Rukia Kuchiki quickly stepped forward to take a look. After passing through the door, she found the scene eerily silent, with everyone staring blankly at the ring.
It was Yuta on the stage.
Light emanated from Yuta's hand, forming a cover that wrapped around another figure. Within seconds, the person who had seemed on the verge of death was revived-flesh and blood reformed across his body, and he opened his eyes in confusion, surprised to find himself alive.
Where part of the wall had collapsed lay the body of a large man, but by now he no longer resembled one. Every bone, organ, and blood vessel had been shattered-his body fragmented like broken glass.
Aratsuka stood frozen with shock. He had not expected Yuta to be so powerful.
Just moments earlier, Yuta's elegant but devastating finger gesture had unleashed an invisible shockwave that sent the large black bear hurtling backwards. The wall collapsed under its weight. The man's body was destroyed on impact.
Even the underground structure had nearly come apart from that single attack.
Its sheer power stunned everyone watching. Nobles who lacked talent stared in dread-though envy burned behind their eyes too.
Aratsuka Suma blanked for only a moment before recovering quickly, smiling with curiosity and interest.
"Yuta, are you okay?"
Mikami and the other two girls rushed up to him, inspecting him closely. They saw no injuries-no blood on his arms or legs.
"I'm fine."
Kuchiki Rukia reached Yuta and took his hand. "Let's go."
Yuta didn't resist and left with her without another word.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Hirano Sora stepped beside Aratsuka Suma and said seriously, "Master Aratsuka… Yuta's strength seems far greater than we imagined."
Aratsuka Suma smiled slowly. "Isn't that perfect? Lord Tokinada asked us to find someone exactly like this. He'll be released from prison soon. When that day comes-not just the Soul Society-even its highest families will fall under our control…"
…
After Yuta and the others left the basement behind-
Only then did Rukia finally release his hand and reach out to feel over him carefully. "You're not injured anywhere, are you?"
"No." Yuta sounded slightly helpless-but Rukia's hands were small and gentle as they moved across him.
"Is this because of… that past incident? Is that why you're so worried now?"
Rukia's expression darkened at once.
She had failed Kaien Shiba before-had frozen at the worst possible time and lost someone she respected deeply. If she failed again now, if she stood back and lost someone else again-
Her fingers clutched the fabric at Yuta's arm tightly. She leaned into his chest and refused to look up. She wouldn't show anyone her face right now-not like this.
Yuta sighed gently and raised his hand to pat her back. He kept his tone calm.
"Take this chance to visit the Shiba household in Rukongai-and apologize properly. I'll go with you."
Rukia stayed silent for several seconds longer.
Yuta didn't rush her. He only noticed how his chest felt slightly damp against her face.
Eventually, Rukia wiped her eyes and lifted her head slowly. "Okay."
…
"You three should return to the academy," Yuta told Mikami, Juri, and Kanae plainly.
"Mm." Mikami nodded once, watching as Yuta left with Rukia-and with another civilian trailing close behind them toward Rukongai.
At the gate, they encountered Jidanbō.
Jidanbō had been standing guard until then-but stopped when he spotted Yuta approaching. "Why are you-?"
His eyes then caught Rukia behind him. With no hesitation, he bowed deeply and dropped to one knee. "Miss Kuchiki-I've seen you before!"
Rukia nodded slightly. "Open the gate."
"Yes." Jidanbō pushed it open at once.
Watching them walk through together, Jidanbō looked after them in surprise. The first time he'd seen Yuta… there had been captains at his side. Now it was Miss Kuchiki walking next to him-and they looked far too comfortable together.
"Looks like I'll be calling him Lord Yuta next time…"
After crossing into Rukongai-
Kira stopped abruptly and turned toward Yuta with both hands at his side before bowing low at the waist. "Lord Yuta-thank you for saving my life."
"Where's your house?" Yuta asked simply. "I'll also treat your mother while we're there-but I expect you not to cause trouble again after this."
"I-I'll take you there right now!" Thatched Autumn Wind's face lit up with tears as he led them excitedly to his home-a hut built roughly from planks and covered in dried grass for roofing.
Civilians without spiritual power stiffened on the street at the sight of Yuta's Zanpakutō. When they saw Kuchiki Rukia walking beside him too-some gasped softly before ducking into homes or alleyways to avoid attention. They looked terrified they might do the wrong thing near Shinigami.
Yuta felt strange emptiness in his chest-he had once lived in places just like this in District 80 of Rukongai… Now he had become someone these people feared?
Was this how Rukia felt every day?
"This is my home." Kira pushed the door aside wide enough for them to step in.
There were no cooking tools inside-the two Shinigami didn't eat anyway-and behind one thin curtain stood a solitary wooden bed frame.
On it lay a woman, pale-faced and coughing into her sleeve weakly. Her head rolled toward the sound when she saw her son step inside-her expression lightened even as red rose dully on her face from exertion.
"Kira… I'm so glad you came back…"
She didn't scold him for anything-not even for fighting against rules or getting involved in dangerous games for her sake-instead she simply reached toward him with fragile hands trying to hold onto him gently.
Kira fell to his knees beside her bed and sniffled loudly as his head lowered until it touched wood through cloth.
"Mom-I'm back… I won't fight anymore. I'll stay as long as you're okay again…"
Yuta held up his right hand-and released Kaidō over her chest gently.
Soft blue light enveloped the woman where she lay as healing energy sank into her bones one piece at a time. Her cheeks grew warmer as color returned; her breathing came easier after just seconds of light reaching through her lungs.
Her eyes widened-and suddenly she caught sight of both Yuta and Rukia standing nearby-all dressed as Shinigami.
Her expression shifted instantly-she forced herself upright from bed even though her joints cracked with effort and dropped her knees down alongside Kira's before bowing forward fully with both hands against the floorboards.
"Lord Shinigami-thank you both for saving my life…"
Yuta only waved one hand dismissively. "It's fine. Do you know where Shiba Kūkaku's mansion is?"
"I know!" Kira jumped up gratefully from the floor without wiping his eyes first. "I'll take you there-I'd be honored!"
When they saw massive arms stretching out from below ground and recognized the characters spelling "Shiba" hanging from enormous banners-
They knew they had arrived.
Right then-a furious female yell rang out:
"One thousand push-ups are nothing! You think that's gonna rebuild the Shiba name?! Make it two thousand!"
💕💕
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON! FOR ONLY 10$
at p@treon.com /Zaneninjacat
💕💕
💀💀 gimme powerstones!💀💀