"Ah, there she is."
"Eh!? Wh-where..."
"Look, that building. From the right... one, two..."
"Hm? Hnn?! Ah, it's true. She's there... Sensei, you're amazing..."
It was around ten in the morning when we passed through the Senkaimon and arrived in the World of the Living.
From there, relying on Rukia-san's faint spiritual pressure, we moved slowly to avoid detection and to prevent causing any strange influence on the World of the Living.
We finally found her.
"Wait, that's a Gigai... isn't it? Why is she in a Gigai...? And what is that building? Looks like a bunch of brats gathering to do something...?"
"That is a facility called a school, where children of the World of the Living learn academics. It's like the Academy."
"I see! ...Wait, that means Rukia is pretending to be a student again... She's a difficult one..."
Given the time we found her, classes were right in the middle of session. She was taking a class mingled with a large crowd of students.
That's right, she was pretending to be a high school student like this.
Wearing a uniform and everything, she's incredibly cute.
The white dress shirt and the grey mini-skirt suit her nicely.
"But, Rukia-san. Don't you think she's dressed cutely?"
"Eh... Ehhh!? What are you saying!!"
"The World of the Living is truly filled with stimulation not found in the Soul Society, isn't it? She's wearing such a thin shirt on top, and don't you think the bottom looks like it would flip up with just a little gust of wind?"
"N-no, well... that is..."
"Since it gets hot this time of year, the clothes stick to sweaty skin. And since it's white and thin, it becomes see-through..."
"Gah! Please don't tease me!!"
Oh my. Abarai-kun is blushing bright red.
But it's really true.
Don't you think a uniform is a truly outrageous outfit? It's practically asking to be assaulted.
Also, confirming Rukia-san is important, but there is one other person.
If my memory is correct, all the key people should be gathered in the same class... Ah! There she is!!
That is Orihime Inoue.
One of the wielders of the Shun Shun Rikka I have desired for so long.
Yep... this is amazing.
Those long brown locks and that soft expression suit her incredibly well.
And if you move your gaze down a little, there are tits that defy all standards!!
Just puffing out her chest a bit would make all the buttons fly off; a massive volume that looks like it's about to tear the shirt apart!
'Uwaaaaaah!! What outrageous tits!! Combined with that outrageous uniform, that is a hazardous material designation waiting to happen!! That! That is specifically the objective of this mission!! Taking those tits home and making her a Squad 4 soldier is the mission this time!! Come, let us go!! True paradise is right before our eyes, my Lord!!'
Calm down!
No, I almost carelessly went through with it myself!!
But that comes later!! Right now, Rukia-san is the top priority!!
"Sensei...? What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. More importantly, let's stick to surveillance for now. We will make actual contact after the sun goes down. Alright?"
"Understood!"
Even though we found her, the sun is still high, so resorting to forceful measures is a bit problematic.
Besides, looking at Rukia-san's expression, it seems she has vaguely noticed our presence.
Above all, if we cause a clumsy scene now... Urahara and Yoruichi-san are likely to show up.
'In other words, if we rampage now, we can enjoy that super-lewd dark-skinned explosive breasted woman for the first time in ages!! All right...'
I said calm down.
"By the way, Sensei... won't you tell me soon?"
Judging that the conversation had paused, Abarai-kun cut in with a serious look.
"I heard from Captain Kuchiki that the mission was to go to the World of the Living and capture Rukia! That's why I came here! But! Why! Why does Rukia have to be captured!! Why are you the one heading this mission, Sensei!! Why did Captain Kuchiki leave it to you!! I don't understand any of it..."
He's vented the dissatisfaction he's been harboring in his gut all this time.
Well, I brought him along omitting those details, so it's natural he has complaints.
"I'll tell you the reason later. In the sense of saving trouble, could you wait until we rendezvous with Rukia-san? I'm sorry for the inconvenience..."
"...Understood. I believe that you, of all people, wouldn't be plotting anything strange, Sensei."
"Thank you. Then one more thing, can I get you to trust Captain Kuchiki as well? I swear he isn't plotting anything strange. It's just, he is moving on his own regarding this mission. And doing so much more desperately than someone like me."
"..."
Closing his eyes and listening to my words, it looks like he is ruminating on them over and over, telling himself it's true.
'I swear I'm not plotting anything strange... indeed!! We just want to massage Orihime-dono to our heart's content until our fingers wear out!! Also, with that personality, if we push hard, he should believe us without doubt, so we might be able to realize a dream scenario of ignorance!! Ooh lol. Dreams are expanding everywhere lol. Motivation is overflowing excessively right nooooow!!'
Shut your mouth!!
"I understand, I'll believe it. Come to think of it, Captain Kuchiki would absolutely never do something like that."
Eventually, he slowly opened his eyes and nodded with a convinced expression.
"Even just recently, the Captain, by that guy..."
"Eh? What's that story, I don't know it. What happened? Tell me in detail."
Surveillance continues, but that is that.
My gaze doesn't waver, but the topic shifted to the story of the Squad 6 Captain being swayed by his son.
Eh? Won't other people find out if we're talking like that?
It's fine.
I'm thinning our figures and presence as much as possible with Bakudo.
And more than anything, we are currently in the air.
We've fixed reishi under our feet and are using it as a scaffold.
Vigilance against things above tends to be neglected, somehow.
So we can continue the surveillance mission with peace of mind.
...Well, some powerful individuals have probably figured it out, though.
"Now then, is it about time?"
"Nn... Finally...? I'm tired of waiting..."
Following Rukia-san as she left school, entering the Kurosaki Clinic, and eventually sneaking out after it got dark; while chasing her back with my eyes, I call out to Abarai-kun.
As his words suggest, he was completely bored with surveillance, to the point where he was dozing off while squatting.
Personality-wise, these kinds of missions really don't suit him... Abarai-kun...
"Wait, isn't Rukia going towards a place with less foot traffic? Don't tell me, she's inviting us?"
"Rather, realizing we are here, she's likely moving to a place without spirit energy so that she doesn't cause trouble for others by any chance."
She really is considerate about things like that.
We chase after her as she sneaks away for a bit... Ah, this area looks like it won't be a problem.
Except for "one person," there's nobody here.
...It seems there's someone watching nearby.
"It's about time. Will you call out to her, Abarai-kun? Or should I speak?"
"No... I'll go..."
Showing the expression of a man who has steeled his resolve, Abarai-kun accelerates as if to overtake Rukia-san and circles around in front of her.
"Yo! Rukia!!"
"Nuoh!! ...Mu! Y-You are... Renji...!?"
"Obvious-friggin-ly!! Who else do I look like?"
"Don't startle me, you fool!!"
He jumps down right there, landing in front of Rukia-san.
As for her, she is surprised that a man suddenly fell in front of her, and then surprised a second time realizing the opponent was her childhood friend.
"...No, wait! That means, what I've been feeling since this morning was..."
"Yeah, that's right. I've been watching you ever since you were studying at that place called 'Gakkou'? It was borin' as hell!"
"Wh...!! Since then!? N-No. That doesn't matter right now! Renji, are you... the pursuer?"
Seeing a familiar face reduced the tension, and her mind was about to switch to daily conversation mode.
But she held it back and tightened her focus again.
"...Yeah, that's right. But, it ain't just me. There's one more."
"Wha-!?"
Ah, I've been called.
Well, since I'm at it, for the sake of impact, I'll go from behind. Placing a hand on her shoulder like this...
"Good evening, Rukia-san."
"Se-Sensei!?"
Turning around in a panic, her eyes meet mine and her surprise increases further.
"Sorry I'm not Captain Kuchiki. Originally he planned to come but... I was entrusted to be his proxy."
"N-No... such a thing is..."
"Well then, I think you have a vague idea, but I will explain the reason we came to the World of the Living."
"...Yes."
Rukia-san hangs her head dejectedly, and Abarai-kun gazes at her with pained eyes.
"Rukia-san, you have committed the 'transfer of Reaper powers to a human' and 'unauthorized extended stay'. The Central 46 viewed this gravely and has decided on capital punishment for you."
"!!"
"Wh...!!"
Both of them reacted exaggeratedly, as if to say they hadn't heard this.
I haven't even told Abarai-kun this much, so it can't be helped.
"We have received a mission to capture you, Rukia-san, and bring you back to Soul Society. Will you obey quietly?"
"...Yes."
"W-Wait a minute, Sensei!!"
Of course Abarai-kun would interject.
"Certainly, the transfer of powers is a heavy crime, but capital punishment is weird, isn't it!?"
"Unfortunately, it's what the higher-ups decided."
"...Kh!!"
Gritting his teeth hard, 'I don't accept this' is written all over his face.
But for the time being, he backed down.
"And one more thing. We must retrieve those powers from the human to whom Rukia-san's Reaper powers were transferred."
"!!"
This time it was Rukia-san's turn to pale.
"Where is that human?"
"Ah, right! There was that too!! Oi, Rukia! Where is he!? In the worst case, even if I have to cut him down...!!"
As if aiming for the moment he lightly placed his hand on his sword, an arrow of spirit particles flew at us.
But being Abarai-kun, he lightly twisted his body and dodged with room to spare.
"Oh, nostalgic. That was a Quincy attack just now. If I recall... it was Ishida, wasn't it?"
"Correct."
As I muttered while watching the arrow pass by, a voice was heard.
"I'm surprised it's known even to Reapers."
"Who the hell are you...!"
"Just a classmate. One who hates Reapers."
The one who revealed himself had black hair and glasses, holding a spirit weapon in one hand. And in the other hand... Eh? A plastic bag!? Why are you holding something like that!? Returning from shopping!?
No, I felt his presence from a bit before contacting Rukia-san, so that's not it... does that mean the plastic bag in his hand is part of his outfit?
Also, what is that shirt!? Why is it designed with a huge cross drawn on it!? A hobby!? Is that design his hobby!?
Aah! Once I start worrying about one thing, I want to retort about his whole body!!
But I'll suppress those feelings firmly.
If I'm right, this boy is an acquaintance of Rukia-san. His name is... I-Ishi...
"Ishida... You, why are you here..."
Right! It's Ishida-kun!! Ishida... Ururun... was it?
Oh, something seems different... I feel like about half of it is right though...
Umm... Surely... Ururun... No, Gyoro...?
"It's Uryu Ishida. Nice to meet you."
That's right! It was Uryu!!
--Wait, huh?
While I was thinking for a bit, it seems Ishida-kun and Abarai-kun have entered an explosive atmosphere... Why?
"Even if you are a Reaper, you'd want to know at least the name of the opponent who defeated you, right?"
Ah, I see.
While I wasn't looking for a moment, he was provoking him.
Come to think of it, Ishida-kun's stance was basically "I hate Reapers." I only had the image of them getting involved and being buddy-buddy, so I completely forgot.
If he is a Quincy, it's natural for him to have a hostile attitude toward Reapers.
And receiving that provocation, Abarai-kun is... oh...?
"...Hah, ahahahahaha!! Defeat me? There's a guy who can tell funny jokes in the World of the Living too, huh."
I thought he would get angry, but it's a little unexpected. He laughed it off simply and parried it with composure.
Though if one calmly considers the difference in ability, that is the reaction one would have.
"I'll teach you, there's always someone better. Unfortunately, someone like you couldn't beat me even if you stood on your hands."
Declaring this boldly, Abarai-kun takes a stance with his bare hands.
"...What are you planning? Is the sword at your waist a decoration?"
"Drawing a Zanpakuto against you would be bullying the weak. I gotta at least handicap myself this much or it wouldn't be balanced, right?"
He declared with a smirk.
"I'm Renji Abarai. I have no intention of being nice, but remember the name."
"...Heh."
Oops, seems Ishida-kun is slightly irritated.
Pushing up his glasses, the eyes visible behind the lenses narrowed slightly.
"Stop it! Renji!! He is a human of the World of the Living!! Ishida!! Run!!"
Rukia-san screams painfully.
...Well, she's right. Knowing Abarai-kun's ability, this fight is far beyond a mismatch.
Even if his spiritual pressure is limited.
And, ignoring her voice trying to stop him, Abarai-kun closes the distance instantly with Shunpo and unleashes a low kick.
"...What!?"
His honed Shunpo puts even a clumsy member of the Stealth Force to shame. Surely in Ishida-kun's eyes, it looked like the opponent teleported to get close.
Unable to even react, he takes a defenseless hit.
But this hit was intended to break his posture.
Without a pause, the main strike was unleashed.
"Shih!!"
"Guh...!? !?"
A blow that grazes the tip of the chin.
His head shaken by that attack, he fell in an instant.
"Ga... a, gu...gh...!!"
"I told you so. Against an opponent who can't even dodge an attack of this level, how did you expect me to lose? Should I have taken a nap?"
"D... Damn it...!"
Ishida-kun can't stand properly, staring at Abarai-kun even while collapsed on the concrete road.
We might praise him just for keeping consciousness and for this tenacity.
"Well, I think you get it, but. I could have killed you with that attack just now. Since I'm letting you off, hurry up and go... home!"
As if to add insult to injury, he raises one leg and stomps right next to Ishida-kun's face.
It is a stomp aimed to threaten.
By aiming barely past the face, it instills fear. By showing mercy, it instills humiliation. Each is multiplied many times over and given to the opponent.
"What the hell are you dooooiing!!"
Seeing Abarai-kun's action, one man literally flew into this place.
"Wha...!? Who the hell are you!?"
"Ichigo Kurosaki! The man who will beat you! Nice to meet you!!"
It really is the standard flow...
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]