The two jars of Spirit Drunk were soon empty.
Shunsui Kyōraku was the first to set down his cup. He stood up, adjusted his straw hat, and offered a smile.
"Sorry, Mirai. I've got some minor squad business to handle tonight. Don't stay out too late yourself."
He paused. His gaze lingered on Mirai's face for a heartbeat. His tone remained gentle, but his words carried a heavy undercurrent.
"That 'Noble Son of the Seireitei' title... sometimes it's a halo, and sometimes... it attracts the wrong kind of attention. Stay sharp."
Without waiting for a response, Shunsui turned and strolled out of the tavern booth, soon vanishing past the entrance.
Mirai's fingers tightened slightly around his sake cup. The traces of intoxication in his eyes seemed to fade.
He looked at Shinji Hirako, who was still sitting across from him, and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"You drank the Spirit Drunk I paid for and only have those two vague sentences for me? That's not very honorable."
Shinji curled his lip, stood up, and let out a long stretch.
"That's all I can say. In short, stop wandering around outside lately. And don't go near the Sixth Division barracks anymore. The water there... is muddy."
He waved his hand, offering no further explanation as he followed Shunsui out of the tavern.
Mirai sat alone for a few seconds. Then he stood up, his steps slightly unsteady as he left the booth. He settled the bill with the owner and wobbled out of the Maple Pavilion.
However, the moment he stepped away from the Junrinan district, the hazy drunkenness in his eyes vanished without a trace. His gaze returned to absolute clarity and calm.
Given his actual tolerance—and the way his spiritual power regulated his body—two jars of Spirit Drunk were nowhere near enough to truly intoxicate him.
That display earlier was merely a standard tavern disguise. It lowered other people's guard and made it easier to read reactions.
He walked with a seemingly casual gait while quietly spreading his Spiritual Pressure perception, confirming there were no tails following him.
Then, he made a sharp turn. Instead of heading back to the Ninth Division, he went straight toward the Second Division barracks.
The cryptic warnings from Shunsui and Shinji had confirmed his earlier fears.
The Seireitei was indeed undergoing a significant and unusual event, and its scope was likely quite large.
Mirai's thinking was simple: he didn't plan to get dragged into anyone's mess, but he had to know what was happening. A lack of intelligence was fatal.
He refused to wait until trouble knocked on his door to learn the rules of the game.
The Second Division barracks were quieter than usual—almost solemn. Only a single sentry stood guard at the gate.
The guard saw Mirai approaching from a distance. After identifying him, the man immediately stepped forward with a hurried smile.
"5th Seat Mirai? Good evening! The Captain is in the barracks. Please, come in!"
Mirai didn't slow down, his face a blank mask. He prepared to walk straight in as he usually did.
However, just as his foot was about to cross the threshold, he stopped. His foot hung in the air for a second before he slowly pulled it back.
He stood at the entrance, staring silently at the guard without saying a word.
Something felt off.
The Second Division gate usually had at least two guards on rotation. Why was there only one tonight?
And the guard's attitude... it was too eager. Too urgent.
Seeing Mirai stop, the guard's smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened. He made an inviting gesture toward the interior.
"5th Seat Mirai, the Captain really is here. Please hurry inside. Don't keep her waiting."
Mirai still didn't budge.
It was true he visited the Second Division often, but nine times out of ten, he went directly to find Kisuke Urahara. He rarely came to the barracks specifically for Yoruichi.
Even if rumors of his relationship with Yoruichi had spread after the Kuchiki banquet, it wasn't enough for a gate guard to push him this hard.
The behavior was wrong.
The smile on the guard's face began to stiffen. The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
He glanced at the empty street to his left and right. Then he leaned in closer, his tone turning into a quiet plea.
"5th Seat Mirai... please. Go in and see her. Save us."
Mirai's brow lifted slightly. "Explain."
The guard's face crumpled. He lowered his voice to a whisper.
"I don't know what happened, but lately... the Captain's mood has been terrible. The pressure inside the division is suffocating.
"The gate guards were changed to 24-hour solo rotations. There isn't even anyone to talk to. People are reaching their breaking point."
He swallowed, worry sharpening his expression.
"Of course we know the work is hard. That's our duty.
"But today... her mood is at rock bottom. We're worried about her. So please—go in and check on her. Maybe you can say a few words."
Mirai looked at him coldly.
As expected of someone trusted to guard the Second Division, the man's words were polished.
On the surface, every sentence was about "worrying for the Captain." In reality, it was fear—fear of being caught in the crossfire if her temper snapped again. They wanted a buffer.
But Mirai had come here for answers anyway.
"I understand." He didn't say more. He nodded and stepped over the threshold, heading straight for the floor where the Captain's office was located.
The interior of the Second Division was just as unnervingly quiet. Almost no soldiers appeared in the corridors. Only the spirit-particle lamps on the walls emitted a steady, cold light.
An invisible pressure saturated the air.
Just as Mirai reached the corner leading to the Captain's office, a small, swift black shadow darted out from the darkness without warning. Cold steel lunged straight for Mirai's throat!
The speed was staggering.
Mirai retreated instantly. At the same time, a burst of spirit particles erupted from his feet. He sprang back several meters, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike.
"Soi Fon! It's me! 5th Seat Mirai—here to see Captain Yoruichi!" he called, voice sharp and clear.
The attacker halted.
It was Yoruichi's personal guard, Soi Fon of the Fon family.
She was petite with a youthful face, yet her expression was colder than her years suggested.
A short blade gleamed in her grip as she glared at Mirai with open irritation. Suspicion lingered in her eyes, but she didn't attack again.
Without a word, she slid back into the corridor's shadows—though her gaze stayed fixed on him.
Mirai exhaled and straightened his collar, which had been slightly disarranged by the maneuver. He continued forward and arrived at the office door.
He raised his hand and knocked softly.
No answer.
Mirai hesitated for a moment, then pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The room was dim. Only a single candle flickered on the corner of the large desk.
The flame barely illuminated the center of the room, where an exceptionally wide, luxurious chair covered in soft fur sat.
Yoruichi Shihōin was sprawled in it.
Her long purple hair, usually tied up, now hung loose, cascading over her shoulders and the back of the chair.
One elbow rested on the armrest, her palm supporting her cheek. Her other hand dangled loosely at her side.
Her eyes were closed, her brow faintly pinched. Even in the low light, Mirai could feel exhaustion rolling off her—and a trace of tightly restrained anger.
Mirai reached back and gently closed the door, sealing out the rest of the world.
He walked over to the chair. Instead of taking the guest seat across from her, he sat down on the floor near her feet.
The distance was natural—close enough to speak quietly, far enough to avoid presumption.
He didn't rush to ask what happened. He simply sat in silence for a few seconds before speaking in a very soft voice.
"What's wrong?"
Yoruichi didn't open her eyes or shift her posture.
The fingers supporting her cheek twitched slightly. After a long while, a few words slipped from her lips in a low, rough voice.
"Sōjun Kuchiki is dead."
Mirai's entire body froze instantly.
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Sorry, everyone I had the posting schedule set up incorrectly over the last four days, which is why the latest chapters didn't go up. I apologize for the mistake, and thank you for your patience. The uploads should be back on track now
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