Huh? Cute?
Soi Fon felt dizzy.
Yoruichi's words had completely thrown her off, making her lips twitch involuntarily.
Did Yoruichi just call her cute?
Soi Fon stood there blankly, cheeks slightly flushed. Her mind short-circuited.
It took her a full minute to process what just happened.
No!
No, no, no!
She shook her head violently.
Why am I happy over Shihouin Yoruichi's praise?!
She was going crazy!
How shameful. How pathetic!
The woman in front of her was a traitor!
Soi Fon forcibly calmed her surging emotions, stared at Yoruichi with a blank expression, raised her hand, and pointed her golden finger ring at her.
"I don't care why you're in Hell. But since we've met here, then…"
She paused, eyes narrowing.
"Today is the day you die."
---
Silence fell over Hell.
But Yoruichi didn't even react to Soi Fon's declaration.
She was busy processing something Soi Fon had let slip.
The miasma of Hell...
It had actually reached the Soul Society?
Yoruichi recalled the moment when Lynn's spiritual pressure exploded.
That pressure… had penetrated Hell itself and affected the Soul Society?
Thinking about it, Yoruichi clicked her tongue.
Lynn's power was still beyond anything she could have imagined.
---
Meanwhile, seeing Yoruichi lost in thought, Soi Fon clenched her teeth.
"You..... are you looking down on me?!"
"Ah…"
Yoruichi snapped out of her thoughts, scratched her head, and gave a bright smile.
"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't paying attention just now. What did you say?"
"Say that again?"
Soi Fon's face twisted in anger.
"You're not even worth repeating it to!"
With those words, she vanished!
Feeling the sudden gust of air behind her, Yoruichi's lips curled slightly.
"Soi Fon…"
"Have you forgotten my title after a hundred years?"
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure vanished as well.
Only an afterimage remained, pierced by Soi Fon's golden glove.
When the illusion disappeared, Soi Fon's cold expression twisted. She turned toward where Yoruichi had reappeared.
"…Flash Master, Yoruichi."
"So you haven't forgotten."
Yoruichi shrugged.
"Tch."
Soi Fon sneered. "A hundred years is more than enough for me to surpass you!"
She tore off her sleeve, revealing her black uniform.
"The Captain's attire…"
Yoruichi's gaze lingered on her clothes. She looked a little nostalgic.
"I will take your other title too!" Soi Fon declared.
Boom!
A terrifying burst of spiritual pressure exploded from behind her.
But in the next moment, that immense power was compressed into a single point.
Shrrrk—!
The sound of space being shredded echoed, and the area behind her twisted unnaturally.
Soi Fon grinned, turning back to Yoruichi.
"This is the result of a hundred years of training. Let me show you what it's become."
She stepped forward.
The white stone beneath her exploded.
Her speed surged to the limit. In an instant, she was in front of Yoruichi.
Her expression was calm. She raised her hand and swung, the corners of her mouth already curling with victory.
But...
Yoruichi calmly extended her hand before the attack landed.
Buzz—
An energy wave identical to Soi Fon's spiritual pressure radiated from Yoruichi's palm.
Crash!
Their forces collided.
Soi Fon's tightly condensed energy was neutralized on contact.
Yoruichi said indifferently, "This level of power is too early for you."
Soi Fon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"And…"
Her golden eyes gleamed coldly as spiritual pressure erupted behind her.
"This technique is called... Shunko."
Soi Fon stared, stunned. Her lips trembled.
"You… you've already mastered that technique?!"
"Mm."
Yoruichi brushed her hair back lazily.
"About a hundred years ago?"
One hundred years ago…
From her casual tone and refined movements, it was obvious she wasn't lying.
And there was no need to lie about something like this.
"Damn it!"
Why?!
Even after a hundred years, why was Yoruichi still stronger?
Why…
Why could she only follow behind her?
Frustration twisted her expression.
"I'll never accept this!"
Soi Fon roared and lunged again with her golden gloves.
But Yoruichi gently swayed to the side, dodging every strike with ease.
Soi Fon's speed, which she once took pride in, looked like child's play compared to Yoruichi's movement.
Bang!
Suddenly, Yoruichi reached out, grabbed her wrist, and said softly:
"Are you done venting?"
Soi Fon tried to pull her hand back.
No movement.
She could still launch other attacks, but…
She didn't.
She simply glared at Yoruichi.
"You think I'm just venting?"
"I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye," Yoruichi said seriously.
"...."
Soi Fon's eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat.
She froze.
Stopped struggling.
A long silence followed.
Eventually, she lowered her head and muttered, "What's the point of saying that now…"
"Sorry."
Yoruichi pulled her into a hug.
"Mmm…"
Soi Fon hadn't expected this at all. Her eyes widened, and her face turned red.
"Y-you… you…"
Wasn't she afraid Soi Fon might take this chance to hurt her?
She really trusted her that much?
Soi Fon felt something warm in her chest.
Maybe...
This healed the gap left by the century she lost.
What hundred years?
Yoruichi was just out collecting folk songs!
Feeling the warmth of Yoruichi's body, Soi Fon convinced herself.
She even gave her an excuse.
Seeing this, Yoruichi's lips curled slightly.
Soi Fon… you're still so easy to comfort.
Good.
The plan worked.
After a while, Yoruichi gently asked, "Soi Fon, do you want to come with me?"
(To be continued.)