Seff wasn't just trying to comfort Yui or acting out of some sudden burst of kindness when he said those words.
They were currently in the 49th District. Yui's home was in the 45th. Seff had no intention of settling down here in the 49th. He'd always planned to keep moving forward.
The difference now was that, while before he had simply been heading deeper into Rukongai by feel, letting his feet take him wherever, they now had a specific direction, with Yui leading the way.
Seff didn't know what kind of person Yui had been before all this, but after seeing him return to the scene of the attack, after regaining some strength, and watching him gather what was left of his family's belongings, including his father's… even if it was just old clothing… Seff couldn't help but be surprised by the kid's resilience.
He didn't lash out. Didn't break down.
Instead, he held back his tears and quietly packed up the last remnants of his family.
And Seff could understand why.
When people go through a life-altering event, especially one as violent as this, it's not unusual for their personality to shift. The emotional highs and lows of trauma often force people into rapid changes, usually for the worse.
Yui had just witnessed his father's death. Nearly died himself. Now he had to carry this burden home, not just to his mother, but to the other families affected by the massacre.
That weight… even most adults would've collapsed under it.
But Yui didn't. He didn't take out his pain on Seff. In fact, as they traveled, Seff noticed Yui actively trying to regulate his emotions, doing everything he could to stay composed and positive.
Seff knew it wasn't just for his own sake, but to shift focus away from the tragedy and anchor himself in the present.
To keep Yui's mind from spiraling back to grief, and to satisfy his own curiosity, Seff began asking him questions.
From those conversations, Seff learned a lot more about the world of Soul Society. Most importantly, he heard about a place called the Shino Spiritual Arts Academy.
It was the institution responsible for training the next generation of Shinigami.
The academy didn't discriminate, anyone with the aptitude to become a Soul Reaper could attend, even commoners from the outer districts of Rukongai.
However, that didn't make it easy to get in. Entrance exams were notoriously difficult, and many applicants failed multiple times before finally being accepted.
Seff asked if there were limits to how many times someone could take the entrance test.
Yui just smiled and said, "Someone like you, Seff-san… someone strong enough to slay a Hollow without even being a Soul Reaper yet? You'd pass in one try. No question."
It was clear, though, that Yui hadn't picked up on why Seff had asked in the first place.
On another note, Seff also asked Yui about Hollows.
Or rather, the rumors.
To the residents of the inner Rukongai, at least within the first 50 districts, Hollows were more myth than reality.
In contrast, Yui said they were said to appear more frequently in the last twenty districts. Seff hadn't encountered any until he arrived in the 49th, which, depending on how one looked at it, was either good luck… or really bad luck.
To most people here, Hollows were folklore. Unless someone had crossed paths with one just before death and somehow survived the transition into Soul Society, they would have no proof they even existed.
Still, Yui mentioned that there were growing rumors of Hollows appearing more frequently, even in districts closer to the center. His own encounter, he admitted, had basically confirmed those rumors.
That, like the information about the Shino Academy, piqued Seff's interest.
Thanks to their developing bond, and the fact that Seff had saved his life, Yui answered every question Seff asked without hesitation.
Though, due to his age and limited experience, most of what he shared was hearsay. Useful, but not entirely reliable.
After several days of travel, the two finally arrived at the 45th District.
To Seff, this was his first time seeing a Rukongai settlement that felt… stable. Healthy. Like a real town.
It still didn't compare to the cities or even the rural towns of his previous life, but there were proper houses here. Streets with people walking back and forth. Merchants selling goods. Life.
For the first time, Seff truly felt like he had stepped into an ancient society, not some lawless deathmatch free-for-all like the outer districts had led him to believe.
He had no desire to even talk about the last thirty districts.
They weren't places to live. They were places to survive.
After delivering Yui home, Seff watched as the boy's mother collapsed in grief upon hearing of her husband's death, despite a stranger being present in the room.
But when she woke again, her eyes had changed.
She had hardened, much like her son had.
With her husband gone, she alone had to protect what remained of her family.
Though not a noble house, Yui's family had been relatively well-off in the Rukongai. They ran a steady business.
But now, with the man of the house gone, the future of that business was uncertain.
Under these circumstances, Yui's mother invited Seff to stay with them. And he accepted.
She had heard from Yui how Seff had slain the Hollow. Even if he wasn't a Shinigami, the fact that he could wield such power clearly marked him as something beyond an ordinary soul.
In uncertain times, having someone like that around wasn't just a comfort, it could be the difference between ruin and survival.
To her, it was worth any price.
But Seff didn't accept for any kind of reward. He had his own reasons.
With the family's help, he settled down temporarily in the 45th District. And, just to make ends meet (and maybe fight off some boredom), he opened up a small office, a general-purpose commission house, of sorts.
While he claimed to accept all kinds of jobs, he completely ignored requests for lost pets or small errands.
But whenever someone hinted that there might be a Hollow sighting nearby, he would be the first to move.
That, more than anything, was why he stayed.
And as word spread of a swordsman in the 45th who could kill a Hollow with ease, his name began to circulate through the district… and beyond.
It didn't take long for people to realize that Seff's sword wasn't just for show.
Those who had hoped to exploit the chaos and absorb Yui's family business quietly backed off.
The family weathered the storm.
And slowly… life returned to normal.