The skeleton wrapped around Renji's body completely restricted his spiritual power.
Until he left the skeletal armor, he couldn't even return to his Shinigami form. Compared to Shiraha's refined prosthetics, his looked like scrap metal.
"Haha! Renji, your skeleton looks like it came from a discount bin!"
Kurosaki Ichigo burst into laughter.
"Shut up, you bastard! You think I don't want better equipment?" Renji snapped, his expression deflated.
As the lieutenant of the Sixth Division, his monthly pay barely lasted through the week. Whatever he had left went into maintenance and food. To buy high-grade prosthetics like Shiraha's was nothing but a dream.
"Ichigo!"
From the distance, Ishida Uryū, Orihime, and Chad came running through the grass.
"Eh? Mr. Shiraha is here too?" Orihime blinked in surprise. "But he left the classroom with us earlier, didn't he?"
Ichigo opened his mouth to answer, but Shiraha cut in with quiet authority.
"I know you have questions. Let's talk elsewhere."
He gathered Yoruichi in his arms and murmured a short incantation. A flash of blue light enveloped them, and in the next instant, they stood on the rooftop of Karakura High.
"Whoa… that's incredible, Mr. Shiraha," Orihime whispered, wide-eyed.
Ichigo frowned. "So, what's going on? Why are you here? And why as a teacher?"
Shiraha smiled faintly. "I did something that displeased the Captain-Commander. My punishment is to stay in this world for two months. As for teaching—let's just say I was bored."
He left it at that. The real reason could never be told.
"Punished?" Ichigo's brows rose. He couldn't imagine what Shiraha had done to earn a punishment.
Orihime tilted her head, her soft voice breaking the silence. "Mr. Shiraha, when you were in the Soul Society, your eyes hadn't recovered yet, right? How did they heal?"
"Renji," Shiraha said calmly, "explain it to them."
"Understood, Captain Shiraha."
Renji straightened his back and recounted everything—the battle, the injury, the recovery.
"I see," Ichigo muttered, realization dawning. They all finally understood why Shiraha's eyes gleamed like frozen sapphire now, and why he was stationed in the Human World.
"Thank you, Captain Shiraha," Uryū said as he rose and bowed deeply.
Shiraha waved a hand. "No need for that. I simply can't stand Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
Uryū's expression softened. "Still… I owe you. You helped me regain my Quincy power and punished the one who murdered my grandfather. That's enough reason to be grateful."
Before Shiraha could reply, the substitute badge on Ichigo's belt flared with blue light.
A Hollow, nearly eight meters tall, tore through the air and landed on school grounds with a guttural roar.
"It's a Hollow!" Orihime gasped.
Renji groaned, trapped in his skeletal frame. "This damn thing makes it impossible to move freely!"
Uryū conjured his spirit bow, blue particles swirling around his hands. Beside him, Chad's right arm shifted, transforming into the red-black armor of the Brazo Derecha de Gigante.
Shiraha glanced at the commotion and sighed lightly. "It's just a weak one. No need to panic."
He raised his right index finger. "Hadō #4 — Byakurai."
A bolt of pure lightning burst from his fingertip, ripping through the Hollow's chest in a single strike. The creature shrieked, dissolving into spirit particles that faded into the air.
"Mr. Shiraha… you're amazing," Orihime murmured in awe.
"Go back to class," Shiraha said, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "I'll take my leave."
Seven days remained before he would complete the task assigned. There was no reason to linger.
With another flash of blue light, he and Yoruichi vanished from sight.
---
By evening, the group gathered inside Urahara's shop.
Urahara Kisuke, Tessai, Jinta, Ururu, Yoruichi, Shiraha, and Renji sat around the low table, eating a humble dinner.
Renji devoured his food with the hunger of a man starved for days.
"Would you like another bowl?" Tessai asked solemnly, rice paddle in hand.
Renji froze mid-bite and glanced up.
"Go ahead. You eat plain rice, not people. Don't be shy, Mr. Plain Rice," Tessai rumbled with mock seriousness.
"Uh… well—"
Before Renji could respond, Ururu chimed in with a timid smile. "I'll refill first. Please wait, Mr. White Rice."
Renji's entire body stiffened as laughter rippled around the table. Shiraha hid his smile but couldn't hold back a small chuckle. He patted Renji's shoulder.
"Renji, don't take it too hard. Freedom comes with some humiliation—it's not so bad."
"Captain Shiraha…" Renji muttered, his eyes glistening with mock tears.
"Mr. Tessai, may I have another bowl?" Shiraha asked smoothly, handing his empty dish forward.
"Of course." Tessai filled it to the brim. "Is that enough, Mr. Shiraha? I can add more."
"That's perfect. Thank you."
Tessai nodded approvingly before turning to Renji. "How about you, Mr. Rice?"
Renji trembled as he handed over his empty bowl wordlessly.
While Tessai refilled it, Jinta snorted. "For someone who eats nothing but rice, you sure ask for seconds fast. Come on, eat up."
Urahara, tapping his chopsticks against his chin, grinned. "Yes, Mr. Rice. It's not every day you get such a title."
Renji's hand quivered around his bowl. His young heart had already taken too much damage tonight.
"I'll, uh, handle the front cleaning tomorrow morning," Jinta added with a sly grin.
"What?! Why me?" Renji exclaimed.
"You ate the most rice. Naturally, it's your duty, Mr. Rice Eater," Jinta said, perfectly straight-faced.
"Please enjoy your meal, Mr. Rice," Ururu added softly.
Renji's shoulders slumped. He stared at his half-empty bowl as if it held his shattered pride.
At that moment, the proud lieutenant of the Sixth Division realized something horrifying—
his young heart had been thoroughly destroyed.
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