"How is it, Hisana-san? Can you tell?"
"No... being this far apart... and also, time has passed..."
"But she looks very much like Hisana... Surely there is no mistake?"
In the courtyard of the Spiritual Arts Academy, students are training.
The three of us—Hisana, Byakuya, and I—were watching that scene from a reception room a little distance away.
Our target is just one student—yes, Rukia.
Even though gazes from three people, six eyeballs, are poured onto her, she hasn't noticed at all.
After the lecture ended yesterday, when I conveyed via Denreishinki, "I found someone who looks like your sister. She looks exactly like Hisana-san. I think it's probably her, but please confirm just in case. If possible, both of you together"...
They came right away, this couple. And first thing in the morning.
Even though I sent a messenger ahead the night before, the Academy side also panicked at the sudden visit of the head of the Kuchiki family and told me, "You called him, so take responsibility," forcing me to rush to the Academy.
...Today isn't my day to come... my daily wooooork!!
So.
I joined up with the Kuchiki couple, and currently, the three of us are observing Rukia from a slightly distant place.
There should be no mistake that that is the sister, but it's hesitant to go meet her suddenly. We are currently doing preliminary investigation and mental preparation before meeting face-to-face.
"Her name is Rukia, she said she has no family name, but..."
"Rukia, is it...!?"
"Does that ring a bell?"
The moment she heard the name, Hisana-san was surprised.
However, how should I put it... the reaction is a little different from what I expected.
Like, we missed a button! Or something...
"No, um... what should I say..."
"Mu...!? Perhaps Lady Yukawa, you do not know the name of Hisana's sister?"
"Come to think of it... I only heard 'sister,' but the name..."
I never asked directly.
I assumed it was Rukia and didn't ask... eh, could it be different!?
"My sister's name is Rukina."
"Ruki, na!?"
What is that subtle change-up!?
"When I abandoned my sister, thinking it was the least I could do, I wrote her name on the ground..."
"Rukina, Rukia... na and a... look similar, could she have misread it...?"
"Most likely..."
An indescribable, subtle atmosphere drifted.
Hisana-san is also muttering something like "Was it a problem that I didn't write it in Kanji?"
"Umm, according to documents, she lived in Inuzuri. From there, she became a Shinigami to survive."
"Inuzuri, then as I thought!"
"There is much matching information! Above all, that appearance, there is no mistake!"
The couple together have almost obtained conviction.
...What if this is completely a resemblance of strangers... If we could do a DNA test... should I secretly ask Squad 12...?
"However... calling myself her sister now is too convenient, perhaps... I have no right to be a sister..."
"What are you saying, Hisana! You were worrying that much! That was because you were constantly concerned about your sister's safety, right!?"
"Lord Byakuya..."
"You might be resented! She might become furious! You might be told she disowns you! But even so, we must meet face-to-face! We must not waste the heart of Lady Yukawa who saved your life!"
"Y-Yes... Hisana was mistaken."
"Do not worry, your responsibility is also my responsibility. Let me shoulder it too."
Holding hands and gazing at each other...
This couple sometimes forgets the time and place and becomes like this. Even though I'm here too...
'Then I shall be my Liege's partner.'
Yes, yes, I'll ask you before sleeping at night or something.
"Ahem ahem!! Then, is it acceptable for both of you to meet Rukia-san during the lunch break at the Academy?"
I clear my throat deliberately and propose that.
The couple seemed to realize with a start, hurriedly let go of their hands, and nodded.
"Then, I will arrange things now so it happens that way. Ah, also, one more person might come to that seat, is that okay?"
"One more person, meaning...? If it is Lady Yukawa, your presence is most welcome without asking for permission..."
"No, not me. It is Rukia-san's friend."
I should call him just in case.
-----
"Do you two have a moment?"
"Te-Teacher!?"
"Oh, what's up? I heard the teacher's lectures are twice a month..."
Timing it for when the lunch break started, I called out to Rukia-san.
Abarai-kun is next to her too.
They should be in different classes, but they get along well.
"There are days I come to the Academy even without lectures. More importantly, Rukia-san, Abarai-kun too. It's lunch break, but can I have a moment?"
"Time, is it...?"
"Did we do something...?"
Their complexions are slightly bad.
Being called by a teacher gives a bad feeling even if you don't remember doing anything.
I understand.
Especially since we just met yesterday.
"It's not guidance or supplementary lessons or anything like that. Just that a guest has come for Rukia-san. If Abarai-kun could also be present, it would be a huge help."
"Rukia, a guest for you? Who could it be...?"
"I do not know either. In the first place, I have no acquaintances in Seireitei, and above all, I cannot eat lunch."
"You're worried about that!?"
They looked at each other and started whispering.
Retorting properly even in whispers, Abarai-kun is as expected.
"It might become long, so I've gotten permission and passed the word to the lecturers in advance. Meet the guest, eat lunch, then participate in the afternoon lecture. That's perfectly fine."
"If so, I have no objections."
"Me too, right? Understood."
Now then, will demons appear or snakes appear?
Let's go for the sisters' meeting.
-----
"Here. Are you mentally prepared?"
"Even if you say mentally prepared..."
"Hey..."
I haven't told them who they are meeting.
Naturally, there's no way to prepare mentally.
"It is Yukawa. I brought the two in question."
"Come in."
"Excuse us. Now, you two. Enter, enter."
"Excuse u... !?"
"What's wrong Ruki... eeh... !?"
The moment they entered, voices leaked out. Naturally, Rukia-san and Abarai-kun are surprised.
Because Hisana-san looks exactly like Rukia-san.
The Kuchiki couple is also showing quite a big reaction, though they haven't voiced it.
It's the sister she finally met. The joy is evident.
"U-Um... Teacher, this person is...?"
"Don't panic, don't panic. First, let's introduce these two."
I'm the only one who can act as the host.
"First, these two. This is the head of the Kuchiki family, Byakuya Kuchiki-san, and his wife, Hisana-san."
"Kuchiki family... you mean, that one!?"
"Five Great Noble Families, you say...!? W-Wait a minute, Teacher!! What does that mean!?"
Hearing the names, they are surprised twice.
You'd wonder why people like clouds above are involved with you.
There's absolutely no connection, so they don't understand the reason for being called.
"Calm down, first let's finish the introductions. So, this is Rukia-san. And Renji Abarai-kun who grew up with Rukia-san since childhood. I thought it would be better to have him present for this matter, so I brought him along."
"I-I am Rukia!"
"Renji, ssu!!"
Naturally, they are stiff with tension.
Both of them have their backs straight as a pin, and their voices are cracking.
Abarai-kun, that sounds more like introducing a home appliance than your own name. Sounds like you're good at warming up leftover dinner.
But even though they are tense, it seems they have barely enough composure because I'm here.
Otherwise, in this atmosphere, they probably couldn't even reply like this.
Byakuya was about to release Reiatsu and intimidate Abarai-kun at first, feeling like "A strange bug is attached to my cute sister!!"
The pressure eased considerably the moment he heard they were childhood friends though.
"So, regarding the reason I called the two of you—please start, the two from the Kuchiki family."
"Ah."
When Byakuya opened his mouth, the two flinched further.
"..."
He is just staring at the two... could it be he's struggling with what to say?
That's no good!! Silence in this situation, do you realize the opponent is under enough pressure to have their heart grabbed!? Even without that, the current you is a big figure called the head of the Kuchiki family!!
"(Hisana-san, Hisana-san! A lifeboat, please!)"
"(Ah, yes. Understood.)"
I convey secretly in a small voice.
"Um, Rukia-san..."
"Ha! Yes!!"
"Please do not be so tense. Rather than that, first I want to hear about you."
"About me, is it...?"
"Yes, that is right. Renji-kun too. Could you tell us how you two have lived until now?"
"Eh... um..."
And so, the story of the two's ups and downs begins.
Rukia-san, abandoned as a baby.
However, she was picked up by a good person and somehow survived.
But that benefactor also died, and after that she happened to meet Abarai-kun and the others, and they started living together.
However, the place they lived was Inuzuri, a district with too bad public order.
Everyone except Rukia-san and Abarai-kun died, and they aimed to become Shinigami to survive.
—So they say.
I feel like I read such an episode.
From my perspective, it ends with "There was such a setting," but for the two, it is not so.
"Is... that so..."
"You lived well until now...! You did well to decide to become Shinigami...!!"
Tears are flowing like a waterfall.
Listening to the story, it wouldn't have been strange if they died anytime, anywhere.
"(Hey, Rukia... why are we being asked this?)"
"(Do not ask me! How should I know! Te-Teacher! What does this mean!?)"
"(I'm sorry! There are various things, endure just a little longer!)"
Naturally, the two are confused too.
Having their poison removed, their tension from the beginning has completely disappeared.
"Rukia-san, please tell me just one more thing. Was that name given by that benefactor? Is there something like an origin?"
"Yes, that is right. But if I recall correctly..."
"If you recall...?"
"When I was picked up, I heard there was a name there and I was named after it..."
"Tch!! Hisana!!"
"Yes... Yes...!!"
Ah, finally information leading to conviction came out.
The two are overjoyed, but Rukia-san and the other are left out, looking blank.
"Rukia-san... that name was actually written as Rukina."
"Rukina, is it...? I see, it was inadvertently misread."
"No Rukia, that's not the point!! It becomes a question of why they know the correct name!!"
"Tch!! I see! Renji, you are surprisingly smart."
"No, normally you'd notice..."
She has an unexpectedly ditzy side too.
"So, what kind of story does that lead to...?"
"So in other words, this person left you when you were a baby and wrote the name... Anh? That means... could it be this person is Rukia's mother!?"
"Whaaaat!? M-My mother...!?"
"No. It pains me to disappoint you, but I am not your mother but your sister."
"S-Sisteeeer!?"
It became a huge uproar like poking a beehive.
The story about what happened on Hisana-san's side begins from there.
This time it was Rukia-san and the other's turn to be surprised.
"I had a sister, and that person married into the Kuchiki family..."
"That means Rukia is—"
Starting to say it, Abarai-kun made a bitter face.
"—Ah, no... it was Rukina, right...?"
"No, I abandoned my sister for my own convenience. To tell you to call yourself the correct name now, I am too ashamed to say..."
Hisana-san says with a slightly pained face.
"Rukia would be better. I think the person who raised you would be happy too."
"Is... that so? Then, Rukia. So what happens to Rukia from now on? Becoming a relative of the Kuchiki family... or something...?"
"About that..."
Suddenly Byakuya opened his mouth.
"Before that, I want to ask one thing. Rukia, do you not resent Hisana... your sister...?"
"Eh...?"
"Hisana abandoned you when you were a baby for her own sake. After that, she entered the Kuchiki family and lived a life without any inconvenience. Even though you were suffering in Rukongai. Don't you have ten or twenty complaints? Don't you think you want what your sister obtained?"
"I see... from Rukia's perspective, it wouldn't be strange to think that."
Ah, this is... acting bad on purpose.
Rukia-san herself was silent as if digesting the story, then suddenly clapped her hands.
"...Oh, I see! I didn't notice at all!"
"Wait, oi!! Rukia, how airheaded are you!!"
"I-It cannot be helped! Besides, being suddenly told she's my sister, my family, it doesn't feel real! How can there be resentment or hatred there! However..."
"However...?"
"The moment I knew... that I too had a blood relative... I wonder why, a warm feeling overflowed from the bottom of my heart... Surely this is my honest feeling."
Averting her eyes from Abarai-kun, she said so while blushing.
Continuing, she turns her gaze to Hisana-san.
"So, um, well... nice to meet you, Sister. Thank you for finding me."
"Will you... call me sister...?"
"Yes, Sister."
"Is it okay... for me to call myself your sister...?"
"Yes, Sister! Let's start again as sisters from now on!!"
"Ah! Rukia!! Thank you, thank you!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!"
Shedding tears of gratitude, Hisana-san collapsed on the spot.
Of course she's happy.
It might be a convenient story, but she was able to reconcile with her sister.
"Also, um..."
Oops, this time she looked at Byakuya too.
"B-Big Brother... may I call you...?"
"Ah... ah!! Of course!! We are family, there is no need to hold back anything!!"
"Yes, Big Brother!!"
Wow, Byakuya turned bright red and is looking down.
It's that state where he's too happy to show his face, surely.
This is already heading for a grand finale unavoidable.
I stuck to being air, but since I'm really not needed anymore, can I go home soon?
But before that.
"Both of you, I'm sorry to dampen the mood, but... could you please not forget Abarai-kun too?"
"Eh, wa... Teacher, me too!?"
"That's right. I apologize, Abarai-san. I hear you saved my sister, thank you very much..."
"Let me express my gratitude too. Without you, Rukia might have died."
"Wa, wa wa wa wa!! No, such a me is nothing...!!"
"I'm sure I'm in the way, so I will excuse myself with this. Please enjoy yourselves with the four family members."
"Te, Teacher!?!?"
With the noisy voices behind me, I left the room.
Well, it seems it went well somehow.
-----
—Later.
A letter arrived for me.
The sender was Byakuya Kuchiki, a thank-you letter for the other day.
According to Hisana-san, "I have no words to thank you for letting me meet my sister."
I didn't do anything though.
Continuing, according to Byakuya, "I want to have Rukia graduate from the Academy immediately and let her live with Hisana. But Hisana says she wants to let Rukia proceed on the path she desires. What should I do?"
...Since when did I become a counseling center?
Let's see, reply, reply...
If you do such a thing suddenly, it will cause friction. I think it is better to let her walk the path to becoming a Shinigami as per her original intention. Also, since she is probably making friends at the Academy, clumsy interference could become a source of walls or friction.
If you push the Kuchiki name too much to the front, she will be treated like a tumor and Rukia-san will be confused too. Above all, she has lived in Rukongai all this time, so suddenly being treated as a noble would only be a burden.
Respect Rukia-san's will, and support her little by little from the shadows. Deepen exchanges slowly, and mutual understanding is just right.
...Something like this?
Please don't run wild strangely, Byakuya...
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