He paused. "Let's continue the assessment. Hopefully, he'll... be all right."

Despite his words, a trace of worry still flashed in his eyes.

After all...

This time, their opponents were nobles.

Meanwhile, at the scene of the car accident.

When Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku arrived using Shunpo, the sight before them left them both stunned.

There was no battle, no injured people, no tense atmosphere.

There was only—

Liu Ziyun, holding a cup of milk tea and sitting cross-legged on a bench by the road, watching the rescue workers deal with the accident with great interest.

He looked as relaxed as if he were watching a movie.

Unohana's eyes slowly narrowed to slits.

"Well, well... having a relaxing time, are we?"

Her voice was gentle, but the chill in her words made Liu Ziyun shiver.

"You shouted 'save them'... who were you saving?"

Liu Ziyun jolted, hurriedly threw away his milk tea, and sprang to his feet. "C-Captains! You're here!"

He pointed at the damaged tire and said with a perfectly straight face, "Come take a look! That tire seems to have been slashed by a Soul Reaper with a Zanpakuto!"

He paused and added, "There's still a Soul Reaper's Reiatsu on the cut!"

Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku exchanged a glance and walked over to the tire.

A closer look confirmed it—the cut was neat, clearly made by a sharp weapon. And there really was a faint trace of Reiatsu left on it.

Shunsui Kyōraku frowned. "How did you find this?"

Liu Ziyun had already prepared an explanation. "I was patrolling nearby and thought that since there were so many people here, I might encounter a Plus. Then I suddenly heard a loud bang—there had been a car accident."

He paused. "I thought that if anyone had died, I might encounter a Plus, so I came over to take a look."

He pointed at the tire. "Then I sensed... what seemed to be a Soul Reaper's Reiatsu. I took a closer look and found that the tire had been slashed by a Zanpakuto."

He looked at the two captains, his expression "serious." "Don't Soul Reaper regulations forbid interfering with the World of the Living? If a Soul Reaper did this... that's a serious matter!"

He paused and added, "And I couldn't find any Soul Reapers at the scene, so I hurried to call you over to take a look. Also... could you save those humans who are close to dying? A Soul Reaper caused this mess, after all..."

His words were well reasoned and heartfelt.

If they hadn't seen how relaxed he had looked just now, the two captains might almost have believed him.

Shunsui Kyōraku began sensing the Reiatsu around them.

Sure enough, there were several traces of Soul Reaper Reiatsu left behind—all unfamiliar, and their owners had already fled.

He looked at Liu Ziyun. "Those people... should have already escaped."

He paused. "Leave this to Captain Unohana and me. You... go on with your assessment task."

Liu Ziyun nodded and was just about to leave when, suddenly—

"Wait!"

As if he had remembered something, his eyes lit up. "Right! Captains, I saw a suspicious place last night!"

He paused. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that I think about it... something seemed off."

He looked at the two captains. "How about... you come take a look with me?"

Shunsui Kyōraku and Unohana exchanged a glance, each seeing the same thought in the other's eyes—

What has this kid found now?

"All right." Shunsui Kyōraku nodded. "Let's take a look."