The morning at the Sixth Division barracks, "Hakuro-kan," begins with the scent of white plum blossoms. Located in the eastern district of the Seireitei, this pure white stone barracks is surrounded by the Kuchiki family's traditional gardens. The early morning light filters through the petals, making the entire garden appear to glow faintly. In one corner of that garden, a young man with bouncing, curly purple hair was running around in a frantic panic. [excited] Crap, I overslept! Only ten minutes 'til roll call! Souji Rengen. Seventeen years old, Twentieth Seat of the Sixth Division. A rookie Shinigami distinguished by his odd eyes—gold on the right, purple on the left. A mischievous-looking boy with several silver piercings in his ears. At the moment, however, his training uniform was on backwards. [laughing] Huh, my neck feels kinda tight. Oh well! His sash was also slipping off. Without noticing, he tried to dash through the garden path—a shortcut to the training grounds—and slammed right into someone. [cold] ...That hurt, Rengen. Standing there when he turned around was a girl with a pure white short bob. Her cold silver eyes stared down at Rengen with quiet intensity. Though small at 160 centimeters, the lieutenant's armband on her sleeve spoke volumes about her status. Kuchiki Rukia. The adopted daughter of the Kuchiki family, one of the most prestigious noble houses in the Soul Society. [scared] L-Lieutenant! I'm sorry! Wait, what're you doing out so early? In Rukia's hand was a single sealed letter. She gazed at it and let out a small sigh. [sad] ...A training review, apparently. From Third Seat Akagi. [excited] Seriously?! He's got some guts, calling the lieutenant out like that! Rengen exclaimed with innocent admiration. But Rukia's expression was stiff. Last night's events must have been running through her mind—that reiatsu she'd been shown in the Third Seat's office. The moment her secret had been seized. Rengen tilted his head. [gentle] Lieutenant? You look kinda pale. You okay? [cold] ...It's nothing. Just get to roll call. In that ridiculous outfit. [surprised] Huh? Ridiculous outfit—whoa, my uniform's on backwards! No wonder my neck felt tight! Rukia had already turned away and started walking toward the training grounds. Watching her back, Rengen narrowed his odd eyes. (*Something feels off...*) This wasn't the lieutenant he knew. The training grounds, wrapped in silence, sat at the edge of the Sixth Division's compound. The old wooden floor creaked, and the walls were adorned with the zanpakutō forms of past division members. Normally a place filled with the voices of training Shinigami, it was now completely deserted. When Rukia stood at the entrance, a figure was waiting by the far wall. [gentle] You came, Rukia. Ren Akagi. Twenty-two years old, Third Seat of the Sixth Division. Short, unkempt black hair and deep amber eyes. A thin scar on his left cheek was his defining feature. Beneath his calm expression, something intense churned—that was the aura he gave off. [cold] What do you mean, training review? After yesterday, you still have more to say? Keeping her distance, Rukia stopped in the center of the training grounds. Akagi pushed off the wall and began walking slowly toward her. [serious] What I want to confirm is your "condition." [angry] ...Speak plainly. I don't like beating around the bush. Akagi stopped right in front of her. The height difference meant he looked down at her by about fifteen centimeters. His amber eyes stared intently into her silver ones. [cold] Those ears and that tail—they belong to me alone. Don't show them to anyone. Don't let anyone touch them. I'll keep your secret. In exchange, you'll do as I say. The blood drained from Rukia's face in an instant. [angry] ...Don't screw with me! You have no right! She stepped backward, thrusting her right hand forward. [angry] Bakudō number one— The moment the incantation began, Akagi quietly released his reiatsu. It wasn't a violent, lightning-like force. It was something softer, an enveloping pressure. Warm yet heavy, sweet yet terrifying—that kind of reiatsu filled the training grounds in an instant. [scared] Ah...! Rukia's incantation broke off midway. Her knees trembled, her strength draining away. Akagi's reiatsu slipped through her spiritual defenses with absurd ease and touched something deeper—a place like the core of her instincts. In that moment, from within her white hair, black beast ears seeped into existence. Small, fluffy ears, resembling those of a fox. [cold] It's useless. Your body is already accustomed to my reiatsu. Akagi stepped forward, pressing Rukia's back against the wall. There was no escape. [scared] Stop... it... She tried to push his chest away with her hands. But her fingers had no strength. Her beast ears twitched and trembled, and each time, a sweet numbness ran down her spine. Akagi's right hand rose, and the pad of his thumb gently touched the tip of her newly emerged beast ear. [whispers] Nn...! Rukia let out a small gasp. She couldn't believe it was her own voice. Without a word, Akagi slowly traced the contour of her ear with his finger. From the base to the tip. As if handling a treasure—carefully, yet with absolute certainty. Each stroke made Rukia's hips give a small jolt. Tears welled in her silver eyes, and her lips trembled uncontrollably. [angry] ...I'll never... forgive you...! Anger, humiliation, and—an irresistible sweetness. Her reason rejected it, but her body, her instincts, craved Akagi's fingers. Caught between the two, Rukia could do nothing but stifle her voice. As he traced her ear, Akagi narrowed his amber eyes. (*Yes. That face.*) Deep within his eyes, alongside a shade of satisfaction, something more—a faint flicker, almost like fear—rose to the surface. He didn't want anyone else to see this sight. He didn't want anyone to take Rukia away. That fear fueled his possessiveness, twisting it into an even more distorted flame. [serious] You belong to me alone. Forever. That was when it happened. [excited] Lieutenant? You in here? They told me to check the training grounds for roll call backup— A carefree, bright voice echoed from the entrance. The moment Rengen poked his head in, his odd eyes opened wider than they ever had before. There—was the lieutenant pinned against the wall, and Akagi-senpai stroking her ear. Rukia's ears were still in their beast form, her face bright red, her breathing ragged. [scared] S-Senpai! That's... uh... that's definitely not right! After a moment of silence, Rengen shouted in a completely off-target tone. Akagi turned around. [cold] Don't say anything unnecessary. A fraction of his reiatsu touched Rengen as well. [scared] Ugh...! His legs froze. Senpai's reiatsu was different from its usual calm. Now, it was laced with unmistakable killing intent. Even so, Rengen clenched his fists and refused to back down. [angry] B-But the lieutenant... she's making that face... Senpai, this is wrong. Definitely. Akagi's amber eyes narrowed coldly. [cold] This has nothing to do with you. Disappear. Now. Each word stabbed into Rengen like a blade. He couldn't say anything more. He bit his lip, hung his head, and slowly retreated. (*...Senpai, you idiot. Why are you doing this?*) Rengen left the training grounds with his fists still clenched. Pure admiration, and the gut feeling that this was wrong. Between those two emotions, his heart wavered violently. Silence returned to the training grounds. Still leaning against the wall, Rukia steadied her ragged breathing. Her beast ears gradually receded. [angry] ...I'll never forgive you. Her voice trembled, but her silver eyes stared straight at Akagi. Akagi stepped back, putting distance between them. [gentle] Do as you like. His voice carried neither command nor mockery. It was subtly different—as if he were telling himself those words, a hint of something else mixed in. Rukia raised her head and looked into his amber eyes. Akagi averted his gaze. (*...Huh?*) It was the first time she'd seen him like that. The man who was always calm, always in control, had looked away for just an instant, as if afraid of something. (*Why do you only make that face in front of me?*) Anger and confusion mingled. But more than that, a sensation like warmth slowly spreading deep in her chest—something she herself couldn't yet name. Without exchanging another word, the two left the training grounds separately. Afternoon. A lone girl stepped into the white plum garden of the Sixth Division barracks. Long white hair accented with blue streaks. Cold silver slit-pupil eyes quietly observed her surroundings. She stood at 162 centimeters. Clad in the Tenth Division uniform, the Twentieth Seat armband gleamed on her sleeve. Mizuki Hakuran. [cold] What a lovely garden. As expected of the barracks of the prestigious Kuchiki family. With a charming smile, she called out to a young Sixth Division member passing by. [excited] Oh, are you from the Tenth Division? Here for a tour, right? Go right ahead, take your time! The young man, who seemed to be of noble birth himself, quickly let his guard down at Hakuran's affability. Maintaining her smile, Hakuran pulled out a notebook and began writing. (*The training grounds are a two-minute walk from the Third Seat's office. Based on the window positions, the interior can't be observed from outside. And—Third Seat Akagi's office isn't far from the lieutenant's office either.*) Her investigation hadn't ended last night. She'd already confirmed that Akagi held Rukia's secret. Now she was probing into the nature of that "secret" and how Akagi intended to use it. [gentle] This division is truly well-disciplined. A splendid division worthy of the Kuchiki name. [excited] It makes me happy to hear you say that! Our lieutenant and captain are both amazing people! (*Yes, I'm sure they are. Which is precisely why—if that name were tarnished, this division would crumble so easily.*) Calculating coldly in her mind, Hakuran wrote the final line in her notebook. *'The training grounds' blind spot is the north side. The Third Seat's office window can be monitored from the garden. Considering the timing for the next move.'* Closing her notebook, she left the garden where white plum petals danced in the air. Behind her, an ominous shadow stretched quietly. No one noticed. That in this tranquil garden, a single schemer had begun, with certainty, to trace a dark outline.