"Sōi Fon, any recommendations for where to go?"
Although Kensei Kenzuru was the one who suggested going out, he was just some guy from the boonies of West 80th District. What would he know about romantic spots in the Soul Society? Since entering the Seireitei, he'd either been training or contributing to the peace of the Soul Society, with the occasional flirtation with a beautiful girl. He'd had no time to pay attention to such things.
Soi Fon lowered her head in serious thought, her finger unconsciously tapping her chin. "There's a nice grassy field in the North Rukongai. It's not too far from the Seireitei."
She paused before adding, "Also, in case of an emergency, we can quickly retreat to the Seireitei for backup. I've scouted the terrain nearby before; it's very suitable for setting up a military camp..."
Listening to Soi Fon's overwhelmingly tactical, Onmitsukidō-style assessment, Kensei couldn't help but cover his face. "Do you think we're going on a mission or a date today?"
"A d-d-date?!" Soi Fon's cheeks instantly flushed red as she flusteredly bowed her head. "I... I can't betray Lady Yoruichi..."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller towards the end, as if she had committed some sin requiring penance.
The corner of Kensei's mouth twitched. Didn't she get plenty of feels in last time at the hot springs? Why is she getting shy now?
"Then let's go to the place you mentioned."
"Yes, sir!"
About half an hour later, the two arrived at the grassy field Soi Fon had described. The chosen spot was indeed nice, with a gentle breeze and pleasant scenery.
After laying out the picnic blanket, Kensei lay down on it, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace wash over him.
He'd been in the Soul Society for a while now. Originally, he'd thought about making a big splash, planning to punch the monks and kick Yhwach, but now the main storyline hadn't even started yet. All he could do was beat up characters who were either anime-original or some author's personal vendetta villains.
And with him being this strong, was it because the old bastard Spirit King saw how awesome he was and gave him cheat codes?
"Sōi Fon, do you have anything you want to do?"
Kensei looked at the clouds drifting across the sky and casually asked the girl beside him.
"I wish to serve by Lord Kensei's and Lady Yoruichi's side for my entire life."
Whenever this topic came up, Soi Fon got very enthusiastic. She immediately straightened her posture, her chin slightly raised, as if she was bathed in the glorious light of a martyr.
Kensei: "..."
He'd originally been thinking of using this chance to say a famous line like "I don't have a dream, but I can protect other people's dreams," but Soi Fon's statement completely derailed that.
"Isn't there anything you particularly want to do? Like becoming a Captain or something."
"Something I want for myself..."
Soi Fon lowered her head in serious thought. The scene from the last time she was in the hot springs with her two superiors surfaced in her mind—the warm water, what was hidden beneath the mist... Soi Fon shook her head violently, her cheeks rapidly heating up.
Last time, just being outside was already so... thrilling. If we had actually gone inside together...
Smack!
Soi Fon suddenly raised her hand and lightly slapped her own cheek, trying to shake the indecent thoughts from her head. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down, but the tips of her ears remained noticeably red.
"Get out of here, monster!"
"Leave our territory!"
The sudden commotion from a distance interrupted Soi Fon's thoughts. Kensei, who had been about to ask why her face was suddenly so red, also had his attention diverted.
The two looked towards the source of the sound. By a small river some distance away, a group of Rukongai residents were surrounding a tall figure, waving wooden sticks and shouting loudly.
Although they weren't that close, Kensei and Soi Fon could still clearly see the person being surrounded. It wasn't hard; his height of over two meters was far too conspicuous.
The tall figure wore a large robe that covered his entire body, thick gloves on his hands, and a hood that nearly covered his entire face. Even so, they could see tufts of hair peeking out from the gaps in his clothing.
"Oh hell yeah! Finally, a plot point where I get to show off and put people in their place!"
Although she didn't understand why Kensei was so excited, Soi Fon reflexively entered a state of alert, her hand resting on the hilt of her Zanpakutō. "Do you wish to intervene, Lord Kensei?"
"Of course."
Within a few breaths, the two arrived at the scene of the disturbance. Some people were already using their sticks against the tall figure in the center, while others were picking up stones from the ground to use as weapons.
"Hiding your face like that, you're definitely no good!"
"What kind of person has a mouth that sticks out that much?!"
The figure surrounded by the crowd kept his head bowed, his broad shoulders hunched inward, seemingly unwilling to argue. But his silence only emboldened the others.
"Everyone, my fellow citizens! Since I'm here now, I'm here to uphold justice!"
Kensei directly used Shunpo to bring the tall guy out from the center. Seeing their attacks miss, the residents all turned their attention to the person who had just spoken.
Soi Fon stood before Kensei, her Zanpakutō partially drawn.
"S-Shinigami, sir!"
Although neither Kensei nor Soi Fon were wearing their Shihakushō, the Zanpakutō at their waists couldn't be faked. The Rukongai residents immediately knelt down, their voices trembling.
Seeing this group kneel so readily, Kensei felt a pang of boredom.
Normally, shouldn't they question me and try to attack first? Then I'd release a mighty aura, my spiritual pressure making them gasp for breath, and only then would they kneel and kowtow like mad while shouting 'Shinigami, sir!' How can they just kneel right away? That's not how it works in satisfying stories!
"Ah, forget it. Let's go."
His interest waning, Kensei turned to leave, gesturing for the tall guy to follow him so the crowd wouldn't start up again after he left.
Once they returned to the picnic spot, Kensei studied the silent giant with curiosity.
"Thank you," a slightly hoarse voice came from beneath the hood. "But you didn't have to do that. They would have left once they got tired."
Hearing this, the corner of Kensei's mouth twitched again. Is this guy a reincarnation of Chad who hasn't been born in the Living World yet? Winning fights by just outlasting the opponent?
"Mind showing us what you really look like?"
First of all, he definitely wasn't human. The only normal person Kensei could think of who was around two meters tall was Kenpachi Zaraki, not to mention all this fur.
The giant's body visibly stiffened, but he still nodded. It was best if these two Shinigami didn't discriminate against him. Even if they saw him as a monster, it would at least put an end to this miserable life.
He slowly raised his hands and pulled back his hood. A wolf's head covered in thick fur appeared in their field of vision.
"Lord Kensei!"
Soi Fon gasped. The wolfman race didn't have a good reputation in the Soul Society. She moved to draw her Zanpakutō to drive away this vile beast, but Kensei pressed down on her hand before she could.
Seeing Soi Fon's drawing motion, the wolfman had already prepared to close his golden eyes and await death. Instead, he saw Kensei stop the attack and stare at him with a strange look before uttering a sentence that short-circuited his brain.
"What kind of dog is this?"
***
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