Bleach: I Love Making Friends

3rd Seat's Soul Ability: "Hard Work"

Hard Work: Increases motivation and efficiency during work after activation.

4th Seat's Soul Ability: "Sleep at Will"

Sleep at Will: Instantly fall asleep upon activation.

5th Seat's Soul Ability: "Fireball Technique"

Fireball Technique: Generates a fireball in the user's hand.

6th Seat's Soul Ability: "Destructive Death Beam"

Destructive Death Beam: Releases a black beam of destruction from the fingertip that pierces any defense.

7th Seat's Soul Ability: "Gaming Master"

Gaming Master: Quickly learns and masters any game after activation.

8th Seat's Soul Ability: "Enhanced Appearance"

Enhanced Appearance: Improves one's physical attractiveness.

10th Seat's Soul Ability: "Pain and Pleasure"

Pain and Pleasure: Converts pain into pleasure upon activation.

These were the abilities possessed by the seated officers of Squad Five. Some were incredibly useful, like Destructive Death Beam and Fireball Technique, while others, like Sleep at Will, seemed impractical for combat.

...

Discovering Haruki's Soul Ability

As Haruki's strength grew, he realized he had unlocked his own soul ability: "Safe Haven."

Safe Haven: Designate a house as an invincible sanctuary, impervious to any destruction or surveillance. Within the safe haven, the user is protected from all external observation.

Haruki couldn't help but laugh. It seems my soul ability reflects my paranoia. A sanctuary was exactly what he needed in Seireitei, a place where even the shadows felt like they were watching.

He immediately decided to designate his home as his safe haven, ensuring it would generate false visuals for anyone attempting to spy on him. To them, it would appear as if he were engaged in mundane activities, even if he were doing something highly confidential.

For Haruki, this was a godsend. The pervasive surveillance in Seireitei—from the Quincy remnants lurking in shadows to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's twisted monitoring methods—was unbearable. Even Aizen's piercing gaze felt ever-present.

Finally, some peace of mind.

...

With his promotion to Ninth Seat, Haruki's responsibilities shifted.

As a seated officer, he was assigned an office and a residence in the "Seated Officer District" near Squad Five's barracks. Although Haruki already had a house, the new property was a welcome addition. His monthly salary also increased from 200,000 kan to 300,000 kan.

Furthermore, he now had reduced patrol duties—once a week instead of daily. Most of his time would be spent handling administrative work in the office. Of course, seated officers were also expected to lead missions when needed.

...

That evening, Haruki hosted a celebratory gathering at a tavern for his squadmates. Nearly half the seated officers attended, while others were tied up with duties or unavailable. Even Aizen and Gin Ichimaru made brief appearances, much to the amazement of the squad.

Though Aizen left shortly after, Ichimaru stayed, making the atmosphere slightly tense. However, as the evening progressed, the squad members relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

...

Midway through the celebration, Matsumoto Rangiku entered, spotting Haruki immediately.

"Yo, Haruki!" Rangiku greeted cheerfully.

Haruki, startled, nearly spilled his drink. "Rangiku-san?! What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean? I'm here for drinks, of course," she replied, taking a seat. "And hey, I didn't expect to see you here."

She noticed Gin at the table and called out, "Gin, you're here too?"

Gin, seated nearby, gave his signature sly smile but didn't respond. He seemed surprised that Haruki and Rangiku knew each other.

"You know Vice-Captain Ichimaru?" Haruki asked Rangiku, feigning surprise.

"Of course!" Rangiku laughed. "I've known him since forever. So, what's the occasion? Why is half of Squad Five here drinking?"

"High Feather here got promoted to Ninth Seat," Gin answered with a grin. "Rangiku-san, care to join the celebration?"

"Promotion? Drinks? Don't mind if I do!" Rangiku exclaimed. "Honestly, why isn't anyone in Squad Ten this generous? Maybe I should transfer to Squad Five!"

"Let's not provoke Captain Shiba," Haruki joked. "I'd rather not get on her bad side."

"Who cares about her?" Rangiku shrugged, grabbing a drink. She blended effortlessly into the group, bringing energy and humor to the table.

...

As the drinks flowed, the mood lightened further. However, Haruki noticed a subtle change in Rangiku when Gin left the gathering early. Though she didn't say anything, a faint sadness crossed her face.

Haruki sympathized with her. Despite growing up together, Gin's transformation into an enigmatic figure had created a gulf between them. Rangiku probably longed to understand the friend she once knew, but Gin's inscrutability made it impossible.

"How much pain lies hidden behind her smile?"

...

As the celebration continued, another idea struck Haruki.

Could the fragments of soul split by Rangiku's "Supplement Soul" ability repair the damage caused by Aizen? If he could find a way to heal her fragmented soul, would it also restore some of the pieces stolen to create the Hōgyoku?

It was a tantalizing prospect—one he resolved to explore further. For now, though, there was only one thing left to do: enjoy the night and deepen his connections.