Kirin Palace Dining Hall.
Crunch, crunch… Gulp, gulp…
Yūshirō Shihōin kept shoveling food into his mouth. Maybe it was because of the overwhelming spiritual pressure in his body—no matter how much he ate, he never gained weight.
"Yo! Little monster, already started eating? "
Tenjirō Kirinji walked in, chewing on a stalk of straw he'd snapped from who knows where, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel.
"Hm?"
"Why are you alone? Where's my sister? "
Yūshirō asked, his words muffled by the food in his mouth.
"I tossed her into the healing spring, then went to the bathhouse myself."
"Honestly, she really deserves to be your sister. That perseverance is rare."
"Seriously… maybe I really should find someone to inherit my title as Thunderbolt! "
Kirinji nodded in satisfaction. At this point, he wasn't just doing it because of duty or a contract—he was genuinely teaching Yoruichi as a mentor who wanted to see her excel.
"Ah, just thinking about it ticks me off! Kids these days don't even know who I am! Back in my day, who in the entire Soul Society didn't know the great Thunderbolt Tenjirō Kirinji? Everyone wanted to kneel before me and learn my lightning-fast shunpo! "
Kirinji complained non-stop beside Yūshirō.
Gulp.
But Yūshirō couldn't care less about Kirinji's rant. He was only concerned about his sister. Swallowing his last bite, he asked, "That healing spring of yours… it's not separated by gender, right? "
"Of course not. I live alone in this palace most of the time—no need for that. Bathhouse, toilets, same deal."
Kirinji nodded after a pause.
"…Crap."
Yūshirō's pupils shrank. Dropping his food, he bolted toward the spring.
Meanwhile, at the hot spring.
"Uh… Miss Yoruichi, this is kind of embarrassing…"
Kisuke Urahara was hiding behind a massive rock, speaking nervously toward Yoruichi's figure, barely visible through the thick steam.
"What are you embarrassed about? "
"We're just injured people here. Injured people don't care about gender."
Yoruichi stretched lazily, settling into a comfortable position in the spring. Her golden eyes sparkled with mischief—like a playful cat that had found a new toy, wild and adorable all at once.
"Hahaha… You're not wrong, Miss Yoruichi. Wounded don't care about gender, but…"
Kisuke shook his head frantically, not daring to move closer. Sure, the injured might not care, but some little brothers definitely would.
"What's your problem? "
"I don't care, so what are you so worried about? "
Like a sleek black cat, Yoruichi flashed behind Kisuke in an instant, blowing warm breath against his ear.
"Uh… Miss Yoruichi…"
Kisuke squeezed his eyes shut, his whole body trembling.
"What's wrong? Can't even look at me? "
"You've seen me before when we were kids, haven't you? Or is it that now I've grown up, you're feeling… something? "
Yoruichi teased relentlessly, her voice dripping with amusement.
"No, that's not it at all. I'm just… afraid of dying."
Kisuke shook his head desperately. Yoruichi was bad enough, but her brother? He was on a whole other level. Guess the saying's true—like brother, like sister.
"Really not gonna look? Miss this chance, and you'll never get it again…"
Yoruichi kept tempting him, playing with his heartbeat.
"Forget it! Miss Yoruichi, I really can't afford this blessing."
Kisuke's self-control was like a monk's. Maybe that's why his zanpakutō was named Kan'on Biraki Benihime Aratame.
"Not even a peek? "
She pressed on.
"No, I—"
Before Kisuke could finish, a shadow lunged toward him.
"Stop right there, you perv! "
Yūshirō Shihōin flew in with a kick, slamming it square into Kisuke's face.
WHAM!
"Why…?"
Before he could even see anything, Kisuke was sent flying into the steaming water with a splash.
"You okay, Sis? "
Yūshirō finally relaxed, turning to Yoruichi.
"Of course. I'm wearing my stealth combat suit! "
Yoruichi rose from the water, dressed in her tight black uniform, flashing a thumbs-up.
"Good. That's a relief."
"Still, we need to separate this spring by gender. It needs a remodel."
"Urahara! Use your zanpakutō and fix this place up! "
Yūshirō barked orders toward Kisuke.
"So it's still up to me, huh? "
Dragging himself out of the water, Kisuke pulled out his zanpakutō.
"Bankai! Kan'on Biraki Benihime Aratame! "
With his Bankai, a breathtaking beauty appeared behind him—like a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko.
"Huh? Urahara, you've already mastered Bankai?! "
Yoruichi's eyes widened in surprise. She knew he'd eventually get there, but this was faster than expected.
"Well, he's a genius. Add my genius-level coaching, and learning Bankai is just a piece of cake."
Yūshirō praised Kisuke while sneakily putting himself on an even higher pedestal.
Clap, clap, clap…
"Impressive. Both of you are amazing! "
Yoruichi applauded with a smirk.
"Anyway…"
"Miss Yoruichi, you should be fully healed by now, right? So would you kindly step out for a bit? I need to remodel this place."
Kisuke gave her a helpless look while controlling his Bankai.
"Sure, take your time. I'm hungry anyway."
Yoruichi nodded, then turned to her brother.
"Yūshirō, there's food here, right? "
"Of course. The food here is top-notch—made by zanpakutō ladies themselves."
Yūshirō grinned.
"Perfect."
"Later then, Urahara."
Yoruichi waved as she walked off with Yūshirō.
"Do your best, Urahara! "
Yūshirō tossed one last cheerful jab before leaving.
"…These siblings are exhausting."
Kisuke twitched as he looked around the steaming spring—empty except for himself.