Kaito already knew why Ichigo was so sensitive. The boy's soul was a convergence of extremes—he housed the remnants of the Hollow White, and he was the direct descendant of both a Shinigami and a Quincy. His latent awareness of the spiritual world was entirely natural.
Ichigo continued, his voice quiet. "The first time I saw one of those monsters, it was inside a hospital. I watched it lean over a patient and pull something right out of their chest. I was so terrified that I grabbed Mom's hand and forced her to leave immediately. Ever since then, I've hated going to clinics. I'm always scared I'll see another one."
He paused, swallowing hard, before looking up at Kaito with a fierce, earnest determination. "Kaito... if I formally call you Sensei, will you teach me how to destroy them? If you promise to do that, I'll say it."
Kaito let out a lazy chuckle, looking thoroughly unreliable. "I don't know, brat. Why don't you try saying it first and see what happens?"
Ichigo went through a visible internal struggle, his small fists clenching tight. Ultimately, the desire for strength won out over his pride.
"...Sensei," he muttered in a tiny whisper.
"What was that? Speak up, I can't hear a thing," Kaito teased, cupping a hand over his ear.
Mustering all the courage in his lungs, Ichigo shouted, "Sensei!"
Kaito stroked his chin, scanning Ichigo up and down with mock skepticism. "You called me 'Sensei' last time too, and then you went back on your word the very next morning. How do I know you won't change your mind again?"
"I won't!" Ichigo yelled, his face burning. "As long as you teach me how to get rid of those monsters, you will always be my master."
"Is that so? Then does that mean you'll listen to whatever your sensei says? Will you do exactly what your sensei asks?"
"If you tell me to do it, I'll do it!"
"For real?"
"For real!"
Looking down at Ichigo's youthful, fiercely serious face, Kaito's expression softened into an affectionate grin. He reached out and aggressively ruffled the boy's orange hair. "Good. Listen to your sensei, then. We'll start your training... eventually. It's just not the right time yet."
With that, Kaito couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh.
As Ichigo's wide-eyed surprise rapidly curdled into pure fury, Kaito spun on his heel and bolted toward the front door.
"I'll teach you when you're a little older, Ichigo!" Kaito shouted over his shoulder as he ran.
An enraged roar echoed from the porch behind him. "Kaito, you bastard! I am never trusting you again!"
Ichigo was entirely convinced that this was just another one of Kaito's lazy excuses to slack off. Kaito, however, simply laughed off the boy's anger, paying it no mind.
Ding!
"New Objective: Please proceed to the Kabukicho district within thirty minutes. Maintain a presence at the location for two hours to receive a reward of +6% fusion progress!"
Kaito stepped into his room, only for the sudden notification to ring clearly in his mind. It was a timely reminder that he hadn't completed his daily check-in task yet. For some bizarre reason, his system seemed entirely obsessed with that particular entertainment district; seven or eight out of every ten daily tasks directed him right back there.
A faint, knowing smile crossed his face at the familiar prompt.
"Oh dear, Kabukicho again? How terrible," Kaito sighed dramatically to the empty room. "I really have absolutely no desire to visit such scandalous places. But alas, it's for the mission. Yes. Everything I do is purely for the sake of the mission."
Without wasting another second, he activated "Blue" and blurred into the distance.
Because the original Kabukicho sector close to his station had been reduced to rubble the previous day, he had to travel to a completely different, neighboring commercial district to find an intact entertainment strip. Furthermore, the system's check-in parameters came with a strict countdown. If he failed to arrive at the coordinates within the designated window, the daily reward would be permanently forfeited.
As the vibrant, neon outline of the new district materialized in the distance, Kaito thought back to his usual haunts and felt a mock pang of nostalgia.
"Ah, what a wonderful place, gone just like that. What a tragedy," he murmured. "But don't you worry, ladies. I've already avenged you by destroying that oversized bear. I will continue to diligently complete these check-in tasks—not just for the power, but to honor your memory."
Within the bustling streets of the entertainment district, the atmosphere was lively.
"Oh, welcome, sir! Please, come right this way."
Right as Kaito stepped through the entrance, the woman managing the establishment froze for a moment.
The conversations in the lobby noticeably quieted.
More than a few women turned to look.
A face like that was enough to attract attention anywhere.
With a client that attractive, the staff wouldn't even mind giving him a complimentary round. Catering to a striking young man was an infinitely more pleasant shift than serving the usual demanding businessmen or tired office workers.
"What can we do for you today, sir? Do you have a specific lady in mind, or perhaps a regular favorite?"
"It's my first time visiting this particular branch, so I'm not entirely familiar with your specific arrangements," Kaito replied smoothly. "Would you mind walking me through the options, madam?"
"My, what a wonderfully polite young gentleman! Come, come, let me introduce everyone to you in detail," the madam beamed. She gestured toward the waiting lineup. "This is Mayu, her talent with the pipa is unmatched. Over here is Sara, who is absolutely wonderful at singing and keeping the drinks flowing. And this is..."
The madam was exceptionally thorough, introducing over ten of her top hostesses before finally catching her breath.
"Well, sir? Did anyone catch your eye? Would you like to select a companion for a private room so you can get to know each other a bit better?" She emphasized the word "better" with a subtle, knowing wink.
Kaito offered an equally playful, ambiguous smile. "Is it possible to get a closer look at all of them first?"
The madam chuckled, delighted by the prompt. "Of course. Which lovely lady would the handsome customer like to start with?"
Kaito crossed his arms, his smile widening. "Only children make choices like that, madam. Naturally, I want them all."
The madam froze, staring at him in utter disbelief, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her. "Sir... you aren't joking? I just introduced over ten people to you. You want everyone?"
"Why? Is there a rule against it?" Kaito raised an eyebrow playfully. "Today, I'm planning to challenge a full group of ten to a complete beer-drinking game."
The madam blinked in surprise. It appeared this handsome customer was a terrifyingly ruthless challenger, both to the house and to his own liver. Recognizing a high-roller who wasn't to be trifled with, she quickly adapted.
"If that is your wish, sir, then by all means. Follow me, I'll prepare our largest private banquet room for you."
She led Kaito up to the second floor, with the entire flock of hostesses following closely behind. Within minutes, the massive private room was filled with the raucous sounds of pouring drinks, clinking glasses, and lively laughter from the drinking games.
Standing outside the closed door, the madam could only shake her head in sheer amazement. The young man was incredibly generous with his wallet, but his pacing was relentless. Who could possibly keep up with a drinking speed like that?
Three hours later, the heavy doors slid open. Kaito leaned casually against the frame, wiping a stray trace of makeup off his cheek.
Seeing him emerge, the madam rushed forward, a bright smile on her face. "How was everything, sir? Did our service meet your expectations?"
Kaito nodded, adjusting his shirt collar as he let out a slightly exhausted sigh. "Exceptional. Keep up the great work, ladies. I have absolute faith in this establishment." With a wave, he turned and strolled down the corridor without looking back.
The madam stood frozen for a moment, momentarily dazed by how incredibly charming he looked even while wiped out. Curious, she peeked past the open door into the private room. A heavy, suffocating aroma of premium alcohol wafted out. Inside, a dozen seasoned hostesses were completely spent, sprawled out across the tatami mats in a state of utter exhaustion, though every single one of them wore a deeply satisfied, content smile.
He really is a monster, she thought, completely impressed.
It was another successful day of clearing a challenge tab for free.
Stepping out past the main gates of the district, Kaito glanced back at the neon signs and muttered to himself, "I should probably pace myself with these check-in tasks. Otherwise, I'm not entirely sure even Gojo Satoru's limitless stamina can survive this daily grind."
Fortunately, the mechanical chime of the system echoed in his mind right on cue, confirming that his fusion progress had successfully updated. The influx of fresh power immediately washed away the lingering fatigue, restoring his vitality.
Alcohol was certainly an enjoyable pastime, but moderation was definitely key.
Watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of orange, Kaito composed himself. He carefully checked his clothes to ensure no obvious traces or scents from the entertainment district lingered on him.
There's definitely a bit of a perfume and smoke smell left, he realized. Whatever, I'll just stop by a market and buy some oranges to mask it on the way back.
While he usually acted like a carefree, lazy freeloader around the Kurosaki household, both Masaki and Ichigo were highly perceptive. Since he was staying under their roof, it was only polite to maintain a respectable appearance.
However, just as he was about to depart the area, the faint, melodic notes of a piano drifted through the evening air.
It wasn't that the melody itself was exceptionally beautiful, but rather the exact moment the music began, Kaito's Six Eyes detected a subtle, highly unusual fluctuation in the local spiritual pressure. Though the tremor was incredibly faint and vanished in the span of a heartbeat, it didn't escape his notice.
Kaito stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. Turning around, he walked right back into the neon-lit streets of the district.
When the madam of the establishment saw the handsome, silver-haired youth suddenly double back toward her doors, she hesitated in brief confusion before quickly plastering on her brightest, most welcoming smile to greet him once again.