I Also Have Someone I Like

Yuko narrowed her eyes as she met Yoshino's resolute gaze. "Whether I'm a Soul Reaper depends on how you define one."

"I do possess the power of a Soul Reaper, but it's only power. I have nothing to do with those Soul Reapers in Soul Society."

Yoshino froze for a moment, trying to find a trace of perfunctoriness on Yuko's face.

But deep down, she knew that this woman had no reason to deceive her.

Yoshino lowered her head. Her slender fingers gripped the rim of the cup tightly, her fingertips paling from the force.

Yuko glanced at it. "Don't crush my cup."

"...God, I want to stop him." Yoshino's voice carried a hint of weariness. "Although it sounds like an excuse now, today was actually the first time I've ever absorbed the soul of a living person."

"What do you mean?"

Yuko's cool voice rang out as her fingernail tapped against the cup, producing a crisp sound.

"We Bavents usually only absorb the souls of the dead." Yoshino kept her head lowered. "But Kariya has started absorbing the souls of the living. I want to stop him, and this is the only way."

Yuko's eyes shifted slightly. It didn't sound like a lie.

"So what is his goal?"

"..." After a moment of silence, Yoshino pursed her lips. "When we Bavents absorb the souls of the living, it produces a kind of power."

"Power?"

"Yes. A power that affects space."

"Kariya wants to connect Hueco Mundo and the Human World."

Yuko frowned slightly. "Leaving aside why the difference between dead and living souls would be an effect on space, what does connecting Hueco Mundo and the Human World mean?"

"You Bavents live in the Human World too, don't you?" Yuko looked puzzled. "Or are all of you Bavents a