You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

'Could it be... that you, Spirit King... actually heard me?'

Chapter 35: But how can the moonlight compare to yours?

In a typical storyline, when faced with a situation where the protagonist wants to venture out but is opposed by their elders, the way to get through the game usually involves a battle filled with flashbacks and verbal sparring. Ultimately, the protagonist has to do their best to win by half a move before being let go by the elders who are all talk and no action.

—With her blood boiling, Iori was already prepared to fight Aizen Yuuki.

Unexpectedly, after the two finished explaining their plans, Yuuki remained noncommittal about Iori's idea. Although it conflicted with her own plans, she did not strongly reject Iori's idea.

During this time, Yuuki's interest shifted to cooking. She savored the delicious food slowly and carefully, and talked with Iori about interesting things in Seireitei, no longer dwelling on the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force.

At first, Iori was quite confused, but after all, he had been "family" with Yuuki for a long time, and he quickly realized what was going on.

The reason is not complicated:

Aizen Yuuki is not a feudal patriarch; in fact, she is more of a laissez-faire person. She respects other people's choices and views them rationally, so she does not try to stop them.

At the same time, deep down they probably also have the idea of ​​"survival of the fittest," so even with close relatives, they won't take care of them like a nanny.

This woman, you know, is somewhat of a "social Darwinist"...

In fact, Aizen Sousuke in the original work is similar, but he is even colder.

Or rather, no one can get close to his heart, so people simply don't understand whether he is truly cruel or simply "respects the fate of others and puts aside his desire to help others."

Yuuki is much "gentler" than Aizen himself, and since Iori isn't a stranger to her, she's even more affectionate. But don't expect her to offer you any heartfelt advice or to stage a nauseating battle of kinship...

Having figured this out, Iori suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment, but also suddenly felt that the food wasn't so delicious anymore.

"If I don't come back..."

Iori hesitated before asking, "Will you be sad for me?"

"Probably, probably."

Yuuki didn't think there was anything ominous about the question and said bluntly, "But this is also a choice you made yourself. Only by walking your own path can you reach the end. If you die halfway, it can only mean that you misjudged your own strength."

There's nothing to regret. Most things in this world are like that. Rather, those who choose the right direction from the beginning and stay on until the end are the very few exceptions...

However, personally speaking, I think I'll be quite sad.

"This makes me very happy." Iori spread her hands. "As expected, my onee-sama cares about me."

"If you dare flirt with me again, I'll make sure you get hurt!"

"Ha ha……"

"What about the reverse?"

"What the other way around?"

If I suddenly disappeared one day... would you cry for me?

Yuuki rested her chin on her hand, her long, delicate eyes calmly gazing at Iori: "Will you love or hate this world because of this?"

"..."

Iori had intended to say something nice, but suddenly she froze:

His attitude towards Yuuki has always been bold yet conservative; he actively seeks out and cultivates feelings for her, but remains vigilant, reminding himself not to go too far.

This is undoubtedly a rational choice, maximizing one's interests... But ultimately, from his personal emotional perspective... does he want Aizen Yuuki to exist, or not?

"Your expression is really ugly," Yuuki chuckled to herself. "You're starting to doubt yourself, aren't you?"

Iori remained silent. He, who was always assertive in front of Tosen, Akame, and the others, was truly moved this time and vaguely sensed something he had been deliberately ignoring before.

There's no need to rush to answer this question; you probably won't find the answer right now anyway.

Is it respect, intimacy, dependence, or appreciation, or perhaps fear, vigilance, or hostility...? Which of these murderous intentions are my conjectures, which are your true feelings, or are they a contradictory combination of both?

The thought of our unique family relationship...it's so romantic!

Aizen Yuuki smiled relaxedly, her demeanor exuding a noble elegance that transcended social class.

"Don't you understand your own true thoughts?"

Don't be impatient, this is not strange at all, because I had the same question and I don't understand it either.

What do you mean to me?

Yuuki's gaze deepened: the world had once been very simple to her, and everyone had their place.

For example, one's mother-in-law is someone who needs to be repaid and cared for;

For example, classmates are people who can be exploited, manipulated, or ignored.

For example, Captain-Commander Yamamoto is someone who must be respected, revered, and then surpassed;

...Only Iori is different.

Only Iori is someone that Yuuki cannot understand, someone full of possibilities.

Moreover, regardless of the reason, both Yuuki and Iori are essentially extremely "lonely," and perhaps it is this bond of kindred spirits that creates a strange attraction.

Are they compatriots? Helpers? Competitors?

I don't understand it, but that's precisely what makes it interesting!

"Who knows... I never expected to encounter such a profound question at the dinner table before I came here."

Iori breathed a sigh of relief: "If we can't figure it out, we can think about it later. We have plenty of time, and time will always provide the answer, won't it?"

"A cunning fellow~"

Yuhime picked up her wine glass in a cheerful mood, about to drink it all in one gulp, when she saw the clear, sparkling water and suddenly had a thought. She looked towards the Japanese-style garden outside the door, and Iori followed her gaze.

On the pond, a bamboo tube was seen collecting the flowing water. When it overflowed, it turned upside down, and the water flow disturbed the calm surface of the pond. The bamboo joints struck the stones, producing short and ethereal sounds. Everything quickly returned to calm in the deep night, waiting for the next cycle.

"It's a full moon today... Iori, when the water ripples, even the moon in the sky seems to sway along with it~" Yuuki smiled. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"But in the end, the moon on the water is just a false reflection."

Iori poured herself a glass of wine, speaking casually: "The moon has always hung there, unchanged, and the disturbed waters will eventually return to calm."

"You really have no sense of romance."

Yuuki glanced at Iori with a bored expression, then turned her gaze to the sky, her mood inexplicably becoming cheerful.

Anyway... the moonlight is so beautiful tonight!

But how can the moonlight compare to yours?

Iori drank the sake while enjoying the beautiful scenery, and casually remarked something without thinking.

He had just finished speaking when he remembered something and couldn't help but smile:

Fortunately, a certain suicidal novelist hasn't been born yet, otherwise Yuuki's words just now would definitely have made people think of the wrong thing, right?

He was secretly chuckling to himself, completely unaware that Yuuki had turned her head slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, her gaze quite amused...

Chapter 36: Captain, you must be drenched in sweat!

The moonlight is beautiful.

Category: Bonds

Grade: A

Quality: Rare

Extraction in progress...

Calculation in progress...

Rewards Overview —

Attribute value: None

talent:

【Romance and Romance】

• Discover and appreciate the innate nature of "beauty".

They are less likely to be numbed by the harsh realities of life and more easily moved by beautiful scenery or touching stories.

• They are more sensitive on a spiritual level, with a slightly increased chance of entering states such as "enlightenment," "selflessness," and "unity with nature."

-

"Aizen Iori, the temporary ninth seat of the 12th Division, reporting for duty!"

"Alright, come in. We've received your transfer order, but according to regulations, we must conduct a necessary review of you... You're not so lucky, kid. I'm usually in charge of these kinds of things, but this time the captain specifically requested to see you in person."

Upon arriving at the expeditionary force's rest camp, Iori was greeted by a handsome young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes who appeared kind and gentle. His slightly curly hair gave him a relaxed and easygoing air.

In the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, where everyone looks bitter and resentful, it's surprising to see this cheerful face... Either he's naturally thick-skinned, or he's strong enough to relax.

Iori thought it might be a combination of both—until he heard the other person's next sentence.

"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is 'Tenbei Shusuke,' and I'm the third company commander of the expeditionary force. I'm roughly equivalent to the fourth or fifth seat officer of the thirteenth squadron. Don't be shy, just call me 'Tenbei.'"

When you meet the captain later, be careful what you say and do. You're a temporary support staff member, so the captain shouldn't make things too difficult for you.

"Thank you, Senior Tenbei." Iori looked at this gentle man and gradually superimposed his face with the image of the character in her memory.

...Not much has changed; in two hundred years, he has only gone from a young man to an old man.

I wonder what state Tianbei is in now. It seems that he only turned evil after his father's accident. But putting aside the side that was twisted by hatred, Tianbei himself is not a bad person. In fact, he can be said to be a promising young man with a bright future.

Wow, he joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force so early... No wonder almost no one recognized him when he returned to Seireitei; it turns out he didn't have much interaction with the Gotei 13.

As Amagai led Iori through the camp, the Grim Reapers they encountered along the way all greeted Amagai, but each of them seemed to be in a hurry.

“Everyone seems very busy, right?” Amagai kindly explained to Iori, “This is because the 46th Chamber has issued a transfer order to send a portion of the elite troops of the expeditionary force to the human world to participate in the encirclement and suppression war against the Quincy… The personnel changes alone are a huge hassle, not to mention the various problems caused by the reduction in combat power.”

"That's understandable. After all, even a student like me who hasn't graduated has been sent to the thirteenth team. It shows that there's a real shortage of manpower right now."

"Students..."

Tenbei glanced at the wooden sword with the words "Lake Toya" written on it at Iori's waist, her eyes filled with curiosity, but she didn't ask directly out of politeness.

Maybe the wooden sword actually contains an asabu (a type of Japanese sword), and the person just made the scabbard that way out of interest.

The name "Lake Toya" seems puzzling at first glance, but a genius Shinigami recommended by the vice-captain couldn't possibly be carrying an ordinary wooden sword... There must be some deeper meaning behind it, he just doesn't know it!

[CG included]

[The legendary demon sword "Hoshizai," supposedly a gift from a celestial being crafted from ten-thousand-year-old Vajra wood, is actually just a curry-flavored wooden sword sold as a souvenir on a hot spring trip and available through TV shopping channels—Lake Toya!]

Category: Regular CG

Grade: E

Quality: Normal

Rewards Overview:

Physical Strength - Minor Improvement

Spiritual Micro-Enhancement

Toughness - Slightly Improved

Note: Don't bother reading this. Even if you're looking forward to it, I actually won't be able to use Bankai. — Lake Toya, Homebody, Sage's Sayings

-

Iori: "...Huh?"

"What's wrong?" Tenbei looked at Iori, who had suddenly made a strange noise, with a puzzled expression. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing... I suddenly remembered I forgot to lock the door when I left." Iori waved her hand. "But I don't have anything valuable in my room, so never mind."

"That won't do. If we don't correct our carelessness, we'll suffer a great loss on the battlefield."

"Thanks for the reminder, I'll be careful." Iori remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was cursing wildly.

Why does this even have CG?!