Aoto didn't push Toshiro too hard, since this was only a spar.
After sending Red Oni out to fight, Aoto stood to the side and watched.
But Toshiro still had to devote some of his attention to Aoto, so he couldn't focus entirely on dealing with Red Oni.
Under those circumstances, the moment Red Oni struggled free of the lava and leaped out completely, Toshiro lost.
Because... Red Oni could use Flash Step, too.
Or was it Echo Shift?
Red Oni still retained some of the characteristics of a Hollow, so he moved using the Menos Grande's movement technique.
Toshiro was already giving his all just to deal with a Red Oni who was trapped in place, let alone one who could move freely!
Red Oni slapped Toshiro right into the ground!
All right, that settled it. There was a winner!
Red Oni lifted his hand, and Toshiro, soaked from head to toe, staggered out.
The ice covering his body had completely melted, but Red Oni's scorching fists hadn't caused him any further harm. That showed Red Oni had even better control than Toshiro.
Now that was...
But Toshiro was still a little confused.
He'd seen Red Oni before!
Back then, Red Oni had only let Aoto's Zanpakuto fire off scorching blades of light, much like Ganjuro's Zanpakuto.
So how had he suddenly become an independent Red Oni?
"This is his original form!"
Aoto smiled and explained, "The thirty demons inside my sword all originally had exactly the same power. But after I trained them, they gradually developed powers of their own. To make them easier to control, I have them wrap their power around my Zanpakuto without emerging in their true forms."
"Now, I've simply let Red Oni out!"
Simply? He called that simple?
Toshiro was about to roll his eyes out of his head.
His master had turned Shikai into an art... Aside from not multiplying his master's spiritual pressure five or six times over, how was this any different from Bankai?
The more Toshiro saw in the 10th Division, the more he realized how extraordinary his master was.
Other Soul Reapers were grateful just to achieve Shikai, and mastering even one variation took so much effort. But his master seemed to be obsessed with Shikai!
He'd spent hundreds of years honing all kinds of Shikai.
His master could use Bankai, couldn't he? Wouldn't training his Bankai with all that time bring greater rewards?
Toshiro really couldn't understand.
The rest of the training turned into sparring between Toshiro and Red Oni.
Aoto, meanwhile, went to take care of Rukia.
Rukia's biggest problem right now was her lack of confidence.
The main reason for that was Byakuya Kuchiki.
Although she knew her sister had married him, Rukia still couldn't think of Byakuya as family. She could only feel intimidated by him.
And even though Rukia had already learned Shikai, she still hadn't become a Seated Officer.
That was because Byakuya had used a little of the Five Great Noble Families' influence to make sure of it.
Rukia knew that, too, but it had only shattered her confidence even further.
But Aoto thought this was actually a good thing.
Otherwise, Rukia would be busy with all sorts of official duties in the World of the Living. How would she have time to keep training like she did now?
Being able to use Shikai and being able to control it completely were two entirely different things.
The gap in strength was enormous.
Aoto believed Byakuya was doing it for Rukia's own good, but that cold-faced, haughty man would never say so.
And Aoto wasn't going to interfere and ruin things for him... He'd never learned how to be an older brother, and he still had plenty to learn!
Come to think of it, back when he'd read the manga in his previous life, Aoto had always thought Byakuya planned to raise Rukia until she was ready to become his second wife. So when Byakuya had let her marry Abarai so readily, it had really surprised him.
Could Byakuya actually be a siscon?
They trained until dawn before Aoto took Rukia back to the 13th Division.
She'd worked so hard that after unleashing a full-force attack on Aoto, her entire body had given out... So Aoto had carried her back to the 13th Division like a sack of rice.
As he picked Rukia up, Aoto couldn't help thinking... This little girl really had nothing at all!
As soon as he returned to the 13th Division's barracks, he saw Shiba Kaien seeing Shiba Miyako off. She was leading three squad members—a woman and two men—out together.
It seemed they were going on a mission.
Aoto waited until they'd left, then walked out with Rukia. "Aren't you two tired of this? You're so lovey-dovey every time you go on a mission. Aren't you worried the squad members will tease you?"
"You're just jealous!" Kaien shot back, as he always did. Then he noticed Rukia and quickly walked over. "What happened to Kuchiki?"
"She overdid it and ran out of strength!" Aoto set down the Rukia who had started struggling. "This little girl really looks up to Miss Miyako. She takes her as a role model in everything."
Rukia had regained enough strength to stand steadily. At Aoto's words, her cheeks turned a suspicious shade of red.
Kaien rested a hand on Rukia's shoulder. "Kuchiki, well done! Hard work never lies."
"Yes!" Rukia replied earnestly.
"But," Kaien continued, turning his gaze to Aoto, "Miyako's been married to me for days now. Why are you still calling her Miss Miyako? You should change the way you address her!"
If he kept calling her that, outsiders might think Aoto still had feelings for Shiba Miyako!
"Oh, right!" Aoto said, as if suddenly realizing it. "Then I'll call her Mrs. Shiba next time!"
"That's too formal!" Kaien was pleased, but wasn't very happy with that form of address.
"Then how about Ms. Miyako?" Aoto teased. "As long as she isn't treated as your appendage, right?"
Kaien was satisfied. "That works!"
Kaien really did respect women.
But... looking in the direction Shiba Miyako had gone, Aoto felt that something wasn't right.
It seemed Aizen had already started making his move!
So soon? Rukia hadn't even learned Tsugi no Mai: Hakuren yet!
Aoto then looked up at the sky.
My real self, can't you really let me take part in this incident?
Looking down at Shiba Kaien, who was still smiling happily, Aoto felt an idea gradually take shape.
Meanwhile, deep within Hueco Mundo, in Las Noches, the King of Hueco Mundo still sat atop the Throne of White Bones, head tilted as he watched some distant point, as if enjoying another good show.
The World of the Living.
Through the Senkaimon, Shiba Miyako arrived at the place where the 15th Seat had last been seen alive.
Leading her subordinates, Shiba Miyako flew in a certain direction.
A Hollow that built nests was there. According to their investigation, it had killed the two Soul Reapers sent on the mission.
Shiba Miyako had already prepared her Zanpakuto. She would slay the Hollow first, then investigate.
But just then, a rainbow-colored light appeared before Shiba Miyako.
And then... everything went dark!