NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 21: CHAPTER 21
"Who the hell are you?"
"Running across rooftops in the middle of the night—are you looking to start trouble?"
Hearing this, Shiba Isshin looked up at the clearly visible moon in the sky and frowned with a question mark forming on his face.
Bridge Bean Sacks!
He almost got distracted again—now was not the time to consider skipping duty.
"...Kid, can you actually see me?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Isshin narrowed his eyes, sensing something odd about the young man in front of him.
"My name is Kurosaki Kanbaru, I'm 18 years old, live near central Karakura Town, and I'm currently unmarried."
"I work for a cat-loving friend, and I have to watch her pace in circles for hours every day." (serious face)
"I don't smoke. I sip alcohol occasionally, only for the taste."
"I go to bed by 11 p.m., sleep for eight hours, drink warm milk before bed, do 20 minutes of light stretches, and wake up refreshed—no lingering fatigue or stress the next day."
"Doctors say I'm healthy. Normal, even."
...I think you're far from normal.
Shiba Isshin was stunned for several seconds before blurting:
"What the hell did I just hear?"
Just then—
A soft, sleepy voice came from behind the young man.
"Kanbaru, who is it?"
Kurosaki Masaki rubbed her eyes, cheeks puffed out adorably as she stepped out in her nightgown.
Isshin froze mid-breath, his face rapidly turning crimson.
"What are you looking at? She's my sister."
Kanbaru stepped in front of Masaki protectively, eyes sharp.
"If you scare my sister and affect her pregnancy, I'll make sure you regret it."
Masaki: "???"
Isshin: "???"
Preg... pregnant?!
Isshin staggered back, clutching his chest like he'd taken a critical hit. His aura dimmed into a bleak, grey wash of despair.
"What are you even talking about?!"
Masaki flushed bright red and pinched Kanbaru hard.
"At this point, there's no need to hide it."
"Sooner or later, someone has to come clean about the child."
Kanbaru's serious tone made it worse.
"Eh?!"
Masaki's voice pitched up as she squeezed her legs together shyly.
Come clean? About a child?!
"...Is it your child?!"
Isshin pointed at Masaki's completely flat stomach, expression frozen in time.
That's your sister, right? WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE, YOU MONSTER!?
---
Not far off, Shihouin Yoruichi, perched lazily in her black cat form, facepawed and sighed audibly.
Another innocent caught in Kanbaru's endless trolling.
Even knowing everything about her, Urahara Kisuke, and even Aizen, Kanbaru still chose to play dumb with Shiba Isshin, the former 10th Division Captain and current head of the Shiba family.
But since Isshin didn't know about her ability to transform into a cat, Yoruichi wasn't worried about her identity being leaked.
Besides...
As long as she didn't speak—who could possibly know?
---
Eventually, Kanbaru deigned to explain.
Partly because it was mean to keep misleading such an honest guy like Isshin...
Mostly because Masaki was blushing like mad and about to combust.
"Say that kind of nonsense again, and I will beat you up."
Masaki, still flushed but now fierce, raised her tiny fists in mock anger. Super cute.
Isshin coughed, trying to regain composure, suddenly feeling the mundane boredom of life in the human world lift just a little.
This wave... this wave, I, Shiba Isshin, am gonna pursue happiness boldly!
What's that? Shinigami aren't allowed to marry humans?
You fart.
I've been righteous my whole life—when have I ever bowed to Soul Society rules?
...
Wait.
This one's a Central 46 prohibition.
Okay. Fine. That's different.
As Isshin thought himself into a spiraling depression, a glowing subtitle floated overhead:
> [The old man in front of you is trying to pry open your shared bicycle.]
[But don't worry, your exclusive shared bicycle just wants to roll beside you. Just remember to maintain it—if not, the frame might crack on entry.]
Goddamn exclusive shared bicycles...
---
"What's up with him?"
Masaki leaned closer to Kanbaru, peering at the now-depressed Isshin.
Because of how close she was, Kanbaru caught a faint trace of lavender.
"…Judging by my vast experience watching nature documentaries—this is mating behavior."
Kanbaru said, deadly serious.
"???"
I'm not me, I swear I'm not—okay, fine, I am.
But don't just expose me like that!
Isshin's eyelids twitched like crazy.
Kanbaru sighed and patted him on the shoulder solemnly:
"My friend, a woman will only slow your sword."
"Staring at her a hundred times won't make her yours."
"But draw your sword a hundred times—and your sword skills will be with you forever."
"Wake up. Your mission is to protect the world."
Isshin: "???"
...You're not wrong.
But I refuse to listen!
You're clearly just talking crap, right?!
Be human, you troll!
---
Just as the atmosphere grew more bizarre...
Shiba Isshin's expression changed. He suddenly stood up and turned toward the distant night sky.
There.
An intense Reiatsu had flared—deep and hollow.
A signature unmistakably belonging to—
Menos Grande.