"Hey, Kazui, let's hurry back to the secret base. Boss will be furious if she finds out we're not here. I don't want to get Riot Games her, it hurts so much."
The little girl had her long, fiery red hair tied in a high ponytail, wore a miniature Shihakushō, and had Asauchi a type of Japanese martial arts) belt around her waist. She clasped her hands behind her head and urged the little boy in front of her to hurry up.
Unlike Hakuhō, who was already showing signs of rebellion, Ichika Abarai was still quite attached to her father and was happy to join the Thirteenth Division for an internship.
The main reason is that if she doesn't join the Thirteenth Division, she'll be in the 6th Division. Her mother is very gentle, Byakuya is different. He has a lot of rules, and even her parents don't dare to be disrespectful.
She dared not do that, and after much thought, the only option she could get was to intern with the Thirteenth Division, since both her parents were the type to achieve success later in life.
Ichika Abarai did not display any particularly extraordinary talent; at least, she was noticeably inferior to Kazui, Kumane Shishihara, Atau Rindō.
Hakuhō goes without saying; she is universally recognized as the pinnacle of the next generation, and the only person who can rival her record is Ichigo Kurosaki.
But that person had gone through a series of arduous battles, breaking through the line between life and death.
Hakuhō hasn't experienced any life-or-death battles and is enthusiastic about all sorts of strange and unusual research, so the only explanation for her strength is that her parents' genes are too powerful.
"How about we go back and see the milk flower that spits out milk, the one that's the boss's? Or maybe that watermelon that eats people? And the running pumpkin carriage?"
Ichika Abarai tried to persuade him to hurry back to the secret base to avoid being scolded by the boss.
Kazui Kurosaki, also dressed in a smaller version of the Shihakushō, wasn't assigned to the First Division but rather went with the flow and was assigned to the Fifth Division. With a beaming smile, he said, "It's alright, Big Sister will understand."
What have you been looking for from the very beginning?
Ichika Abarai was speechless and could only choose to help him find that thing.
"I don't know, I just went by instinct."
Kazui Kurosaki answered with a smile, his face full of fearlessness, more relaxed than an adult, strolling leisurely through the streets of Kuchiki District, looking around.
Because of their Shihakushō and Zanpakuto, no one dared to approach and speak; these were the symbols of Shinigami.
Ichika Abarai muttered, "Your intuition always leads you to dangerous places."
"It's alright," Kazui Kurosaki continued, as if a sudden sense told him which way to go, and he leaped up from the ground.
Ichika Abarai quickly followed, "Wait a minute."
Kazui Kurosaki showed no intention of stopping to wait. With a few quick taps of his feet, his small body appeared several kilometers away, far from any populated area, in a deserted vacuum.
These vacuum zones were preserved for wartime purposes; if an enemy attacks from the outside, they would be used to fight and defend themselves.
If the enemy can ignore the large barrier outside the Seireitei and launch a surprise attack on the barracks, the residents can also escape to these vacuum zones for refuge.
Policies that are meant to be benevolent are often exploited by malicious individuals, with some conducting illicit transactions in uninhabited areas.
Kazui Kurosaki landed on the roof, Ichika Abarai followed suit. Without saying a word, they could already sense that there were six people in the yard.
She didn't speak, but looked at Kazui Kurosaki. After receiving a shushing gesture, she wanted to continue eavesdropping on the conversation inside.
Eavesdropping is a bad thing.
The sudden noise startled Ichika Abarai. Her first instinct was to draw her sword, but her hand was grabbed. She cried out in alarm, " Kazui, run!"
Kazui Kurosaki didn't run away. He looked at the older sister who had suddenly appeared and smiled, saying, "Long time no see, Spider Sister."
"?" Ichika Abarai was stunned as her hand was released.
"Oh, it's you, Kazui."
The woman wore a large white sun hat that hung askew, almost obscuring the right half of her face. She had a scarf around her neck, a pale yellow evening gown with a large bow at the back, and black spiderweb-patterned gloves on her hands. "You've sneaked out to play again?"
"Hmm, what is Spider Sister doing?"
Kazui Kurosaki asked curiously.
The woman smiled and said, "This isn't something you should talk to children about. Go play somewhere else."
"Is that so? Goodbye." Kazui Kurosaki waved, not lingering, and said, " Ichika, let's go."
"Hmm." Ichika Abarai said, following his Shunpo away from there. She glanced back, wondering when Kazui had met this woman. She looked... somewhat familiar, as if she had been seen somewhere before.
But where is it?
She frowned, utterly perplexed. " Kazui, why do you know that woman?"
"Miss Spider, well, I met her by chance when I was out playing. We played together all day, and she even gave me candy."
Kazui Kurosaki replied with a smile, "She's a very strange person. Sometimes you can clearly see her, but you'll still ignore her."
"When playing hide-and-seek, no matter where you are, you can't escape her senses. It's really fun!"
"With that kind of strength, how could he not join the Shinigami? He must be doing something shady."
Ichika Abarai's Commentary
"It's okay, Spider Sister isn't a bad person."
Kazui Kurosaki flashed that innocent smile that was almost frighteningly bright. "See, she let us leave so easily."
"Yes, that's true."
Ichika Abarai wondered, "Am I overthinking things?"
Before she could come up with a solution, a familiar person blocked her way. She had a single ponytail and was wearing the red and white school uniform of the Shin'ō Academy.
"Big Sister?!" she called out quickly.
Kazui Kurosaki seemed completely unaware of why this person had come to his door, and raised his hand to greet her, "Good afternoon, boss."
"Oh, you guys still remember your big sister, huh?"
Hakuhō clenched her Riot Games and said, "You actually made me come here in person, Kazui, you've got some nerve."
"Big Sister." Ichika Abarai tried to help persuade her, but was glared at and immediately lowered her head.
"Uncle Zaraki said that a wolf pack can only have one leader, just like Kenpachi only has one. You've forgotten how powerful I am after just three days without a fight."
Hakuhō narrowed her eyes slightly, her Reiatsu heavily enveloping the area.
Kazui Kurosaki laughed, "Don't be angry, boss. I was just on my routine patrol. Ichika was with me; she just got off work."
"Are you kidding me? This isn't the Fifth Division."
Hakuhō glared at him, not believing his explanation.
Kazui Kurosaki spread his hands and said, " The Fifth Division's working philosophy is to provide support. We go wherever we are needed, and we don't limit ourselves to one place."
"..." Hakuhō really didn't understand the functions of each team. Her knowledge was limited to biology and plant science, and her talent for history and literature was disastrous.
After all, she wasn't a super genius Kisuke Urahara, who was proficient in all kinds of knowledge.
"Well, never mind," Hakuhō decided to give up pursuing the two's responsibility. Why not ignore Ichika?
That's when she realized that this young girl had already gone astray at such a young age and had developed feelings for some boy.
Wherever Kazui is after work, there will always be Ichika, until he goes to bed at night.
Hakuhō turned around and said, "Let's go back."
"Hi," Kazui Kurosaki replied, then winked at Ichika, indicating that he had passed safely.
Ichika Abarai somewhat dizzy from that smile. She remembered the first time her parents took her to see Kazui, it was that smile that made Cupid shoot an arrow through her heart, making her fall hopelessly in love with this fearless boy.
Her face flushed, she continued to Shunpo, completely forgetting about Miss Spider from before.
At the secret base, the Hakuhō Squad members each did their own thing. The captain, Hakuhō, liked to do research, while Shūma and Uruyu played the Shinigami game with Kazui Kurosaki.
Kumane Shishihara passionate about manicures, Atau Rindō likes to feed the birds in the yard.
Ichika Abarai lay on Uruyu's back watching them fight. The Werewolf Clan's fur was so soft, it was more comfortable than a bed. Looking at Kazui Kurosaki, she felt that this lazy time was as beautiful as a painting.
The night continued, but due to the dormitory's curfew, Kumane Shishihara and Atau Rindō had to return to the Shin'ō Academy.
Shūma and Uruyu don't need to be supervised by adults, but Kazui Kurosaki, Ichika, and even Captain Hakuhō all have curfews at night.
If she dared to delay returning home, the other two might not know, but Hakuhō knew for sure that she would definitely get a beating. Her father usually doted on her, and if she made a mistake, he would punish her according to the severity of the punishment.
If it's a Monday, then there's no need to differentiate; it's a double whammy from both parents, so Monday is definitely her most well-behaved day.
Hakuhō Shunpo returned to the Captain-Commander's residence. The lights were bright. She landed in front of the door and turned the doorknob.
Tier Harribel is no longer here; in her place, Nelliel is in the house.
Every day that Tier Harribel makes breakfast is Thursday.
Nelliel wore a ram bone mask, her cheeks were rosy, even her rose-colored facial markings looked redder, her long lake-green hair was draped over her shoulders, and she wore a slightly Little Ichi lake-green dress, making her look like an overripe apple, exuding an irresistible charm.
It's clear she's trying very hard to calm Shiraishi down.
But when Hakuhō returned, Shiraishi's anger was still blazing. "You actually got a 36 on the history test?!"
He roared in defiance.
Hakuhō trembled slightly before remembering that there really was such a test. "Dad, don't be angry, my biology score was quite good."
Shiraishi glared at him and said, "Is this your excuse for failing your other courses?"
Actually, I don't need to read those books.
Hakuhō wanted to argue further, asking if it was necessary for a scientist like herself to learn poetry and painting.
"Shut up! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
Shiraishi doesn't oppose Hakuhō's dream of becoming a scientist, but he firmly opposes her becoming like Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Therefore, he wants to force this girl to read more books, history books, and literature, so that she can develop a positive worldview and be able to do scientific research.
A scientist with warped values, no matter how talented, is a dangerous individual who needs to be guarded against.
"Mama Nel!" Hakuhō shouted, trying to dodge with Shunpo, but her shoulder was already grabbed by Shiraishi, followed by the divine ruler used to discipline her daughter.
" Shiraishi." Nelliel felt sorry for Hakuhō and thought it wasn't a big deal, so she quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Please explain properly."
"What's the point of complaining if she failed? With her brains, she wouldn't have failed if she had just studied carefully."
Shiraishi grew angrier the more he thought about it. He kicked the door shut and slammed it shut, then began to beat Hakuhō with the Kensei Muguruma, so why was she being so easily beaten by her father?
The next day.
Hakuhō, limping, didn't dare sit down to eat. She finished her breakfast standing up and then Shunpo rushed to the Shin'ō Academy.
"Hiss," she didn't arrive on time, which was unusual for her.
Upon Kumane Shishihara immediately laughed and said, "Haha, you got beaten up again?"
"Nonsense, what do you mean by being hit? I just accidentally fell down."
Hakuhō stubbornly denied it, and cheerful laughter rang out in the class. From first graders to sixth graders, everyone knew exactly how she would react every time she was hit.
Her face flushed red, and she said angrily, "Who dares to laugh again?"
The laughter stopped abruptly. Hakuhō snorted and tried to sit on the bench, "Hiss."
The pain made her want to stand up, but she forced herself to endure it; if she stood up, there would have been no point in coming here earlier.
She arrived early so that she could adjust to the pain and avoid standing during class.
Slowly getting used to the pain, Hakuhō breathed a sigh of relief, but was secretly furious. "Teacher Hiyori is such a tattletale! Damn it, I'll have to find a way to get back at her next time!"
She was in a bad mood today, and it wasn't until the bell rang that her tense mood finally eased.
She can relax in her secret hideout again.
It was originally built for fun, but now it feels more reassuring than home.
At least there, no one dared to hit her with a ruler.
"Aren't you really going to consider introducing me to your father?"
On the way Kumane Shishihara mentioned, "If you make a mistake again, I guarantee I'll protect you."
"Shut up."
Hakuhō replied irritably, landing in the courtyard of the secret base. Usually, Kazui and Ichika, who were always late, were already waiting there. "You guys are here pretty early today."
Ichika Abarai asked excitedly, "Big Sister, do you know who the Spider Lady that Kazui and I met yesterday was?"
She is Loly Palamia, who is ranked number one on the wanted lists of all divisions and is one of the Espada who is still at large.
No wonder she's so powerful; I didn't even have the strength to fight back.
" The Espada? The same Espada as Nel's mother?"
Hakuhō's face lit up with excitement, sensing a major event was about to unfold. She then realized what was happening and asked, "How did you know?"
"When I arrived at the squadron this morning, I accidentally noticed the wanted poster at the entrance. I realized that Loly looks a lot like that Spider Lady, so I asked Kiyone to help me add a hat and dress."
At this point, Ichika Abarai's expression became unusually excited as she said, "The results match perfectly! I told my dad, and he took it very seriously, reporting it directly to the Captain-Commander!"
Hakuhō asked curiously, "And then?"
Ichika Abarai spread her hands and said, "No, Dad said they'd handle this, and told me not to get too involved, the criminals are dangerous."
"Miss Spider isn't a bad person."
Kazui Kurosaki remained firm in his suspicions, believing that Loly was not a bad person.
"Idiot, anyone who's against us is a villain."
Hakuhō tapped him on the head and said, "We can't stand idly by in this matter. We must make the adults understand that we are not children!"