Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Yato and Byakuya
Chapter 14: Yato and Byakuya
The Kuchiki clan was often criticized for being rigid and dogmatic, but they had one redeeming quality: they treated everyone with mildness and impeccable courtesy.
Byakuya stood up and greeted him.
"Byakuya, is it? I’m Yato." Uchiha Yato smiled faintly. "Please take care of me from now on."
Seeing Yato’s attitude, Byakuya secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had genuinely been a little worried that the guy across from him would open with "Lord Byakuya," forcing him to put on airs in return.
Since they were going to be roommates, it was better not to be overly formal.
Moreover...
Byakuya stole a glance at the Zanpakuto resting on Yato’s waist.
This was, after all, the first person in their incoming class to achieve Shikai.
Yato didn’t stand on ceremony. Sitting on the empty bed, he pulled a jar of medicinal ointment from his luggage and took off his shirt.
His torso was lean and well-defined, but it was marred by numerous unhealed wounds, crisscrossing in a grisly display that was shocking to the eye.
"I need to change my dressings. Hope you don’t mind."
"Not at all. Do what you need to do..." Byakuya blinked. Although he had been taught from a young age not to ask unnecessary questions, he was still young and couldn’t help himself.
"Those injuries?"
"Got into a hacking match with someone."
"Did you notify the Guard Corps?"
"Haha, no need for that, Young Master Kuchiki. It’s just a rustic form of entertainment in the countryside. If we’re brothers, we hack each other a couple of times."
Byakuya curled his lip, clearly not buying it.
"Hey, don’t just stand there watching." Yato grinned and handed him a small jar. "Do me a favor? The wounds on my back are a hassle to reach. Thanks."
Byakuya completely froze, staring at Yato’s back in disbelief, wondering if he was dreaming.
For the heir of a Great Noble Family, this seemed highly inappropriate. Yet, since they were roommates living under the same roof, helping each other apply medicine seemed... perfectly normal?
Muttering under his breath, Byakuya scooped out some of the semi-solid ointment from the jar and carefully applied it to Yato’s back.
To give credit where it’s due, Byakuya’s technique was quite good. It seemed he was no stranger to getting injured himself and had honed his skills through practice.
Unable to find a topic of conversation, Yato fell into casual banter, much like his college days in his past life:
"Eaten yet?"
"...No."
"Wanna grab a bite together later?"
"...Sure."
"I’ve never been to the Seireitei before. I don’t even know which teahouses are good."
"The sashimi places east of the Seated Officers’ quarters, the sushi stalls outside the 6th Division barracks, and the vegetarian rice balls near the Comprehensive Relief Clinic." Byakuya listed them off familiarly, patting Yato’s back. "When we go, whatever you do, don’t mention you’re a new student from the Rukongai. They love ripping off rookies... alright, all done."
"Thanks." Yato rolled his shoulders and turned around. "Your technique is pretty solid. Way better than my two clumsy neighbors."
"Learned it from a certain demon cat."
"Demon cat?" Yato knew Byakuya was referring to Yoruichi Shihoin, but since it was their first meeting, he couldn’t act too familiar, so he played along.
"Yeah. It’s a tradition in the Seireitei—taking small animals as masters."
Hearing this, Yato chuckled inwardly.
This kid Byakuya is actually quite lively right now. Holding in a grudge to fire back at me, huh.
There were naturally no classes on the first day of enrollment. After changing his dressings, Yato headed out with Byakuya.
Through their interactions, Yato found Byakuya quite easy to talk to, and even seemed... unusually accommodating toward him?
He didn’t know where this goodwill came from, but it didn’t stop him from pushing his luck.
"Eh? Byakuya? What did you say that place was called again?"
"The pleasure district." The pure, innocent boy Byakuya looked a little embarrassed. "It’s not a good place."
"Give me an example?"
"Many adults like to go there, like... cough, Captain Kyoraku."
"Oh, got it." Yato’s interest waned, but he immediately followed up with: "The food there should be pretty good, right?"
"Yeah. I heard the teahouses there have an abundance of spirit wine that tastes like cherries."
"Let’s go! Let’s go get some drinks!"
"Uh, my family rules state I must be home within two hours after dark..."
"Tsk, tsk. It’s the first day of school! We should be celebrating meeting our classmates! Come on, drinks, drinks!"
...
Late that night, Byakuya Kuchiki tiptoed his way home.
As a Great Noble Family whose history was practically synonymous with the Seireitei’s, the Kuchiki manor naturally occupied a massive expanse of land. The courtyards were designed with a perfect balance of tranquility and motion, featuring winding streams and scattered stepping stones in exquisite perfection.
In the past, Byakuya would occasionally complain about the manor being too large, grumbling about how far he had to walk from his quarters to the main gates. Moreover, due to strict household rules, he wasn’t allowed to use Shunpo to shorten the trip.
But tonight, he finally experienced the benefits of a massive house—
When coming home late, it was easier to avoid getting caught by the adults.
He vaulted over the wall and landed lightly like a cat, without making a sound. He then concentrated his Spiritual Pressure into his legs to reduce his weight and sprinted across the rooftops toward his quarters.
Then, his grandfather plucked him right out of the air.
Caught off guard, Byakuya stumbled and let out an awkward laugh, before obediently standing completely still.
"Grandfather..."
The man before him had snow-white hair and a matching beard. He was gaunt yet stood perfectly straight, wearing a clean, tidy kimono even in the dead of night.
—He was none other than the current Head of the Kuchiki clan, the incumbent Captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13, Byakuya’s biological grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki!
"Where have you been?"
"G-Grandfather, it was the first day of school, so I went out to get some food with my roommate..."
Byakuya rarely made mistakes, and his skin wasn’t thick enough for lying. His voice grew quieter and quieter, his head bowing lower and lower.
Looking at the back of his grandson’s head, Ginrei Kuchiki felt a wave of helplessness.
It’s only the first day of school, and you’re already staying out all night?
And you silly child, if you’re sneaking back home, stick to the ground! Did you really have to fly across the rooftops?
However, he had no intention of interrogating him. He simply shook his head and chuckled.
"Next time, you can invite them here for a meal. It is high time you learned the Kuchiki clan’s way of treating guests."
"Yes, Grandfather!"
Ginrei patted Byakuya’s head and asked, "So, how is the Shin’o Academy?"
"Official classes haven’t started yet, but it feels pretty good. I’ll definitely learn a lot."
"That is correct. There are several senior instructors there who have deeply researched Zanjutsu and Kido. You must study hard and not become arrogant. You should also learn from your peers."
"Yes!"
"However, I assume my grandson is the top student in his class. In that case, you must also assist your classmates and display the grace of the Kuchiki."
"Understood, Grandfather. Although..." Byakuya paused, his tone turning very serious. "I’m probably not the top student in my class. There is someone stronger than me."
"Oh?"
Ginrei Kuchiki was surprised. His grandson possessed extraordinary talent, had received the finest education since childhood, and had been constantly exposed to Yoruichi’s Shunpo. His strength had already reached the level of a Seated Officer!
With such proficiency, he could only settle for second place?
"It’s the truth, Grandfather."
The noble youth wearing the Kenseikan flashed with a soaring fighting spirit in his eyes.
"My roommate, Uchiha Yato, is stronger than I am right now."
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