"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
"Da da da!"
Bang bang bang!
Inside the Second Division barracks, Sōgo gripped the controller tightly with both hands, constantly operating it, occasionally uttering various strange onomatopoeic words, some simulating missiles, machine guns, mortars...
" Sōgo, can you please be a little quieter?"
As Hōshō Ryo was reviewing documents, her eyelids twitched uncontrollably as she listened to the rhythmic onomatopoeia constantly emanating from her ears... She simply couldn't review documents in such a terrible environment.
"What are you saying?! Little Fon!"
"I did follow your orders and turned off all the music on the game console!"
Sōgo Shihoin spoke with righteous indignation. In order not to disturb Hōshō Ryo, he even turned off the music on the game console. You know... a game without music has no soul!
I admit it!
You did turn off the game's background music!
"But I can't stop you from doing voice-over for the game! You bastard!"
"Can you please be a little quieter? Who do you think I'm working so hard for?"
Hōshō Ryo lightly touched her forehead. Her Sōgo Shihoin's unstoppable mouth. She felt that she had developed neurasthenia and would die of mental exhaustion sooner or later.
"What?!"
Did I provide voice acting for the game?
"You're not kidding, are you? How come I had no idea?"
Sōgo Shihoin made an extremely exaggerated and over-the-top expression at Hōshō Ryo, an expression that, while not harmful to Hōshō Ryo, was highly insulting.
"..."
Hōshō Ryo didn't speak; she simply stared at Sōgo Shihoin with eyes as still as stagnant water.
"..."
"Sorry."
After staring at each other for a moment, Sōgo Shihoin Hōshō Ryo the first to give in and apologize to Hōshō Ryo.
"Go out."
Hōshō Ryo lowered her head and continued reviewing the documents in her hands, without looking up or glancing at Sōgo Shihoin he spoke.
"Yes, Captain."
Sōgo Shihoin tiptoed out of the Second Division's captain's room.
And then quietly closed the door to the captain's room.
"Kicked out?!"
Sōgo Shihoin stood outside the front of the group's room, raised his head to look at the sun overhead, and remained silent for a long time.
"Well..."
Inside the gate, in the captain's room, Hōshō Ryo, sitting in the captain's seat, gazed at the gate and sighed softly.
"Fool."
While seemingly focused on reviewing documents after Sōgo Shihoin was kicked out, Hōshō Ryo was actually distracted. She kept twirling the pen in her hand, and her simple words were filled with resentment towards Sōgo Shihoin.
So where to go now?
After leaving the squad leader's room, Sōgo Shihoin went to the Second Division's barracks. On the roof of the tallest building, he sat quietly, pondering where he should go.
"How about we go to the World of the Living with Ichigo Kurosaki and my sisters?"
After thinking for a while, Sōgo Shihoin suddenly had a flash of inspiration; he seemed to have thought of something interesting.
"Set off!"
The moment Sōgo Shihoin finished speaking, he transformed into a black shadow and headed towards Ichigo Kurosaki's location. Sōgo Shihoin was always a pragmatist; once he thought of something, he would do it without hesitation...
"It's finally over."
" Rukia, let's say goodbye here~"
On the other side, Senkaimon, after a perilous journey without incident, Ichigo Kurosaki Rukia Kuchiki from Soul Society, stood here bidding farewell to everyone they had met in Soul Society.
" Ichigo Kurosaki, after Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai spoke with us, he approached you privately. What did they talk about?"
Before Ichigo Kurosaki left, Renji Abarai planned to have Ichigo Kurosaki satisfy his curiosity.
" Renji!"
"This is a private matter between the Captain-Commander and Ichigo Kurosaki. How can you discuss it so casually?"
After hearing Renji Abarai's words, Rukia Kuchiki couldn't help but stop him. At the same time, she was amazed by Renji Abarai's audacity in daring to casually probe the Captain-Commander's secrets.
"Of course I know that's wrong."
"But... Rukia, don't you want to know what the Captain-Commander talked about with Ichigo Kurosaki?"
Renji Abarai attempted to seduce Rukia Kuchiki, and given his understanding of Rukia Kuchiki, it would be difficult for Rukia Kuchiki not to be tempted by him.
"Waaah..."
Rukia genuinely showed curiosity after hearing Renji Abarai's words. She had to admit that she was indeed somewhat moved by what Renji Abarai had said.
"See?"
Renji Abarai glanced at Rukia Kuchiki's hesitant gaze, smiled slightly, and looked somewhat smug.
"But..."
"That's a secret after all. I think even Ichigo Kurosaki would feel very awkward about telling us this, wouldn't Ichigo Kurosaki?"
Rukia Kuchiki still sticks to her original opinion; she's not the kind of girl who can be easily persuaded by a few words.
"It's okay, it's really not a big deal."
Just as Rukia Kuchiki was about to persist, Ichigo Kurosaki gently shook his head. Actually, he didn't care, because what Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai had told him wasn't anything important to hide in Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Huh?"
Is it really possible?
Rukia Kuchiki broke down in a second after hearing Ichigo Kurosaki's words, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she asked.
"Certainly..."
"Actually, Mr. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai didn't talk to me about anything special."
"It means that starting today, I will assume a position called Substitute Soul Reaper in the World of the Living, and they gave me this thing, saying that this little thing is proof that I am a Substitute Soul Reaper appointed by Soul Society."
After hearing Rukia Kuchiki's words, Ichigo Kurosaki took out a wooden toy with a skull on it and a thick iron chain attached to it from his pocket.
The item in Ichigo Kurosaki's hand looked like a cheap, low-end necklace from a shoddy knock-off brand, clearly crudely made and counterfeit.
"I have a really suspicious feeling about this thing!"
Rukia Kuchiki frowned as she looked at the necklace in Ichigo Kurosaki's hand. The style of the necklace was completely out of place with her aesthetic sense. If it were her, she would prefer a necklace with Chappy -themed design as proof of her identity.
"And the position is also very suspicious— Substitute Soul Reaper?!"
"What is that thing? I've never even heard of it..."
Renji Abarai questioned Ichigo Kurosaki's position, saying that Substitute Soul Reaper was a complete sham and he had never even heard of it.
"Go back and ask your older brother. He knows more about these things."
Rukia Kuchiki thought for a while and decided to go back and ask her older brother, Byakuya Kuchiki. As the head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans, he knew 99% of what was going on in Soul Society. Some of Soul Society's secrets were just common knowledge to Byakuya Kuchiki. So Rukia Kuchiki subconsciously believed that if she asked Byakuya about anything she didn't understand, she would definitely gain something.
"Huh? You've never even heard of it?"
Is this thing really reliable?
Ichigo Kurosaki pursed his lips. He suddenly felt as if he had been deceived by Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai. The old man looked kind and gentle, but in reality, he was a cunning and wicked old man.
"Forehead..."
" Ichigo Kurosaki, you must believe in Captain-Commander Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai!"
"We don't know, maybe because our rank is too low. Perhaps only Captain-level would know."
"Anyway, don't take our words to heart."
"Just focus on being a good Substitute Soul Reaper."
Rukia Kuchiki watched with suspicion as Ichigo Kurosaki looked at the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge in his hand, waving her hands repeatedly in protest.
Don't worry~
"You don't need to worry about me here. Just focus on recovering in Soul Society!"
See you later...
Ichigo Kurosaki waved to Rukia Kuchiki, preparing to leave with Orihime Inoue and the others.
"Okay, see you later!"
Rukia Kuchiki smiled slightly as she looked at the carefree Ichigo Kurosaki Ichigo Kurosaki. Her eyes softened as she gazed at his unwavering back. She felt that the best thing she had ever done in all these years was to give Ichigo Kurosaki Soul Reaper bring him into this world.
Goodbye, Kuchiki-san!
" Kurosaki-kun, did you finish talking to Kuchiki-san so quickly?"
"We finally managed to rescue Kuchiki-san from Soul Society, aren't you going to say anything more?"
Orihime Inoue first waved towards Rukia Kuchiki, then turned to Ichigo Kurosaki and asked in confusion. She knew how much Ichigo Kurosaki had suffered to rescue Rukia, and now that she was finally safe, why was he leaving after only a few words?
"Ha?"
Are you an idiot?
Do you think we're idle?
"We're high school students! Don't we have classes tomorrow?"
After hearing Orihime Inoue's words, Ichigo Kurosaki Orihime Inoue looked at her as if she were an idiot and vigorously Orihime Inoue her head.
"Ah! That's right!"
"We're still high school students..."
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Orihime Inoue's eyes revealed a wisdom akin to that of a water goddess. The adventures and battles of the past few days had made her forget that she was just an ordinary high school student from a certain island nation.
"Sigh... it seems like exams are coming up soon?!"
"This is so troublesome!"
"Speaking of which, I haven't done my homework yet~"
"After you go back, Uryū, let me copy what you lent you!"
Ichigo Kurosaki scratched his short, straw-like orange hair, feeling utterly powerless at the thought of having to take exams after returning to the World of the Living.
"Please allow me to refuse! Didn't your mother teach you that you need to do things for yourself?"
Uryū Ishida gently pushed up his glasses perched on his nose and spoke with a look of disdain.
"My mom not only taught me to do things for myself, she also taught me to be adaptable."
"Besides, aren't we good brothers?"
"Shouldn't good brothers copy each other's homework?"
Ichigo Kurosaki around Uryū Ishida's shoulder, a smirk on his face.
Come on~
Don't give me that.
Uryū Ishida clearly wasn't buying it with Ichigo Kurosaki; he turned his head away unhappily, refusing to look at Ichigo Kurosaki's ugly face.
"Hahaha..."
Walking behind the group, Orihime Inoue glanced at Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryū Ishida, who were arm in arm, and Yasutora Sado, who was walking silently beside them, and smiled slightly.
Yes, they are just high school students. Although their high school life is filled with evil spirits, Soul Reaper, and world-destroying battles, there is no doubt that they are just ordinary high school students.
High school life... ah, it's wonderful!
Orihime Inoue walked along, she suddenly heard a voice filled with emotion beside her.
"Yes."
Within the Dangai, Orihime Inoue subconsciously echoed, until a few seconds later she gradually realized the seriousness of the situation.
"You... you... you are..."
Orihime Inoue looked at the exceptionally handsome young man beside her, who wore a captain's haori, had an eye patch on his cheek, and had silver hair that looked like a character straight out of a manga. She trembled all over and didn't dare to breathe.
"Support~Mazefak~"
The handsome young man's lips curled slightly upward after being noticed by Orihime Inoue. Yes, he had come to open the door and deliver a surprise.
"Gulp~"
Orihime Inoue listened to Sōgo Shihoin's words, she trembled violently. She didn't see any surprise, but she was terrified by what she saw.
Where is my sister?
Sōgo Shihoin didn't care whether Orihime Inoue was more surprised or frightened; he only cared about where his mischievous older sister had gone off to party again!
"Yoru... Mr. Yoruichi got impatient and left ahead of time."
Orihime Inoue dared not deceive Sōgo Shihoin, and answered honestly.
"Oh, you left early?"
"Forget it, I'm not going to look for her anyway."
After hearing Orihime Inoue's words, Sōgo Shihoin shrugged and said indifferently.
"Forehead..."
"So, what brings you here?"
Orihime Inoue suddenly had a bad feeling.
"I'm here to invite you guys to play in the World of the Living!"
Sōgo Shihoin smiled slightly, using the most benevolent expression to utter the most terrifying words.
"We're doomed!"
After hearing what Sōgo Shihoin, Orihime Inoue felt her heart skip a beat.
Inoue, why are you so slow?
"Holy crap..."
Just as Sōgo and Orihime Inoue were chatting, the three people walking at the front finally noticed something was wrong. They turned around and saw that Orihime Inoue was accompanied by a formidable figure.
Surprised?
"Surprising, isn't it?"
Sōgo Shihoin sensed the mixture of surprise, fear, pain, and despair on the faces of Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado, and smiled with relief.
"Surprise! Surprise..."
"Unexpected! Unexpected..."
Ichigo Kurosaki and his two companions looked at Sōgo Shihoin with extremely ugly expressions. They really wanted to cry, but they didn't dare. They could only smile along with Sōgo Shihoin.
"Then you guys translate for me, what does 'surprise' mean? What the hell is 'surprise'?"
Sougo Sōgo Shihoin, suddenly changed his expression and asked seriously.
"The surprise is... an ancestor who could destroy the world at any moment came with us to the World of the Living!"
"We've unwittingly become collaborators?! We're guilty!!!"
Ichigo Kurosaki and the others had no way to express their suffering; they cried out in their hearts, but dared not utter a single word.
(End of this chapter)