Chapter 46: Captain! Help!

Kano Chiharu landed lightly a short distance from Yamabuki Haruto, watching him with suspicion.
Why wasn’t this guy running away? Was there an ambush?

Haruto straightened up with false confidence.

“You should know, girl, that a Shinigami’s Zanpakutō has two forms. Shikai—unlocking powerful abilities. And Bankai—raising that power five to ten times over.”

Chiharu tilted her head, puzzled. Why’s he telling me this?

Haruto continued, ignoring her confusion.

“As the strongest Vice-Captain in the history of the Gotei 13, I have perfected my Bankai. If you keep being stubborn, I’ll be forced to use it on you!”

Chiharu’s eyes narrowed. Haruto was strong, yes—but every opponent she’d faced so far was monstrous. If his strength truly multiplied fivefold, it would be… troublesome.

“To keep things fair,” Haruto declared grandly, “I’ll use a Kidō technique: Red Smoke Release! When the smoke clears, we fight to the death. No one can accuse me of trickery!”

Instead of fear, Chiharu’s eyes glimmered with excitement. Ordinary prey was fun, yes—but fighting the strong was exhilarating.

“Fine! Come at me!” she said, her grip tightening on her naginata.

Haruto slapped his palm on the ground.
“Bakudō: Red Smoke Release!”

A cloud of red smoke billowed out, covering the battlefield.

From within the haze, Haruto’s voice rang out:
“Don’t move until the smoke clears! Then we’ll clash at the same time! I swear on my honor—I’ll never launch a sneak attack! Never!”

Chiharu raised her weapon, alert. Is he really… planning a sneak attack?

The smoke thinned. She tensed.

Then blinked.

“Huh? Where’d he go?”

The space ahead of her was empty.

Of course, Haruto was already sprinting far, far away.

What idiot throws himself at an opponent he can’t beat? Either a fool… or the protagonist. And I’m neither.

He smirked, racing toward Seireitei.
“I didn’t think that demon woman would be so easy to fool. Guess all her nutrients went into her chest instead of her brain—”

A deafening sonic boom split the air.

Haruto froze, ducking just in time. A naginata whistled past his scalp, shaving off a tuft of his hair.

“My hairstyle!!!”

He looked back in horror. Chiharu was right behind him, panting, her chest heaving with every breath—each step faster than the last.

“Thanks to you, my shunpo improved under pressure!” she growled.

Haruto’s eye twitched. She’s evolving mid-battle again?! Why is she the chosen one, not me?

And my hair—eighteen years of style, gone in a swipe! Unforgivable!

Snapping his fingers, Haruto began chanting:

“Bakudō #61: Six Rods Prison of Light!”
Six golden beams pinned Chiharu.

“Bakudō #75: Five Pillars of Iron!”
Five massive steel posts slammed her down.

“Bakudō #79: Nine Sealing Bolts!”
Dark orbs wrapped around her, sealing her movement.

It was a perfect chain of bindings—fast, precise, flawless.

…For about five seconds.

Chiharu blinked, then smirked. Spiritual pressure flared. Chains shattered like paper.

Hah. As if that would hold me.

Haruto was already gone, sprinting with everything he had.
Hard combat? Not in this lifetime.

Chiharu, however, was relentless. Fueled by the thrill of the chase, her shunpo surged past its limit. Step by step, she closed in.

Ahead, Seireitei’s white walls gleamed.

Almost there… just a little further… Haruto pushed harder.

Behind him, her naginata stretched out—mere inches from his back.

But in that instant, Haruto’s body jolted. His fear, his desperation, his sheer survival instinct burst forth. His reiatsu flared violently. His speed spiked.

Limit… broken!

From afar, patrolling Shinigami spotted the commotion.

“Hey, isn’t that the Chief of Staff?” one pointed. “Why’s he running like his life depends on it?”

“And who’s that gorgeous woman chasing him?!” another gasped.

The older veterans chuckled knowingly.
“Heh. Looks like the Chief’s got a girlfriend. Youngsters, you wouldn’t understand—that’s just flirting.”

“But… isn’t he screaming for help?”

“Of course. In every relationship, there’s always one who cries out.”

Meanwhile, Haruto was sprinting like a ragged beggar, hair singed, robes torn, and lungs burning. Behind him, Chiharu chased like a bloodthirsty goddess of death.

Why… why did I have to watch the fun? he lamented. If I’d just minded my business, I wouldn’t be in this mess!

And those bastards watching from the walls—laughing at him?! Just wait. Once he survived this, they’d regret it!

“Captain!!! HELP!!!”