Chapter 23 – A Thank You Kiss and a Shinigami’s Arrival

Ethan Kane gently guided Yotsuya Miko out of the room, his arm securely around her waist. She leaned against him, trembling, but calm.

Inside, on the bed, Toruko Yotsuya slowly opened her eyes.

She stared at the place where her husband and son had vanished after passing on, and her heart welled with a flood of emotions—relief, grief, and peace all at once.

Though she couldn't see ghosts, she had felt their presence. Any mother could.

She recalled how her daughter had whispered goodbyes into the air, how she had insisted Ethan stay the night, and how much weight had seemed to lift from the air just now.

Toruko didn't need to see them to know—they had been there.

"Goodbye… dear… Kyousuke…"

"I promise I'll take care of Miko. We'll live happily."

She wiped away her tears with a soft smile.

—

Outside, Miko clung to Ethan's chest, her tears soaking into his shirt.

"S-sorry," she whispered, realizing how tightly she was holding him. Her cheeks burned when she noticed his shirt was drenched. "I didn't mean to cry so much..."

"You held it together longer than most people ever could," Ethan said gently.

Miko sniffled and looked up at him. "Thank you…"

"Just call me Ethan," he said with a small smile.

"…Okay, Ethan-kun," she said quietly.

He blinked in surprise, but then smiled wider.

Her voice sounded warm—closer than before.

[Ding~]

[Detected that Yotsuya Miko's favorability has reached 80% (love)]

[Points +300]

(That's what I'm talking about.) Ethan thought, pleased with the reward.

"But I haven't properly thanked you yet," Miko said shyly, glancing up at him. "Ethan-kun… could you close your eyes?"

"Of course."

Ethan shut his eyes without hesitation.

Miko hesitated only a moment longer, her heart pounding in her chest. Then, gathering her courage, she rose up on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

…But at that exact moment, Ethan sensed something nearby.

His eyes snapped open, and he turned just as she was leaning in.

Boop.

Their lips touched.

Miko's eyes flew wide, and she let out a startled squeak.

"M-Miko…"

"You pervert!!"

Red-faced, she backed away and smacked him lightly on the chest. "That was my first kiss!!"

"I didn't mean to—" Ethan scratched his head, apologetic. "I really did sense something…"

"Sure you did!" Miko puffed her cheeks in frustration.

But before she could keep berating him, something strange fluttered into the yard.

A glowing blue butterfly.

"…That's not good," Ethan muttered.

Following the butterfly was a mysterious girl wearing a black kimono-style uniform with a katana at her waist. She leapt casually over the wall into the garden like she belonged there.

"Huh? Who's that?" Miko whispered.

Ethan's Sharingan spun briefly, analyzing the intruder's spiritual pressure. It was definitely not human.

"That uniform… no way."

The girl turned slowly, scanning the yard, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword.

"Very close," she muttered to herself.

BANG!

Ethan didn't hesitate—he stepped forward and drop-kicked her straight into the grass.

"Stop muttering like a weirdo in my friend's yard!"

The girl groaned, flipping over and glaring at him from the ground.

"You—! You can see me?!"

Ethan smirked. "Obviously."

"And I'm not your little sister, and this isn't cosplay!" the girl barked at Miko next, who had been looking at her outfit with a baffled expression.

"Then what is it?" Miko frowned.

"…I'm a Shinigami," she declared. "From the Gotei 13."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

Shinigami.

From Bleach.

That explained the butterfly—and her spiritual pressure.

Miko gasped. "Ethan-kun, is she one of those… transformed spirits?!"

"No, not quite."

Ethan stepped between them calmly. "She's not a Hollow. She's a Reaper. A spiritual entity who hunts Hollows. If I'm right… she's even got a name."

He turned to the girl.

"Rukia Kuchiki."

Rukia blinked in surprise. "How do you know my name?"

Ethan just smiled.

"It's a long story."

---

Next chapter: Soul Society's eyes are now on Ethan Kane… but what do they really want?

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