While a gang of thugs outside was plotting to turn Fujimiya into their personal punching bag, Fujimiya Makoto was busy with a very different mission in the library.
He sat at a desk, a copy of Fundamentals of Kido open in front of him, but let's be honest: he hadn't touched it.
His gaze, meant for the pages, was hopelessly drawn to the girl across the table.
A teenager with a soft, natural charm.
Dressed in a standard shihakusho, her long black hair was tied into a braid with a red ribbon. Her fair, almost glowing face sported slightly oversized glasses, giving her a distracted, dreamy look.
Hunched over her desk, she was engrossed in a massive tome with text so tiny it could give you a headache just glancing at it.
Completely oblivious to the stares or the world around her.
And most importantly…
Fujimiya Makoto, self-proclaimed gentleman, was fighting a heroic battle to keep his eyes from wandering to the girl's chest.
But, damn, gravity's real!
The moment he blinked, his gaze was pulled toward… let's say, two generous curves resting on the table.
The loose black fabric of her shihakusho sprawled under their weight, forming shapes like two lazy walruses chilling out.
Oh, Spirit King, grant me strength!
She, totally unaware of the chaos she was causing, stayed glued to her book, innocent as a lamb.
Fujimiya was waging an internal war worthy of an epic duel.
Focus, Makoto! You're not a creep, you're a classy guy… mostly.
Ever since his talk with Chojiro, where he'd snagged a mysterious [Bond Trait], he'd been scheming.
What if this system wasn't just about fighting and slicing?
There was an empty [Romance Trait] slot on his panel.
And that meant what?
That building bonds, maybe even flirting, could make him stronger!
Score!
Forget the bloodbaths with Unohana, the bare-knuckle brawls with Saito the Immortal, or that ridiculous vow to shatter a killing stone to "forge his will."
That was all nonsense!
The real path was charm, sweet-talk, heart-pounding moments!
Sure, he'd only had one girlfriend in college, and that was practically a miracle. But Fujimiya saw himself as a future heartthrob, ready to conquer the Soul Society!
Why wait? It's go time!
He scanned the room.
Perfect, nobody.
A quick glance at the sword at his waist.
All good, it was quiet.
Taking a deep breath, Fujimiya stood, crept behind the girl, and tapped her shoulder cautiously.
"Miss…"
"Smack!"
Before his hand could touch her, she swatted it away with a backhand that stung like hell.
His face froze.
A sharp pain shot through his wrist, swelling up fast.
What?! This girl's got a grip like a vice?!
A chill of dread ran through him.
Tactical error, Makoto. Wrong pick.
But give up? Never! He had a future charmer's rep to uphold!
Switching angles, he tapped her back twice quick, yanked his hand back, and called out loudly:
"Miss Student!"
"Hm?"
Finally, she looked up, dazed.
Her eyes under her glasses scanned around, pure as a child's… but maybe a bit too lively?
Oh no, why do I feel like I just woke a monster?
His gut screamed to run, but it was too late to bail.
Swallowing his nerves, he said softly: "Miss, it's late, the library's closing, you know."
"Oh? Sorry, sorry…"
"I'll leave right now!"
Snapping out of her trance, she panicked, apologizing over and over. Timid, she hunched over, clutching her tome to hide her curves, and hurried toward the door, her red-lacquered geta clacking lightly.
But just outside, she stopped, like she'd had a revelation.
After a moment's hesitation, she turned back and asked shyly:
"Sir… uh, really sorry."
"But… there's no rule about closing the library, right?"
She hugged her book like a lifeline.
While speaking, she bowed so low it was like she wanted to vanish, avoiding Fujimiya's gaze.
Then, in a whisper, she added:
"And… I'm the library administrator."
"…"
Fujimiya froze, his brain bluescreening.
What?! I hit on the library boss?!
This was only his second time here!
Seeing he didn't answer, she seemed to think he was mad and launched into a flurry of apologies:
"But, but… it's okay!"
"I'm leaving!"
"So sorry!"
As she prepared to bolt, Fujimiya, trying to salvage things, called out:
"Haha, no, I was kidding!"
"Just a joke!"
"Eh?"
She stopped dead.
Her eyes lit up under her glasses, sparkling like stars.
But she asked cautiously: "So… I can stay and read, right?"
"Of course!"
"I just thought reading alone was boring and wanted to chat a bit."
"That's… that's it? Thank you so much!"
Relieved, she bowed multiple times, then trotted back to her seat, sighing in relief.
Seeing her "as long as I have my books, I'm happy" vibe, Fujimiya wondered if Unohana and Saito had given him some kind of female shinigami phobia.
Come on, the Soul Society's not just full of scary chicks, right?
He was just hitting on a cute girl in an empty library late at night.
No biggie, right?
Thinking back to those curves sprawled on the table, Fujimiya felt his spirits lift.
A heart's wound heals with charm!
Hiding his swollen hand behind his back, he said with a grin:
"I called you a few times at first, but you were in your own world."
"But wow, you're really into books, huh!"
"Oh, sorry."
She apologized reflexively, but at the next sentence, a smile spread across her face, and she looked up.
Her face, pure as a flower, was slightly chubby, adorably so.
Scratching her cheek, she said shyly: "Actually, I came here because Grandpa said there'd be tons of books to read."
"Eh?"
Feeling a casual chat vibe, Fujimiya teased: "Weren't you worried your grandpa was pulling your leg?"
She froze, thinking hard, then answered earnestly:
"If there really weren't these books…"
"I don't know what I'd do."
A cutie like you? You'd probably just pout in a corner.
Fujimiya grinned.
Naïve, with a dash of quirky flair.
"By the way," he added, "what's your grandpa's name?"
"Maybe I know him."
His tone softened, a bit too smooth.
She smiled kindly: "His name's Yamamoto Shigekuni."
"…"
Fujimiya froze, like his life hit pause.
He stared at her, struggling to force a smile:
"And… your name is…?"
Her smile grew even softer and purer:
"I'm…"
"Rokutori Batsunsai."
Yup, called it.
She cupped her cheeks, gazing at the bookshelves behind her, her smile like a dragon drooling over its hoard, unstoppable when it came to books.
"Now, just sitting here every day, surrounded by all these books I haven't read…"
"It makes me so happy!"
"I love books."
Right as she turned to the shelves, her words ending, dazzling sparks fell from the night sky.
"BOOM—!!!"
In a split second, the shelves behind her were obliterated, the library's wooden frame and books reduced to smoking ash, leaving an acrid stench of smoke and gray flames.
"…?"
Rokutori Batsunsai's pure smile, lit by the flames, froze.
A dark shadow fell over her face.
At that moment, Fujimiya felt his face turn to stone.
Holy Shit!