Bleach: I Love Making Friends

The Soul Society also celebrates the New Year.

However, Haruki no longer had any family.

In the past, he had always spent the New Year alone, but this time, he had a few companions.

Both Kira and Renji had also lost their families, so they ended up spending the New Year at Haruki's place.

Hinamori and Hitsugaya returned to Rukongai for the New Year, as they still had family there.

Rangiku and Hisagi also dropped by Haruki's place, but in the end, they returned to the 10th and 9th Divisions, respectively.

Aizen didn't come to visit Haruki; instead, Haruki went to pay his respects to Aizen.

This year marked the first New Year Haruki had celebrated since arriving in the Soul Society.

He wondered if he would be able to enjoy such tranquility in the future.

After the New Year, everything returned to normal.

In June, the Shin'ō Academy held its graduation ceremony. Kira, Hinamori, and Renji successfully joined the 5th Division, while Hitsugaya chose not to graduate early and instead continued his studies at the academy.

Haruki managed to acquire six permanent soul abilities:

Kira's "Bird Slayer,"

Hinamori's "Strongest Defense,"

Renji's "Star Chaser,"

as well as the "Fireball Technique" and "Game Master" abilities from the 5th Division's seated officers,

and Jidanbō's "Gatekeeper."

He also obtained a few more one-time abilities.

It could be said that he now possessed a wide array of techniques.

Moreover, during this time, he had grown significantly stronger himself.

Not long after Renji and the others joined the 5th Division, Haruki, who was heading home after work as usual, received an order from Aizen.

"Ugh, why does he have to take up my off-duty time?"

Despite his reluctance, Haruki made his way to Aizen's secret base.

Aizen had a hidden laboratory in the Soul Society, a place completely concealed from any surveillance.

Haruki had only been there once before, and that was when Aizen had brought him along. At the time, nothing significant had happened.

When he entered this time, he found the entire Aizen faction present.

Aizen was seated in front of a computer, analyzing rows of data. Tōsen stood guard beside him, while Gin sat on a large computer desk, his back turned to the other two.

As Haruki walked in, he was met with Gin's ever-present squinting eyes.

"Look who decided to show up," Gin said with a smirk.

Tōsen glanced at Haruki but remained silent.

Haruki greeted the three of them.

"Good evening, Captain Aizen, Captain Gin, Captain Tōsen."

"Haruki, come take a look at our research achievements," Aizen said.

Research Results?

Curious, Haruki walked over and noticed a large incubation tank containing the body of a Shinigami.

However...

What was strange was that the Shinigami had a hollow hole in its chest, and its skin was pale, as if it had been dead for a long time.

"This is...?"

"A soul that has transformed from a Shinigami into a Hollow," Tōsen said proudly. "This is the only successful case so far."

Haruki was stunned. A Shinigami turned into a Hollow? It sounded absurd, but in the manga, there was indeed such an instance.

White!

The Hollow inside Ichigo Kurosaki's body was also created by Aizen!

Why had White been created so early?

Haruki examined the Hollow closely and couldn't help but say, "This is too crude, isn't it? Captain Aizen, this product isn't ready to be shown off yet."

"!" Tōsen frowned, his voice cold. "How dare you speak to Lord Aizen like that!"

"Enough, Tōsen," Aizen said, unbothered. He stood up and walked over to the incubation tank, gazing at the Hollow.

Without turning his head, he said, "Haruki is right. This thing isn't ready to be presented yet."

"It has only just transformed into a Hollow. It will take some time before the transformation is complete."

Aizen smiled. "However, even though it's not yet finished, it represents a breakthrough in our technology."

"Haruki, do you know how I managed to create it?"

How would I know? The manga didn't explain how you did it!

"Captain Aizen, why don't you just tell me? I have plans to go drinking with Captain Kyōraku tonight."

Aizen chuckled. "Haruki, you're always so busy."

Then, he placed a hand on the incubation tank, and a faint light emanated from within the Hollow.

Haruki looked at the light and found it somewhat familiar.

He smiled. "So, this thing has some connection to me, huh?"

Seeing the light and considering Aizen's question, Haruki realized that the Hollow contained the "soul supplement pills" he had created back in Hueco Mundo.

Back then, he had handed the pills over to Aizen, thinking they would be used by Aizen himself or infused into the Hōgyoku. He never expected they would be used in the experiment to create White.

Did this mean he had made the biggest impact on the storyline so far?

Even the protagonist's power-up had been influenced by him.

His soul supplement pills had helped Aizen create White ahead of time?

Thinking this, Haruki couldn't help but add, "Captain Aizen, can I give it a name?"

Hearing this, Tōsen's killing intent flared up again.

He believed that White was Aizen's creation, and thus, only Aizen had the right to name it. Haruki's suggestion was nothing short of overstepping!

However, Aizen simply smiled and said, "What do you have in mind?"

"White," Haruki said. "Its skin is so pale. Let's call it 'White.'"

"White..." Aizen repeated the name, his gaze returning to the Hollow.

Then, his smile deepened.

"That's a good name."

Heh...

Haruki looked at White. While it was unlikely he could befriend it, White did possess its own soul ability.

'Hollowfication: Grants a Shinigami's soul the properties of a Hollow, thereby bestowing the power of a Hollow.'

Haruki had already obtained the Quincy training methods, and now he had stumbled upon a way to gain Hollow powers.

It made sense, given that White was created using a Shinigami as its base, and it was the blood that triggered the protagonist's Hollowfication. It was only natural for it to possess such an ability.

However, there was one thing that surprised Haruki.

White's initial favorability toward him was astonishingly high!

It didn't even have a complete sense of self yet, but its favorability toward Haruki was already at 56!

Was it because of the soul supplement pills he had created?

Well, well. It seemed there was a real possibility he could obtain the Hollowfication ability from White.

Haruki's lips curled into a smile as he turned to Aizen and said, "Captain Aizen, if White becomes active, could I come by a few more times to observe and interact with it? You know how fascinated I am by such beings."

"Of course," Aizen said, adjusting his glasses. "After all, it was created using fragments of your soul. You have every right to be involved."

...

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