The Most Beautiful Noble Son of Soul Society... Dropped His Novel

Yoruichi snorted inwardly.

Yesterday had been her first time fully transforming into cat form. She was still unfamiliar with controlling her body, which was why that overly energetic girl, Lieutenant Kyunnan Shiro, had unfortunately caught her and subjected her to inhuman "torment."

After returning, she reflected deeply on the experience. She had maintained her cat form and practiced diligently ever since. Now, she could use roughly half the power of her Flash Step, and she was confident she would never be caught again!

She raised her golden feline eyes toward Siwei Yan. The corners of her mouth seemed to curve upward in an almost human smile, one that was unfathomably smug.

Yan Si simply crouched down, extended a hand, and naturally stroked the black cat's head with gentle movements.

"What a shame. Lieutenant Kyunnan Shiro and Captain Kensei went on an outing together, so they aren't in the division today."

He wore a smile full of "kindness." "If you don't mind, you can play with me instead, okay? I like small animals too."

At just the right moment, Yoruichi let out a soft, adorable cry. "Meow~"

The plan worked! I've infiltrated successfully!

Then, she felt her body grow light as Siwei Yan scooped her straight into his arms.

"Clack—!"

The door shut mercilessly, followed by the sound of a bolt sliding into place.

"Hm?" Yoruichi's heart skipped a beat as an ominous feeling inexplicably rose within her.

Why lock the door? The atmosphere seemed a little off.

Still, her purpose in coming was to uncover Siwei Yan's secrets or find something she could use against him, so she did not panic.

As Yan Si held her, she rolled her golden cat eyes and rapidly scanned the entire room.

It was still an outrageously bare room... Other than basic furniture, there was nothing. Was this guy some kind of ascetic?

Had all the royalties from his serialized novels been exchanged for alcohol and poured down his throat?

Her gaze swept over every corner of the ceiling, floor, and walls.

There were no traces of hidden Reishi formations, no signs of secret compartments... Nothing?

Yoruichi felt slightly disappointed.

She "understood" Yan Si. This guy was extremely vigilant. When he was away, he definitely would not leave his true "secrets" in his room.

But now that he was back, the room was still excessively "clean." Had this trip really been for nothing?

Just then, a handsome face carrying a gentle smile suddenly moved close and instantly filled her entire field of vision.

"Kitty~ Stop looking around and come play with me!"

Siwei Yan fell backward onto the bed, but his arms continued holding her tightly. An almost "obsessed" gentle smile appeared on his face.

The next second, before Yoruichi could react, Yan Si buried his face in the soft fur of her belly and took a hard—

"Sniff—!"

"Meow?!" Wait! What kind of attack was that?!

Immediately afterward, those "sinful" hands began moving all over her without restraint.

Yan Si vigorously kneaded the sleek fur on her back, stroked her sensitive chin and the area behind her ears, and even gently combed through her tail with his fingers!

Bastard! Let go of me! Siwei Yan, you pervert!

Yoruichi began struggling frantically, kicking wildly with all four paws.

But Yan Si held her incredibly tightly, and his technique... strangely carried a trace of damned comfort?!

D-Don't tell me he discovered my real identity? Is he deliberately humiliating me?!

No... That's not right. That look is completely the look someone gives their beloved pet! Could this guy secretly be a cat lover?!

After the initial resistance and the subsequent existential crisis, Yoruichi eventually... stopped thinking.

Forget it... I'm in cat form anyway. No one knows I'm Yoruichi Shihōin... I-I'll just reluctantly enjoy it a little... Mm, that spot feels pretty good...

After an unknown amount of time, Yan Si finally loosened his hold slightly, clearly satisfied. Yoruichi immediately seized the chance, shot out of his arms like lightning, and pounced toward the window without looking back. With a nimble flick of her paw, she opened the latch, then leaped into the night outside with a whoosh, vanishing without a trace.

No matter how one looked at that retreating figure, it carried a hint of panic and humiliation.

Siwei Yan looked at the newly shut window, the corners of his mouth lifting triumphantly.

Hmph, trying to mess with me? I refuse to believe my insane "cat-loving pervert" persona won't scare you off!

Still, jokes were jokes, and he understood that much.

He could not take the joke too far. He would still need to ask the Second Division for help with his writing later.

He happily lay back down on the bed and soon fell into a deep sleep in high spirits.

"Ahh~ Hah—"

In the courtyard of the Ninth Division barracks, Siwei Yan stretched extravagantly without any concern for his image. Sunlight poured over him, warm and cozy.

"What wonderful weather. Perfect for sleeping until I wake naturally, and then... sigh."

He touched his flat coin pouch and lamented, "Sadly, my pockets are empty. I can't even smell the cap of a bottle of Spiritual Intoxication."

"Yan Si, stay exactly where you are. Don't move."

A completely flat voice sounded from behind him.

Siwei Yan froze in the middle of stretching.

He did not even dare turn around. He remained with both arms raised, looking exactly like a strangely shaped street-side statue.

The Ninth Division's Third Seat, Yamagane Tetsu, lived up to his name. His face always looked as if it had been cast from pig iron.

At that moment, he held a drawing board and brush. With Yan Si as his center, he walked in regular circles, his brush producing rapid swish swish swish sounds across the paper.

He circled like that for an entire hour.

Only when the sun seemed to have risen noticeably higher did Yamagane Tetsu finally stop. He examined his artwork and nodded expressionlessly.

"Done."

"Whew—!" Only then did Yan Si dare force out the stale breath he had held in for an hour. His whole body felt stiff.

He twisted his sore neck, looked toward Yamagane Tetsu, and asked helplessly, "Third Seat, are you... drawing a cover for my new novel?"

Yamagane Tetsu nodded, his tone as flat as ever.

"Since this morning, news of the 'Most Beautiful Noble Son of Soul Society' has spread throughout the Seireitei. Since you happened to be at the barracks, I gathered material for a cover."

He paused, his iron-gray eyes turning toward Yan Si as he made a "small" additional request.

"Actually, the ideal situation would be for you to use Shikai, so I can draw another frontispiece illustration."

"Wait!" Yan Si hurriedly raised a hand, stopping Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu from saying anything more dangerous.

His eyes widened, his face full of bewilderment as if asking, "Who am I, and where am I?"

"No... Third Seat, that 'Most Beautiful Noble Son of Soul Society' you just mentioned... what does that have to do with me?"

Yamagane Tetsu's expression did not change in the slightest, as though he were stating a natural law as obvious as water flowing downhill.

He directly pulled out a sheet of paper from the inner layer of his drawing board and handed it to Yan Si.

"Yesterday, you used Shikai at the Central Spirit Arts Academy training grounds. Many people saw it. Someone secretly copied this portrait from a sixth-floor window in the teaching building across from it and sent it over."

Yan Si lowered his head. The drawing showed his silhouette standing amid light snow, holding the Scroll of Wind and Snow.

Though the artist's skill was somewhat immature and the lines slightly blurred, the aloof, ethereal aura of the person in the drawing already leaped from the page.

Siwei Yan: "..."

His mouth twitched as he lifted his head to look at the sky.

He had merely slept until the sun was high before getting up. Why did it feel like the entire world had changed?!

"So," Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu's completely unruffled eyes focused on Yan Si again, carrying an unquestionable persistence, "use Shikai. For art, and for sales."

Yan Si rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

After thinking for a moment, he tried to bargain. "Forget Shikai. It takes too much out of me. How about this, Third Seat? Please add a line to the cover or promotional material."

He cleared his throat, trying to make his expression look more sincere.

"Write this... 'The Most Beautiful Noble Son, Siwei Yan, proudly announces: A stunning new work will be released within five days!' How does that sound?"

Upon hearing this, the brow of Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu's eternally unchanged iron face creased into the faintest arc.

He stared at Yan Si and coldly spat out two words.

"You..."

"Are you dropping another novel!?"

"What do you mean, dropping a novel?! Who are you calling a serial-dropper?!" Yan Si's face flushed red as he angrily retorted.

"This is artistic refinement! The accumulation of inspiration! It is... it is temporarily changing tracks in pursuit of a higher literary realm! Can abandoning a story even be called dropping a novel?!"

Yamagane Tetsu could not be bothered to listen to this excuse, one Yan Si had repeated countless times. He merely stared silently at him with those dead-fish eyes that saw through everything.

The first time I believed you, I was naive.

The second time I believed you, I was sentimental.

This was already the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth time. When had you ever not cut things off cleanly?

To Yamagane Tetsu, a loyal reader who had been victimized countless times, what "Most Beautiful Noble Son of Soul Society" Siwei Yan?

He was clearly a bastard who started stories without finishing them, a shameless serial-dropper who cut down his own work without mercy—a hopeless eunuch!

He snorted coldly, ignored Yan Si's protests, hugged his drawing board, turned around, and left.