The reform of the Shihōin clan’s inheritance system might appear unconventional, but it had precedent.
Soul Society receives the dead from the living world, and their culture seeps in slowly.
Over two thousand years ago, the final emperor of a fallen dynasty attempted legal reforms.
He moved too quickly against the noble houses.
He died in civil strife.
In the modern world, that’s a high-school history question.
The dynasty crumbled.
Its emperor was consigned to shame.
Yet fragments of its inheritance system lingered.
Changes in the living world always seep into Soul Society, especially now.
The Shinō Academy even offers a “Modern Studies” course.
For example, the inheritance system of the Tsunayashiro clan—one of the Four Great Noble Families—resembles this structure.
Ascending within it is never simple.
The current head of the Shihōin clan had solidified his legal legitimacy.
He also made it reasonable for branch families to increase their inheritance rights through merit.
A pity, then, that some people had missed the “submission questions” entirely.
“Ichigo?
Ichigo!”
Tatsuki Arisawa leaned over her desk in Classroom 1-3 of Karakura First High.
“Are you spacing out again… during an exam?
This is the history final.
‘The root cause of the reform’s failure.’ ‘The impact of the empire’s collapse.’ These are free points.
Are you okay?”
Kurosaki Ichigo blinked.
He had that streak of orange hair, those fierce eyes.
He fought like a delinquent, but his grades had always been near the top.
This semester, something was off.
His final exam performance had fallen apart.
“Huh?
Oh.” Ichigo paused.
“I’m fine.
Just haven’t slept well.
Don’t worry about it.”
The real reason was unspeakable.
The thing truly distracting him—Rukia being taken back to Soul Society—could never be mentioned.
Everyone had even forgotten “Rukia,” a former classmate.
“Sorry.
I have to get home early today.” Ichigo tossed the words to Tatsuki, hurriedly packed his bag, and headed for the door.
On the way, a classmate stopped him.
Orihime Inoue.
What she said next froze him in the hallway.
“Kurosaki-san… Where did Kuchiki-san go?
Why doesn’t anyone remember her?”
In Soul Society, just seven days after Rukia Kuchiki’s arrest, Central 46 handed down the verdict.
Death penalty.
Execution after the 25th.
It was almost immediate.
The custom was to execute prisoners on the 25th of each month.
Executing a Shinigami required the Sōkyoku.
Preparing that thing took days; it certainly wouldn’t be ready by July 25th.
News rippled through the Gotei 13.
The sentence was that severe?
Outside the Sixth Division headquarters, Byakuya Kuchiki stood in the corridor’s cool shadow.
He had just visited the prison.
He had met Rukia.
He had met Renji.
He’d told them Central 46’s verdict, and Renji had yelled at him.
Byakuya’s face was a placid mask.
He looked composed, as if accepting the verdict readily—even eager to erase this stain on the Kuchiki family.
His spiritual perception felt dull, thick.
He noticed them then.
Two of the top three most annoying captains and vice-captains in the Gotei 13, waiting for him with smiles.
Gin Ichimaru.
Shihōin Ichiryu.
Byakuya turned the corridor corner.
He paused, then asked, “Captain Ichimaru.
Vice-Captain Shihōin.
What are you two waiting for?”
Gin Ichimaru sat perched on the corridor’s armrest.
“Don’t be so cold!
I heard about your sister’s death sentence.
Came to comfort you, Captain Kuchiki.”
His tone was perfunctory.
Sincere.
He added, “I worried you might be too depressed.
Seems I overthought it.”
Ichiryu picked up the thread.
“How could he not be depressed?
Captain Kuchiki is merely steadying himself.
When scandal strikes a noble house… if it were me, I’d be heartbroken.
I’d want to supervise the execution personally tomorrow.”
Far away in the living world, a little black cat sneezed.
“Hahaha!” Gin laughed.
“You really are the Shihōin vice-captain.
So devoted to the Seireitei!”
Byakuya took a slow breath.
“It’s a blessing to have such a role model among the nobles.
I won’t accompany you further.”
If he kept talking, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t draw his sword.
“Since Captain Kuchiki is fine, I’ll leave first.” Gin departed with an air of genuine visitation.
Ichiryu walked past him, heading deeper inside.
“I’m here to interrogate the prisoner.
See if there’s anything she hasn’t clarified.” He adopted a busy tone and sighed.
“Ah, this Soul Society.
How could it function without me?”
Byakuya’s grip tightened on his scabbard.
Ichiryu hummed a cheerful tune as he walked on.
Byakuya glanced back.
He saw Ichimaru Gin’s fully smiling face.
He settled himself.
Suppressed the anger.
Did not act.
Ichiryu walked deeper into the prison complex.
Now sentenced to death, she should soon be transferred to the Confession Palace.
For now, she remained in an ordinary prison—the one under the Ninth Division’s jurisdiction.
“Vice-Captain Shihōin!”
As Ichiryu passed, surrounding Ninth Division members straightened and saluted.
Whatever they thought privately, they didn’t dare offend the Shihōin vice-captain in person.
Don’t ghost the story like tha,t you finished that chapter and went quiet.
Drop a comment down there, real talk.
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