"When oh, when oh, shall we meet again?"
"At dusk, during Obon, we'll reunite!"
"Pinky swear, pinky swear, never ever lie!"
"Break the vow, and you'll be torn apart!"
"Step by step, step by step, toward the ■■ of the gods..."
A faint children's song echoed from a great distance.
But just as the last line was sung, the sweet, lilting melody abruptly twisted into a chaotic burst of static in Fujimiya Makoto's mind.
The clear, innocent nursery rhyme was abruptly severed by a sharp, ear-piercing zzzt—
The violent noise, coupled with an inexplicable surge of primal fear, forced his eyes open.
Yet, what appeared before Fujimiya Makoto left him stunned.
A massive screen dominated the entire wall.
And the image displayed on it was one he knew all too well.
A line of ominous, blood-red text that would strike fear into any ordinary person:
[FBI WARNING!]
Fujimiya Makoto's eyes widened in horror.
Wait!
No way!!
My zanpakutō isn't actually...
Fortunately, the next scene didn't confirm his bizarre suspicions.
The screen flickered several times before an image of Shutara Senjumaru appeared at the center.
The elegant beauty wore her usual faintly condescending smile, holding a string of prayer beads in her hand.
"To whoever now holds the Beads of Restraint, if you're hearing this, it means you're in a state of 'sword meditation,' correct?"
Her voice was calm, almost monotone.
"Then listen carefully."
"The Beads of Restraint are a failed creation. Their function is to forcibly suppress a zanpakutō's consciousness, effectively silencing it."
"Naturally, when you enter sword meditation, you'll inevitably face their wrath—and in severe cases, it may even cause drastic changes in your inner world."
"So, if your relationship with your zanpakutō isn't particularly good, remember to placate it every time you use the beads."
"Otherwise, you might just be swallowed by its fury—"
Before Shutara could finish her warning, the screen dissolved into another burst of static.
From behind Fujimiya Makoto came a crisp, childish voice, dripping with annoyance:
"So noisy!"
"Are you gonna play the movie or not?!"
"If not, I'm changing the channel!"
Almost as soon as the words were spoken, Shutara's image vanished from the screen.
In its place appeared two actresses Fujimiya Makoto knew all too well—Mikami Yuya and Aizen Yuki.
The reason he recognized them?
This was one of the educational films he'd stored in the root directory of his E drive, watched so many times he'd practically memorized the plot.
Soon enough, the screen displayed the beloved standard hypnotic schoolgirl scenario.
But Fujimiya Makoto had no interest in watching right now.
He turned around—and froze.
A small figure sat on an oversized couch, legs dangling, swinging idly.
A white-haired girl, no older than eleven or twelve, with adorable socks tied like charms at her temples.
Her big, watery eyes sparkled as she stared intently at the screen, munching on a bag of chips clutched in her tiny hands. Occasionally, she'd suck on her fingers, her cute face brimming with anticipation.
Her doll-like innocence stood in stark contrast to the adult content playing on the screen.
The sheer dissonance sent a strange, eerie feeling creeping up Fujimiya Makoto's spine.
Yet, that crisp, playful voice left no room for doubt.
—This little gremlin, happily snacking while watching porn, was none other than his dear zanpakutō.
But Shutara's earlier words still lingered in his mind.
'Swallowed by its fury...?'
He glanced at the girl again, a flicker of hope rising.
Maybe… just maybe, his zanpakutō was actually good-natured?
At the very least, he had to try.
Steeling himself, Fujimiya Makoto approached the girl with a gentle smile.
"Littl—"
Before he could even finish the word, the white-haired child turned her head slightly, casting him a look so indifferent it bordered on outright disdain.
Her golden eyes flickered—then burned crimson.
That single, casual glance sent a wave of suffocating pressure crashing down on him, worse than anything he'd felt from Shihōin Senjumaru.
'I'm going to die!'
The thought flashed through his mind unbidden.
Cold sweat drenched his back in an instant.
Then—
A slender hand patted his shoulder.
"Hey!"
A light, cheerful voice rang out.
Just like that, the overwhelming wrongness surrounding him vanished.
The little girl hmph'ed softly, turning back to her movie, munching chips and sucking her fingers as if nothing had happened.
Fujimiya Makoto's heart skipped a beat.
...I survived.
Even though nothing had actually happened, the thought came to him instinctively.
A finger suddenly poked his cheek.
He turned to see a young woman with white mid-length hair, one hand behind her back, bright-eyed and radiant.
Graceful, poised—like a flower just beginning to bloom.
"Scared you, didn't I?"
Her voice was soft and melodious, carrying a playful lilt that would've been perfect for singing.
She smiled at him.
"—But it's best not to disturb her when she's watching her… movies."
"After all, this entire theater is her creation."
"If she gets angry, no one can stop her!"
"I see. Thanks."
Fujimiya Makoto exhaled slowly, meeting her gaze.
Her eyes, too, were a vivid crimson.
"And you are…?"
The girl laughed brightly. "Isn't it obvious? I'm your zanpakutō."
"You can't lie here, you know."
"That's a rule everyone follows."
Fujimiya Makoto blinked. "So I have two blades?"
"...Not necessarily."
Her gaze held a hint of resignation.
"Oh!"
"Want to go take a walk?"
"It's your first time here, right?"
"I can be your guide."
She skipped ahead, hands behind her back. "Since this is your inner world, some of the scenery should be things you like."
"Places like Dragon's Respect Paradise, Christina Hypnosis Academy, Mount ■■ Hot Springs Festival Town, Impar Star Rail… there's quite a lot around here."
"WHAT?!"
Fujimiya Makoto's heart thumped violently.
But his meager brain still remembered Shutara's warning, forcing him to suppress his excitement with great difficulty.
"But… can't you just tell me your name directly?"
The girl watched his internal struggle with amusement, tapping her chin.
"I could."
"My name is ■■■■."
"But for someone who hasn't even accepted his own heart, nor earned 'acknowledgment'..."
"Can you really hear it?"
Fujimiya Makoto froze.
Partly because he hadn't expected her to answer so readily.
But mostly because—
The moment she spoke her name, he saw it.
A flicker of something dark and quiet in her crimson eyes.
"Horny is justice!!"
"I wanna get stepped on by a big sister too!!"
The little girl's cheerful shout snapped him out of his thoughts.
She plopped back onto the couch, tearing into another bag of chips, chugging soda with a satisfied glug before letting out a tiny burp.
Adorable.
Fujimiya Makoto glanced at her.
So this little pervert was the one ruining his social life!
"She's cute, isn't she?"
The girl's question was casual.
Fujimiya Makoto hesitated—then flashed a bright smile.
"Of course!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the girl's expression froze.
The movie screen paused.
The little girl puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him.
The entire theater seemed to hold its breath.
Fujimiya Makoto stood rooted in place, unable to breathe.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"No lying here."
Her crimson eyes bore into him, voice still sweet.
The next instant—
Fujimiya Makoto's body stiffened.
Then, like a balloon overfilled with water, he began to swell, distort—
Until, with a pop, he burst.
Vanishing from the world.
Only a faint sigh remained.