Chapter 57: Old Love and New Sadness Part 2
"By the way, Hagiwara-san." After an emotional speech for which she couldn't quite explain herself, Kurosaki Utsuki calmed down and finally remembered that she hadn't confirmed the time. "What day is it today?"
"August 21st. Any questions?"
She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized that they had made up the time when they went to Soul Society and returned it when they returned. Then she shook her head and said, "Nothing, just a little time difference."
"Eh? Doesn't time flow differently in Soul Society?"
"The flow rate is the same, it's just that there was an accident when we went there, which caused the arrival time to shift."
But some of the Death Gods guided by the Hell Butterflies would not have the same situation as them, so could it be...
"Eh hey hey? Is it the past or the future?"
Faced with the curious expression of the boy next to her, Kurosaki Utsuki, who had not originally planned to tell a story late at night, compromised and told her about what had happened in Soul Society in the past few days.
From encountering Kudo in Dangai, to visiting Geto Suguru's friends, to invading Soul Society on a cannonball... Her description wasn't particularly vivid or interesting, but the boy beside her listened intently, occasionally commenting with "how interesting" or "how amazing," which gave her a sense of accomplishment.
It was not until the end of the story that she realized belatedly that the other party's purpose was to prevent her from being immersed in the mood of heartbreak and to find ways to divert her attention.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, the shock of this so-called "broken heart" on her did indeed gradually fade away during the conversation with the boy, allowing her to gradually calm down, think rationally, and even made her realize the fact that she should not be able to continue using Xiangzhuan.
There was no "Hollow" in her soul, which was as it should be. However, a part of her brother's "Hollow" power actually remained - or became a part of her, so it was not returned to him along with the other powers.
She didn't know if this was a bad sign, but she couldn't help but boldly guess that Urahara Kisuke had also noticed this, or had noticed it a long time ago, and that was why he tried to shut her out just now to prevent her from making any dangerous decisions.
Thinking about it this way, she didn't feel heartbroken at all.
...Although it's just a guess.
If she hadn't exhausted Urahara Kisuke's spiritual energy, she could have tested whether she could still use the power of a Quincy. Although she had lent all her experience as a Quincy to her brother, she still had several Quincy tools in her possession, which would have allowed her to test the results. Unfortunately... she would have to find another opportunity later.
"--And then we came back." Having said that, Kurosaki Utsuki glanced at the digital clock on the table. The time showed that it was already 3:30 in the morning. There was still more than an hour before sunrise. It was time to rest anyway. "Hagiwara-san, aren't you sleepy yet?"
"I was a little sleepy at first," Hagiwara laughed, "but after seeing Kurosaki-chan, I became more energetic."
"Is that so?" Kurosaki Utsuki's cheeks flushed. "Then I'd better go home so as not to disturb your rest."
"Now?" Hagiwara Kenji also looked at the clock and then showed a disapproving expression, "But didn't Kurosaki-chan just say that she gave all her spiritual power and combat experience to Kurosaki-chan's brother? Under this premise, walking at night becomes very dangerous."
...That's right, this is Rice Flower City after all.
"Then..." Then she would wait a little longer and leave at dawn.
"Then let me escort Kurosaki-chan home." The young man beside him volunteered, "I don't want to sleep yet anyway. If Kurosaki-chan wants to go home, give me a chance to repay Kurosaki-chan for saving my life, right?"
Kurosaki Utsuki hesitated for a moment and finally nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to Hagiwara-san."
Five minutes later, Kurosaki Utsuki covered her face in despair, deeply regretting her previous decision.
It’s not because Beika City is so dangerous at night, but... she was caught red-handed before she sneaked out of the Hagiwara family.
She is Chisuga Hagiwara, the older sister of the Hagiwara family, and is a third-year high school student.
However, it was really difficult for her to explain why she appeared at the home of a classmate of the opposite sex at four in the morning.
The lighting tool was the night light on the wall. Hagiwara Chisawa, who was halfway up the stairs with a cup of water in his hand and had obviously gone downstairs to the kitchen to get some water because he was thirsty, stared silently at Kurosaki Utaki, who was coming down the stairs with her shoes in one hand and had a look of "oh no" written all over her face, for a full minute. The strange atmosphere was finally broken until Hagiwara Kenji, who had left the room a step later, appeared at the stairs.
"Sister, sister..."
"Kenji, you're quite good." Across Kurosaki Utsuki, Hagiwara Chisawa sighed to his younger brother, "Where are you going?"
"I want to take her home...sister?"
Hagiwara Chizu went up a few steps and stopped beside the stiff Kurosaki Utsuki. He looked at the girl's face carefully for a while in the dim light, then raised his head and looked at his brother with slightly squinted eyes.
"Explain to me? Why would such a lovely girl come home at four in the morning and bring her shoelaces to your room instead of leaving them at the entrance?"
...Because she came in through the window.
"I'll explain to my sister when I get back." Hagiwara Kenji quickly walked downstairs to Kurosaki Utaha, inserted himself between her and his sister, and turned his head to speak to her, his voice full of comfort, "It's okay, Kurosaki-chan, I'll take you home first."
Hagiwara Chisu didn't mind. She made a teasing expression, waved to her brother to indicate "whatever you want", and then walked upstairs.
The one who was more concerned was Kurosaki Utsuki: "Is it really okay?"
"Really? Leave my sister's situation to me—besides, it was me who asked Kurosaki-chan to come in through the window in the first place."
"I hope to see Kurosaki-chan again on the windowsill before the end of summer vacation," he said at the time.
...Since he said so.
"Well, let's go then." Kurosaki Utsuki responded, "I hope there are no guests waiting at my house."
·
...Sure enough, he's already here, the guest who arrived earlier.
When Kurosaki Utsuki noticed it, Hagiwara Kenji, who was walking beside her, naturally noticed it as well.
"Eh? Is that the Grim Reaper? On Kurosaki-chan's balcony..." The boy's eyes suddenly became stern. He reached out to stop Kurosaki Utsuki and even stepped in front of her. Then, a step belatedly, he confirmed, "That person shouldn't be the captain with glasses who betrayed the Grim Reaper, right?"
"Captain Glasses" is the nickname that Kurosaki Utsuki gave to Aizen when she was telling him about his adventures in Soul Society... although she heard that Aizen's glasses were broken when he took on the Getsuga Sky Strike from her and her brother.
And the Grim Reaper on her balcony was indeed wearing glasses - the difference was that she was a female deputy captain.
Kurosaki Utsuki quickly explained: "No, she is the vice-captain of the 8th Division, although I have never dealt with her."
The young man beside her finally relaxed and returned to her side.
...This guy, really.
"If your opponent is that bespectacled captain, your actions would be like trying to block bullets with a piece of paper."
No, he should know.
He had seen Hollows and knew how powerful they were. He could also imagine how powerful a captain-level Shinigami was.
But even so, he still stood in front of her.
"...Thank you." Kurosaki Utsuki changed her tone to thank him, but then warned, "Don't think of repaying my life-saving grace with your own life. You still have to work for me."
The young man beside him smiled and said, "I know."
The two people entered the room one after another, and the vice-captain of the 8th Division, Ise Nanao, who had noticed Kurosaki Utsuki's arrival earlier, had already come to the door from the balcony.
"Excuse me, we are entering your home without permission."
Kurosaki Utsuki waved her hands quickly: "It's okay, it's me who made you wait an extra week because of the time shift."
She called in the unsure Kenji Hagiwara, deciding to at least treat the man who had just tried to protect her to breakfast.
"That's totally fine~" a voice came from the living room, its laziness filled with the joy of slacking off. "While everyone is hard at work preparing for battle, being able to rest with a mission in hand is a rare treat."
The corners of Kurosaki Utsuki's mouth twitched.
Past Ise Nanao, the captain of the Eighth Division, Kyoraku Shunsui, wearing a flowery haori and lying on her side on the sofa in her home, suddenly came into her sight.
She first pulled Hagiwara to sit on another sofa before she started to complain, "If you're really bored, Captain Kyoraku, you could help the local Shinigami. There are more Hollows in Beika City than you can imagine."
Kurosaki Utsuki actually heard about the God of Death appearing in the world at the very beginning.
Because she seriously injured Aizen in the battle and lost her power afterwards, Soul Society believed that she might be targeted or retaliated by Aizen, so they arranged for someone to secretly protect her - at least in name only.
She remembered that the first candidates decided upon were Abarai Renji and Madarame, the third seat of the 11th Division. This was a decision made after considering the losses of each division and individual combat capabilities, but she flatly rejected them with the reason of "I want someone who looks good."
So the candidates were changed to the beautiful Matsumoto Rangiku and the 11th Division's fifth seat Ayasegawa Mikioka - but why were the people who actually came to the world the captain and vice-captain of the 8th Division?
"Yeah, the Shinigami stationed in this area, Geto-kun, is very powerful. He can definitely take charge of this area by himself."
Kurosaki Utsuki shrugged and said as long as you are happy.
"Come to think of it, Utahiki-chan hasn't heard of it yet."
Kyoraku Shunsui continued, "At the same time that Utahiki-chan and the others left Soul Society," his voice paused, "Captain Ichimaru, who was originally to be transferred to the 9th Division, escaped with the help of someone. He seems to have left Soul Society, but his whereabouts are unknown."
"Eh?!" Kurosaki Utsuki's eyes widened in surprise, and she almost jumped up. "Why did he run away? Didn't he want me to do him a favor? Ah, I see. That's why it was Captain Kyoraku who came to the human world instead."
Considering that there is a high probability that Gin Ichimaru will come to find her, and the special relationship between him and Rangiku Matsumoto, the person responsible for "protecting" her was replaced again, and replaced by someone who is stronger and more trusted by the superiors.
"Just to be clear, his escape has nothing to do with me."
Kyoraku Shunsui turned over and sat up. He glanced at the human boy beside Kurosaki Utsuki without leaving a trace before speaking, his tone a little frivolous.
"Of course, no one has ever doubted that. Nanao-chan and I are only here to protect Utsuki-chan and experience the human life that Kuchiki Rukia-chan is so fond of."
...She doesn't believe it.
But there was no other way but to not believe it, and besides, she didn't hate the person opposite her.
But Hagiwara Kenji was clearly very concerned about this "protection": "Is Kurosaki-chan being targeted by someone? Is he in danger?"
"Don't worry, human boy." Kyoraku Shunsui tugged at his haori, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, "We won't sit idly by and wait for death."
...Does this mean that the God of Death is going to take action?
"When?" Kurosaki Utsuki asked, "Has the time been decided?"
The other party's answer was ambiguous: "Maybe in the next two days."
Since she couldn't get an answer, Kurosaki Utaki didn't force it. She quickly ended the conversation and called Hagiwara to the kitchen to make a simple breakfast with the frozen food in the refrigerator.
As a result, she heard the sound of chatting in the living room halfway through her meal. Kurosaki Utaki put down her bowl and chopsticks temporarily to take a look. It turned out that it was Geto Suguru who came to visit. He was asking the approachable Captain Kyoraku about the situation in Soul Society, and she had no desire to disturb him at all.
After breakfast, when it was almost dawn, Kurosaki Utaki sent Hagiwara Kenji, who was still hesitant to speak, away, went back to take a shower and change clothes, and hugged her cat, whom she had not seen for a long time, and stroked it. When she was about to ignore Geto Suguru who had not left yet and go back to her room for a nap, she heard the ringing of her cell phone.
It looked like a reply to the email she sent in the early morning.
Sure enough, the person opposite was Morofushi Kagemitsu. Before leaving for Soul Society, Kurosaki Utsuki had promised her two friends at Karakura that she would reveal the truth to them before the end of summer vacation. And not long ago, at the Hagiwara residence, she had kept her promise and sent Morofushi Kagemitsu a message that she had returned to Beika.
"Jingguang, I don't have any plans for the future - when can we meet?"
The young man on the other end of the phone couldn't hide his excitement: "Tonight, I'll tell Zero right away." He then happily added, "Brother Gao Ming is here too, let's have dinner together tonight."
Kurosaki Utsuki agreed immediately. Of course, she had no reason to refuse... No, it seemed that she did have one.
Morobushi Takaaki's voice might remind her of Aizen... hopefully she didn't develop PTSD from a guy like that and affect her relationship with her respected tutor.
·
…The wish failed and PTSD appeared.
As soon as Zhufu Gaoming opened his mouth, Kurosaki Utsuki froze.
Although she tried her best to be patient and greeted the other party with a smile, after meeting up with Furuya Rei, she immediately moved to the outermost position, keeping the maximum distance from Morobuchi Takaaki.
Damn it! She used to really like Teacher Gao Ming's voice! But now it has become like this...
"It sounds just like Captain Aizen's voice." Suddenly, a familiar Kansai accent came to my ears.
Kurosaki Utsuki's breathing stagnated, as if a poisonous snake had suddenly wrapped around her neck - not only that, the snake was hissing at her and could bite her and kill her at any time.
It was Ichimaru Gin! He had appeared beside her silently! And Ise Nanao, who had been following behind her—
Kurosaki Utsuki forced herself to turn around in fear, but she ran straight into the silver-purple-haired man's ambiguous smile.
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