Karakura Town, Kurosaki Residence.
The afternoon light streamed gently through the window, bathing the room in warm hues that contrasted with the sight of cardboard boxes stacked neatly in every corner.
The rustle of paper and the sound of packing tape being pulled filled the quiet between them.
"Are you... really moving out?" Rui asked softly, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and unease as her eyes scanned the organized chaos around them.
"Yeah." Ren replied calmly without looking up, sealing one of the boxes with deliberate care.
"This way is much easier. Especially for us... things here have gotten a little cramped, and I need a quieter space."
Rui walked closer, kneeling down to help him gather some of the books from the shelf.
"I see..." she murmured, brushing the dust off an old volume. "So... where exactly are you moving to?"
Ren paused for a few seconds, as if thinking about how to phrase his answer, then pulled a small metallic key from his pocket.
"I bought a house between Karakura Town and Kuoh Town. It's a quiet area, relatively close to the places I need to be."
He raised the key toward her, speaking in his usual composed tone.
"This is a spare key. Keep it—I'll send you the location later."
Rui stared at the key in her fingers before glancing back up at him, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
"When do you plan to tell Isshin-san and... my mother?"
Her question sounded simple, but there was a faint trace of worry in her tone—like she feared he might leave without saying goodbye.
Ren smiled faintly, that quiet smile of his that always hid more than it revealed.
"Later. There are still some things I need to take care of first," he said, picking up the wooden swords from the shelf and placing them into a black bag on the floor.
Rui watched him in silence for a moment before saying softly as she lifted another box to help,
"You don't sound too excited... even though you're moving to a new place."
Ren chuckled under his breath as he tightened the tape on another box.
"Moving isn't always a new beginning... sometimes it's just continuing somewhere else."
A brief silence followed, broken only by the wind blowing through the window.
Though Ren wasn't the type to hoard things, what had gathered over the years was enough to fill the room.
But with Rui's help, the packing was going faster than expected.
As she arranged the last box, she looked at him with a warmer tone this time.
"At least make sure to tell me before you leave. I don't want to find out from an empty room."
Ren paused, then cast a sideways glance at her.
"...I promise."
The answer was short, but sincere enough to make her smile faintly.
The room was slowly emptying, yet the air between them grew heavy with something unspoken.
_
That evening.
The soft orange glow from the ceiling lamp filled the Kurosaki living room with a cozy warmth, blending with the scent of dinner wafting in from the kitchen and the laughter echoing from the TV.
On screen, an intense FIFA match was reaching its climax. Ren and Ichigo sat across from each other, each gripping a controller like it was a weapon of fate.
"Yesss! You lost!" Ichigo shouted with glee as the final whistle blew and the score flashed: 2–1 in his favor.
He jumped up, waving his arms like he'd just won the World Cup, while Ren remained seated on the couch—expression as blank as ever—but let out a soft sigh, as if he couldn't quite believe it.
"I... actually lost?" he muttered coolly, glancing at the screen, then at the small stack of cash on the table.
Without hesitation, Ichigo snatched the money at lightning speed, grinning triumphantly.
"Finally! After all those times you crushed me—justice has been served!"
Ren tilted his head slightly, shooting him a side glance, his tone carrying a trace of irritation.
"Didn't expect you to improve that much... or maybe you just got lucky."
Ichigo laughed loudly while counting the bills in his hand.
"Skill, my dear brother, skill! I've been practicing almost every night!"
Beside them, Karin lay sprawled on the couch, her head resting on Ren's lap as she half-watched the match.
She slowly looked up at him and sighed in quiet amusement.
"Oh, please... even half-asleep I can tell he let Ichigo win. His acting's better than half the TV dramas out there."
A small smile tugged at her lips as she watched Ichigo celebrating like a kid with his first toy, while Ren pretended to sulk as if the loss actually bothered him.
"Dinner's ready!" Yuzu's cheerful voice came from the kitchen, followed by the soft clatter of dishes being set on the table.
Tsukiko was helping her serve, and soon the delicious smell of Japanese rice, soy sauce, and grilled fish filled the house.
"Salvation!" Ichigo exclaimed, tossing his controller aside.
"I'll continue my victory feast at the dinner table!"
Ren chuckled quietly as he stood, his movements calm and unhurried, as though the match meant nothing.
"Celebrate all you want... I'll consider it my charity for the day."
"What did you just say?!" Ichigo turned to him with mock outrage while Karin laughed softly.
The three of them walked toward the kitchen together, the house filled with their usual teasing and warmth.
Before long, everyone had gathered around the dinner table —
Ren, Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, Isshin, Tsukiko, Hina, and Rui.
The eight of them shared a lively meal, the warmth of family filling every corner of the room.
Dinner was cheerful and full of laughter, mostly fueled by Isshin's never-ending jokes, until everyone was full and gathered again in the living room to watch TV.
"By the way... I'll be moving out tomorrow," Ren said suddenly, causing everyone to freeze mid-motion.
A heavy silence fell, as if the air itself had stopped moving.
Even the sound of the television seemed to fade under the weight of his words.
Yuzu stopped stirring her tea, her wide eyes lifting toward him, while Isshin's usual smile froze halfway.
Ichigo furrowed his brows, staring at his brother as though he hadn't heard correctly.
"...What did you just say?" Ichigo finally asked, his voice caught between surprise and disbelief.
"I said I'll be moving out tomorrow," Ren repeated in his usual calm tone, his expression unreadable, as if the news carried no emotional burden for him.
He took a sip of tea, then set the cup down quietly.
"To where?" Yuzu asked nervously, clutching her napkin.
"To a house between Karakura Town and Kuoh Town. I bought it recently."
Isshin leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, eyes narrowing with genuine curiosity this time.
"Hmm... did something happen here that made you decide to leave?"
"Not really," Ren smirked faintly, "but this way, you'll get to see your grandchildren sooner. Besides, it's closer to my work."
He didn't elaborate on what kind of work, though almost everyone — except Hina and Rui — already knew he was now Captain of the 5th Division in the Gotei 13.
"Weren't you the one complaining before that you wanted grandchildren?"
"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd take the old man's wish that seriously!" Isshin dramatically wiped nonexistent tears. "Also, you're still a high school student! At least graduate before you start talking about kids!"
"I agree with the old man..." Karin nodded firmly, clearly not eager to become an aunt at thirteen. "But where exactly are you moving to?"
"I told you — I bought a house between Karakura Town and Kuoh Town," Ren replied smoothly. "I'll send you the location later. You're all welcome to visit anytime."
The questions poured in from every direction after that, and Ren answered them patiently, one by one, never losing that calm composure of his.
...
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