While a band of roughnecks plotted to lay hands on Makoto outside, intent on making him wish for death, Makoto himself was ensconced in the study, engrossed in an entirely different affair.
He sat at a desk, an open copy of Basic Kidō Principles sprawled before him, untouched since the moment he'd flipped it open.
His gaze meant for the book, lingered instead on the girl across the table.
She was a vision of natural, unspoiled purity.
Clad in a standard shihakushō, her thick, raven hair was bound into a braid with a simple red cord, twisted casually into a plait. A pair of slightly oversized glasses perched on her clean, fair face, her expression dazed and vacant.
She hunched over her desk, utterly absorbed in a dense, thick tome, its tiny print enough to make one's scalp tingle at a glance.
Oblivious to the world, to the shifting skies beyond.
And most crucially…
Makoto, ever the gentleman, fought to keep his eyes from drifting downward.
But light, too, bows to gravity!
The moment his eyes opened, his sight was irresistibly drawn to the tabletop.
Her loose black robes draped unassumingly across the surface, gravity flattening them into two adorable, walrus-like shapes.
The girl herself remained blissfully unaware.
Lost in her book.
Serene as a defenseless lamb.
Makoto watched this scene unfold.
Ever since that cryptic exchange with Sasakibe granted him a [Bond Trait], he'd been mulling it over.
Was there a chance, a possibility, that this system's true purpose wasn't all about fighting and killing?
After all, his panel still had an empty [Love Trait] slot!
What did that imply?
It screamed that emotional connections could make him stronger too!
Exactly!
Forget slashing it out with Unohana, trading blows with Saitō, or grinding his will against Sekkiseki with bare fists…
That was all nonsense!
Love was the real path!
Sure, he'd only managed one shaky girlfriend back in college, but Makoto fancied himself a heartbreaker in the making, a Casanova waiting to bloom!
So why not start now?
He thought as much.
A quick glance around,
Perfect. No one.
A cautious peek at the battered blade at his hip,
Even better. Silent.
Emboldened, Makoto rose from his seat, stepping softly behind the girl. He tapped her shoulder lightly.
"Excuse me…"
Slap!
Before his hand could land, she swatted it away with an instinctive flick.
Makoto's face froze.
A sharp, tingling pain flared across his hand, swelling visibly.
Huh?
This girl had that much strength?!
A sinking feeling coiled in his gut.
Still, he refused to back down!
Switching angles, he tapped her back twice, quick and light, snatching his hand back while raising his voice, "Hey, fellow student!"
"Hm?"
Only then did the guileless girl lift her head, blinking in confusion.
Her bespectacled gaze roamed the room, innocent and… eager?
That bad feeling in Makoto's chest swelled.
Maybe, just maybe…
This wasn't the ideal target?
But he'd already called her attention, backing off now wasn't an option.
Steeling himself, he smiled warmly. "Hey, it's getting late. The study's about to close up."
"Oh? Sorry, sorry…"
"I'll leave right now!"
The girl snapped out of her daze, flustered, offering a string of apologies. She hunched forward, shrinking into herself as if ashamed, clutching her tome tightly. Her red-lacquered geta clicked briskly as she headed for the door.
But just past the threshold, she froze, as if struck by a thought.
After a hesitant pause, she turned back, voice soft and puzzled: "Um, sir… oh, terribly sorry."
"But… I don't think the study has a lights-out rule, does it?"
Clutching her book to her chest, she bowed instinctively as she spoke, her head dipping so low it nearly vanished into her collar, avoiding Makoto's eyes entirely.
Only after mustering her courage did she mumble, barely audible, "And… I'm the librarian."
"…"
Makoto's expression faltered.
Oh?
Was that how it was?
This was only his second visit to the library today.
As Makoto fell silent, the guileless girl seemed to mistake his stillness for anger, hurriedly stammering apologies.
"B-But, um… it's fine!"
"I'll leave right now!"
"So, so sorry!"
Just as she turned to scurry away, Makoto's voice broke through.
"Haha, my apologies."
"I was only joking earlier!"
"Eh?"
The girl's steps faltered, halting mid-stride.
Beneath her glasses, her downcast eyes sparkled like stars ignited anew.
Twinkling with a pika-pika gleam!
Yet she ventured cautiously, "So… I can stay and keep reading, right?"
"Of course."
"I just thought reading alone was dull and wanted someone to chat with."
"I-I see… thank you so much!"
She bobbed in a flurry of bows, then scampered back to her seat, exhaling a long, relieved breath, her whole frame visibly lighter.
Makoto watched her pitiful, 'as-long-as-I-can-read-I'm-happy' demeanor, suddenly wondering if his encounters with Unohana and Saitō had left him with some bizarre PTSD toward Shinigami women.
Indeed.
How many monstrous women could Soul Society possibly hold?
He was just an ordinary creep... er, guy, striking up a late-night library chat with a stunning girl.
No big deal, right?
With that thought, his gaze drifted back to the walrus-like sprawl across the table, and a wave of ease washed through him.
A heart's ailment demands a heart's cure, after all!
He tucked his swollen hand behind his back with a wry chuckle. "I called out to you a few times at first, but you didn't respond."
"You really love books, don't you?"
"Oh, sorry."
Her apology came instinctively.
But at his next words, a smile bloomed, and she lifted her head without thinking.
Her face was a lotus blooming in clear water, softly cherubic with a hint of baby fat.
Scratching her cheek, she said shyly, "Actually, I only came here because gramps said there'd be lots of books to read."
"Eh?"
Makoto felt a spark of online banter ignite, teasing, "Weren't you worried that gramps might've lied?"
She blinked, visibly wrestling with the question, then answered earnestly:
"If there really weren't any books…"
"I… don't know what I'd do."
What could a sweet kid like you even do?
Makoto couldn't help but grin.
Not just a natural airhead, she had a touch of chuunibyou flair too!
"By the way..." He pressed, tone warming like an uncle luring a child with candy, "What's the name of that gramps who brought you here?"
"Maybe I know him."
She smiled gently. "His name's Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto."
"…"
Makoto's expression froze, captured as if a snapshot had been taken in that tiny space.
He stared at her, his mouth twitching upward in a strained attempt to mirror his earlier smile, "And… your name is…?"
Her smile grew softer, purer still.
"I'm…"
"Batsu'unsai Katori."
Ah, figured as much.
She cupped her cheeks, gazing at the rows of bookshelves behind her with a dragon-like satisfaction, as if hoarding treasure in a cavern. Once she started on her passions, she couldn't stop.
"Right now, just sitting in the study every day, surrounded by all these unread books…"
"It's so fulfilling!"
"I love books the most."
The moment she turned to the shelves, her words trailing off,
A cascade of brilliant sparks streaked through the night sky.
Boom!!!
In an instant, the wide shelves behind her crumbled, the wooden study, and every book in its rows, reduced to ash and ruin. Only a smoldering gray blaze and the acrid sting of smoke remained.
"...?"
Katori's innocent smile froze, framed against the endless firelight, then darkened with a sudden, heavy shadow.
In that heartbeat, Makoto felt every muscle in his face lock up.
Gulp.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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