When the boy entered the Shin'ō Academy and met the girl again, she merely glanced at him with a complex expression from a higher step. The boy didn't understand... He desperately chased after her, and when he saw the arrogant man standing beside her, he realized... from the moment the girl entered the Shin'ō Academy, she had acquired the surname Kuchiki, thus rising to the nobility, and even becoming Five Great Noble Clans ranks symbolizing the highest privileges in Soul Society...
From the moment the girl received the surname "Kuchiki," there were strict requirements regarding the people she came into contact with and the courses she took... while the boy could no longer have contact with her.
Even so, the boy did not give up, nor was he sad. In his heart, there was only blessing for the girl and motivation for himself. He believed that sooner or later, he and the girl would meet again in the Seireitei, among the thirteen official divisions of the Soul Reaper... and he would also sooner or later surpass the arrogant man standing beside the girl.
"Diu diu diu..."
"Diu diu diu..."
Inside the Second Division barracks, Sōgo was holding a controller, playing a game called Space War. According to the West Branch, this game is currently the most popular game in Europe and America.
" Sōgo, have you heard? The eldest son of the Kuchiki Clan has adopted a girl from Rukongai as his sister, and personally, as the head of the Kuchiki Clan, has her name added to the family genealogy."
"I heard that after the eldest son of the Kuchiki Clan did this, it caused a huge uproar throughout the Soul Society. Countless nobles privately said that the eldest son of the Kuchiki Clan had gone mad."
Shaoling Fon appeared beside Sōgo in a flash, reporting to Sōgo the major events that had recently occurred in Soul Society.
"Oh?"
" Byakuya finally found that girl?"
Sōgo's hands didn't stop; he continued to manipulate the controller, while uttering a meaningful remark.
" Sōgo, you know about this?"
Upon hearing Shaoling Fon 'Sōgo words, Aya knew that Sōgo probably knew some inside information, and then asked.
"The girl he took in was probably his wife's sister, right?"
"I overheard him mention it before when he was talking to himself..."
"It's perfectly normal to take one's wife as a sister; there's nothing wrong with it. Those gossiping nobles in Soul Society are just too idle."
Sōgo understood Byakuya's actions; if he were in Byakuya's position, he would have made the same choice.
"GAME OVER!"
"Ugh... I died again! This game is garbage."
Sōgo stared at the interface displayed on the computer screen, cursed angrily, and threw down the game controller in his hand.
"Call..."
"Speaking of Soul Society is about to undergo a major upheaval~"
Sōgo tossed aside the controller, stood up, stretched, and gazed at the bright sunshine of Soul Society outside the window, muttering to himself.
" Sōgo, what did you just say? What do you mean the world is going to change?"
Shaoling Fon didn't hear Sōgo's mutterings clearly, so she asked curiously.
"No, it's nothing... I was just thinking about what to have for lunch today?"
"Sigh... I can't think of anything good for lunch. This is really difficult."
Sōgo kept scratching his head; deciding what to eat for lunch every day was practically a major life challenge.
Stop lying!
Shaoling Fon followed beside Sōgo, grumbling angrily.
"Ugh! Even when she's angry, Shaoling Fon is cute~"
Sōgo looked at Shaoling Fon, whose cheeks were puffed out in anger, and smiled slightly.
"Stop... stop talking nonsense!"
Shaoling Fon blushed immediately. Even though she had been with Sōgo for over a hundred years, she was still as innocent as she had been back then.
"This is really dangerous."
Sōgo at the innocent Shaoling Fon, Sougo felt his heart couldn't take it. As he got older, he found it increasingly difficult to accept these seemingly cute things.
Sōgo and Shaoling Fon headed to the squad cafeteria while playfully bickering.
On the other side...
"Hmph, so many outstanding students have come to the Shin'ō Academy this year?"
In the Fifth Division Barracks, Sōsuke Aizen looked at the roster in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips as he pondered something.
Time flies by, and ten years slip by unnoticed by these Soul Reaper. In these ten years, apart from the 1966 graduates who were suddenly attacked by Menos Grande during their Konso practice and were eventually saved by the help of the Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen and the Third Division Captain Gin Ichimaru, nothing major happened that disturbed the Soul Society.
Since the Captain Hollowfication Incident, the entire Soul Society has been in a state of peace, at least on the surface, like the calm before the storm.
Inside the Second Division barracks, Sōgo was flipping through a copy of Weekly Shōnen Jump. Ever since this manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump, was published in the World of the Living two years ago, Sōgo had been asking the Soul Reaper in the World of the Living to buy it for him on time.
"Hungry!"
Just as Sōgo was engrossed in watching, a voice full of vicissitudes suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Um?"
Sōgo, who was holding the comic book, immediately stopped, his brows furrowing.
"Hungry! Give it to me! Give it to me now!"
The next second, a series of voices echoed in Sōgo's mind.
"Well..."
Sōgo listened to the constant noises in his ears, rubbed them, sighed helplessly, and then his consciousness entered his own mental space...
"Hey! Xiao Jiba! What are you saying, 'Jiba' over and over again? What's with all this talk about being hungry? I can't concentrate on reading the comics."
Sōgo arrived before the being whose body was as tall as a mountain and angrily rebuked it.
But I'm really hungry!
Jiba touched his snow-white belly and said with some distress.
"Hungry? I provide you with that massive amount of Spiritual Pressure every day, and you still feel hungry?"
Sōgo an eyebrow. He fed Ikomikidomoe on time every day. He wasn't some heartless planner; he wouldn't do something like letting someone go hungry.
"I'm starving! I'm starving!"
"I can feel it! A part of my body has returned from Hueco Mundo... Give it to me! Let me eat it..."
He continued to preach the truth Ikomikidomoe and Sōgo.
"A part of your body?"
Sōgo asked, puzzled, "Wasn't this thing forged into Zanpakuto by the Big-Eyed Monk and the Sword God a thousand years ago?"
"A thousand years ago, before coming to Soul Society, I left a portion of my power in Hueco Mundo as a contingency plan. Now that plan is no longer needed, give it to me and let me consume it~"
Ikomikidomoe explained to Sōgo what exactly was going on.
"I Jiba... So you lost your Jiba?"
Sōgo nodded slightly; he seemed to understand. Now, his task was to help Ikomikidomoe make up for what he had lost...
On the other side Gotei 13.
"My name is Rukia Kuchiki! Reporting to the Thirteenth Division today!"
Having graduated from the Shin'ō Academy and trained under Byakuya Kuchiki for several years, Rukia arrived at the barracks of the Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13 at Byakuya's behest.
"Oh! I heard it from that arrogant brat Byakuya. You're Rukia? You are indeed very beautiful... a real beauty in the making. It's a waste for you to be that brat Byakuya's little sister. How about Tathāgata our Shiba Clan? Speaking of which, I have a younger brother who's about your age... you two would make a perfect pair..."
Kaien Shiba sized up Rukia Kuchiki, and with his years of experience in judging people, he instantly saw through Rukia character. He stroked his chin and teased her.
"Forehead..."
Rukia panicked after hearing Kaien's words. Since joining the Gotei 13, this was the first time she had ever heard anyone call her invincible brother "brat," leaving her speechless.
Hahaha... Just kidding!
" Rukia, you can treat the Thirteenth Division as your home from now on. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me, or go find your sister. In short, welcome to the Thirteenth Division."
Seeing Rukia's flustered appearance, Kaien Shiba smiled slightly and welcomed her.
"Oh! I understand!"
Rukia, seeing the kind and approachable Kaien Shiba, quickly stood up, bowed, and greeted him. She felt somewhat flattered that the captain of the Thirteenth Division was speaking to her so kindly.
"Don't be so formal. Our Thirteenth Division is different from other divisions; we don't have so many rules. We're all family."
Kaien Shiba looked at the flustered Rukia and smiled helplessly. Rukia's wary demeanor, like that of a young animal meeting a stranger, amused Kaien Shiba, but he felt more helpless. Look at what Byakuya Kuchiki had taught her to be like this. That's why he hated the Kuchiki Clan's superficiality the most.
"Forehead..."
Rukia was a little flustered by Kaien's overly familiar manner; she wasn't very good at dealing with people who were so outgoing.
"Smack!"
Just as Rukia was racking her brains, trying to figure out how to answer Kaien, Shiba Miyako punched Kaien on the head.
"Huh?!"
Rukia stared at the burly vice-captain, completely stunned.
" Kaien, what are you doing? You've scared them!"
Shiba Miyako grabbed Kaien by the collar and said angrily.
"Do... do you have one?"
"I tried my best to be very friendly."
The traditional timidity of the Shiba Clan was vividly displayed in Kaien. He looked at Shiba Miyako with sweat pouring down his face, his words somewhat incoherent. This nervous demeanor was even more intense than when he faced the Old Man Yama alone after making a mistake.
"Your eyes are so fierce."
Shiba Miyako pointed at Kaien's eyes as he spoke.
"Are my eyes really that scary?"
Kaien was shocked by what Shiba Miyako and picked up a mirror, repeatedly looking at herself.
" Rukia, let's ignore him. Come with me, I'll show you around the barracks."
Shiba Miyako spoke, he grabbed Rukia's hand and pulled her out of the captain's room.
"Um... but Captain Shiba..."
Rukia looked at Shiba Miyako with some hesitation, feeling a little panicked because she hadn't received Kaien Shiba's approval.
"It's nothing... In the Gotei Thirteenth Division, his word as captain doesn't count; I'm the one who makes the decisions."
Shiba Miyako affectionately ruffled Rukia's hair and smiled gently.
"Elder sister..."
Rukia looked at Shiba Miyako, and suddenly her vision blurred. Although Rukia could no longer quite remember what her older sister looked like, Rukia knew that her sister must be a kind and excellent person, just like Miyako.
" Rukia, why are you crying?"
Shiba Miyako stared at Rukia Kuchiki, who was shedding a tear, and asked in surprise.
"No, it's nothing. It's just that Vice Captain Shiba Miyako is so kind, it reminds me of my older sister... I apologize for making you laugh."
Rukia gently wiped away the tears from her eyes and bowed deeply to Shiba Miyako.
"Haha... what?"
After hearing Rukia's words, Shiba Miyako actually laughed. While laughing, she hugged Rukia tightly.
" From the Little Rukia joined the Thirteenth Division, I've been Rukia's older sister. Don't hold back... From now on, just treat me like your own sister."
Shiba Miyako held Rukia in his arms and spoke gently.
"Elder sister!"
Rukia was held in Shiba Miyako's arms, feeling his warm heartbeat. Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore and Shiba Miyako Shiba Miyako. Ever since she learned that her sister had been searching for her until the very last moment of her life, she had felt not only moved but also desperately wanted to see Hisana. She wanted to tell Hisana that she, Rukia, didn't Hisana, and Rukia having a sister like Hisana was the greatest honor of her life.
"Hmph~"
Kaien Shiba, dressed in a haori, leaned against the doorframe of the squad leader's room, a slight smile playing on his lips as he watched Rukia, Shiba Miyako. This girl was a strong-willed person. After acquiring the Kuchiki surname, she hadn't become any more relaxed; instead, she had been tormented by the surname, putting in superhuman effort to be worthy of it... The burden on her small frame was too heavy. He thought Byakuya Kuchiki had also seen this, which was why he chose to send Rukia to him under the guise of training, rather than to the more suitable Second Division or the dangerous Tenth Division.
"You brat, you owe me a huge favor. If you don't pay it back, I'll take Rukia into my Shiba Clan."
As Kaien Shiba watched Rukia's pained figure recede into the distance, he wondered to himself, what malicious intentions could the Shiba Clan possibly harbor?
On the other side, at the Tenth Division barracks.
Are all members of the Shiba Clan idiots?
Rangiku Matsumoto, with short hair, held a black bra in her hand and roared at the man kneeling in front of her.
"What's the rush, Rangiku?"
The man wearing a white haori, representing the captain of a squad, knelt before Rangiku, picking his ear as he spoke casually.
"Nonsense!"
"As the captain of the Tenth Division, you actually stole a female soldier's underwear?! You're utterly despicable! I'm ashamed to have a captain like you!"
Rangiku Matsumoto looked at Isshin Shiba's nonchalant expression, and bulging veins appeared on her forehead.
"Shut up Rangiku! What are you doing?"
Just as Rangiku Matsumoto was getting angry, a white figure suddenly burst into the captain's room, kicked Rangiku Matsumoto away, and helped Isshin Shiba up from the ground.
"Are you alright, Captain?"
The small, white figure greeted Isshin.
"It's alright! It's alright! As expected of the next captain of the Tenth Division, you arrived just in time."
Isshin Shiba patted the boy on the shoulder and spoke affectionately.
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(End of this chapter)