Nightfall. West Rukongai, District 2. Higashi Shuuichi's residence.
After a long day of work, Shuuichi returned home, visibly drained.
"Welcome back, Lord Shuuichi!"
At the door, a young woman with long, wavy orange hair greeted him warmly, offering a pair of indoor geta.
"You Tenth Division folks always this free? You're off work earlier than me every day."
He slipped into the geta, his movements practiced—this scene had played out too many times to count.
It had been a year since Rangiku Matsumoto completed her education at Shinō Academy and returned to live here.
Yes, returned—because after Shuuichi saved her ten years ago, she'd stayed here during her recovery. Whether out of guilt or pity, he'd allowed her to remain until she could stand on her own.
Perhaps, in some small part, it was to honor his old "promise" to Gin.
A calculated move at the time, but still a promise.
"Not quite. Actually, it's the opposite. Lately, there've been more Hollows showing up lost in Rukongai. We rank-and-file can't deal with them, so most patrols are being assigned to seated officers~"
Rangiku bowed slightly as she explained, the loose fabric of her robe drawing attention to her rapidly maturing curves beneath.
"I see..."
Shuuichi recalled that, yes, Aizen had indeed ramped up Hollow attacks in the districts over the past few months, part of a larger scheme to pull Shinigami away from Seireitei—perfect for tonight's operation.
"Oh, by the way, Shuuichi-sama, do you want jasmine or oolong tonight?"
Barefoot, Rangiku slipped off to the adjacent room and returned with two bottles.
"You used your salary to buy alcohol again?!"
Shuuichi sighed. He'd long since lost count of when this started. Ever since graduation, Rangiku had blown most of her pay on booze.
Which meant, financially, she couldn't live on her own—hence, still here.
It hadn't been a problem before—when she was still a kid—but now?
Shuuichi's gaze involuntarily drifted downward. Yeah. "Developing" was an understatement.
This living arrangement—one man, one woman, under one roof—it was asking for misunderstandings.
"Just a little! Just a li~ttle bit!"
Rangiku grinned, pouring the drinks and toasting herself before Shuuichi even picked up his cup.
"By the way, I ran into Soi Fon the other day~"
That piqued his interest. He took a sip.
"She was grumbling about always being stuck on surveillance duty in Rukongai, how it's too far to return home in Seireitei, and how inconvenient it is. I told her, 'Well, Shuuichi-sama has a big house with plenty of spare rooms. And you adore him, right? Maybe come crash at our place sometime~'"
A mischievous grin bloomed across her face.
"No way. One woman in this house is already more than enough."
Shuuichi immediately shut the idea down.
Letting Soi Fon move in? He'd go mad. One Shuuichi-sama on the left, another on the right… he'd have migraines every day.
And besides, Soi Fon's strength had grown considerably—under both Yoruichi's teachings and the "private sessions" Shuuichi had provided over the past decade.
She had already mastered Bankai. Rumor had it, Yoruichi was even teaching her the secret technique: Shunko.
If Soi Fon were living here, how the hell was he supposed to sneak off for his extracurriculars?
He didn't have Kyōka Suigetsu, after all.
"Oh? So Shuuichi-sama only needs one woman, huh?"
Rangiku suddenly leaned in close.
The mix of sake and her scent filled his nose. Shuuichi frowned.
"I don't know how many I need. But Rangiku—have you found that childhood friend of yours yet?"
"...No."
The moment Gin's name surfaced, her confidence collapsed like a balloon losing air.
She'd joined the Tenth Division to search for him. Years had passed, and she hadn't even caught a glimpse.
The air turned heavy.
Three cups in, the moon high and stars few, Rangiku slumped over, one hand dangling off the table, mumbling in her sleep: "I'll find you, no matter what…"
Shuuichi gave a helpless smile, then rose and gently lifted her in his arms, carrying her to her room and tucking her in with careful hands.
Based on past experience, she wouldn't wake until morning.
And by tomorrow? Soul Society itself might never be the same again.
He lingered in the doorway, watching her breathing rise and fall, a whisper of envy in his eyes.
Sometimes, ignorance really was bliss.
He knew too much. Living was exhausting.
But he didn't regret any of it. Never had. Never would.
He turned and stepped outside, vanishing toward Seireitei.
No sound. No shadow.
Meanwhile, two youths had just finished their first day as Shino Academy students. Having received their Asauchi, they now snuck off campus.
"I told you, didn't I? Trust me! My dad's been working in the First Division for years. He used to take me to Seireitei all the time. I know this path by heart!"
Kisaragi Shūsuke beamed with pride.
"You sure we won't get in trouble for this?"
Ichimaru Gin's voice was calm, but his ever-narrowed eyes darted constantly, scanning every corner of Seireitei's buildings, committing them to memory.
"What trouble? We're just visiting my dad to learn how to reach Shikai faster. It's not like we're doing anything shady. Even if we're caught, the teachers won't be mad!"
To bolster his argument, Shūsuke added, "You've got insanely high reiatsu potential, and mine's not bad either. Following the regular curriculum is a total waste of time! Remember—we agreed to race to see who becomes a Captain first! If you don't come, and I beat you, don't blame me~"
Gin didn't fall for such childish provocation—but he did want to grow stronger, fast.
He'd already wasted nearly a decade hiding in West Rukongai. Now, every second was precious. He had to find that bespectacled Shinigami—and kill him himself.
But just as the two made their way toward the First Division's compound…
A wave of terrifying spiritual pressure erupted nearby.
A thunderclap explosion shattered the night—
and the game of blood began.