"Ahh…"
Facing the setting sun, Haruto let out a long yawn.
"It's already this late?"
The sky above Seireitei had begun to darken. In the western horizon, less than a quarter of the sun remained visible. With the graduation examinations now officially concluded, the grounds of Shin'ō Academy were completely empty of students at this hour.
Even the lamps that had just been lit were sparse and scattered.
"The Tenjōgan Pill Byakuya brought really is remarkable."
Haruto lifted his hand and glanced at his palm, which had finally stopped trembling.
"In just half a day, my physical strength has already improved to a level visible to the naked eye. There wasn't any dramatic transformation at the moment I took it, but compared to my previous condition, the difference is like night and day."
He had spent the entire afternoon experimenting with high-level Kidō that he had never dared attempt before.
It wasn't that he lacked the desire to study them.
The problem was that practicing high-level Kidō placed enormous strain on the body. Previously, Haruto's physical condition simply couldn't endure the burden long enough to release a complete high-level spell.
But now, things had finally changed.
"Very good."
Haruto's spiritual pressure had dropped slightly, yet it still remained firmly within the Seventh-Class range.
When he had been tested six months earlier, he had already surpassed the beginner stage of Seventh-Class spiritual pressure. Before consuming the Tenjōgan Pill, he had even begun approaching the threshold of Sixth-Class.
In exchange for that minor decline, however, his physical strength—especially his recovery ability—had been greatly enhanced.
Earlier that morning, when he used the enhanced version of Byakurai, his body had still suffered numbness and discomfort.
Now, those symptoms had vanished entirely.
"Although I haven't had the chance to study the higher-tier Kidō above number seventy-five, the high-level spells in the 'sixty-plus' range alone will be enough for me to research for a long time…"
Mastering a spell and merely learning its incantation were two very different things.
The highest-level Kidō recorded in Nanao Ise's Kidō compendium only reached number seventy-five. Anything beyond that could only be found within secret archives.
Haruto preferred to master a small number of spells thoroughly.
So when selecting high-level Kidō, he followed the same principle.
First was a lightning-based spell that served as an "over-enhanced" evolution of Byakurai:
Hadō #63 — Raikōhō.
The second was a binding spell that functioned as an enhanced version of the restraining technique Sainawa:
Bakudō #63 — Sajō Sabaku.
Haruto had a mild obsessive tendency when it came to details.
Hadō and Bakudō sharing the same number… if he had the option, he would almost certainly choose them that way.
Of course, he was only joking.
The real reason was simpler.
Most of the other Kidō in the sixty-range simply didn't suit his current needs.
Take Hadō #67 — Raimei San, for example.
Although it was also a lightning-based technique, it leaned more toward area attacks and stealth effects rather than the direct destructive power typical of lightning Kidō.
Too many functions meant none of them were particularly strong.
Another example was Bakudō #61 — Rikujōkōrō.
When Byakuya used it, the technique looked incredibly impressive.
In reality, however, it was extremely easy to miss the target.
If one's spatial awareness or distance calculation was even slightly off, the large amount of spiritual pressure required to cast the spell would be completely wasted.
For someone like Haruto—who cared deeply about maintaining a certain level of elegance in combat—he would have chosen Rikujōkōrō long ago if he were even remotely suited for it.
At that moment—
"Grrr…"
Haruto froze.
"…."
He awkwardly touched his empty stomach.
"Let's not think about this for now."
"High-level Kidō aren't something you master overnight. I should find something to eat first. I spent the afternoon helping Byakuya practice Shikai and didn't even eat lunch."
Unfortunately, while the gates of Shin'ō Academy were still open, the academy's free student cafeteria had already closed.
If Haruto wanted a meal, he would have to head to Rukongai.
The prices inside Seireitei were simply too outrageous.
However—
"…Did I forget something?"
Haruto suddenly stopped walking.
"…."
"Nanao!"
He finally remembered.
Nanao had gone to the academy's grand auditorium earlier to ask Lisa Yadōmaru for an autograph. That task wouldn't have taken very long.
She would certainly have returned to the training grounds afterward to watch the duel.
But Haruto had rushed away from the crowd's attention, clumsily using Shunpo to escape. By the time he reached the dormitory, he had already been dragged away by Byakuya.
"We promised to study Hadō together…"
Borrowing Nanao's Kidō book had come with a condition: Haruto would help her train in Kidō techniques.
What began as a transaction had long since become a routine part of their daily lives.
Especially after each annual examination, the two of them always took time to review their progress together.
Although today's circumstances were unusual, neither of them had canceled the plan.
Which meant it should have continued as usual.
"…Looks like this is going to cost me again."
Haruto rubbed his forehead and headed toward the academy gate.
Southeast Seireitei
At the border between the noble district and the Seventh Division barracks, a prosperous shopping street stretched across the area.
Many famous businesses in Soul Society operated branch stores here. Some had even established their headquarters along this street.
As night fell, colorful lights illuminated the entire district in dazzling brilliance.
Haruto's destination was located at the corner of the street:
A mobile ramen stall called Ōmaeda Kagura Ramen.
From the name alone, it was obvious that the business belonged to the Ōmaeda family.
The stall owner was the younger brother of the Second Division's current vice-captain Ōmaeda Marechiyo's predecessor—the enormous, pompadour-wearing noble known as Ōmaeda Shinnosuke.
"Swish."
The curtain painted with white ocean waves was lifted as Haruto stepped into the ramen stall.
"Boss!"
"Clink."
Metal struck oil-soaked wood with a pleasant sound.
The shop was empty, so Haruto casually chose a seat.
Four tall round stools stood close together. Their construction looked surprisingly crude—far too simple for equipment owned by someone of the owner's status.
A small gold koban coin, square and gleaming brightly, was placed neatly on the counter.
"Give me the Grand Slam."
"Oh?"
Haruto's voice caught the shop owner's attention, though the man sounded only mildly interested.
"Kid, where'd you get that?"
Ōmaeda Shinnosuke picked up the tiny coin between his fingers. It was barely larger than his fingernail.
"Byakuya paid for it," Haruto replied casually.
The coin had been the very one Byakuya flipped earlier to declare the start of their duel.
"…Tch."
The shop owner clicked his tongue.
He clearly wasn't unfamiliar with Haruto.
"Alright," he said.
The coin disappeared into his pocket as his large body moved effortlessly through the cramped stall, already beginning to prepare the meal.
"So," he asked,
"what information do you want this time?"
The ramen here was more expensive than anywhere else on the shopping street.
But the goods sold here were always worth the price.
Within Seireitei, the Second Division and the Eighth Division were naturally the most well-informed organizations.
Through the operations of the Onmitsukidō, the Ōmaeda family had access to many unusual channels.
Turning those connections into profit…
Was simply part of the family business.
Of course, such dealings could never be handled personally by the Second Division vice-captain.
That was where a younger brother proved useful.
"I want information about the Ise family of shrine priests," Haruto said directly.
"Not enough."
Ōmaeda shook his head, though his hands continued working.
Even if the information trade failed, the ramen would still be served.
That was the rule of the shop.
"You only need to tell me the address of the two elderly people who adopted Nanao Ise."
"…Why do you want that?"
A professional information broker normally wouldn't ask about the purpose of a request.
But Ōmaeda Shinnosuke clearly ran his business more out of personal interest.
And Haruto had helped him before, so the question came without hesitation.
"I broke a promise this afternoon."
Haruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"If possible, I want to visit them as soon as I can. Otherwise it'll keep bothering me."
"…That's it?"
The ramen shop owner stared at him in disbelief.
He knew this boy wasn't wealthy.
A single gold koban could support Haruto comfortably in Seireitei for quite some time.
And yet he was spending it simply to avoid breaking a promise.
"…That's it."
Haruto nodded.
Then he added with complete sincerity,
"Well… another reason might be…"
He looked directly at the shop owner.
When most people first saw Haruto's narrow eyes, they assumed he was preparing to draw his sword.
But after so many interactions, Ōmaeda could now recognize the smile hidden within that thin slit of an expression.
"Your ramen is irresistible."
"…Hmph!"
The shop owner snorted proudly.
"You've got good taste."
A little over an hour later, a massive bowl the size of a human head slammed onto the counter.
"Here you go!"
Tonkotsu ramen.
A thick, rich broth topped with a mountain of roasted pork, generous amounts of scallions, bean sprouts, and sheets of seaweed.
This was the Grand Slam—a super-sized ramen capable of satisfying even the most monstrous appetite for an entire day.
Haruto stared at the bowl.
He swallowed hard.
It wasn't because he was greedy.
The Shin'ō Academy cafeteria served excellent meals.
But those dishes carried no special spiritual properties.
This ramen was entirely different.
For Shinigami, eating was one method of replenishing spiritual pressure.
Infusing food with spiritual energy was not a technique invented by Kirio Hikifune.
The true difficulty lay in whether the consumer could absorb that spiritual power efficiently.
Only today—after hearing about Hikifune from Byakuya—did Haruto realize something astonishing.
The ramen made by this so-called "second master of the Ōmaeda family" contained far more spiritual particles than any other food Haruto had ever eaten.
Whether he learned it from Kirio Hikifune…
Or developed the technique himself…
Either way, the ability was extraordinary.
No wonder the Ōmaeda family had maintained their wealth for so long as retainers of the Shihōin clan.
"I'm digging in!"
After two battles and half a day of training, Haruto was thoroughly hungry.
Southeastern Noble District
This area sat near the edge of Seireitei.
Compared to other noble neighborhoods, it was far quieter. Many elderly nobles who had withdrawn from political affairs chose to live here in peaceful seclusion.
Of course, anyone lacking upper-noble status didn't even qualify to own a residence within Seireitei.
The people living here were hardly ordinary.
"Hadō #31 — Shakkahō!"
A youthful yet determined voice rang out.
With a clear incantation, a crimson fireball shot forward and struck the target placed in the courtyard.
The target, made from stone fragments infused with spirit-sealing minerals, displayed a glowing number:
Eight.
It represented the spiritual pressure level.
Devices capable of measuring such power were rare even among upper nobles.
Especially targets designed for Kidō training.
"Slurp."
Two elderly figures sat quietly on the veranda outside the house, sipping tea while watching the young girl practice.
Though the age difference made it strange to call her their daughter…
The two elders had raised Nanao Ise as if she were their granddaughter.
"Hadō #31 — Shakkahō!"
Another fireball formed in Nanao's hands.
Without Haruto's guidance, the training felt slightly unfamiliar.
But Nanao herself was also a prodigy in Kidō.
Even repeating the same spell again and again helped her identify her own weaknesses.
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
A rhythmic knocking echoed from outside the courtyard gate.
The simple tapping sound somehow carried more presence than the explosion of Shakkahō.
The old couple exchanged a glance.
"At this hour…"
"Old man, our neighbors don't usually visit after dinner."
"I'll go check."
The old man slowly stood.
But before he could move—
"Excuse me," a young voice called from outside.
"Is this Nanao Ise's residence?"
"…Huh?"
Nanao froze.
"…Haruto?!"