Fujimiya Makoto had no habit of eating silently, preferring to chat during meals.
"I don't know."
Katori chewed slowly, her face showing contentment.
Hearing Fujimiya's question, she answered without thinking:
"I was very young when Mom picked me up, probably abandoned somewhere."
"By the time I realized, I'd been living with Mom for a long time."
"Mom came from the human world, a famous martial artist from a samurai family who died in battle—though it was a long time ago."
"Time in the Dangai is chaotic, she probably couldn't figure it out herself."
Fujimiya Makoto was interested in the stories of Rukongai's souls, picking up a piece of eggplant, asking:
"Did she also have spiritual energy? She must've been strong."
"A little, but very weak."
Katori seemed intrigued, smiling:
"Mom ran a business in Rukongai."
"Occasionally, she'd take bounties for killing Hollows, but more often, she killed people."
"Whether it was gangs in Rukongai, roaming thieves, local nobles, or rival merchants—there were many who liked killing."
Fujimiya Makoto was fine with the first part but interrupted after hearing the rest:
"Wait!"
"That's not 'running a business'!"
"Is it?"
Katori turned to him, seemingly realizing it for the first time.
Fujimiya Makoto couldn't help but comment:
"You're a 'murderous group'! Basically an assassin organization!"
"Ahaha!"
Katori knocked her head with her chopsticks:
"I'm not sure, after all, Mom..."
"Always called us 'merchandise.'"
Fujimiya Makoto's grip on his chopsticks paused, but after years of experiencing the Soul Society's chaos, he'd become immune.
Even hearing such words, he quickly calmed down.
"Merchandise?"
"Were you to be sold too?"
Fujimiya Makoto asked casually, his brow furrowed.
He'd been a bit abrupt today.
Despite not knowing Katori's past, he'd spoken carelessly.
"Not exactly."
Katori shook her head, chewing eggplant slowly:
"Just to be used as 'disposable items.'"
"After all, usually, a child who looks seven or eight years old, after unexpectedly assassinating a target, probably couldn't escape the scene, right?"
"So, Mom would use one and replace it with the next."
"Calling us 'merchandise' wasn't wrong."
"They were sold very cheaply back then!"
Fujimiya Makoto subconsciously frowned, wanting to end the topic, but noticed Katori still had her usual weak yet cheerful expression, unchanged.
As if she hadn't developed any 'emotions' from these experiences.
Noticing this, he continued to ask:
"What about you, Katori?"
"How did you survive back then?"
Katori turned, looking at him like he was a fool, stating matter-of-factly:
"Of course, I killed everyone on the other side."
"From that day on, I've lived a very happy life."
"Not only could I eat Mom's cooking, but I could also sleep with her in the big room, and even read all the precious books in the bookshelf..."
Recalling those scenes, Katori's face showed nostalgia, biting into the eggplant, whispering:
"Someone who cooks for me like Mom, in all these years, only you, Makoto."
This is the story of a girl exploited by a murderous assassin mother for half her life!
Fujimiya Makoto struggled to keep his expression neutral, hiding any changes.
Otherwise, he'd blurt out his thoughts.
He quickly changed the subject:
"So, you read because Mom liked it?"
"Not exactly."
Katori shook her head, recalling something happy, her face softening with a gentle smile:
"Mom said, in every story, though there are different people, there's always a protagonist."
"Every story is someone's life."
"If I can glimpse their lives through these stories, maybe I can... feel emotions I can't experience myself?"
Fujimiya Makoto caught the key word:
"Emotions?"
"Eh?"
Katori covered her mouth.
But realizing the person across from her was Fujimiya Makoto, she let go, seeming embarrassed:
"Because of my Zanpakutō's ability, Grandpa Yama told me not to tell others."
"But... Makoto is a comrade, so it's okay."
Fujimiya Makoto frowned:
"If it's related to your Zanpakutō, then it's..."
"It's okay! It's not a big deal."
Katori bit her chopsticks, waving her hand:
"My Shikai lets me see others' 'emotions.'"
"And my own emotions are the 'fuel' for my Bankai."
"The more I burn, the stronger I become."
"But when all emotions are gone, I'll probably die, right?"
Katori's voice carried a hint of nostalgia.
Fujimiya Makoto's pupils tightened:
"Then, the emotions already burned are..."
"Fear, and compassion."
"..."
Fujimiya Makoto's chopsticks paused.
Katori still sat at the table, her mounds resting on it, her free hand adjusting her glasses, her deep black eyes staring at Fujimiya Makoto, blinking ☆, smiling softly:
"Usually, I'm acting."
"Grandpa Yama said, if I can regain my emotions, my strength will definitely increase."
"But no matter what...
"I can't remember what fear feels like."
"What a shame."
"By the way, Makoto, don't tell anyone about this secret."
Katori propped her chin with both hands, tilting her head, sitting across from Fujimiya Makoto, smiling perfectly.
A hint of yandere, under the gloomy sky.
As the sun set, the red glow passed through the window, casting a blood-red light on the table, half of Katori's face glowing alluringly.
Red as blood.
"You're terrible." Fujimiya Makoto calmly picked up a piece of venison, biting into it, "Even though I'm treating you to dinner, you still threaten me, you fool."
Katori's voice was soft:
"After all, when you listen to these stories, you're the only one who feels compassion and sadness for me."
"It's really... irresistible..."
The bespectacled girl narrowed her eyes, subconsciously reaching out, as if to touch his face.
Fujimiya Makoto quickly slapped her hand away.
"You can look, but don't touch."
"Eh—?!" Katori smiled cunningly, "Makoto, aren't you angry?"
"Being deceived, so angry?"
"No!"
"You're really stubborn!"
"As an apology, I was going to let you kiss me."
Fujimiya Makoto's eyes widened:
"Really?!"
[Really?!]
The little broken sword spoke almost in sync.
It had to be said, there were no bad Zanpakutō, only bad masters.
Katori tilted her head, smiling:
"After all, Makoto cooked such a delicious meal for me."
"I'm rarely this satisfied."
"Wait a minute."
Fujimiya Makoto, cornered, suddenly recalled something, asking:
"The story isn't over yet."
"What happened to your mom in the end?"
Katori paused, then smiled lightly:
"Of course, she died."
"Killed by my blade."
"Because... I discarded 'fear' for her, yet she began to 'fear' me."
"Isn't that terrible?"
As she spoke, Katori's eyes flashed with darkness.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
"..."
Fujimiya Makoto was silent for a few seconds, finally giving up:
"Forget it, it's better this way!"
"You're a yandere, so scary!"
"Getting emotionally involved with you would definitely end badly."
The little broken sword was unhappy, its childish voice dragging on, complaining loudly:
[Eh? Don't do that—!]
[Then... kissing is fine too!]
Katori glanced at the little broken sword, looking at the two pairs of footbags tied to the blade, one pink and one white, smiling as she refused:
"That's not okay."
"Footbags left out will stink."
"Stinky feet sword."
The little broken sword was instantly defeated.
It became completely depressed.
The real Katori was unexpectedly sharp-tongued.
...
On the other side.
Saito Futaba slowly returned home, carrying her sword.
Her face was still sour.
As she entered, two maids stood at the door, bowing respectfully.
"Captain Saito!"
"Alright, alright, no need to stand here."
The deep purple twin-tailed girl kicked off her sandals, stepping on the white footbags onto the wooden floor.
The maids behind her cleaned up.
This was a very spacious mansion.
All the captains of the 13th Division were assigned one upon taking office.
After all, there were enough dead people in the Soul Society, and empty houses were countless.
However, due to the Genryūsai's order to 'only kill nobles, not harm civilians,' many mansions still had servants, handling cooking, cleaning, bathing, and more.
Saito Futaba, aside from killing, had no other interests, her greatest pleasure being bathing.
So, before she returned, the maids had already heated the natural bath (fake) in the inner courtyard, waiting for her.
In the inner courtyard, only a young maid waited, holding a towel.
"Splash!"
Saito threw off her dirty clothes, running like a monkey into the bath, creating a loud splash.
"Ah~"
"Indeed, the ultimate pleasure is bathing!"
"Hey! You there!"
"Haruka, right!"
"Scrub my back!"
The maid named Haruka quickly came behind Saito, wringing the wet towel, leaving it half-dry, then skillfully wiping her white skin.
"Captain Saito, did you have a mission today?" Noticing Saito's relaxed yet tired expression, Haruka asked softly, chatting with her, "You must be exhausted."
"Not exactly!"
Saito let her purple hair flow, resting her back on the large rock surrounding the bath, saying casually:
"I just fought with a fool, loosening up a bit."
"Vice-Captain Fujimiya again?"
Haruka asked curiously.
"You can tell?" Saito turned, surprised to look at the maid.
Haruka smiled softly:
"Because, whenever you fight with Vice-Captain Fujimiya, Captain Saito always has a very relaxed smile."
"Completely different from your usual fierce self."
"Eh?"
Saito was taken aback, subconsciously touching her cheek:
"Really? I didn't notice."
"That's it..." Haruka seemed to realize something, falling silent.
Some things weren't for servants to say.
"Hey, what did you mean just now?!" Saito became curious, quickly asking.
Haruka hesitated:
"It's... um..."
"Captain Saito and Vice-Captain Fujimiya get along well, right...?"
"Ah!"
"That's it!"
Hearing this, Saito immediately relaxed, pretending to be casual:
"Actually, that guy really likes me!"
"He's almost obsessed!"
"Not only does he like hanging my footbags on his sword, he even likes being stepped on by others!"
"So interesting!"
"But, he needs to control himself a bit. Today, he was a bit too much!"
"This kind of behavior must not be tolerated!"
"Otherwise, if he steps on my head, it'll be bad!"
Saito chatted excitedly about her day with Fujimiya Makoto, from the Technology Development Bureau to eating ramen and fighting, full of enthusiasm.
Seeing her completely unaware of the situation, Maid Haruka sighed silently in her heart.
Captain Saito...
You're also super into Vice-Captain Fujimiya, right?
...