Human World
Today was the first day of school.
Tsunayoshi and the others' vacation had ended, and everyone who had gone to the Soul Society had returned to the Human World.
"Tsuna, remember to pick up Tatsuki before heading to school," Nana called out.
"Got it, Mom! I'm heading out!"
With a piece of bread in his mouth, Tsunayoshi jogged toward Tatsuki Arisawa's house.
Because school had started again, his mother—who was usually abroad for work—had finally returned home after a long time.
However, since the overseas project wasn't finished yet, Nana Sawada was only back for three days to spend time with Tsunayoshi before leaving again. Tsunayoshi's father was still busy with his own project overseas.
Because Nana had returned, and since they had spent the entire summer traveling together, Tatsuki hadn't stayed overnight at Tsunayoshi's house this time. Instead, she had gone back to her own home.
When Tsunayoshi arrived, Tatsuki was already waiting outside in her school uniform.
"You're late again, Tsuna," she said with a small complaint.
"I'm not used to not using Shunpo everywhere," Tsunayoshi casually replied, making up an excuse as they walked to school side by side.
"How long are you planning to stay in the Human World this time?" Tatsuki asked.
She knew him too well.
Before the great battle in the future arrived, Tsunayoshi would never peacefully attend school every day.
"I'll stay until Mom leaves on her next trip," Tsunayoshi said. "After that, I'll head back to the Soul Society."
"You guys don't have it as easy as I do. During the day you'll attend school, and in the evenings you'll train at the Urahara Shop."
For Tsunayoshi, having both parents constantly away from home was actually convenient.
He didn't have to come up with elaborate lies to explain his disappearances.
"These next two years will be tough," Tsunayoshi added. "If it gets too tiring, tell me. I'll ask my uncle to arrange a leave of absence from school."
Tatsuki gently shook her head.
She could feel Tsunayoshi's concern.
And precisely because of that, she was even more determined to train hard so she could stand beside him.
"Whether it's studying or fighting ability, I won't fall behind," she said with a grin. "When the college entrance exams come, you'll still need me to tutor you."
Only after learning about the looming future battle did Tatsuki realize something.
Tsunayoshi wasn't bad at studying.
He had simply chosen not to focus on it.
Everything he did academically was just enough to meet graduation requirements.
As the coming war drew closer, Tsunayoshi became busier and busier. There was no way he could devote time to school.
But that was fine.
With her around, she would make up for the parts he lacked.
"Tatsuki… I'm really glad I met you," Tsunayoshi said as he held her hand.
After all, Tsunayoshi was still a human living in the real world.
Once the future war was over, he would eventually return to normal society.
Instead of wasting three years catching up on studies later, having a girlfriend willing to tutor him didn't sound bad at all.
Among their group of friends, Tatsuki was actually the only one who couldn't fully detach from ordinary life.
The Kurosaki family and Ishida family already knew about the Soul Society.
Orihime practically lived at Ichigo's house.
And Chad (Yasutora Sado) had lost both parents—no one was there to supervise him.
As for Tatsuki's recent trip to the Soul Society, their group had used Sawada Iemitsu's name and some of Urahara's black-tech gadgets to convince her family that they had simply gone on vacation.
"Oh right," Tsunayoshi asked, "how's your Shunkō training going?"
During their time in the Soul Society, Tsunayoshi had been running everywhere—sparring with various Bankai users, occasionally checking the lieutenant training camp.
He hadn't actually spent much time with Tatsuki.
"I'm almost done mastering it," she replied. "My Fullbring can basically be used together with Shunkō now."
"Even Yoruichi said my progress is faster than Captain Soi Fon's was."
Tatsuki covered her mouth and laughed.
"You should've seen Captain Soi Fon's expression when she heard that. She looked so resentful."
"Oh, and during training I also copied Captain Soi Fon's assassination techniques."
If Tatsuki hadn't reminded him, Tsunayoshi might have forgotten how ridiculously powerful her Fullbring ability was.
Spending all her time training with Soi Fon had actually limited her growth.
"When we go to the Soul Society this weekend," Tsunayoshi said, "I'll introduce you to a few more people."
Given his connections throughout the Seireitei, introducing Tatsuki to several captains wasn't difficult.
School life itself wasn't worth describing.
It wasn't until lunchtime that the group gathered together.
Tsunayoshi explained his planned schedule for everyone's school life.
"We don't have any issues," Kurosaki Ichigo said while chewing food. "But what about you? If you're not coming to school, are you planning to take a leave of absence?"
"No way," Tsunayoshi immediately rejected the idea. "That would definitely drag my parents back home."
"After school I'll stop by the Urahara Shop and ask the shopkeeper for help."
"Anyway, I barely listen in class. As long as I show up somehow, it'll be fine."
"That shady shopkeeper?" Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, he probably has some weird gadget for that."
"Enough about that," Tsunayoshi said. "How's your training going, Ichigo? Ishida?"
"Heh, it's going great!" Ichigo said proudly, wiping his nose.
"I'd like to point out," Ishida Uryū said coldly, "that someone was supposed to train his Quincy powers, yet somehow ended up developing his Fullbring instead."
"Hey! Ryūken told me to do that!" Ichigo protested. "He said it takes too long for me to create a Quincy Spirit Bow, so I should practice with a Fullbring bow first."
"How was I supposed to know my Fullbring would grow so fast?"
Ichigo's Fullbring had already evolved beyond the simple black bow he once used.
Now, when he activated it, his body was covered in a black robe with blue Reishi circuits, somewhat resembling a fusion with Quincy Reishi manipulation.
In that Fullbring state, Ichigo could already reach roughly the same level he had when he first achieved Bankai.
Fighting one or two ordinary captains wouldn't put him at a disadvantage.
"I'm honestly embarrassed to criticize you," Ishida said. "Is that even a Quincy fighting style? You're swinging the bow like a sword!"
"And those crescent-shaped attacks—aren't they basically Getsuga Tenshō?"
For Ishida, a Quincy fighting properly with a bow was a matter of pride.
"Ryūken even praised my creativity!" Ichigo shot back. "Just answer me this—is my Fullbring attack strong or not?"
Tsunayoshi finally understood.
Ichigo's Fullbring didn't just incorporate Quincy archery—it had also instinctively fused with Shinigami Zanjutsu.
His black bow now functioned more like two short blades joined together.
Ishida had no response.
He had to admit that when Ichigo used only Fullbring, even he struggled against him.
The constant switching between Fullbring Light movement and Hirenkyaku, combined with attacks that were half sword slashes and half arrows, was incredibly annoying to deal with.
After School — Urahara Shop
Urahara Kisuke wasn't there.
Instead, Tessai Tsukabishi was watching the store with the two kids.
After trading their usual insults, Tsunayoshi finally explained his purpose.
"Mr. Tessai, do you have anything that could disguise itself as me and attend school in my place?"
"So you're planning to stay in the Soul Society long-term, Mr. Sawada?" Tessai immediately understood.
"Exactly. Even the shopkeeper doesn't have time to return lately. Before the crisis arrives, we need to grow stronger as much as possible."
"I just need something that can attend school for me."
"That exists," Tessai said.
"It's called a Modified Soul."
The term sounded familiar.
Tsunayoshi slapped his forehead.
It was the same technology used to create Kon, the stuffed lion who temporarily took control of Ichigo's body when he left it.
"I'm fine with a Modified Soul," Tsunayoshi said. "But please also create a Gigai that looks exactly like me."
"And find a Modified Soul with a calm personality."
"Just one thing—don't give me the one named Kon."
He had absolutely no intention of letting Kon run around school wearing his face and building a legendary reputation as a pervert.
After some waiting, a second Tsunayoshi—identical in appearance—stood inside the shop.
Tatsuki circled around him in amazement.
Every now and then she glanced at the real Tsunayoshi.
Did that mean she now had two boyfriends?
A sharp chop to her head shattered the fantasy.
"Stop imagining things. That's not me."
Turning to the duplicate, Tsunayoshi said:
"Your name is Kuranosuke, right? From now on, please attend school in my place."
"Starting in three days."
"I understand, Lord Sawada Tsunayoshi," the fake Tsunayoshi replied respectfully.
Tsunayoshi sighed in relief.
If that idiot Kon had been the one in control, he would probably already be buried in Tatsuki's chest.
And seeing Tsunayoshi's face, Tatsuki might not even react immediately.
"Interesting," Ichigo said. "Mr. Tessai, do you have any more Modified Souls?"
Since Rukia wasn't around, Ichigo still needed a way to leave his body when using Shinigami powers.
Urahara didn't have time to build Tsunayoshi's portable Reishi Converter for him.
So Ichigo settled for the next best option.
And so—
The Modified Soul named Kon still ended up in Ichigo's hands.
Their strange relationship continued once again.
Tsunayoshi didn't stay for underground training that day.
His mother rarely came home during the year, and he had promised to return early.
Tatsuki walked home with him.
Even though their families knew each other well, the future daughter-in-law still had to meet her future mother.
Meanwhile — Soul Society
Hitsugaya hadn't personally gone on a mission in quite some time.
This time the order was unusual:
Secretly escort the transport of the Ōin (Royal Seal).
It made sense.
Most ordinary tasks in the Soul Society were now handled by Shinigami ranked Third Seat and below.
Only missions related to the Royal Palace warranted a captain's involvement.
Hitsugaya had no curiosity about the Royal Seal.
Years as a captain had already taught him an important habit—
Observe more.
Ask less.
Before departing, he planned to retrieve Rangiku from the training camp.
After all, Squad Ten should undertake the mission as a complete unit.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 + chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789