The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Suō Tsukasa could clearly sense that something was off about Zaraki Kenpachi's smile.
Facing a battle-maniac who existed solely for the sake of combat, ordinary small talk and pleasantries were meaningless; the only viable method of interaction was to engage in a fierce exchange of blows with real blades.
Just as he was pondering how to deal with a Zaraki Kenpachi who had clearly found a new prey, Kusajishi Yachiru, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.
"See, I told you he'd be interesting!"
Yachiru stood up straight on the edge of the wall, triumphantly putting her hands on her hips and tilting her head. Her pink hair was exceptionally bright under the sunlight, and her smile was adorable.
She was quite proud of herself for discovering an interesting fellow like Suō Tsukasa for Kenpachi.
Upon hearing this, Tsukasa instantly understood the reason they had sought him out.
Kusajishi Yachiru was not just the Lieutenant of the 11th Division; she was Kenpachi's exclusive "opponent-finding radar."
Her unique intuition, combined with her sharp spiritual sense, allowed her to always find interesting individuals who might pique the interest of the battle-hungry Kenpachi.
To be honest, Tsukasa felt he was still a long way off.
Nevertheless, he didn't feel much nervousness in his heart.
Though Zaraki Kenpachi appeared wild on the outside, as a Division Captain, he ultimately maintained a basic moral line and wouldn't recklessly attack him without cause.
Furthermore, he knew that even if Kenpachi did fixate on him, the most threatening outcome would likely be a severe injury and a stay in the 4th Division's wards for a while.
He wouldn't die, anyway. At most, he would suffer some physical pain, and he might even gain something from the experience.
In truth, Tsukasa was somewhat curious to experience what kind of abilities the sun-transformed mark would bestow upon his body.
However, he was currently on his way to work; the timing and location were inappropriate, and the gains likely wouldn't outweigh the disruption to his training.
Patter—
Before Tsukasa could respond, Yachiru flipped down from the wall and bounded over to him in a few steps. Her nose twitched slightly, and her eyes sparkled as she asked.
"Tsukacchi, what's that on you? It smells so good!"
"Oh, fruit candies. Would you like to try some?"
This sudden closeness snapped Tsukasa back to reality. He reached into his robes and pulled out a tightly tied oil-paper bundle.
Having previously suffered through bone-deep hunger, and because he had a personal fondness for sweets, Tsukasa always carried some snacks on him.
He untied the string and spread the paper open before her.
Inside were translucent fruit candies, handmade by Tsukasa using concentrated fruit juice mixed with honey and sugar syrup.
"Thank you!"
The colorful candies, dusted with a fine layer of white sugar frost, firmly captured Yachiru's gaze. A literal glint of excitement flashed in her eyes.
After thanking him, she impatiently picked one up and popped it into her mouth.
"Mmm! This is even better than star candy!"
The sweet taste blended with a rich fruity aroma bloomed in her mouth, prompting an earnest exclamation of praise.
For a moment, the only sound left was the slurping of her enjoying the candy.
At that point, Madarame Ikkaku, the most socially adept among them, let out a light cough.
He stepped forward toward Tsukasa, his smooth bald head reflecting the bright morning light.
"Ahem."
"Suō, let's get acquainted. I'm Madarame Ikkaku, Third Seat of the 11th Division."
"And the guy behind me is—"
Ikkaku finished introducing himself and pointed a thumb back over his shoulder.
"I have a mouth; I can speak for myself."
"Ayasegawa Yumichika, Fifth Seat of the 11th Division. Pleased to meet you~"
Yumichika cut off the introduction and smoothly took over the conversation.
He took an elegant step forward, his fingers formed into a sword gesture as he lightly brushed back the smooth hair at his forehead. He gave a slight smile, his demeanor clearly friendly.
"Hello to you both. It's a pleasure," Tsukasa replied with a nod to these two vastly different Shinigami.
From the corner of his eye, Ikkaku glanced at Zaraki Kenpachi, who was standing a short distance away, radiating a dangerous aura.
That single eye flickered with undisguised interest, still fixed on Suō Tsukasa, weighing the value of cutting him down.
Ikkaku rubbed his shiny bald head, a hint of helpless embarrassment in his tone.
"Well—Suō."
"My Captain is just interested in strong guys; he's just taking a look."
Ikkaku took a step to the side, his figure perfectly blocking the line of sight between Tsukasa and Kenpachi.
"We didn't come here with any ill intent. It was purely because our Lieutenant sensed an unfamiliar spiritual pressure while leading the way and brought us over for a look."
"We didn't scare you, did we?"
Being surrounded by members of another division early in the morning would make anyone a bit tense or afraid, especially when it was the notorious 11th Division.
Thinking of the potential worry or suspicion in Tsukasa's mind, Ikkaku offered a timely explanation for their brash behavior.
It couldn't be helped; neither the Captain nor the Lieutenant were normal people.
As the Third Seat and one of the few people in the division who bothered with social etiquette, the task of smoothing things over naturally fell to him.
"It's fine."
Tsukasa shook his head nonchalantly.
Despite being stared at the whole time, his expression showed not a hint of strain or fear.
Seeing that he truly didn't mind, Ikkaku felt a weight lift from his mind, and the informal camaraderie of a warrior revealed itself.
He reached out and gave Tsukasa a hearty slap on the shoulder, creating a solid thud.
"That's good!"
"Seeing how fast you were moving just now, you must be in a hurry to report in, so we won't keep you any longer."
"Since we've met today, if there's an opportunity, let's spar sometime."
The closer he got, the more Ikkaku could scent a similar battle-hungry aura of a martial artist coming from Tsukasa.
Someone who didn't flinch under Captain Kenpachi's pressure was naturally no ordinary Third Seat. Feeling a similar thrill of finding a worthy peer, he issued the invitation.
"Alright."
Tsukasa's answer was crisp and decisive, but he didn't leave immediately.
Instead, he turned toward Yachiru, who was staring intently at the candy bundle in his hand.
With a slight curl of his lips, he deftly re-tied the oil-paper bundle and tossed it over.
"Yachiru, since you like them, you can have the rest. Everyone, I'll be going now."
"Thanks, Tsukacchi! Bye-bye, bye-bye—!"
Yachiru's eyes lit up instantly. She raised a small hand to catch it steadily and tucked it into her robes without looking. Her other hand waved enthusiastically in farewell.
The entire motion was seamless and fluid.
Tsukasa raised his hand in response, took a step forward, and instantly vanished from the spot.
Watching the direction he had left in, Ikkaku crossed his arms and grinned, making no effort to hide his admiration.
"Suō Tsukasa, huh—what a great guy!"
He rubbed his bald head and looked at his Lieutenant in a great mood, remarking:
"It's rare for the Lieutenant to lead us so accurately. This trip really wasn't in vain."
"Zip it, Pachinko-head! I always lead us accurately, okay!"
Hearing this, Yachiru immediately shouted in protest.
Before her voice even faded, she leaped up, her small straw sandals using his shoulder as a platform for a double jump. She landed steadily on Kenpachi's back and patted him.
"Tsukacchi's gone. Ken-chan, let's go back!"
Ikkaku turned his head, looking wordlessly at the clear, mud-stained sandal print on his shoulder, a vein throbbing faintly at his temple.
"Ikkaku, blame your own lack of discretion in your speech."
Yumichika took a disgusted step away from him, as if distancing himself from something unclean.
He added a cold parting shot of a reminder:
"When speaking to the Lieutenant, remember to always maintain proper respect."
He stepped off to follow the moving Kenpachi.
The wall, which had been lively just moments ago, suddenly returned to tranquility.
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