"If you are referring to the Shinigami Substitute Badge, then it was indeed something that Ukitake Jūshirō came up with."
"However, before this, Soul Society did not allow humans to possess the powers of a Shinigami."
"You should be able to understand Ukitake Jūshirō's intention."
Yuta could easily analyze what he heard about Ginjō Kūgo. Since Soul Society did not allow humans to wield Shinigami powers, it stood to reason that Ginjō Kūgo should have been eliminated outright, with his powers stripped away. But Ukitake Jūshirō was different. As a man of compassion, he did not want to see such a brutal outcome. Instead, he sought to promote trust between humans and Shinigami by creating the Substitute Shinigami Badge, a means of both monitoring and controlling humans who possessed Shinigami powers.
"Unfortunately, do you think I will believe you so easily at this point?" Ginjō clasped his hands together, lowered his head slightly, and said, "You can't judge a person's heart by his appearance. Ukitake Jūshirō may have said that on the surface, but who can know what he really thought?"
Yuta picked up the teacup in his hand. "You should understand this-if Ukitake Jūshirō truly intended to kill you, he wouldn't need to use something as troublesome as the Substitute Shinigami Badge. Of course, I'm not here to persuade you otherwise. On the contrary, I am here to tell you who the real culprits behind the deaths of your fellow Fullbringers are. The names of the Four Great Noble Houses… you should know them, yes?"
Ginjō paused and thought carefully.
There was truth in Yuta's words. If Ukitake truly wanted him dead, there was no reason to use the excuse of the Substitute Badge. All that was needed was a command, and the Gotei 13 Captains would have destroyed him without hesitation.
But the mention of the Four Great Noble Houses caused Ginjō's expression to harden. Could it be that the ones who killed his companions had been nobles of Soul Society? Was Ukitake not responsible after all? And if the Shinigami themselves were divided, then why would those nobles turn to targeting Fullbringers?
Yuta stood and continued firmly. "I came here hoping you would restrain yourself and abandon plans of stealing Kurosaki Ichigo's powers to oppose the Shinigami. Even if you succeed in taking his abilities, your plan will fail."
He reached into his clothing and tossed a card onto the table. "I came only to tell you this-your strength cannot measure up to mine. Do not chase empty schemes, because it will only destroy you. And if I truly wished to control the situation here, I would only need Tsukishima Shūkurō's Fullbring to do so. If you are wise enough, come find me at the address written there."
Without another word, Yuta turned and walked out.
"Hey… stop!"
Ginjō rose quickly to block him, but then froze as one of Yuta's companions glanced his way. That look alone carried unbearable spiritual pressure, bearing down on him with invisible weight.
Ginjō collapsed to his knees, his eyes widened, his throat tightened beneath his own hand, and shallow, crackling gasps escaped him as though he could not draw air.
Impossible.
Was this only the power of Yuta's younger brother? What kind of existence was Yuta himself then?
Sweat beaded on his forehead as he recalled Yuta's words. If they wanted to control everything, Tsukishima's Fullbring would be more than enough-and just minutes before, Tsukishima had pierced them effortlessly with no resistance at all.
This gap in strength left them helpless, like children unable to fight back.
Was Yuta truly still human?
Standing nearby, Aizen Sōsuke looked toward Ginjō with a faint glance. "Those with different levels of power face fate in different ways. Some struggle endlessly against it, unable to change anything, while others need only lift a hand to shatter fate entirely."
With that, Aizen turned and walked away.
Orihime Inoue pressed her hands gently over her chest as she watched Yuta's retreating figure. Her gaze lingered on the path he disappeared down.
Riruka noted Orihime's expression, flicked her hair back with a sharp motion, and commented with irritation, "Hey, your eyes are about to fall out. Do you trust that man Yuta so much?"
Orihime nodded softly. "Yes. After all, it was Yuta-san who saved us."
With those words, she opened the door and stepped outside.
"Is that so?"
Riruka's eyes showed a flicker of contemplation as if she were questioning her own thoughts. She followed shortly after Orihime, her steps light and hesitant.
What could cause someone to place so much trust in another? She could not find the answer herself.
On the road ahead, Yuta slowed his pace as if sensing Orihime's presence behind him. He turned toward her suddenly.
Riruka, startled, quickly darted behind a telephone pole. She pressed a hand tightly against her chest, relieved that she hadn't been discovered.
After a short time, she peeked out, expecting to see Yuta and Orihime continuing their conversation.
But both were gone.
"Huh? Were they walking that quickly?" she whispered in surprise. "How did they disappear so suddenly?"
As she turned her head back, a dark figure stood silently before her. She startled, nearly leaping from the ground, only to rub her eyes and recognize Yuta standing there. Orihime, Chad, and Yuta's younger brother were nowhere in sight.
"You… why did you suddenly appear?" she asked, flustered, her voice wavering.
The shock flushed Riruka's cheeks pink. She crossed her arms across her chest quickly to hide her awkwardness, refusing to meet his gaze. Her heart beat faster despite her efforts to compose herself.
"You shouldn't think I was following you," she said hurriedly, lifting a strand of her crimson hair with forceful gestures. "I-I was just going to buy donuts and saw you on the street."
Yuta stepped forward and gently flicked her forehead with his finger.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Riruka exclaimed, covering her forehead as the skin flushed red from the flick.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
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