While hearing their future budget being devoured without remorse, Liltotto and Meninas sat with Ichigo's group, and the former whispered, "Hey, who are they!?"
Ichigo and Uryu looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders. At the same time, everyone heard a stomach rumble and the group looked at the embarrassed Meninas who immediately defended herself, "I thought we would be eating ramen so..."
Inoue covered her mouth and giggled, "Being a university student must be hard, huh?" She then turned to the owner and said, "Keigo-san, please give this a bowl of ramen each."
"Wait!" Liltotto immediately stopped her, "We can't afford those!"
"It's fine, it's my treat so order what you want."
Liltotto and Meninas' eyes shone, "We hate charity but we will not refuse free food! Owner, Shio Ramen!"
"Tonkatsu for me!"
Meanwhile, Serafall was discretely observing the group while reminding herself of Kisuke's story about the war, 'I can at least tell they are different from Shinigamis. Are they Quincies? It's amazing how they are getting along even after that.'
As time went by, Serafall was liking this world more and more. The wars that she knew are only those that were started by power-hungry individuals. Wars due to differing ideologies were very rare and almost nonexistent. What she liked about the latter is that understanding is possible after the worst has come to pass unlike the former that only leaves death and destruction.
Soon, they finished their lunch and until the end, Ichigo's group didn't approach Serafall's group. If Meninas didn't attack, they might have come to them but they are also not regretting this outcome because they were able to confirm that it's not just Serafall who's special in their group.
But just as they stood up, everyone in the room except for Keigo froze as an unknown aura descended onto everyone.
Without any hesitation, Serafall immediately initiated a telepathy to Claire, Tanis, and Kunou, [Act surprised! Don't let anyone know that we know that!]
The girls immediately minded their facial expressions and looked up.
Nevertheless, as long as they don't say anything about it, they are safe since no one is really looking at them.
"W-what is that!?" Inoue asks with apparent fear in her eyes.
"Inoue, fetch Kazui from school and stay close to Dad, Yuzu, and Karin," Ichigo muttered before standing up and walking towards the exit.
"W-where are you going!?"
"To find out what's going on." Ichigo only left those words before exiting the shop.
"Don't worry about him," reassured Chad before hurriedly following Ichigo.
"Stay close to your phone too. There might be a call from the Soul Society." Uryu also reminded her before leaving.
Liltotto and Meninas, on the other hand, groaned in frustration while staring at their half-finished ramen. In the end, they gritted their teeth and followed the three men, "Thanks for the treat."
Inoue also gathered her bearings and ran out of the shop intending to go to Kazui's school.
With only Serafall's group remaining, Keigo couldn't help but ask, "... U-hmm... May I ask what's going on?"
"Something strange is happening, that's all I can say." Serafall briefly answered, "What about our tab?"
"Ah, don't worry about it. I know those guys. I'll just put it on their tab as they promised."
After thanking the owner, Serafall's group left and walked out of the street where the ramen shop was located before talking, "...What are they doing?" asked Claire with a twitching mouth.
"Who knows?... We don't always know what Ki-tan is trying to do." Serafall replied to her, "Let's lay low for now and go look for a place to stay."
.
.
.
Within the 1st Division's barracks, all the Captains except for one gathered to discuss what happened last night with their Lieutenants outside of the Captain Commander's office.
"So there's nothing else we could find?" Shunsui asked everyone in the room.
"Almost nothing and everything found is something that we already know." Soifon answered, "We could dedicate more time to searching the Daireishokairou (Great Spirit Book Gallery) but I doubt we could find anything substantial." She then looked towards Byakuya before continuing, "The Royal Guards and the Five Noble Clans might have something but obviously, we can't access those."
Byakuya scoffed at her obvious goading and said, "I already asked my clan for any related documents, but as of now, none has turned up yet aside from the rumors that were already circulating from long ago."
At that moment, Mayuri entered the room.
"How is it?" Shunsui immediately asked.
Mayuri didn't beat around the bush and directly said, "There's nothing much that we know but we're progressing our research on these doors of Hell. As of now, we can assume that what Szayelaporro spouted last now has some truth to it. Captain Commander, I want you to arrange a scouting unit if we find one of these doors and also include some members of the 12th Division in it."
"Do you have a way to find these doors?"
"There were some unique Reiatsu signatures when these doors appeared so we can watch out for those."
"That's good... But what about the other issue?"
Mayuri paused for a bit before answering, "Nothing."
Shunsui and the other Captains raised their brows, "Nothing?"
"As much as I hate to say it, I have nothing on that strange woman. What I'm sure of, however, is the fact that she's neither a Shinigami, Quincy, Fullbringer, Hollow, Witch nor a Dragon. Nothing matched her... Well, there's one thing. She's just a normal Human but I don't think any of you will believe me if I say that."
"..." The whole room became quiet as they were genuinely surprised at Mayuri's findings.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first. It's paramount that we accurately track the appearance of these doors." Done with his report, Mayuri proceeded to leave but before he completely stepped out of the hall, he stopped and turned his head back, "Ah, I almost forgot. That strange woman's ice is visible to normal Humans. I only have one single piece of evidence so I'll still need to confirm that."
As Mayuri left, the Captain of the 4th Division, Isane Kotetsu, muttered, "Visible to normal Humans? How is that possible? Even the Fullbringers' abilities are invisible to normal Humans."
Lisa Yadoumaru, Captain of the 8th Division, fixes her glasses and replies to her, "Unless it's something else."
Curious about a potential opponent, Captain Zaraki turned to her and asked, "Something else?"
Lisa answered without batting an eye, "Something aside Reiryoku... But that's..."
"Impossible." Byakuya finished her words, "A power that's not derived from Reiryoku... That doesn't exist."
"..." Silence covered the hall once again.
At this time, Shunsui clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention, "Alright. Speculating the unknown won't do us any good. For now, let's do what we must. Each division will prepare a scouting unit that will be ready to be deployed once one of these doors is found. As for the rest of the manpower available, send them all to the Human World as a preemptive measure."
"All the available manpower?" Soifon asked, "But the Central 46 will go against that."
"I'll do something about it so just do your work."
But just as they were about to leave, a heavy pressure unknown to everyone suddenly descended onto their consciousness. Without missing a beat, Shunsui shouted, "Ring the emergency signals! Cancel all previous arrangements and all units are to get ready for battle and search for any threat! Immediately report if you find something!"
"Haah!" Everyone saluted before they all left with Flash Step.
Left alone with the very nervous Nanao, Shunsui rubbed his temple while staving off the incredibly dreadful unknown pressure that didn't seem like a Reiatsu, "Damn... What the hell is that? And what's going on? Are all of these related?"
He's thinking that someone like Yhwach has descended upon the Soul Society.
Shunsui gritted his teeth and came to a hard decision, "Nanao... Contact Kurosaki Ichigo."
"But..."
"I know... But we don't have a choice. In any case, once he hears what's happening right now, he'll come barging in even without an invitation. I at least don't want him to be late after the first time."
"...Understood."