The next morning, Sombravida brought Kira Izuru to Grandma's house.
After their long discussion the previous night, both had reached the same conclusion:
Watermelons could become a legitimate trade line.
Kira's family situation was precarious.
With the death of his grandfather and his father's injuries, their house had lost its Shinigami pillar. In Soul Society, noble etiquette only held as long as one possessed military backing. Without a seated officer in the Gotei 13, a minor noble house quickly became vulnerable.
Textile routes were blocked.
Shops were harassed.
Creditors tightened pressure.
Other noble houses began circling like carrion birds.
Kira's successful admission to the Shin'ō Academy had already slowed that decline. Recognition from both the Sixth and Eleventh Divisions gave his family breathing room.
Not salvation.
Breathing room.
The night before, Kira had made a bold proposal — that Sombravida become a formal retainer to the Kira family.
Sombravida refused.
Not because he doubted Kira.
But because attaching himself formally to a declining noble house would bind Momo, Tōshirō, and Grandma to that political battlefield.
And beyond that—
He knew too much about the future.
Kira would eventually serve under Ichimaru Gin in the Third Division.
And Gin's captaincy was not independent of Aizen's shadow.
Sombravida would not step into that current blindly.
Instead, he chose something safer.
Commerce.
The Watermelon Proposal
Grandma welcomed Kira politely.
After brief introductions, Sombravida led him to the backyard fields.
The melons were healthy — round, heavy, infused with faint reishi density.
Kira personally cut one open.
The interior was vibrant.
The spiritual particle content was stable.
He nodded.
"This can sell."
In Rukongai, watermelon demand was low. Few residents actively cultivated spiritual energy unless training for Academy admission. Five silver rings per melon had been their standard price — and even then, supply exceeded demand.
Kira proposed seven silver rings per melon.
Transportation handled by his family.
Minimum contract: 150 melons per quarter.
Each over seven pounds.
Quality consistent.
Grandma agreed.
Her own field produced roughly one hundred per cycle.
With Sombravida's newly tilled land added, supply would meet demand.
For the Kira family, this offered:
A new reishi-based commodity
Dessert and beverage processing potential
Direct Seireitei retail access
For Grandma and Tōshirō:
Stable income
Reduced transportation burden
Economic security
Sombravida added one condition:
The semi-automatic irrigation system must remain confidential.
Kira agreed immediately.
In business, advantage was survival.
Before leaving, Sombravida made one more suggestion:
"If this succeeds, purchase the adjacent lots between our houses. Consolidate farmland."
Kira did not refuse.
He understood long-term planning.
Preparation Before Departure
For the next two days, Sombravida and Tōshirō cleared and enriched the remaining backyard soil.
Reishi-rich forest earth was transported in batches.
Momo sowed the seeds.
Grandma supervised spacing and irrigation lines.
Tōshirō handled daily tending.
Sombravida noticed it again—
Tōshirō's reiryoku fluctuations were stabilizing steadily.
Still immature.
But undeniable.
Sooner than canon.
But not prematurely.
Departure Day
The day of Academy entry arrived.
Grandma held both their hands a little longer than usual.
Tōshirō stood silently.
After farewells, Sombravida and Momo headed toward the western Academy gate.
They presented their acceptance letters.
A male Shinigami guided Sombravida.
A female Shinigami led Momo.
"See you later, Big Brother!"
"Get along with your roommates."
Dormitory
The Shin'ō Academy dormitories were modest.
Two-person tatami rooms.
Writing desk.
Water basin.
Basic storage.
Communal bathhouse outside.
Compared to Hueco Mundo, it was luxury.
"Examinee 918, Hinamori Tsukishiro," the counselor said kindly.
"You will remain here for six years unless you qualify for early graduation."
"Teacher Ihei," he introduced himself.
"I've reviewed your file. Four division seals. You possess strong potential. Continue your effort."
Sombravida nodded simply.
Ihei did not mind the short responses. High-talent students often had restrained personalities.
He explained one more thing:
"This afternoon, at three o'clock, the Headmaster will address all new students."
"The Headmaster?"
"Yes. Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni."
Even Ihei's tone carried reverence.
The founder of the Academy.
The head of the Gotei 13.
Sombravida felt a slight tightening in his chest.
Meeting Yamamoto this early was… significant.
After Ihei left, Sombravida removed his eye bandage and examined the room carefully.
No hidden reishi distortions.
No embedded surveillance threads.
He rewrapped the bandage.
Then he considered something else.
Roommate assignment.
Coincidence?
Accommodation?
Monitoring?
Mayuri would never rely on student surveillance. If the Twelfth Division wished to observe him, they would implant tracking organisms or microscopic reishi markers.
Aizen?
Uncertain.
Blindness disrupted Kyōka Suigetsu's complete hypnosis trigger.
But Aizen was patient.
If surveillance existed, it would be subtle.
Sombravida centered himself and began absorbing ambient reishi.
The density within Seireitei was remarkable.
Two hours of cultivation here equaled several days in Rukongai.
Then—
Knock.
Sombravida opened the door.
A short, thin boy stood there.
"N-nice to meet you! I'm Nakai Yuu!"
His nervousness was genuine.
Unpolished.
Sombravida studied his spiritual pressure.
Weak.
Unstable.
Not assassin-level composure.
"I'm Hinamori Tsukishiro. I'm blind."
"Yes! The teacher told me! I was admitted under special consideration. In exchange, I'll assist you with daily matters!"
Ah.
Service-based conditional admission.
That made sense.
Sombravida stepped aside.
Nakai entered and began unpacking.
His evaluation sheet lay on the desk.
Sombravida glanced at it.
Multiple failures.
Combat: fail.
Physical strength: fail.
Reiryoku capacity: borderline pass.
Kidō aptitude: pass.
Written exam: excellent.
Willpower: excellent.
Interesting.
Intellectual type.
Not combat.
Clearly not noble.
And certainly not an elite plant.
Sombravida frowned slightly.
"Aizen wouldn't assign someone this nervous."
He watched Nakai quietly.
Perhaps—
This really was simply accommodation.
"Aizen wouldn't send someone like that to spy on me. Could it be... that he really was sent by the school to give me special treatment for my eyes?"
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