"I completely don't understand."
Rukia put on a bewildered expression, thinking to herself, how could ordinary people believe such preposterous talk about Shinigami?
As she spoke, she didn't forget to carefully observe the expressions of the surrounding students.
As expected, most people's faces showed indifference, clearly not taking the truth that Tenya casually spoke as anything serious.
However, what she didn't notice was that Megumi, who had a very low sense of presence and was sitting diagonally across, showed a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"So that's how it is!"
"Miss Shinigami from Soul Society, hello!"
"I am the Evil King's True Eye User!"
Only Rikka deeply believed Tenya's words, and then seriously reported her identity to the other party.
"Huh?"
"No... you just believed it like that?"
Rukia instantly became dumbfounded.
Ordinary humans, upon hearing about Shinigami, would just consider them a fabricated existence.
Therefore, Rukia didn't need to worry about exposing her Shinigami identity in front of humans.
However, what she never expected was that this strange girl wearing an eye patch would so easily believe her Shinigami identity.
Also, what's the deal with this Evil King's True Eye User?
"By the way, this is the one with whom I have a destiny contract, the Sharingan User."
Rikka affectionately hugged Tenya's arm, as if declaring sovereignty.
"Sharingan User..."
Rukia's expression froze for a moment, and then her gaze lingered on Tenya's eyes with a meaningful look.
The setting of this "Sharingan user" made it impossible not to take it seriously.
At noon.
Rukia finally caught an opportunity and pestered Tenya again.
"Wait a minute!"
"Please, you must listen to me for a few words!"
Tenya yawned, looking indifferent. "You're in a hurry? Then I'll listen for now."
Rukia organized her words and briefly explained her situation.
In the last battle with a Hollow, her spiritual body was injured, and to recover as quickly as possible, she entered a human body called a "Gigai".
This is also why ordinary humans can see her.
"So, before my Shinigami power is fully restored."
"I hope you can take my place to eliminate Hollows!"
"That is, a Substitute Shinigami!"
Tenya said, "Become a Substitute Shinigami?"
"Why would I do such a troublesome thing?"
Tenya's eyes were half-closed, showing an indifferent attitude.
"Hollows attack humans and devour their souls!"
"Shouldn't you, who possess power, protect humanity?"
Rukia spoke righteously, with a subtle hint of moral coercion.
However, Tenya simply didn't fall for it.
As long as he has no morals, he can't be morally bound.
He said, "What does this have to do with me?"
This cold sentence blocked any further persuasive words Rukia wanted to say.
"You...!"
Rukia's expression darkened, her lips moved, still wanting to say something.
"Slow-witted Shinigami."
"Instead of pestering me here, you should have something more important to do right now, shouldn't you?"
Tenya suddenly said such a strange and abrupt sentence.
"What do you mean...?"
Before Rukia could react, the flip phone in her pocket sounded an alarm.
"A Hollow's Reiatsu?"
"And... it's so close!"
Rukia's face instantly changed, and the look in her eyes as she looked up at Tenya gained a little more reverence.
Because his sensory ability was actually far superior to the detection equipment produced by the Soul Society's Research and Development Institute.
"Can you...?"
Seeing that Tenya was still indifferent, Rukia gritted her teeth.
She turned around, quickly ran out of the school building, and rushed towards the direction where the Hollow was detected.
After Rukia left, Tenya suddenly shouted towards a certain corner, "Kato-san, want to go to the cafeteria together?"
"Um... I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping on Yoshida-san and Kuchiki-san talking..."
Megumi walked out from the corner. In her usually calm eyes, a hint of surprise and doubt appeared.
Tenya said, "I know."
"You just happened to be on your way to the cafeteria."
Tenya had long sensed Megumi's presence.
It was just surprising that Rukia hadn't noticed Megumi at all. One could only say that the latter's sense of presence was indeed very weak.
"Mm."
Megumi's face was still as calm as still water.
Actually, she had clearly heard their conversation just now.
About Shinigami and Hollows....
She was curious, but she wisely didn't try to delve into the secrets.
Knowing her limits, knowing when to advance and retreat.
As expected of the legendary Saint Megumi!
Tenya felt that girls like Megumi were truly wife material.
The two arrived at the cafeteria and casually chose a seat to sit down. They each ordered their food and ate quietly.
Tenya ate relatively quickly. After finishing his meal, he drank black tea while intently watching Megumi eat in front of him.
At first, Megumi could maintain her usual calmness. But after Tenya's continuous gaze for a full ten minutes, Megumi's expression finally couldn't hold up anymore.
"Um, Yoshida-san..."
"If you keep staring like that, I'll be very troubled."
Megumi's voice carried a hint of gentleness.
"Kato-san, are you shy?"
Not only did Tenya not restrain himself, but he also looked at her with a smile.
"Mm-hmm!"
Megumi tried to make an angry expression.
Tenya said, "Oh? Your lips are pouting, although it's only about fifteen degrees, it's still a rare and precious form of cuteness."
Tenya observed the small details revealed on the other party's face with interest.
"Mmm~ teasing me!"
Megumi puffed up her cheeks.
Now she was genuinely a little bit angry.
Bang!
Suddenly, without any warning, a loud bang came from the cafeteria roof.
As if struck by something, the huge impact caused the entire cafeteria to shake a few times.
"Wh-What's happening?!"
"Could it be that a meteor hit the roof?"
The students in the cafeteria started discussing in a hubbub.
"That foolish Shinigami is a bit too weak, isn't she?"
Tenya muttered a complaint, and then continued drinking his tea.
Above the roof.
Rukia stubbornly stood up from the collapsed wall.
Attacking her was a Hollow shaped like a lizard!
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
Rukia raised her hand and launched a crimson fire bullet attack.
However, when it hit the lizard Hollow, it only produced a little smoke and did not cause any substantial damage.
"Cough, cough!"
"What's going on?"
"Could it be that my power hasn't recovered yet?"
Rukia gritted her teeth. She looked at her weak and powerless hands, and a look of shock and uncertainty appeared on her face.
Logically speaking, a Shinigami's spiritual body should fully recover its power not long after entering a Gigai.
But as of now, not only had Rukia failed to recover her lost power, the power she could wield within her body had further decreased.
To the extent that the Kidō used by Rukia was greatly reduced in power and couldn't harm the lizard Hollow in front of her at all.
"Hiss—!!"
The lizard Hollow crawled along the wall of the cafeteria building at an astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye, it appeared in front of Rukia.
Rukia herself was startled and unable to react in time, took a solid hit from the opponent's claw.
Bang!
A hole was smashed through the cafeteria ceiling.
Tenya, who was drinking tea, suddenly pulled the opposite Megumi over with one hand.
"Eh?"
Before she could react, Megumi saw a concrete block falling from the sky and heavily smashing the spot where she had been sitting.