Chapter 5: The First Business

"Does Sensei not like these?"

Tsukizuki looked up at the sighing Kuchiki Sōjun, then glanced at the table beside him.

There were several exquisitely designed food boxes on the table, each containing a variety of beautifully arranged dishes.

Unlike Tsukizuki and his companions, who came from the lower districts of Rukongai, Kuchiki Sōjun was a proper noble, and the heir to the Kuchiki clan, one of the four great noble families at the pinnacle of the Soul Society's power. The difference between them couldn't be bridged by wealth alone.

Compared to this nobleman, the "luxurious meal" the three of them were eating was nothing to speak of.

"Well, Tsukizuki-kun, you can call me Kuchiki-sensei, or Sōjun-sensei, but calling me just sensei is incorrect," Kuchiki Sōjun said with a gentle smile, handing over his food box.

"Take whatever you want."

Is this the "perfect handsome man" Kuchiki Sōjun? He's so easygoing.

Unlike his father, Kuchiki Ginrei, who was strict, or his son, Kuchiki Byakuya, who was cold, Tsukizuki silently mused, genuinely praising him out loud:

"You're truly a kind person, then we won't stand on ceremony."

He quickly grabbed some tuna sashimi, and high-end sushi, acting as though he wasn't an outsider at all.

 Rangiku stared at Kuchiki Sōjun's food box, swallowing saliva, but unlike Tsukizuki, she wasn't shameless enough to start eating after one remark.

Ichimaru Gin sighed helplessly.

He had long known that Tsukizuki was socially awkward. It was precisely because of this personality that he had accidentally become his subordinate while walking on the street. He hadn't expected Tsukizuki to be so uninhibited even after arriving at the Soul Reaper Academy.

Ichimaru Gin quickly shot a glance at Kuchiki Sōjun and, seeing that the other didn't appear angry, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Kuchiki Sōjun shook his head with a smile, looking toward Rangiku, who was sitting next to Tsukizuki and eyeing his food box.

"Matsumoto, Ichimaru, you should eat something too. With your talents, it will be hard to grow strong on just this little food."

"You'll become excellent Soul Reapers who protect the Soul Society. Don't waste your potential."

Saying that, he placed two food boxes in front of Matsumoto Rangiku and Ichimaru Gin.

Rangiku couldn't hold back anymore and reached for her chopsticks.

Ichimaru, however, politely lowered his head and pushed the food box back.

"Thank you, Kuchiki-sensei, but I've already had enough…"

"You've never had anything this good. The taste is exactly the same as what I had in the real world. You'll regret it if you don't try it. You have to taste it."

Before Ichimaru could finish speaking, Tsukizuki quickly grabbed a piece of grilled fish and placed it in Ichimaru's bowl.

"Oh, right, this is for you."

Saying this, Tsukizuki pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Kuchiki Sōjun.

"As long as the money's right, I can help with anything."

"I know, the Odd Jobs guy," Kuchiki Sōjun replied with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, looking at him. "The enrollment teachers have already told me about you."

"They said there's a student who's been handing business cards to female teachers during exams, claiming to offer any service, and has been stealing their souls. That would be you, wouldn't it?"

Tsukizuki chuckled awkwardly. "If there's no mistake, it should be me. I didn't expect the teachers' demands to be so high."

He quickly added, "But some services are only for pretty women. Don't think too much about it."

"Services only for women..." Kuchiki Sōjun froze for a moment as he tucked the business card into his chest pocket, then laughed. "Tsk, you little rascal. But you should take fewer of these jobs. It's important for young people to take care of their health and know when to hold back."

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Understand what? I don't know what you're talking about." Kuchiki Sōjun blinked at Tsukizuki innocently.

Tsukizuki was more certain than ever that Kuchiki Sōjun knew exactly what he meant by "services."

"Alright, enough with the jokes."

Kuchiki Sōjun waved his hand with a smile.

"After you finish eating, go back to your dorms and rest well. Take a look at today's spiritual power condensation technique; since you don't have a Zanpakutō, it's the best method for training your spiritual pressure."

"Tomorrow's first class is my Zanjutsu class. Don't be late."

"Also, don't wander around after dark. It's not safe in the Soul Society right now."

Tsukizuki suddenly seemed to remember something and said to Kuchiki Sōjun, "Are the rebels really this rampant? They'd dare attack students from the Spiritual Arts Academy? Don't they fear Captain Yamamoto himself…"

He made a chopping motion with his hand.

Kuchiki Sōjun smiled bitterly. "This matter is too complicated and involves too many people. It's not something you students should worry about."

"Just focus on your own safety. We'll handle the dangerous things."

Seeing that Kuchiki Sōjun didn't want to elaborate, Tsukizuki didn't press further, as their relationship wasn't yet close enough for that.

Kuchiki Sōjun slowly stood up, cleaned his food box, and turned to leave.

Tsukizuki, along with Rangiku and Gin, left the dining hall. After a brief post-meal walk, he saw them to their dorms and then headed toward the teacher's dorm area.

He had a business deal to complete at the Shinō Academy.

...

The next morning, Tsukizuki woke up from a soft bed.

The sunlight illuminated his determined face, his high nose, and deep eyes that seemed like stars. His black hair flowed down his back, adding to his elegant yet slightly unruly aura, making him irresistible.

He slowly stood up from the bed, stretching his bare body. The perfect muscle lines added even more to his male charm.

In short, he was handsome in every way.

"Spiritual pressure has gotten stronger!"

His keen senses detected the subtle changes in his spiritual body, and a smile crept onto his lips.

After the intense two-hour battle last night, his spiritual body and pressure had indeed strengthened after waking up today.

This made sense.

The only difference between a spiritual body and a physical body was that the spiritual body was made of spiritual particles, while the physical body was made of molecules. The organs were no different.

Based on the biology knowledge Tsukizuki had from his previous life, the dopamine secreted by the human brain was closely related to "exercise."

High-quality "exercise" could improve kidney function, increase heart output, raise blood pressure, and improve heart function.

After years of fighting, Tsukizuki had felt his spiritual body grow stronger, and after practicing the spiritual power condensation technique, that sensation was even stronger.

Of course, the ability to strengthen his spiritual pressure was primarily due to Tsukizuki's talent.

His sharp spiritual particle perception allowed him to sense and absorb spiritual particles even during physical exercise, which was something most people couldn't do.

"Tsukizuki, are you awake?" A soft, sweet voice came from the bed, and a rosy face peeked out from under the covers.

The bloodstains visible under the blanket were proof of their fierce battle!