"More than just bad..."
Kurumadani Zennosuke muttered softly, then shook his head.
"But even so—what can be done about it?"
"…"
Fūjin Taichi remained silent. He knew that the Five Great Noble Houses, being close relatives of the royal family, held supreme privileges in Soul Society. Even the so-called highest authority, Central 46, treated them with caution.
A hundred years ago, one of those five—the Shiba clan—had declined due to their small numbers and their refusal to intermarry with the other four great families. Gradually, they were pushed out of the ranks of the "Great Nobles."
By the present day, the Shiba main house had been reduced to just three members:
Shiba Kaien, Shiba Kūkaku, and Shiba Ganju.
As for the branch family, there was only a single heir left—Shiba Isshin…
"Taichi, it's getting late! Let's hurry up, eat, and report to our patrol unit!"
Realizing that privately probing into the secrets of the great noble houses was a major taboo in Soul Society, Kuchiki Rukia spoke up to break the sudden silence.
"Alright."
Taichi nodded, then headed with Rukia to the division cafeteria. He picked up a simple bento, along with Rukia's favorite white dumpling soup and a few small cucumbers.
The two found a window seat and were just about to start eating when Kurumadani Zennosuke followed them over. Taichi frowned.
"Hey, buddy. Don't you have any sense of awareness?"
"Huh? What?"
Kurumadani didn't immediately understand and stood beside them with his tray, looking confused.
"Rukia and I are enjoying some alone time. Don't you think you're being a bit of an eyesore sitting here?"
Taichi shot back.
"Taichi? Don't be like that to Kurumadani! And who's having that kind of—"
Rukia suddenly realized what he meant. Her cheeks flushed bright red, like ripe apples.
"Haha, Miss Rukia really is approachable. Not putting on airs at all despite being from a great noble house—"
Just as Kurumadani was about to sit down, Taichi swept him with a cold glare and barked:
"Get lost."
"Huh?"
Kurumadani still hadn't grasped the situation and casually set down his tray and sat anyway.
"Taichi, don't act like that!"
Rukia snapped angrily.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Taichi muttered. Suddenly, he extended a finger on his left hand toward Zennosuke.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen."
Boom!
Three massive, beak-shaped yellow beams of light suddenly erupted, piercing Kurumadani's hands and waist. The tremendous impact blasted him backward, pinning him hard against the cafeteria wall!!
"Taichi!"
Rukia set down her chopsticks and frowned.
"Stop teasing Kurumadani. Hurry up and let him down!"
Since being adopted by the Kuchiki family earlier that year, nearly everyone Rukia had once been close to had grown distant and reserved toward her.
Only Fūjin Taichi remained at her side, treating her just as he had six years ago.
Over time, Rukia felt herself growing much closer to Taichi—
And after graduation, the two were assigned to the same division. In just a few short months, their relationship advanced rapidly, reaching a state that was clearly "more than friends, but not quite lovers."
Taichi, too, sensed that their relationship was drifting into an ambiguous direction. This left him restless and conflicted—both anxious and secretly hopeful.
On one hand, he feared investing his feelings in Rukia only to receive no response, just like "embers of a past life," drowning day and night in the bitterness of unrequited love, silently suffering alone…
After all, he had known Rukia for only six years, while Abarai Renji had been her childhood companion. Their bond ran far deeper.
Moreover, there was also Kurosaki Ichigo, a man practically surrounded by a "protagonist's halo," who would soon form an extraordinary and inexplicable connection with Rukia—
So why should Taichi invite disappointment by chasing a love destined to fail?
And he also worried that if he truly pursued Rukia, they might not even be able to remain friends afterward…
Yet on the other hand, Taichi absolutely did not want any other man getting close to her.
Maybe it was male possessiveness.
Maybe jealousy.
Maybe simple irritation.
Whenever Taichi noticed a male Shinigami trying to enter Rukia's circle, he felt an intense dislike—just like the hostility he now showed toward Kurumadani Zennosuke.
"Fine!"
Taichi clicked his tongue, lifted his finger, withdrew his spiritual power, and waved unwillingly.
"Sorry about that, Kurumadani. You can come back and sit."
"Ah—no, no! No need!"
Kurumadani waved frantically.
"I suddenly don't feel hungry anymore! Yeah—totally not hungry! You two eat slowly. I'll see you at the patrol unit!"
At this point, Kurumadani finally understood Taichi's meaning. Having experienced that "show of force," he promptly and decisively made his escape.
"Another one…"
Kuchiki Rukia rubbed her forehead with one hand and let out a long sigh.
This already makes the seventeenth male Shinigami Taichi has "scared off" in the past six months, doesn't it…?
But I really don't understand why Taichi keeps doing this.
Is he genuinely "allergic" to men… or does he have some other intention toward me?
H-hey—what am I even thinking?!
Before Taichi ever met us, hadn't he been desperately pursuing Kasumiōji Hoko?
She's so beautiful, her grades were excellent, and she's a Shinigami who truly comes from a noble family. Of course everyone likes her…
Unlike me…
I'm just a Shinigami who was barely adopted into the Kuchiki family thanks to Sister Hisana's protection… Just like people say—nothing more than a pet taken in by a great noble house…
"Brother…"
At that thought, a sudden sadness welled up inside Rukia.
Her so-called elder brother, Kuchiki Byakuya, had only adopted her because she resembled his late wife, Hisana. Deep down… perhaps he truly looked down on her.
"Rukia? What's wrong? Your face keeps turning pale and then dark—are you feeling sick?"
Taichi finished washing the cucumbers and placed them onto Rukia's tray. Seeing the strange look on her face, he hurriedly asked.
"N-No, it's nothing… Taichi, thank you."
Rukia replied softly.
"Rukia, if I upset you earlier, I won't do it again next time."
Taichi spoke sincerely, forcing a pitiful expression onto his face—like an overgrown child.
"Heh."
Rukia couldn't help but laugh, then scolded him lightly.
"Yeah right—last time you said the same thing! And didn't you still beat up Kurumadani just now?"
"That's because he looks way too creepy… and I seriously can't stand that afro of his!"
Taichi scratched the back of his head.
"It's not that bad. It's not some weird fetish or anything. You really didn't need to treat Kurumadani like that."
Rukia picked up a cucumber and took a loud crunch, biting off half in one go. As she chewed, she asked:
"By the way, Taichi—how far have you gotten with your Bankai?"
"Shh!"
Taichi quickly hushed her and glanced around. Only after confirming no one was paying attention did he lower his voice and whisper urgently:
"Rukia, how many times do I have to tell you? To everyone else, I'm just a Shinigami who can't even use Shikai!
Of course, I won't hide anything from you… but you absolutely must not tell anyone that I'm training Bankai, okay?!"
"But… why?"
Rukia looked at him, confusion clearly showing in her eyes.
"Because…"
Taichi hesitated. No matter what, he couldn't possibly say it was because he feared drawing the attention of the Aizen faction…
After a long pause, he finally whispered:
"Because I'm a reserved and introverted Shinigami. I don't like being disturbed…
Except by you, Rukia."