Damn it...

If that battle maniac found him, it'd be impossible to shake him off.

It didn't take a smart ass person to guess what Kenpachi wanted—a fight.

And let's not forget Soi Fon calling him a "scoundrel" or "Villain" at every turn.

After all this, he still needed to check in with Twelfth Division.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's growing interest in him was too unsettling to ignore.

With mad scientists like that, it was better to clear things up before they got... creative.

"Whatever, first stop—Shin'ō Academy."

Shimo rubbed his temples. The world he thought he understood was slowly shifting.

His very existence had started to alter the course of events.

Hisana Kuchiki, thanks to his help, had survived.

And that had led to Rukia joining the Kuchiki Clan far earlier than she should have.

Even Byakuya Kuchiki had been affected—his softened personality made him take over as Sixth Division Captain ahead of schedule.

Now, Rukia—who by rights should've skipped the internship and gone straight to a squad—was voluntarily participating in the soul burial program.

That left Shimo both puzzled... and uneasy.

After all, the one overseeing this program... was Gin Ichimaru.

---

Shin'ō Academy

As a celebrated graduate, Shimo's face was well-known throughout the campus. No one dared stop him.

He found Kuchiki Rukia back in Dormitory #1.

"Shimo?!"

Rukia beamed with surprise. "What are you doing at the academy?"

That familiar onion-shaped hairstyle made the usually composed Shimo feel strangely emotional.

"Of course I came for you."

Without hesitation, he planted his large hand on her head, thoroughly ruffling her freshly combed hair.

"Hey, damn it Shimo!"

"I just fixed that!"

The joy of seeing him was instantly overshadowed by her messed-up hair.

Rukia flailed and shouted, demanding payback.

But Shimo effortlessly pulled her under his arm and carried her back into the dorm.

"Let go of me!"

Rukia struggled furiously. "I swear I'll surpass you one day!"

Shimo tossed her onto the tatami mat and looked her dead in the eye.

At first, Rukia held his gaze.

But as the silence stretched, her face turned a deep shade of red. Steam practically rose from her head.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

Her ears flushed crimson as she broke eye contact.

Shimo chuckled to himself.

"Heh, knew you'd crack."

Ahem.

He cleared his throat. "I heard you signed up for the soul burial internship?"

Rukia nodded without hesitation.

"Yep!"

"You graduated with top marks. I can't let you leave me in the dust."

Shimo looked into her defiant gaze and suddenly understood.

He sighed.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I wanted to surprise you!"

"If I could graduate early with excellent results, I thought I could close the gap between us."

Her voice faded at the end.

She hadn't planned to say all that, but Shimo's sudden visit stirred her emotions.

Shimo smiled, gently reassuring her.

"Don't worry, Rukia."

"No matter how hard you try—you're never going to surpass me."

"...Huh?!"

Whatever warm feelings she had instantly evaporated.

"You jerk!"

Rukia turned her back and sulked.

"But that just means..."

Shimo added softly, "I'll always be able to protect you."

Sss—!

Her ears turned beet red, steam curling from her head again.

"W-who asked you to?!"

"Don't just decide that on your own!"

"I'm going to make some tea!"

She hurried out, practically running.

By the time she returned, her face had regained its usual color.

"So, are there any classmates I know in this internship?"

Shimo shifted the conversation back on track.

Rukia replied without thinking:

"Of course. Renji, Kira, Hinamori—you know all of them, right?"

Shimo had spent two years at the Academy and had interacted with each of them.

Naturally, Rukia knew this.

"Thanks to your early graduation, they've been training super hard."

"That's what gave them the confidence to apply for early graduation too."

Shimo fell silent, a pang of guilt in his chest.

So it all traced back to him.

Early graduation. Soul burial internship.

These guys were too motivated.

Had he underestimated their potential?

Maybe.

But this was just the beginning.

------------------------///

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