Oi, kid, is this your girlfriend? She's pretty cute."
Hirako Shinji tilted his head and looked at Soi Fon, who was standing beside Kurotsuki Renya.
At this moment, Soi Fon was wearing a Kansai-style sailor school uniform, complete with white mid-calf socks and round-toed low-heeled leather shoes. Standing at barely one and a half meters tall, she looked no different from an ordinary high school girl.
Yadōmaru Lisa adjusted her glasses and commented,
"Looks like that uniform suits Soi Fon better than it suits me."
Lisa was also wearing a sailor uniform, but her taller and more mature figure made her look more like an adult deliberately dressing young. She carried more sensuality, but far less innocence.
Soi Fon's face flushed slightly as she said,
"I didn't want to wear this. If it weren't for Renya—"
Before coming to the World of the Living, Renya had insisted she wear it, claiming that everyone dressed like this in the human world.
Only after arriving did she realize that hardly anyone dressed that way—except for actual schoolgirls.
"Alright," Hirako waved his hand, "let's talk about the fight with Aizen."
The Visoreds around them immediately grew serious.
Renya spoke calmly.
"I lost."
He recounted the entire battle in detail, including Aizen Sōsuke's Bankai.
Kensei Muguruma crossed his arms and frowned.
"You lost even after using Bankai? That bastard really is terrifying."
Renya's lightning-based combat speed had overwhelmed Kensei in seconds before, and his Bankai was even stronger—yet Aizen still crushed him.
Renya nodded.
"However, Aizen's plan has been exposed. His next target is Karakura Town. When the time comes, I hope all of you will help defend it."
The investigation into the Dangai had already revealed Aizen's goal—to use one hundred thousand human souls around Karakura Town to forge the Ōken.
Sarugaki Hiyori snorted coldly.
"Defend Karakura Town? Why should we help Seireitei?"
Renya smiled faintly.
"It's not for Seireitei. It's for ourselves. Don't you want revenge, Hiyori?"
Hiyori clenched her fists.
"Of course I do. I'll kill Aizen myself."
Aikawa Love asked,
"When will he attack?"
Renya shook his head.
"I don't know. Maybe three months. Maybe four."
Originally, Aizen waited four months for the Hōgyoku to fully awaken. Now that Urahara's Hōgyoku was sealed away, the timeline was uncertain.
Kensei said firmly,
"Then Karakura Town will be under our protection."
Renya nodded.
"One more thing. The human involved in the incident has shown signs of Hollowfication. Please train him. He hasn't seen Kyōka Suigetsu's release. If he grows stronger, he could become a key factor."
"We'll contact him," Hirako replied.
Renya smiled.
"Then Soi Fon and I will head out. We plan to walk around Naruki City."
Hirako grinned.
"Go on. We won't interrupt your date."
...
Renya and Soi Fon left the Visoreds' hideout and arrived in the bustling center of Naruki City. Compared to Karakura Town, it was far more lively, with shops lining the streets.
Both were using Gigai, holding hands like a pair of newly graduated students.
Though visually, Renya looked like an elementary schooler, while Soi Fon resembled a middle school student.
"What's this?"
Inside a game arcade, Soi Fon stared at a machine in front of her.
Renya smiled.
"A claw machine. You put in coins and grab dolls. If you like one, I'll get it for you."
"Alright," Soi Fon said calmly. "Get me that black cat."
She pointed at a plush resembling a cat.
After learning that Urahara Kisuke had saved Renya's life, the last trace of resentment she held toward Shihōin Yoruichi had completely vanished, replaced once more with admiration.
Renya inserted a coin, adjusted the controls, and lowered the claw.
The claw slipped.
"Missed. I'll try again."
He reached for another coin, but Soi Fon pushed him aside.
"I'll do it myself."
She adjusted the claw—not directly above the doll, but slightly behind it—then lowered it.
It grabbed the doll awkwardly.
Renya frowned.
"That won't work. It'll slip."
And it did—yet as it fell, the doll rolled perfectly into the prize chute.
Soi Fon picked it up triumphantly.
"I succeeded."
Renya stared in admiration.
"Again," Soi Fon said confidently.
She inserted coin after coin, grabbing dolls with astonishing efficiency. Though she failed sometimes, her success rate was extremely high.
After several wins, Renya hurriedly said,
"That's enough. What are you doing with so many dolls?"
"They're gifts," Soi Fon replied cheerfully. "One for every member of the Women's Shinigami Association."
She finally stopped after collecting seven dolls.
They moved on to other machines—flight simulators, racing games, shooting games, dance machines, boxing games.
Despite it being her first time, Soi Fon mastered each with terrifying speed. Crowds gathered, exclamations ringing out.
At the shooting range, not a single shot missed.
Even restricted to physical strength through Gigai, her precision was overwhelming.
They even took a photo together. Soi Fon allowed Renya to kiss her cheek, her mood clearly lifted.
Only at dusk did they finally leave the arcade, Renya carrying an armful of prizes.
After walking a short distance, they entered a narrow alley.
Soi Fon suddenly stopped.
"Come out," she said coldly. "You've been following us since the arcade. What do you want?"
Renya peeked out from behind the dolls.
"Someone's following us?"
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
A girl stepped forward.
Renya's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Why is it her?"