"Master, are there any trivial matters you need my help with lately?" Shinobu Kocho asked with a smile as she distributed the tableware, looking at Kagaya's family.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled and accepted the bowl and chopsticks. "Please stop calling me that, Shinobu. I haven't been anyone's master for a long time."
"Those days of shouldering responsibilities and missions are long in the past. Now, I am just an ordinary soul in the Rukongai."
Taking care of this family had become Shinobu Kocho's most important priority outside of her duties as a Seated Officer of the Fourth Division.
They had arrived in the Rukongai a bit later than she did and were previously scattered across different districts.
If she hadn't accidentally bumped into Mr. Gyomei on a street corner while he was adapting to his new life, she wouldn't have even known they were here. It took quite a bit of effort to gather everyone together.
With Captain Unohana's tacit approval, she occasionally used the conveniences of her job to have Hanataro deliver soul-nourishing supplements gathered from the Seireitei.
Shinobu smiled at Kagaya and Amane. "Even crossing the boundary of life and death, I will never forget the kindness you and Mr. Gyomei showed me. Please don't decline this insignificant bit of care."
"Alright... thank you for your hard work, Shinobu."
Today was Shinobu's well-deserved day off after returning to the Soul Society from a mission in the World of the Living, and she had come specifically for the two children.
"Hinaki and Nichika will be enrolling in the Shin'o Academy tomorrow. Time really flies..."
This soft sigh seemed to open the floodgates of memory.
Over seventy years had passed in the blink of an eye, and it had already been seven or eight years since she found the Ubuyashiki family. This made Shinobu, who was once a mortal, sigh with emotion.
Although Hinaki and Nichika still maintained their childlike appearances, they were actually young adults now. It was time to consider their future paths.
"Haha, yes. If those two could become excellent Soul Reapers like Miss Shinobu, nothing would be more wonderful," Amane Ubuyashiki said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
The towering Gyomei Himejima's eyes curved into a benevolent arc. "Especially little Nichika. Her spiritual power is quite abundant; she will definitely become a remarkable Soul Reaper."
Logically speaking, a warrior like Gyomei should have also attended the Shin'o Academy and tried to become a Soul Reaper.
However, he inherently disliked fighting. If it weren't for the blood feud with the evil demons in the past, he would have spent his entire life in monastic devotion.
Now that he had gained a second life as a wandering soul, he only wanted to do some manual labor in the Rukongai and live a peaceful, stable life.
Shinobu nodded at Gyomei. "Once the children enroll and some time passes, I'll figure out a way to move us to the lower-numbered districts. The environment there is much better."
"That is truly troubling you, Shinobu," Kagaya said, bowing slightly in gratitude.
Shinobu waved her hands repeatedly. "It's nothing at all. When Asuka arrives..."
The words reached her lips, but she suddenly stopped.
The Ubuyashiki couple exchanged a glance, and the tall Gyomei remained silent, pressing his hands together in silent prayer.
Kagaya set down his teacup, his gaze profound.
"Is there still no news of Asuka?"
"...Yes." Shinobu forced a smile. "But I've already asked the Captain of the Fifth Division for help. Perhaps there will be good news soon..."
At the mention of Asuka, a trace of heaviness settled into the originally relaxed atmosphere.
Over the years, everyone had come to realize Asuka's extraordinary nature, knowing that he was the reason they had all arrived here.
Naturally, they worried about his disappearance.
"Namu Amida Butsu... I wonder where Benefactor Asuka could be?" Gyomei pondered, looking up at the pale blue sky. "However, a swordsman as powerful as him should be able to turn ill luck into good fortune and remain safe and sound no matter where he is."
"That child... he must be desperately trying to get stronger," Amane sighed softly. "He is a stubborn boy. He is definitely searching for us with everything he has, in his own way."
Shinobu tightly gripped the hilt of her Zanpakuto at her waist.
"He will return..."
"The only thing we can do is ensure that on the day he returns, we are standing right here, ready to firmly tell him:"
"This is his home."
"We are all here waiting for him."
In the early morning Rukongai, the thin mist had yet to fully dissipate.
Shinobu stood at the courtyard gate. Today, in addition to her standard Shihakusho, she specifically wore a pink and white interwoven butterfly-wing haori over it.
After all, she was taking the children to enroll; it was only natural to dress up a bit.
She looked at the two children who had once met their end in the final decisive battle, now nervously adjusting their new clothes.
Now, in the Soul Society, they were new seeds with impressive Spiritual Pressure potential, holding the promise of becoming Soul Reapers.
"Are you ready? Hinaki, and Nichika." Shinobu's voice was as gentle as ever, like a warm spring breeze. "Although there is plenty of time to report to the Shin'o Academy, it's better to arrive early on the first day."
"Yes, Big Sister Shinobu," the two girls answered in unison.
Although their appearances were youthful, their clear eyes revealed a composure far beyond their peers.
Because they had been influenced by Asuka's unique spiritual power, they exhibited extraordinary potential upon arriving in the Soul Society.
In order to give them the ability to take care of their family in this world, entering the Shin'o Academy became the natural choice.
The three of them strolled along the long street leading to the Seireitei.
Along the way, many wandering souls who recognized Shinobu's identity bowed respectfully to her.
As a Seated Officer of the Fourth Division, Shinobu had an excellent reputation in the Rukongai, not only for her superb medical skills but also for her kind heart.
As they neared the gates of the Shin'o Academy, the broad avenue became bustling with activity.
Boys and girls dressed in various outfits gathered in front of the massive stone school gates, led by their elders.
"Yo, isn't this Miss Shinobu from the Fourth Division?"
A hearty voice called out from behind and to the side.
Shinobu stopped and turned around gracefully.
She saw a tall young man with medium-length black hair striding toward them.
The ends of his hair fell casually over his shoulders, and a few unruly strands hung over his forehead. He wore a highly infectious, radiant smile, as if sunshine followed him wherever he went.
His arm bore a Vice Captain's armband engraved with the insignia of the Thirteenth Division.
Behind him followed a young man with an exceptionally sturdy build. His facial features bore some resemblance to the youth, but his lines were much rougher and more rugged. At this moment, he was frowning slightly, sizing up the noisy crowd and the massive school gates with a mix of reluctance and curiosity.
"Vice Captain Kaien," Shinobu bowed slightly, her etiquette impeccable. "Are you also here to drop off a younger family member for enrollment?"
"Ah, how many times do I have to say it? Stop calling me 'Vice Captain,' it sounds too distant!"
Kaien Shiba waved his hand carelessly and closed the distance in a few strides. "This is my younger brother, Ganju Shiba. The brat didn't even want to come!"
The Shiba Family was actually a somewhat delicate name in the Soul Society.
It was one of the highest-ranking Five Noble Families, playing an extremely special role throughout its long history, yet it lacked the haughty airs of ancient nobility.
Because their ideals had long clashed with the other families, they had even moved out of the Seireitei, choosing to reside in the West Rukongai in a state of self-exile.
This rebellious behavior naturally drew the dissatisfaction of the other nobles.
Especially after the head of the Shiba branch family—Isshin Shiba—suddenly went missing in the World of the Living.
If it weren't for the fact that the current family head, Kaien Shiba, was a renowned genius serving as the Vice Captain of the Thirteenth Division...
Central 46 was even considering whether to use this as an excuse to directly strip the Shiba Family of their title as one of the Five Noble Families.
Those arrogant nobles avoided talking about the Shiba Family, and the members of the Shiba Family seemed happy to enjoy the peace and quiet, living freely and comfortably in the Rukongai with its bustling, down-to-earth atmosphere.
"Miss Shinobu, honestly, if it weren't for your masterful Kaido back then, let alone standing here dropping my brother off for school, the grass on my grave would probably be two meters high by now!"
Kaien's expression suddenly turned a bit more serious, the gratitude in his eyes completely unconcealed.
"Vice Captain Kaien is joking again. That was simply the duty of the Relief Squad," Shinobu replied with a smile.
"Tch, there you go again! I told you, just call me Kaien." Kaien sighed.
"To me, you're not just my lifesaver, but a true friend to the Shiba Family! That incident... I will never forget it for as long as I live!"
The noisy voices of the crowd seemed to fade away in that instant, and their thoughts involuntarily drifted far away.
Returning to that bloodstained night from several years ago.
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