Haru gained a profound understanding of relativity today.
Time always flew by when he was next to a pretty girl.
The bland, tasteless banquet ended before he even realized it, and he soon found himself following Yoruichi toward the Second Division barracks.
Marenoshin Omaeda possessed a keen observational awareness that was completely disproportionate to his massive, hulking frame.
Wearing a very strange, knowing smile, he mysteriously vanished into thin air.
Neither Haru nor Yoruichi had any idea when he actually slipped away.
Not that anyone cared.
‘With Shunpo skills like that, as expected of the father of the future God Omaeda,’ Haru mused.
‘I wonder if that kid Marechiyo has even been born yet?’
Sworn to gather disciples all over the world, Mr.
Shimizu never discriminated in his teachings.
He didn’t mind collecting a few comic-relief subordinates along the way.
They’d at least count as an R-tier gacha pull, right?
“Yoruichi, when are you officially taking over as Captain?” Haru asked.
“Very soon.
Make sure you come to the inauguration ceremony.
Why the sudden interest, though?
Do you want to come work for me?
I really don’t mind!
I probably can’t give you the Lieutenant spot, but you can take your pick between Third or Fourth Seat.”
Yoruichi suddenly leaned in close.
Her golden eyes sparkled with a breathtaking light under the sun.
Their faces were so close they might as well have been dancing the tango.
Haru could smell the approaching scent of summer.
It was the faint, lingering fragrance of bellflowers blooming in the early morning dew.
It wasn’t overpowering, but it was absolutely unforgettable.
“Or…” Yoruichi’s voice dropped into a husky, teasing whisper.
“I could always reserve the position of the Captain’s Husband…
just for you.”
She smiled like a sly, gentle cat.
Haru turned his head away, completely speechless.
Yoruichi found his reaction incredibly cute.
Staring at his flushed, red ears, she leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his skin.
The humid, gentle breeze brushed his surface but completely bypassed his defenses, striking straight at his heart.
“With that kind of cowardice, you can definitely forget about ever scoring Captain Unohana.”
“S-Shoo!
Don’t you look down on me!
A single Unohana could never satisfy me!
I am a man destined to be the master of a massive harem!” Haru retorted, his voice stubborn despite his burning face.
As a master manipulator of human emotion, this was the very first time Haru felt like he was being completely, helplessly countered.
“Pfft—” Yoruichi pulled back slightly, covering her mouth as she giggled.
“So this is the true extent of Lord Shimizu’s capabilities!
You talk a big game, but you’re surprisingly innocent, aren’t you?”
“Just you wait!
I’m going to put you in your place one day!
I’ll have you crying at home every single day!” Haru shot back.
“What are you muttering about over there?”
“I said I’m a man destined to be a Captain!”
“Tch—”
“Go back and train for a few more years, Little Yoruichi!
With your current assets, you definitely can’t satisfy the boundless greed of Lord Shimizu!”
???
“Where exactly are you looking?!
I’m going to kill you!!!”
The two of them finally stopped brawling by the time they turned into the gates of the Second Division, restoring their solemn, dignified facades.
One was the incoming Captain; the other was a model educator.
Yoruichi was still grinding her teeth, thoroughly indignant.
This brat actually looked down on her?
Small?!
Compared to whom?!
Sure, she couldn’t compare to a monster like Captain Hikifune, but she was definitely well above average for her age!
If she compared herself to Shaolin, she was at least five…
no, three sizes larger!
‘This idiot Haru just has no taste for the finer things in life!
He doesn’t understand anything!’
Thinking back to Haru’s flustered, blushing face, Yoruichi couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter, her lingering resentment vanishing into thin air.
‘He’s just stubborn.
A dead duck with a hard beak,’ she muttered to herself, a playful smirk curving her lips.
“Hey, Yoruichi, do you have any good friends in the division?” Haru probed, finally getting down to business.
“I get along well with most of them, but I wouldn’t say I’m super close to anyone yet.
I haven’t officially taken over, after all.
Marenoshin has been running things.
Why the sudden question?”
“No childhood friends?”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Yoruichi frowned, her delicate eyebrows knitting together.
“Don’t tell me…” She let out a silly giggle.
“Are you already digging into Lady Yoruichi’s private life?”
“Of course.
I can’t just let anyone into my harem, right?
I have to do thorough background checks.”
“Well, you’re going to be severely disappointed.
I don’t have any childhood friends in the Second Division.”
‘Oh ho!’ Haru cheered internally.
It made sense!
Because of his transmigration, the timeline had shifted.
Yoruichi had fled to the World of the Living early on to escape the engagement, meaning she never had the chance to grow up alongside that striped-hat-wearing, NTR-loving bastard!
‘Excellent.
Absolutely excellent.’
“What are you grinning so smugly for?” Yoruichi asked curiously.
“I’m sighing!”
“Sighing?”
“Yeah.
I actually have a bit of a thing for married women.
Looks like I won’t get the chance to steal you away from a childhood sweetheart now.”
“Get lost!”
“Urahara!
Urahara!
Where are you hiding?!”
“Ah, up here!”
The rustling of leaves echoed overhead before a head resembling a violently wind-tossed haystack popped out from the dense canopy, startling the man looking for him.
“You lazy bastard, are you slacking off in the sun again?!”
The blonde youth, Kisuke Urahara, scratched his head awkwardly, a highly apologetic smile tugging at his lips.
“Ah, my bad.
The sunlight was just too perfect today.
I accidentally dozed off.
Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“You’re way too lazy!
Hurry up and get down here.
Follow me.”
Kisuke agreed, hopping lightly down from the branches.
The two men walked briskly toward the barracks.
“Seriously, Urahara, you need to fix this slacker attitude.
Look at me!
I’m already the 13th Seat of this Division!
You should learn from me and strive for a promotion,” Katsuo Katsuta lectured earnestly as they walked.
“You’re an absolute role model, Katsuta,” Kisuke smiled shyly.
“But I really have no interest in power or status.
I just like tinkering with my little inventions.”
“By the way, why were you looking for me in such a hurry?” Kisuke asked.
“Your golden opportunity has arrived, kid!
Lady Yoruichi is personally visiting the barracks today.
Don’t tell me you don’t know who she is?”
The blonde youth nodded.
Yoruichi Shihōin.
Head of the greatest noble clan in the Soul Society, incoming Captain of the Second Division, and his future direct superior.
He definitely knew who she was, though she certainly didn’t know him.
If he could somehow build a relationship with her, would it make it easier for him to secure funding for his experiments?
Would it be easier to slack off?
Kisuke silently shook his head.
‘Never mind.
If I show off my true abilities, I’ll just be saddled with more work.
My time is limited; I need to save as much of it as possible for myself.’
“So…
Lady Yoruichi asked for me specifically?”
“In your dreams, kid!” 13th Seat Katsuo Katsuta burst out laughing, slapping Kisuke heartily on the shoulder.
“Why would Lady Yoruichi ever look for a nobody like you?
Are you still half-asleep from your nap?
No, I’m taking you!
You aren’t even a seated officer yet, so I figured I’d bring you along to broaden your horizons and get your face recognized by the higher-ups!”
‘Sigh…’ Kisuke let out a long breath.
As a man who had made it his life’s mission to conscientiously slack off and avoid responsibilities, he absolutely hated standing out.
He was more like a gloomy, mad scientist, preferring to research whatever fascinated him in total isolation.
For instance, he recently had a small, incredibly dangerous idea: what would happen if you shattered a massive number of Hollows and forcefully compressed their souls together?
That idea had been burning a hole in his mind ever since it popped into his head.
But for now, he lacked a reliable way to get his hands on Hollows, so he had to keep his head down and figure it out slowly.
Unfortunately for Kisuke Urahara, the gears of fate had already begun to turn.
The more a genius wanted to lay low and hide their talents…
the more Mr.
Shimizu loved forcibly dragging them out into the blinding spotlight to shine.