Chapter 141: Another Conversation with the Sword Spirit

“Why do you two get so excited about gossip?” Yamabuki Haruto sighed, shaking his head.

“I just want to ask a girl for a favor, but she’s very resistant. What do young girls usually like? Can you two recommend something?” Haruto asked.

Shihōin Chihiro pinched his chin, deep in thought. “Brother, this question is beyond my knowledge. When I was dating, girls always came to me. I never had to please them. Alas, being too popular isn’t always good; I’ve missed out on a lot of fun,” Chihiro said with a sigh.

Haruto resisted the urge to strangle him. Is this the legendary Versailles effect? Born into the Shihōin clan, one of the Five Great Noble Families, handsome, strong, and charming—few women could resist such a man, save for a few problematic ones.

Haruto turned to Kano Chimaru. She pondered, then said, “Well, ordinary girls like jewelry and flowers, right? Jewelry represents wealth, flowers romance. But it varies; most girls like different things.”

Jewelry and flowers? How could those work on a Zanpakutō spirit? Haruto sensed Silver Angel’s resistance wasn’t about being mistreated; she seemed to fear his Bankai. Why would a spirit fear her own power?

Snapping back, Haruto caught Chimaru’s mischievous smile. “Instructor, is this girl Captain Saitō? Tsundere, twin-tails… it’s gotta be Saitō Furofushi! I’ve long suspected your relationship was unusual. She works for you, right? Have you two… you know?” Chimaru’s imagination ran wild, spanning galaxies.

“Stop right there! Saitō’s an alien creature that looks like a girl. My ideal girl is gentle, considerate, graceful—a kind older sister. Not her!” Haruto bit into his shaved ice.

“Gentle, considerate, graceful? That’s my sister, Chiharu! Could it be… you two have something going on? I should’ve known! Does this mean I’ll call you brother-in-law? Um… my sister’s chest… ahem, does it feel particularly good?” Chimaru covered her mouth, feigning shock.

If anyone says girls are innocent, I’ll crack their skulls. They’ve got dirtier minds than men, Haruto thought. “Don’t make wild assumptions!” he snapped, poking Chimaru’s temple with his knuckle.

“Help, help, help! I was just kidding, why so serious?” Chimaru pouted.

“Then let me ask another question: what’s a girl most afraid of?” Haruto pressed, sensing Silver Angel feared something.

Chihiro and Chimaru exchanged glances. “So many things! Mice, centipedes, spiders, cockroaches—aren’t girls afraid of those?” Chihiro said.

“Not necessarily! Maybe someday your Shihōin clan will have a wildcat-like lady who catches mice, centipedes, spiders, and cockroaches!” Haruto retorted.

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! If my daughter or granddaughter were like that, you see?” Chihiro yanked off his sandal. “I’d smack her face with this sole! I’d show her why the flowers are so red!”

“You said it! Chimaru, be my witness. If his granddaughter’s a wildcat, I’ll wait for him to smack her with that sandal!” Haruto grinned, then remembered they hadn’t answered. “Don’t change the subject. What are girls really afraid of?”

Chimaru whispered, “I think Captain Shihōin’s wrong. Aren’t girls most afraid of lacking a sense of security?”

“Hm?” Both men turned to her.

“A sense of security?” Haruto frowned. Why would a Zanpakutō spirit lack that?

“Continue. When does a girl lack a sense of security?” he asked.

Chimaru rolled her eyes. “Obviously, when her husband has a mistress?”

Haruto gave a helpless smile. Nonsense! A Zanpakutō spirit isn’t even a person, how could there be a third party… He froze, standing abruptly. A wild idea hit him.

After Ichigo Kurosaki rescued Rukia Kuchiki and returned to the Human World, he feared his Hollow powers would consume him. Could Silver Angel fear that Bankai would awaken a new personality, replacing her current one?

If true, it explained her resistance. Imagine a peerless martial art that grants invincibility but triggers a new personality to overtake you. Would you practice it? Most wouldn’t. Invincibility—for wealth, power, love, or protection—loses meaning if you’re no longer yourself.

“I see. I’ve got something to handle, so I’m leaving. Oh, Chimaru, if Chiharu asks who took you out, don’t say it was me,” Haruto said.

Chimaru smiled slyly. Publicly skipping work and announcing it? Bold.

Haruto rushed home, descending to the basement. He entered Jinzen again.

In his inner world—a Rubik’s Cube floating in a clear sky—he spotted Silver Angel’s spirit hiding behind it, peeking at him. “Alright, alright, stop hiding! Come out! This isn’t like you at all,” Haruto called, pulling her out.

Her eyes darted away. “I already told you, there’s no way I’m teaching you Bankai!”