Chapter 15

"Wait, hold on a second—"

Before Kaelith Yurei could react, Yoruichi had already pulled him under her cloak. 

The cloak wasn't very large, and the two of them squeezed together tightly, reminiscent of the trio hiding under the Invisibility Cloak in Hogwarts. 

Despite her young appearance, Yoruichi's figure was surprisingly well-developed. Even through the academy uniform, Kaelith could feel the warmth radiating from her. 

Kaelith's body stiffened awkwardly. 

Sensing his discomfort, Yoruichi grinned mischievously. 

"Oh my, is your face turning red?" 

"Ridiculous! I, Kaelith Yurei, aim to be the Soul Society's future playboy King. Blushing is something I left behind at three years old."

He whispered a retort while subtly raising two fingers to trace an invisible line in the air before them. 

With the motion, a thin layer of spiritual energy unfolded, encasing them in a protective barrier. 

Seeing his actions, Yoruichi's eyes lit up with interest. 

As a member of the Stealth Force, she recognized his spell immediately: "Bakudō #26: Kyokkō (Curved Light)."

Kyokko's effect was to bend light and create an invisible shield, perfectly hiding anything within its boundary. 

While rarely used in combat, it was a challenging technique to master. 

Yet Kaelith had performed it flawlessly, silently, and without incantation. 

Yoruichi grew more impressed the longer she observed him. 

A master of spiritual pressure detection, adept at stealth Kido, and possessing an intriguingly flexible moral compass… 

This guy was practically born for the Second Division! 

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and Chōjirō Sasakibe appeared at the doorway. 

Kaelith swallowed nervously. 

All they'd done was sneak into the kitchen for a meal—it wasn't a big deal. And yet, he felt an inexplicable tension, like the kind one experiences in a horror game while hiding in a closet, watching a monster prowl nearby. 

Noticing Kaelith's unease, Yoruichi smirked teasingly. 

Kaelith rolled his eyes but said nothing. 

Moments later, a towering man walked in. 

He stood over two meters tall, sporting a brown pompadour, thick lips, and a gaudy gold chain around his neck, exuding the aura of a nouveau riche thug. 

Scanning the room with a frown, the man muttered, "Strange… I could've sworn I saw the young lady head this way. Did she leave already?" 

Just as he finished speaking, his eyes sharpened, and he began walking toward where Kaelith and Yoruichi were hiding. 

Yoruichi tensed, her body coiling like a startled cat. 

Seeing her reaction, Kaelith suddenly relaxed. 

In fact, he found the situation oddly amusing—almost worth getting caught for. 

Truly, nothing brought more joy than watching someone else squirm. 

Noticing his smug expression, Yoruichi rolled her eyes. 

Under their watchful gaze, Ōmaeda Marechiyo strode to a table where an empty soup bowl lay. 

He reached out, touched the bowl's surface, and frowned deeply. 

"The bowl's still warm. Someone was just here!" 

Sasakibe blinked in surprise. "The Shihōin family's young lady snuck into the First Division's kitchen for a meal?" 

Ōmaeda hesitated, finding the idea absurd. 

Surely, a noble of Yoruichi's stature wouldn't stoop to sneaking around another division's kitchen. 

But then again, given her usual antics… it didn't seem entirely out of the question. 

After a brief discussion, the two decided to search the surrounding area immediately. 

Given the rebels' erratic activities and Yoruichi's esteemed status, it was far too dangerous for her to be wandering alone. 

Under the cloaked pair's silent observation, the two vice-captains exited the kitchen in a hurry. 

Once the coast was clear, Yoruichi exhaled a sigh of relief. 

Then, glaring at Kaelith, she grumbled, "This is all your fault. Now I've got a reputation for stealing food!" 

Kaelith chuckled. "Well, I could always call them back and explain everything." 

"Ahem! No need for that," Yoruichi replied, instantly backing down. 

Watching her quick capitulation, Kaelith shook his head in amusement and raised his hand to remove the cloak. 

But just as he did, a familiar voice echoed in his mind: 

[Synchronization detected with bound entity "Sōsuke Aizen." New skills acquired… Synchronization complete!]

[Your understanding of Hadō has advanced: Skill acquired—Hadō #31: Shakkahō!]

[Your understanding of swordsmanship has improved…]

[Your mastery of Shunpo has advanced…]

[Your hand-to-hand combat skills have increased…] 

Kaelith had grown used to these notifications over the past few days. Aizen's rapid growth was nothing short of terrifying. 

Despite still being a student, Aizen avoided typical leisure activities for someone his age. 

Every spare moment was spent either training or mentally dissecting Kido techniques. 

With a rare combination of prodigious talent and monastic discipline, Aizen's progress never ceased to amaze. 

So, when these notifications appeared, Kaelith hardly reacted anymore. 

But this time, something unusual caught his attention: 

[Skill acquired: Special Kido—"Simulated Cero."]

Kaelith blinked, his confusion evident. 

Simulated Cero? 

What was Aizen up to? 

Why would he create such a technique? 

Was he already delving into the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow? 

That couldn't be… could it? 

"Something wrong?" Yoruichi asked, noticing his hesitation. 

Kaelith turned to the dark-skinned girl crouched beside him and smirked. 

"…Nothing. I was just savoring the feeling of you pressing so tightly against me earlier." 

"Hey! That's harassment!" Yoruichi retorted, giving him a hard shove. 

Kaelith glanced at the black cloak in his hands and asked, "Where did you get this cloak, anyway?" 

Yoruichi chuckled. "It's one of the many ancient artifacts preserved by the Shihōin family, known as the Stealth Cloak." 

"Not something made by someone you know?" 

"I wish I knew someone capable of crafting something like this." Yoruichi laughed, shaking her head. 

Kaelith nodded thoughtfully. 

After confirming that Ōmaeda and Sasakibe had left, the two climbed out of the kitchen. 

As they walked, Yoruichi turned to Kaelith and said, "Kaelith, when you graduate, come join the Second Division!" 

"What's in it for me?" Kaelith raised an eyebrow. 

Yoruichi considered for a moment. "How about a direct promotion to seated officer?" 

Kaelith shook his head. "With my abilities, I could become a seated officer in any division." 

"Fair enough." Yoruichi nodded. 

"Then how about a personal chef? Whatever you want to eat, whenever you want it!" 

Kaelith rubbed his chin. "Tempting… I'll think about it." 

Seeing he was still hesitant, Yoruichi leaned in conspiratorially. "Our division has plenty of adorable girls. One of them is so cute, even I feel a little smitten. If you join, I'll introduce you to her!" 

Before she finished speaking, Kaelith had already grabbed her hand. 

"Please, make sure to reserve me a spot!"