Shiki Mirai left the 2nd Division Headquarters in noticeably lighter spirits.
He subconsciously patted his flat stomach, feeling a bit more confident.
Thanks to Urahara's Substitute tag, his upcoming mission to the World of the Living now carried a far higher safety margin.
As for that whole spiel about "a massive concentration of souls possibly attracting Menos-class Hollows"...
That had been pure nonsense he'd spun on the fly to scare something useful out of Urahara Kisuke.
Before seeking Urahara out, he'd actually gone to Captain Muguruma Kensei to quietly inquire about the mission's true nature.
Though Kensei always looked stern, he treated his officers with reasonable care and told Shiki everything he knew.
Apparently, the mission landing in the lap of the 11th Division had been something of a winding path.
It started when Captain Ukitake Jūshirō of the 13th Division suffered a relapse of his chronic illness. With his body failing, he couldn't lead the large-scale soul burial support operation in the World of the Living.
While the 3rd Seat of the 13th Division, Shiba Kaien, was plenty capable, his relative inexperience made him a risky choice to coordinate a multi-division deployment of this scale.
So the higher-ups turned to the 5th Division instead.
But the moment Captain Hirako Shinji heard the job description—leading the team, coordinating units, ensuring the safety of a whole squadron—he waved it off.
"Too much hassle," he'd said bluntly, citing "internal affairs piling up" as his excuse.
And really, the 5th Division wasn't hurting for missions. Something this exhausting, with hardly any chance for a good fight? No thanks.
So the assignment bounced around a bit more… and finally landed on the 11th Division.
Captain Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's reaction?
"Go to the World of the Living? Might be a fight? Say no more. We're in!"
The 11th Division's troops were even more excited. To them, any excuse to move their bodies was a good mission. Whether it was support work or slaying enemies didn't matter.
So ultimately, this was just a souped-up soul burial support mission. Maybe a few more Hollows than usual, maybe a little stronger. But certainly not as dramatic as the story Shiki had fed to Urahara—let alone anything involving Menos-class threats.
Now that he had a solid grasp on the situation and some "black tech" from Urahara, Shiki practically bounced down the road with a spring in his step.
He began to wonder… was there still another angle he could work to boost his safety margin just a bit more?
Just as he rounded the corner past the 2nd Division gate, a familiar figure came into view.
Long purple hair tied in a sleek ponytail, bronze skin glowing under the sun—she leaned casually against a wall, one leg bent, heel pressed against the surface, radiating the lazy confidence of someone sunbathing in her own backyard.
Shihōin Yoruichi.
Shiki's eyes lit up. His internal calculator began working overtime.
He quickly adjusted his expression, letting a trace of melancholy soften his features.
Quickening his pace, he came to a stop in front of her and lowered his voice with just the right amount of somber weight:
"Yoruichi… what a coincidence. I was just on my way to say goodbye."
She tilted her head slightly, golden eyes sliding toward him. She didn't speak, but the corners of her lips curled into a faint, amused smile.
Shiki pressed on, voice tinged with sadness:
"Tomorrow morning, I'll be heading to the World of the Living with the 11th Division. Once I'm gone... well, it's war out there. Who knows if I'll ever come back."
He paused to gauge her reaction, then continued with a tone of heartfelt resignation:
"We've known each other for a long time, haven't we? If, by chance, I don't return... I'd appreciate it if, during the holidays, you could light some incense for me. Pour a little sake. Let my soul feel a little less lonely, wherever I end up."
Still leaning against the wall, Yoruichi's golden irises flickered in the sunlight. The curve of her lips deepened, but she said nothing.
Shiki inwardly frowned. That wasn't the reaction he'd expected. Shouldn't she be teasing him by now? Or at least offering a comforting word?
He pushed further.
"Of course, I'm not one to guilt people or ask for much. But... we've known each other for, what, thirty years now?
"Thirty years of acquaintance... I think it's fair to ask you to burn offerings for thirty years. Once a year. That's not unreasonable, right?"
Yoruichi finally spoke, her voice light and lazy, but clear: "Not unreasonable."
Shiki's heart jumped. Got her!
Then she added, "I'll burn them for a hundred years."
His melancholic mask almost cracked. His brow twitched involuntarily.
'Huh? What's with that response? That's way too easy. She even upped the offer? Something's off here…'
Clearing his throat, he steadied himself and switched tactics.
"Ahem… well, that puts me at ease, a little. Actually, there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you."
He summoned a nostalgic tone. "Lately, there's been this little stray cat—jet black, with golden eyes—that's been visiting the 9th Division to play with me.
"It's quite fond of me. If I don't come back… it might feel abandoned. Would you… mind stopping by from time to time? Keep it company? Just so it doesn't feel so alone."
As he spoke, he looked at her with exaggerated sincerity.
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed slightly.
She stared at Shiki for two seconds, then nodded without changing her tone. "Sure, I'll do that."
Eh?
Shiki felt even more unsettled. Still no reaction? Really?
He wasn't about to give up just yet. He had to score something.
This was Shihōin Yoruichi—the head of one of the Soul Society's Five Great Noble Clans. The Shihōin family controlled the Tensui Armament Division, and their private collection of spiritual gear put Urahara's prototypes to shame.
If he could somehow score one of those noble treasures—even on loan—he could practically walk sideways through the World of the Living. His safety would be all but guaranteed.
He'd already played every emotional card in his hand. Talked about death, burning offerings, stray cats…
And still, she was stone. Unmoved.
One last try.
"Oh, right—one more thing. I actually finished drafting half of Volume Two of The Killer of Meteor City.
"If I really don't make it back… it would be a shame to let it rot in my quarters.
"Could you… find it, tidy it up, and publish it? Just so I don't leave my readers hanging."
This one's gotta hit, he thought. She liked that book, right?
Yoruichi nodded again, tone unchanged: "Sure."
Shiki was done.
He'd played every hand, and she never once took the bait.
He took a deep breath, dropping the act and returning to his usual tone.
"Alright then. We're assembling early tomorrow. I still need to pack and prep. I'll take my leave now, Yoruichi."
"Mm." She gave a light response, not even shifting her posture against the wall.
Shiki turned and began walking back toward the 9th Division Headquarters, his shoulders just slightly slumped.
No Tensui Armament, no noble gift, no lucky break. Urahara's gear was good, sure—but psychologically, it just didn't stack up to the allure of noble-grade tools.
Sigh... oh well. If it's meant to be, it will be. If not—no point forcing it.
He comforted himself with that thought and picked up his pace.
Back at the street corner, Yoruichi watched him fade into the distance, her lips curled in a playful, amused smile.
This kid... still such a riot.
He wasn't weak—far from it. His Reiatsu control was sharp. But for some reason, he always played the frail card around her.
Still… the World of the Living, huh?
Yoruichi tilted her head slightly, golden eyes glinting with curiosity and thought.
Come to think of it, it really has been a while…
When was the last time she visited? Decades ago? Maybe longer?
Technically, Captains weren't allowed to enter the World of the Living without permission.
Their Reiatsu was too dense. Dropping in unregulated could unbalance the spiritual ecosystem there—maybe even cause trouble.
But…
Her smile deepened.
She wasn't just any captain.
She was Shihōin Yoruichi—head of the Shihōin Clan.
And as one of the Soul Society's top five noble houses, her family didn't need to rely on the Gotei 13's Senkaimon. They had their own methods for crossing realms.
Maybe it's time to pay the World of the Living a visit.
...