Chapter 320: Six Months Later 2

That morning, Rangiku wore her white top and red training pants, smiling broadly as she ran towards H'el and Gin Ichimaru, dragging two girls from the girls' dormitory along with her.

One girl was named Rinko Yamanaka, and the other was Kana Morishima. Both were quite beautiful, though H'el wasn't sure if they were nobles. They often displayed a haughty demeanor, trained in refined manners, and exuded an air of superiority.

Beneath their beauty lay a sense of self-importance.

H'el's memory didn't include these two Shinigami. Perhaps, after graduating from the Academy, they either returned to their families to be used as pawns in political marriages or met tragic ends as hollows devoured them, becoming just another sad footnote in Rangiku's journey to maturity.

H'el and Gin never interfered with Rangiku's choice of friends.

These were Rangiku's friends, part of her growth and maturation. She wasn't like H'el, who was imperial, ruthless, and domineering; nor like Gin, who was sly, heartless, and deeply insightful from a young age.

Among the three of them, Rangiku was just a normal girl from a poor district, enjoying her school life and her friends. This was how it should be.

Even if her friends had their own little schemes.

"H'el, Gin," the two girls called out, their eyes lighting up as they were dragged over by Rangiku. They instinctively straightened their disheveled training clothes, trying to display proper etiquette. Their gazes towards H'el and Gin were filled with admiration.

In their eyes, both H'el and Gin were future stars with great potential.

H'el, having defeated all the teachers while still a student, had already received offers from several squads. If he agreed to join after graduation, he would at least be given a third seat position.

A third seat!

That was a future vice-captain or captain candidate. If any vice-captain position became vacant, he would likely be promoted. For a student, this was an incredibly high aspiration.

It was like a university student being promised a position as the CEO of a billion-dollar corporation.

His future was unquestionably bright.

But H'el showed no interest and declined all offers.

As for Gin, he was so exceptional that the teachers constantly praised him. They believed he would at least become a vice-captain in the future.

Rumor had it that squads had already approached Gin, even leading to disputes and duels over recruiting him.

No wonder these two noble girls looked at them with such fervor.

Getting involved with either one of them could change these girls' futures, freeing them from being mere pawns in family marriage politics and granting them significant freedom.

In a sense, they were putting all their efforts into securing their futures by relying on others.

Though it might seem that positions like third to tenth, even fifteenth seat, were just fodder to be easily defeated, these ranks were actually incredibly hard to attain. Ordinary people, and even minor nobles, often struggled their entire lives to reach these positions.

Seeing the high stakes often can skew one's perspective, but one must remember the majority are ordinary people. It's important to have a comprehensive view, recognizing the broader spectrum of individuals to truly understand and manage everything effectively.

H'el didn't look down on them for this. They had their own ambitions, striving for their own futures. As long as they didn't harm Rangiku, H'el had no objections.

With a slight smile and nod, H'el responded to them. He, Gin, Rangiku, Rinko Yamanaka, and Kana Morishima walked together, chatting as they headed to the cafeteria.

Rangiku's friends were smart, occasionally chatting with H'el, to which he responded with a smile. They didn't act overly eager, which relieved Rangiku.

After finishing breakfast in the cafeteria, H'el parted ways with them, choosing to head back to the library instead of attending classes. He planned to read the remaining books he had set aside.

Once he finished these, he intended to visit the Great Spirit Book Hall.

The Great Spirit Book Hall, located beneath the Central 46 Chambers, was a vast archive documenting significant events and secrets of the Soul Society throughout history.

H'el wasn't interested in the major events or secrets of the Soul Society, as they were merely the interactions and happenings within this world post-creation. For someone who had created a world, the occurrences within it, no matter how significant or bizarre, were trivial unless they threatened the world's stability.

What truly interested H'el was the process of the creation and birth of the three realms. Understanding this would greatly benefit his own Shikai, potentially allowing him to streamline the complex process of world creation.

If the Great Spirit Book Hall doesn't reveal the process of the creation and birth of the three realms, H'el might have to dig into the Soul King's head and look at his memories.

Hey, man, how did you create the world? Let me open up your skull and take a look.

Of course, H'el didn't want to resort to violence unless it was absolutely necessary. Unless being forceful was the simplest and most convenient way.

"Gin, do you have something to say to H'el?" Rangiku asked as she noticed Gin's hesitant look, his gaze fixed on H'el's back as he walked towards the library. Taking advantage of the moment when her two friends went to freshen up, she couldn't help but ask.

Gin snapped out of his daze with a smile, "Am I that obvious?"

"To most people, no, you always seem to be smiling. But to me, it's clear. Even your smiling face has emotions," Rangiku nodded twice, her orange hair swaying as she continued, "If you have something on your mind, just talk to H'el about it. Aren't we the best of companions?

H'el might seem indifferent, but he actually cares a lot about us.

Whatever the issue, H'el will definitely have a solution."

Towards the end, Rangiku's faith in H'el shone through. After all their time together, H'el had given her the impression that there wasn't much he couldn't handle.

Even when she and Gin were threatened by Aizen, H'el had a solution.

His method was straightforward—he told them, "You might as well die by my hand; I've succumbed to Kyoka Suigetsu."

This seemingly indifferent yet considerate way of telling them made Rangiku feel willing to go along, even if it meant dying. It just felt right.

However, she hoped there wouldn't be a next time.

Because H'el would really kill them if it came to that.

Gin smiled and nodded, "I know. I'll talk to him."

°°°

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