Chapter 13: So Twisted, Who Knows Where He Learned It From
"How did you know? No, wait… you only guessed, didn't you? You were not sure, so you deliberately baited that idiot Omaeda just now."
Thinking back to the short exchange when Omaeda left, Shiba Kukaku quickly saw through what had happened.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't get it. Can someone explain clearly? Who had an accident?"
Ichigo was completely lost.
"The Shinigami in charge of local security management," Hachihara answered on reflex.
Then she froze, drew in a sharp breath, and suddenly clapped her hands.
"I get it!"
"No wonder the Onmitsukido brass came out here to investigate. From what you said earlier, I thought it was just about the missing Spirit Arts Academy students, but now it sounds like a Shinigami was involved. Of course that would make them move."
"Otherwise, normally, just sending someone from one of the Gotei 13 Divisions to handle the investigation would be enough."
"Shimiya saw Omaeda and realized the nature of the incident had changed, so he deliberately poked him, hinting that he should go talk to the Shinigami stationed here to understand the situation. But the way he looked at us, like we were idiots, made it clear that option was already gone."
Why was it gone?
Because something had already happened.
Ichigo was not some hot blooded fool like Naruto. He simply had little experience with sudden incidents like this, so his reactions seemed slow at first. But once he calmed down and listened, he quickly pieced the situation together.
Most residents of Rukongai did not need to eat. Water alone was enough for them. Only a small number of people with spiritual power aptitude needed food, and that food was a scarce resource in Rukongai.
Most of it was supplied regularly by Seireitei, which sent people to establish agricultural and water supply bases throughout Rukongai.
Naturally, the ones in charge of those bases were Shinigami.
The good public order in the districts close to Seireitei was also largely thanks to the work of these managers.
Now, the manager of Runrinan had run into trouble.
The incident itself might still be small, but its nature was extremely sensitive.
Whether it was an attack on an official dispatched from Seireitei, or some internal accident, either way it would easily stain Seireitei's reputation. That was why the Onmitsukido had been called in.
"So what exactly happened?"
They now understood the relationships involved, but the fact remained that the situation had become more complicated.
"Hard to say," Shimiya Takeru said quietly. "But no matter what, the bigger this incident gets, the worse it will be for the Elder."
"If it were only about missing students, the people who came knocking would just be here to ask questions. But if Shinigami are involved, the ones who come might be here to arrest someone or conduct a deep investigation."
"That is why Miss Kukaku is here at this timing. Her goal is to use her influence and information to draw their attention so they will not bother the Elder."
That final sentence made Ichigo and the others fully grasp the risk hidden behind what had looked like a one sided, almost comical tongue lashing.
"You are not just smart, kid. One look from you and it feels like my heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys have nowhere left to hide."
Kukaku tapped her own head and said meaningfully,
"But if you are really that smart, you should know better than to get involved in this mess right now."
"Omaeda's words were nasty, but he was not wrong. You are students. The best thing for you to do is go back and sleep."
Shimiya Takeru nodded.
"Exactly. It has not been long since the incident, which means the investigation is at its most intense. Running around will only make trouble. So, we came here purely to visit the Elder after hearing that students from Runrinan had gone missing."
"Very good. Hold on to that story," Kukaku said, snapping her fingers. "Make sure you all say the same thing."
Then she shifted gears.
"Next, I will share some information."
"Huh?"
Ichigo and Hachihara both stared.
Rindo Yu did not speak, but his widened eyes said everything. He had clearly not expected Kukaku to take this stance.
"What do you mean 'huh'? I know exactly what you brats are thinking, creeping out here this late," Kukaku said, rolling her eyes. "If I told you to go back right now, you would probably slip off halfway and mess around somewhere I cannot see you. So instead of that, I would rather keep you where I can watch you. That way, if something happens, at least you will be mentally prepared."
"Big Sister Kukaku! You really are my good big sis! Can I call you Sister sama?!"
Overwhelmed, Hachihara tried to pounce on her, but Kukaku simply planted a hand on her forehead and held her at bay while she continued talking as if nothing had happened.
"Right now, we have two bits of confirmed information."
"First, both the manager's disappearance and the students' disappearances are connected to a Hollow."
"Second, that Hollow is very likely to be extremely strong."
"And here is a bonus piece of information."
"I want to catch the culprit myself and beat them down before the Gotei 13 comes in and wrecks my turf. That way I can blow off some steam and save face. So I plan to bring along a few helpers who will not completely screw things up."
"If you do not want to be used as cannon fodder, it is not too late to go home right now."
The temperature in the room dropped in an instant.
Even Hachihara stopped struggling, her expression stiffening.
"Miss Kukaku."
Takeru, who had unconsciously become the backbone of the group, spoke up. All eyes, including Ichigo's, turned toward him.
"Go on," Kukaku said.
"Miss Kukaku would make an excellent teacher," Shimiya said.
"Huh?"
"First, you tolerate our impulsiveness. Then you tell us the truth and satisfy our curiosity. Finally, you place real danger in front of us and force us to weigh the risks, overturning the good impression you just built."
"Even if we decide to back out, you probably will not stop us later, because curiosity alone will no longer be enough to keep us charging forward blindly."
Takeru looked at the one armed woman, her figure reminiscent of a rough edged Venus, and could not help sighing.
"Miss Kukaku, you are far too gentle."
"Gwah!"
Shiba Ganju, who had just stepped into the house, heard this line and felt his world twist. His expression twisted even more.
"?!"
Kukaku herself was thrown off balance for a moment.
Seeing everyone staring at her strangely made her skin crawl, like ants were crawling all over her. Finally, her eyes landed on Ganju's contorted face.
Shame and anger exploded at once.
She gathered spiritual energy in her palm, formed a crackling energy sphere, and hurled it straight at him.
"Ahhh!"
The burly man took the blast full on and went flying, screaming as he sailed out of sight.
"Is… is that guy okay?"
Ichigo's mouth twitched.
"Do not worry about him. That is my younger brother Ganju. He is tough. This much will only burn his eyebrows off for a week," Kukaku said with a dismissive wave. "Back to the main topic."
Thanks to Ganju, she had calmed down again.
But this very ungentle side of hers left a deep impression on Ichigo and the others, and their opinion of her only went up.
"Actually, I completely agree with what Miss Kukaku said," Takeru continued. "But we also have our own convictions."
"Convictions?" Kukaku snorted. "What kind of conviction could a few kids possibly have?"
"Resolve, we do not have."
Takeru patted Ichigo's shoulder, soothing his rising irritation, and spoke in the same casual tone as always.
"But since we have already come this far."
"…"
Kukaku narrowed her eyes and stared at him for a long time.
"Your name is Takeru, right? If you live long enough, you will definitely become a big shot someday."
"I am not as impressive as Miss Kukaku says," Takeru replied. "I just have a lot of confidence in the four of us. Otherwise, I would not even say this much."
"And that is exactly why," Kukaku said. "Reckless idiots who do not value their own lives are useless. People who are confident in themselves, but do not pound their chests promising to solve everything, are much more reliable. At least, that is how I see it."
"Since we are on the same page, when are we heading out? Miss Kukaku chased Vice Captain Omaeda off just now, which means you have already nailed down the enemy's location, right?"
Takeru's words sounded like a question, but his tone made it sound more like a statement.
"You are right. My understanding of Rukongai is miles ahead of the Onmitsukido's," Kukaku said smugly. "They have no idea how many secret bases I have hidden out here."
"Then let's hurry up and go," Ichigo said, suddenly springing to his feet. "The sooner we wrap this up, the fewer people get hurt."
Takeru glanced at him, then turned back to Kukaku.
"He gets fired up too easily, but what he said makes sense. I would also like to be back at the Spirit Arts Academy before dawn."
"Oh? Sounds like you already have a plan," Kukaku said.
"Let me confirm something first. In Miss Kukaku's opinion, can Vice Captain Omaeda handle that Hollow?"
"It will be rough," Kukaku answered with a shake of her head. "I meant it when I said he should go back and call for reinforcements."
"But he absolutely will not do it."
"Exactly. That is why he is an idiot."
"In that case," Takeru said, "we should just hand Vice Captain Omaeda the intel on that Hollow."
"What?"
The others stared at him, brains coming to a sudden halt.
"…Tsk. As expected, anyone who is going to be a big deal someday has to be at least a little twisted," Kukaku said with a crooked smile.
She had already seen straight through his idea.
"I was only thinking of Miss Kukaku's position," Shimiya replied, refusing to shoulder the blame.
"Let Vice Captain Omaeda go in first. He definitely will not call for backup out of pride. When he rushes in full of confidence and slams head first into a wall, we will clean up the mess right in front of him."
"That way Miss Kukaku gets more hands on deck, gets to blow off steam and protect her reputation, and we fragile little Spirit Arts Academy students do not have to charge in as cannon fodder."
"Our own goal of taking part in the incident will be fulfilled too. It is a bit unfriendly to Omaeda, sure, but his mission still gets accomplished. Everyone wins."
"Heh."
Kukaku stood up, one hand braced on her knee, and looked down at Takeru, who looked for all the world like a harmless honor student.
"Now I am even more sure you are going to be a big shot someday," she said. "Because your hearts are just as filthy as mine."
"Wait."
Takeru called out just as Kukaku was turning to leave and put things in motion.
"Just to be safe, it would be better to have Mister Ganju, who just got back from running errands, 'accidentally' leak the intel while chatting with someone in an alley."
"…"
Kukaku stopped and turned back, giving him the same disgusted look everyone else was giving him.
"Omaeda already knows Miss Kukaku is holding information, and Mister Ganju just rushed back. If some intel happens to slip out in a casual conversation right now, Omaeda will not doubt it for a second."
"Instead, he will be overjoyed, convinced he has lucked into a huge advantage. He will charge out immediately, desperate to wrap things up ahead of Miss Kukaku, then come back and mock her to get revenge for earlier."
"If we told him directly, he might start overthinking things and try to be clever, which would just waste our time."
"That is my idea in full."
"What is wrong? Is there a problem with it?" Takeru frowned slightly, as if he felt wronged by their reaction.
"…Nothing is wrong," Kukaku muttered. "It just means my evaluation of you was far too mild."
She took a deep breath, turned away again, and left the room without looking back, as if afraid that keeping him in her sight any longer would taint her own soul.
It was not some profound master plan, but the way he calculated even around the limits of Omaeda's intelligence was undeniably warped.
At such a young age, who knew where he had learned to think like that.
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