Yato and Byakuya

The Kuchiki Clan was often criticized for being rigid and dogmatic, but it did have one virtue: it treated everyone with gentleness and impeccable manners.

Byakuya rose to his feet and greeted him.

"Byakuya? I'm Yato." Uchiha Yato chuckled. "I look forward to getting along with you."

Seeing Yato's attitude, Byakuya Kuchiki secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had genuinely worried that the guy opposite him would open with "Lord Byakuya," forcing him to put on airs as well.

Since they were roommates, it was better not to stand on ceremony.

And besides...

Byakuya Kuchiki glanced at the Soul-Cutter Sword at Yato's waist.

After all, he was the first student in this year's class to achieve Shikai.

Without standing on ceremony, Yato sat on the empty bed, took out some ointment from his luggage, and removed his clothes.

His body was lean and well-defined, but it was still covered in numerous unhealed wounds, crisscrossing his skin in a horrifying sight.

"I need to change my dressing. Hope you don't mind."

"It's fine. Go ahead..." Byakuya Kuchiki blinked. Though he had been taught from childhood not to ask what he should not ask, he was still young and could not help saying, "Those injuries?"

"I traded cuts with someone."

"Did you inform the guard patrol?"

"Haha, no need for that, Young Master Kuchiki. It's just a bit of rural entertainment. If you're brothers, you trade a couple of cuts."

Byakuya pursed his lips, clearly unconvinced.

"Hey, don't just stare." Yato grinned and handed him a small jar. "Do me a favor. The wounds on my back are troublesome. Thanks."

Byakuya Kuchiki froze completely, staring at Yato's back in disbelief, unsure whether he was dreaming.

For the heir of a great noble family, this seemed extremely improper. But since they were roommates living under the same roof, helping apply medicine somehow seemed... perfectly normal?

Muttering under his breath, Byakuya scooped out the semi-solid ointment and carefully spread it over Yato's wounds.

Sure enough, Byakuya Kuchiki was quite skilled at it. It looked as though he got injured often enough himself to become practiced.

Unable to find a topic, Yato made casual conversation as if he were back in college in his previous life.

"Have you eaten?"

"...No."

"Then shall we go grab something later?"

"...Sure."

"I've never been to Seireitei before. I don't know which tea houses have good food."

"The sashimi shops east of the seated officers' residences, the hand-pressed sushi outside the Sixth Division barracks, and the vegetarian rice balls at the General Relief Clinic." Byakuya Kuchiki listed them with ease, then patted Yato's back. "When the time comes, don't say you're a new student from Rukongai. They love fleecing newcomers... Mm, it's done."

"Thanks." Yato moved his body and turned around. "Your technique is really good. Much better than those two clumsy neighbors of mine."

"I learned it from some cat demon."

"A cat demon?" Yato knew Byakuya meant Yoruichi Shihōin, but since they had only just met, he could not act overly familiar and simply followed Byakuya's lead.

"Yeah. It's a Seireitei tradition to take small animals as teachers."

Hearing that, Yato laughed inwardly.

This big white guy is pretty lively right now. He's even holding himself back, trying to get a jab in.

Naturally, there were no classes on the first day of school. After changing his dressing, Yato went out with Byakuya Kuchiki.

Through their time together, Yato discovered that Byakuya was quite easy to talk to, and he seemed to be... exceptionally tolerant of him?

He did not know where that goodwill came from, but it did not stop him from pushing his luck.

"Huh? Byakuya? What was that place you mentioned just now?"

"The Red-light District." The innocent young man, Byakuya Kuchiki, looked a little awkward. "It's not a good place."

"Give me an example?"

"A lot of adults like going there. For example... ahem, Captain Kyōraku."

"Oh, I get it." Yato lost interest, but immediately asked again, "The food in a place like that should be pretty good too, right?"

"Mm. I heard the tea houses there produce spirit wine that tastes like cherries."

"Let's go! We're drinking!"

"Uh, my family rules say I have to be home within two hours after nightfall..."

"Tsk, tsk. It's the first day of school. You're happy to have met a fellow student, right? Come on, let's drink!"

Late at night, Byakuya Kuchiki sneaked home.

As a great noble family, the Kuchiki Clan's history was practically Seireitei's history. Naturally, their estate covered a vast area. Its courtyards balanced stillness and motion, with streams winding through them and flying stones scattered about in flawless refinement.

In the past, Byakuya would occasionally complain that his family estate was too large. It took forever to walk from the sleeping quarters to the main gate, and with the rules being so strict, he was not even allowed to use Flash Step to shorten the journey.

But that night, he finally understood the benefits of having a large house—

When he came home late, he did not have to worry about getting caught by his elders.

He vaulted over the wall and landed like a cat without making the slightest sound. Then he concentrated his spiritual pressure in his legs, reduced his weight, stepped onto the roof eaves, and swiftly headed toward his sleeping quarters.

Then his grandfather grabbed him and pulled him down in one motion.

Caught off guard, Byakuya staggered. He gave an awkward smile, then obediently stood where he was.

"Grandfather..."

The man's hair and beard were snow-white. Though gaunt, he stood tall and straight, and even in the dead of night, he wore a spotless, neatly arranged kimono.

He was none other than the current head of the Kuchiki Clan, the current captain of the Gotei 13's Sixth Division, Byakuya's biological grandfather—Ginrei Kuchiki!

"Where did you go?"

"G-Grandfather, it was just the first day of school. I went out to eat with a student from my dormitory..."

Byakuya Kuchiki rarely made mistakes, and his skin was not thick enough for this. His voice grew softer and softer, while his head dipped lower and lower.

Looking at the back of his grandson's head, Ginrei Kuchiki felt a wave of helplessness.

On his very first day of school, he was already staying out all night?

And this foolish child—if he was sneaking home, why not walk close to the ground? Why insist on flying over the rooftops?

Still, he had no intention of getting to the bottom of it. He merely shook his head and smiled. "Next time, you can invite him to eat here. It's time I taught you the Kuchiki family's way of receiving guests."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Ginrei Kuchiki patted Byakuya on the head and asked, "How is Shin'ō Academy?"

"Classes haven't officially started yet, but it feels pretty good. I think I'll be able to learn a lot."

"That's right. There are several experienced instructors there who have studied swordsmanship and Kidō deeply. Study well. Do not become arrogant, and learn from your fellow students as well."

"Yes!"

"However, I imagine my grandson should be the best among his classmates. In that case, you should help your fellow students more and display the grace of our Kuchiki family."

"Yes, Grandfather, but..." Byakuya paused, his tone extremely serious. "I'm probably not the best in my class. There's someone stronger than me."

"Oh?"

Ginrei Kuchiki was surprised. His grandson possessed extraordinary talent and had received the finest education from childhood. He had also often learned Flash Step by observing Yoruichi at close range, and his strength had long reached the seated officer level.

At that level, he could only rank second?

"That is the truth, Grandfather."

The noble youth wearing a Kenseikan had fierce fighting spirit flash through his eyes.

"My roommate, Uchiha Yato, is stronger than I am right now."

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