>>45962021
Thankfully, resolving her situation was as simple as you anticipated it to be. If this hadn't worked, you would have probably just given up and gone home. The people you spoke to were rather disgruntled by your demands; you didn't expect anything different - after all, you're asking them for money they've gotten years ago, and have obviously put to use by now. Even so, they complied. While your relationship with them has certainly soured, you don't think that any problems will come out of it. You don't plan on getting involved with these people ever again, after all.

You've rented a room in the First District of Western Rukongai. It was early morning when you left for the meeting. The redhead was still asleep then, her mouth agape and drooling, blanket thrown off to the floor.

When you return, she's awake, and you catch her in the process of dressing up, still in the pink underwear she had been wearing as she slept.

"Oh no~! Ryouta-kun, how inappropriate of you to barge into a maiden's room without even knocking~!" Moeka exclaims using a highly exaggerated, dramatic tone. She covers her voluptuous breasts with one arm and her crotch with the other, and then wiggles around in faux embarrassment, unable to hold back a smirk.

...

>Don't indulge her. Throw her the bag and explain that you got her money back.
>Step out of the room.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45962074
>Don't indulge her. Throw her the bag and explain that you got her money back.

>>45962074
>Don't indulge her. Throw her the bag and explain that you got her money back.

>>45962074
>Step out of the room

Seems more in character

>>45962074
Current Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/UrXNe4LR

Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Shinigami%20Quest

Skill Advancement: http://pastebin.com/HtuGj8Ev

>>45962074
Use our analytical mind skill to get her three sizes!

>>45962074
>Step out

>>45962232
Changing this joke vote to a serious one to break the tie and get things moving
>Don't indulge her. Throw her the bag and explain that you got her money back.

>>45962074
Voting over, writing!

>>45962101
>>45962107
>>45962330
You toss her the bag, refusing to provide her with the reaction she must have been expecting. With a slight yelp, the girl takes her arms off of her curves to catch the projectile. The bag nearly slips out of her grasp because of its unexpected weight. She puts her ear against it and gives the bag a shake. The metallic clang of coins makes her eyes widen.

"What? You really got it back already?!" Her voice explodes in a mixture of surprise and utter disbelief. Moeka's green eyes stare in amazement, her open mouth quivering uncertainly, confused noises occasionally leaving her throat. Her eyes then dart to you, staring in grateful stupefaction. She looks like a child meeting her favorite superhero in person, or something along those lines.

Perhaps you should have kept up the pretense of the 'investigation' for a few days longer, but...

"You're on a completely different level, Ryouta-kun! I spent years looking for this, and I wasn't slacking off! And yet you just walked in and solved everything... were you Sherlock Holmes when you were alive?" She doesn't sound disappointed by her own failures in the slightest; instead, she's hopelessly awed by your 'investigative skills'. She doesn't seem to find anything suspicious about this perfect resolution, and that's what you were counting on when you rushed the 'investigation'. Most people would realize that there is no possible way for them to have their money back after this much time has passed, but Moeka is... not like most people.

...Maybe you're being a bit too harsh on her. But bullying her seems like it would be all too easy, so perhaps it's no wonder.

(1/2)

>>45962505
"There's no way we're not gonna celebrate this!" Moeka triumphantly lifts up the bag, beaming a bright smile. You try to convince her to not get drunk and risk losing everything again, but the girl vehemently shakes her head, her long ponytail bobbing about. "I have to show you my gratitude somehow, Ryouta-kun! This isn't the first time you've saved my butt and I still haven't repaid you properly, so I've gotta at least treat you. And don't worry, this won't count as the favor I owe you. You can still cash that in on whatever you like."

She says that as she winks slyly. But instead of that...

...

>"Could you tell me more about Minami Hikari?"
>"You can use Shikai, isn't that right, Moeka? I could use some help contacting my Zanpakuto."
>"Let's just head home."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45962074
Damnit we're totally going to need to associate with these people again.

Also we should have made Moeka work for the money instead of just throwing it at her. Like I don't think she registers when others are disgusted with her.

>>45962546
>"You can use Shikai, isn't that right, Moeka? I could use some help contacting my Zanpakuto."

>>45962546
>"Could you tell me more about Minami Hikari?"

>>45962546
>"You can use Shikai, isn't that right, Moeka? I could use some help contacting my Zanpakuto."

>>45962546
>>Other
Have her bring Hikari and let's hit a spot they like.

>>45962546
>"You can use Shikai, isn't that right, Moeka? I could use some help contacting my Zanpakuto."

>that update speed
This Mushroom is an impostor!

>>45962546
Why don't we tell her how we got her money back? I mean it's not like soul society cares about what anyone did, considering Kenpachi. Is it to avoid the possibility of our mom's new neighbors looking down on her?

>>45962608
Shiori seems to want to keep it secret. And I don't see any good reason to tell Moeka about it anyway.

>>45962634
It's more that Moeka's situation fills me with a strange mix of pity and rage, and I wonder if, somehow, no one has tried negative reinforcement on her. Like she's probably gonna keep showing up and I'd prefer her not to suck so much

>>45962692
I don't see how telling her about our organized crime connections would help that at all.

>>45962546
Voting over, writing!

>>45962564
>>45962577
>>45962587
...Well, if she feels grateful enough to fulfill two favors... there's actually something you would like her to do for you.

"I-I'm not sure how I feel about letting you use the 'free' favor on something like that, Ryouta-kun... But, I guess since we've already borrowed a room, and I'm almost completely undressed..." She puts up an unconvincing act of being embarrassed. You haven't said anything yet.

"Please stop that." You make a genuine plea. The shorter girl scrutinizes you carefully, her smirk held up with bitter effort. When she realizes that it really isn't the reaction she was hoping for, she pouts.

"I'm just joking, geez. When you don't react to any of my jokes it feels like you're challenging me to make you flustered."

"...That's not true. And you'd only feel encouraged if you did get a reaction out of me, wouldn't you?"

"Without a doubt." Moeka smiles. "Well, I guess our celebration can wait. What do you need, Ryouta-kun?"

...

Surprisingly, nothing has changed. Meditating with your Zanpakuto still brings you nowhere, and Moeka seems at as much of a loss as your Lieutenant.

"It 'feels' like you're doing it correctly..." She repeats Hiyori's conclusion as she sits on the floor, indian style, pulling at her feet like a bored child. She still hasn't dressed up properly, but the Shinigami seems unconcerned about displaying her curvaceous body. ...No, it's more like she's forgotten that she's almost naked. Her thoughts are narrowly dedicated to the issue at hand. "...You should be seeing things, Ryouta-kun."

"But I didn't see anything." You say. It was the same as always.

(1/2)

>>45963276
Moeka bobs her head to the affirmative. "I don't really get it... You'd probably be better off asking Minami-chan about this. She taught me how to contact my sword, so she probably knows better. Though, I still think that you should be seeing something..."

The girl scrunches up her eyebrows, thinking about the issue quite seriously as she stares at the ceiling. She suddenly loses her center of balance, plopping down onto the wooden floor. Moeka lets go of her feet, her limbs splayed out. "But I think it is working... I can feel that it is. But you're seeing nothing...?"

Moeka mumbles in confusion. She seems to be placing a lot of confidence in your skills, so your lack of success has really cornered her thought-process. You catch something peculiar about the way she's worded it, though. She didn't say 'you're not seeing anything'. She said 'you're seeing nothing'. Perhaps the girl didn't even notice the slight quirk of her sentence, but... what if she's right?

What if your meditation hasn't been failing?

What if you've been seeing your inner world all along and there's simply nothing there?

What if you were, as she put it, 'seeing nothing'?

...That's ridiculous. How could a person without an inner world exist? Well, no - to put it truthfully, you don't see why the lack of such a thing would inhibit a person at all. You're almost fully functional as a human being, and your absence of emotions doesn't inhibit your performance as a Shinigami. Your lack of a Shikai was the only practical consequence to result from it, and it is no longer an issue: you have four of them, after all.

(2/3)

>>45963312
Moeka sits herself up, back to clutching at her bare feet. "I guess I didn't help at all, did I? Sorry about that. I really wouldn't call myself good at this kind of thing... Well...!" She smiles. It looks a bit forced. "You know, I could still get us some drinks or something. I'd pay for them and all. It'd be really fun! Or do you want me to buy something else for you...? It's really bugging me that you helped me out so much but I haven't done anything for you, Ryouta-kun!"

...

>Spend some time with Moeka.
>"Let's visit Hikari on our way home."
>Head home.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45963328
>Spend some time with Moeka.

>>45963328
>Spend some time with Moeka.
inb4 we run into Hiyori

>>45963328
>Spend some time with Moeka.

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>>45963328
>Spend some time with Moeka.
>"Let's visit Hikari on our way home."

in other news, how about that Urahara Bankai?

>>45963328
Voting over, writing!

>>45963328
Make her be our sparring partner maybe?Also,
>"Unfortunately, Moeka, I don't think I've helped you at all yet."

>>45963960
We've helped her a lot though

>>45964057
Yeah but if anything we've been preventing her from growing as a person. Like if we didn't tattle on her, she would have been forced into a do or die situation where she might have gotten her act together, instead she stagnated.

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>>45964156
>she might have gotten her act together

>>45964251
That's why I wanna know who did this to her? Like what happened in her life to make her this way? Is it something from when she was a human?

And honestly for someone without emotions, I think Ryouta is starting to get very annoyed by her.

>>45964306
Some people are just shitty at life anon. These people will bitch and moan about the system, but gladly coast on with little effort or energy expended on it as long as they can just do whatever. They'd rather just laze about than work for anything. She is one of these people.

>>45964362
But she's not gonna go away anon. And honestly, I feel like ignoring a member of the supporting cast and hoping the qm stops writing them is poor form in a quest. So unless we murder her, our only choice is to make her stop being so shitty, even if we need to bully her into doing it.

>>45964451
Sounds no fun at all. I don't mind having imperfect characters.

>>45964497
It's not like getting her to apply herself will make her normal anon. Like you've read Bleach right? If anything, becoming strong will make her even crazier. Just crazy in a way that we could use to our advantage, instead of her being a parasitic burden.

>>45964451
>So unless we murder her

Already on it, boss, swapping Shroom's notes as we speak.

"And then she tripped and fell on Ryouta's sword."

Or am I writing her fanfic about Ryouta? Hard to tell sometimes.

>>45964534
Eh, I feel in her current state even Rangiku would get sick of her shit. Something needs to happen to her to make her reevaluate things. I don't think this is something we can help her with right now if ever. Maybe Ryuu could straighten her out. He seems like the type.

>>45964534
She's good at fighting already. She's not very smart but she's not as useless as you think.

>>45964599
I think we might need to be that something, and unfortunately we're going to have to use our analytical mind in a way it's probably not designed to be used: to simulate empathy and understand who she is as a person just like we can understand how strong/fast she is as well as her potential.

Like I don't think just waiting around for someone to fix Moeka is gonna work, because waiting around for someone to fix her problems is what Moeka's been doing, and it hasn't played out well. We're gonna have to light the fuse at least, even if we ultimately direct her somewhere else.

>>45964658
No she isn't, you saw her stats. She's not near as good as she could be, and I wouldn't be surprised if her skills deteriorated even more.

>>45964681
That's not how people work anon. We can't just change her to be whatever your personal ideal version of her is

>>45964707
That is precisely how people work, anon.

It's called "conditioning".

>>45964707
How do you think teachers work? Or interventions? I mean I'm not denying that ultimately she has to want to change, but I think we can at least help make her aware she should.

>>45964843
Like I don't know, it'd be one thing if she was just fine the way she is now, but I suspect that Moeka genuinely doesn't know she can be anything else.

>>45963366
>>45963460
>>45963567
You suppose spending one more day in Rukongai won't change anything.

"I'm glad you changed your mind!" Moeka exclaims, smiling. She tries to take the whole bag of money with her, but you suggest to take a smaller sum. It'd be like asking to get robbed again if you carried that thing around. In fact, you're willing to bet that that's exactly how it happened the first time. "I'm not afraid of that happening with you around. I bet that even if it did, you'd just get it back in no time again."

She says that with a smirk. You can't tell if she's joking.

Of course, just in case, you hide the money in the room and make sure it's locked before you leave. Moeka leads you to a specific bar near the eastern edge of the district, close to the Seireitei. It's a rather high-quality establishment, and the prices reflect that accordingly. But Moeka seems eager to put her money to use, and you're not about to stop her.

"Tell me about yourself, Ryouta-kun!" She says after some drinks are brought to your table. It's a type of sake that Moeka has assured you tastes much better than what's usually served in places like these. When you try it, you find that it's very sweet.

"There isn't much to say..."

"Don't be so humble! Well, I kind of like that about you... Don't be so reserved, that's what I meant."

"I don't remember my life before Soul Society. When I arrived here... I'm not exactly sure when that was, or what happened after that. But eventually, I stumbled into my mother and she adopted me." It's all true. You remember wandering around the streets of Rukongai, but those memories are foggy and vague. When your memory firmly came to be, Shiori was already your adoptive mother; it was the default state of affairs that you've never questioned or saw as anything other than normal.

(1/2)

>>45965210
You think mentioning Shiori made Moeka shiver. It's probably no wonder. You've never seen your mother be so cold to a person before, either. Well, it's not that she meets with many people in the first place. She prefers to stay at home and simply read. Is that abnormal? You suppose you wouldn't know.

"Why did you become a Shinigami?" The girl asks.

"I had spiritual powers, so it felt like the right thing to do."

"Really?" She looks surprised. No, more than that, she simply doesn't believe it.

"What about you, Moeka?"

Moeka chuckles. "It's nothing as intense as your reason. I was poor, hungry, and needed to get money from somewhere, so Minami-chan came up with the idea for me to go there, because she thought I'd make a good Shinigami. I refused to go alone, so I dragged her along with me."

"Hikari wasn't a Shinigami at that point?"

"Nah, she wasn't. That's when we both signed up for the job. We weren't geniuses, so we were both assigned to Class 2 and worked our butts off just to graduate. It took me a few tries to even get into the class." Moeka explains, smiling. "Minami-chan still had trouble dealing with people back then, so I helped her around, and in return, she helped me with the training. I had a pretty miserable time. If it weren't for her help, I would have probably gotten kicked out."

You can't help but notice that Moeka always smiles in a unique way whenever she's talking about Hikari; it was the same in Germany. It's nothing like the smirks and grins she shows when she's messing around by making dirty jokes or presenting herself in her underwear.

(2/3)

>>45965256
"You seem to be really good friends." You point out the obvious.

"I told you, didn't I? We're like sisters." The pride in her voice is almost palpable. "I'm like the older sister, and Minami-chan's like the little sister."

"Somehow I really doubt that."

"H-Heh... how ruthless... like mother, like son..." Moeka concedes, sipping at her sugary drink.

"Are you officially sisters?"

"No, but that doesn't matter, right?" For just a second, her tone grows a little strained and defensive. "And if you're wondering about my 'real' family, I have even less to say about them than you have to say about your life, Ryouta-kun. They're just kind of 'there', you know? I don't really keep up to date with them, and they don't really care about me, either. But who needs them when I have such a cool and cute little sister?" Moeka leans back in her seat, hands behind her head, her expression melting into another reminiscing smile.

"Is that your Soul Society family, or your living family?"

"Soul Society." She says as she stares at the ceiling, still holding her pose. Her smile has faded. The conversation briefly pauses.

...

>"You've mentioned that you're not getting any important missions anymore. Don't you find that strange?"
>"I'd like to hear about your living family."
>"What is your Zanpakuto like?"
>"Hikari seems to care about you a lot. You shouldn't let that go to waste."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45965297
>"What is your Zanpakuto like?"

>>45965297
Damnit I like most of these options except maybe the living family option, but I'm not sure what's more likely to get results.

>>45965297
>>"You've mentioned that you're not getting any important missions anymore. Don't you find that strange?"

>>45965327
>>45965297
Maybe rephrasing works.
>"You've mentioned that you're not getting any important missions anymore. Are you alright with that?

Like tell her that the way she is now, she's not going to starve, and if she learns to manage her money, or finds a spouse to do that for her, she could even have a modest-yet-comfortable income. But does she want more?

>>45965359
>mentioning a spouse
I feel like you'll be sending some unintended signals if we say this

>>45965297
>>"Hikari seems to care about you a lot. You shouldn't let that go to waste."

>>45965391
Shit you're right, could be funny but probably a bad idea

>>45965297
>"What is your Zanpakuto like?"

>>45965297
As a contrast, here's how Hikari talks about Moeka

>"M-Moeka did, you say..." She seems embarrassed about something. "So you've met her?.. Uh, what did you think of her?" Hikari asks uncertainly.

>Hikari sighs in a way that only someone who really knows can sigh. "She can be... like that. But she's... a really good person underneath." Hikari pauses, smiling in what appears to be fleeting reminiscence. "...But I'm not saying it's something that should be encouraged. It's probably not my place to say this, but I think she might have picked a Division that doesn't suit her... If there's no one around to push her on, she can really let herself go..."

>"W-well, I owe Moeka-chan a lot. I don't know where we'd be if we didn't have each other..." She mutters.

While I think Hikari definitely cares about Moeka, I dont think it's the same as Moeka thinks?

Also I feel it indicates Moeka really does need to be pushed and prodded.

>>45965297
>"Hikari seems to care about you a lot. You shouldn't let that go to waste."
I don't know about this option, like if we mix in what we heard Hikari say about Moeka from

>>45965549 we could get a reaction but we might just damage their bond with no benefit. People are complicated.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>45965297
Voting over, rolling to break the tie! Leaving out the Zanpakuto option in favor of choices that are aimed directly at Moeka!

1-3
>"Hikari seems to care about you a lot. You shouldn't let that go to waste."

4-6
>"You've mentioned that you're not getting any important missions anymore. Don't you find that strange?"

>>45965753
I'm worried that that was the wrong option. But I'm not sure what the right one would be.

>>45965753
>>45965785
Like >>45965574
wasn't really a vote, I was more questioning whether or not it was a good idea or not hoping to invite more discussion. I feel like one could segue to the other if we don't cause her to leave in a huff though.

>>45965818
To be honest, I feel like this is even more of a mystery than our mission in Germany.

>>45965818
But I don't know, it might work better? I'm just really worried that her development as a character is dependent on what approach we choose.

Oh dear, we messed up somehow didn't we?

>>45965404
>>45965574
"Hikari seems to care about you a lot. You shouldn't let that go to waste."

Moeka remains still, silently thinking as she looks up towards the ceiling. After the pause, she mutters something. "I feel like I spend every day doing exactly that."

The red haired girl lets out a tired sigh.

"I can't possibly meet her expectations. She's really great, you know. She sets the bar for herself as high as the skies, does everything she can in order to reach it, and when she inevitably does, she sets it even higher. She expects me to keep up with her, but I just can't. She thinks it's possible for me only because she can do it, but I just can't. Not that I haven't tried. I'm just not a hardworker like her, and she doesn't get that. I don't have her dedication."

Moeka sits down properly, the chair's legs loudly stomping on the floor. "I said I'm the older sister, but I was just joking. I really adore and respect that girl. I wish I had someone like her when I was alive. Then I wouldn't need to worry about anything; I could just let her handle it all. She'd be happy to do it for me, too. And in return, I could pretend to help her with issues she could easily solve on her own. She's great that way. She doesn't realize it, but she didn't need me to fix her anxiety around people. She could handle everything on her own. I feel like such a huge scumbag because she thinks that I had a role in it of some sort, and I'm too much of a coward to point out for her that no, I had nothing to do with it..."

"What makes you think that she could have handled it on her own?"

"If Minami-chan set the bar that high, she would have reached it like she always does."

(1/2)

>>45967623
That statement begs a natural question. "So why didn't she?"

"Why didn't she... what?" Moeka doesn't seem to get it. Perhaps the thought hasn't crossed her mind.

"Why didn't she set the bar that high?"

The girl pauses, glancing away. "...I don't know. She was probably busy with something else. Like her work or her adoptive parents..."

"I think she never would have tried if it wasn't for you."

Moeka stays silent. She seems to doubt it. You continue.

"I think Hikari would be happy if you did meet her expectations."

"...I guess you're right. That's why the job of a teacher suits her so well. She's happy to help people become better. Instead of being a flower, she finds more joy in watering them and watching them grow." She shakes her head. "...But I just can't do it. I'm not as good as Minami-chan thinks. My efforts just don't work out. Even after our big mission together, it feels like things have stayed the same and my efforts amounted to nothing."

That doesn't seem right. You know what she's capable of better than anyone. So what's the reason for her ineptitude? "Perhaps you lack motivation?"

"I don't know. I guess so?" She answers uncertainly.

(2/3)

>>45967623
Have we seen Hikari's stats?

>>45967677
She did say that her reason for becoming a Shinigami was originally money. While her friend found a passion to pursue in the new career, Moeka might have been left behind in that regard.

"Is making Hikari happy not a good enough reason for you?" You ask. You're not accusing her of anything; it's a question as genuine as questions can be. A reason like that has been serving as motivation for your own actions. It's strange. For what may be the very first time, you're trying to make people see things from a perspective that's purely your own.

"...I don't know, Ryouta-kun. I've never thought of it that way. Do you really think that if I just set my heart on it, it'll all work out? Is motivation really enough?" She seems rather skeptical of it.

You can't give her a concrete answer, as you're still yet to figure it out for yourself. However, there's no reason to deny it yet, either, so you nod.

...

>"You should ask Hikari for help, too. I think she'd be happy to do that for you."
>"Try to do your best with Hikari in mind. Don't slack off on your duties and training, and I'm sure it will work out."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>45967755
>>"You should ask Hikari for help, too. I think she'd be happy to do that for you."
Ryouta's getting his mom's help to try to find something, so apply the same logic to Moeka.

>>45967755
>"You should ask Hikari for help, too. I think she'd be happy to do that for you."
That's what shiori and I do for each other

>>45967755
>Other. (Write-in).
"Well, not really. You also need some form of talent or potential.. Luckily for you, you have the potential to reach Lieutenant, admittedly a single-digit officer seems more your speed, but becoming a lieutenant is something you're capable of. Hikari's not wrong about you, Moeka, or do you really think I'm the kind of person who would spare your feelings?"

If it seems like she's getting a big head about it, tell her that potential can be worse than nothing if you don't work to bring it out.

>>45967755
>Other. (Write-in).
"It couldn't hurt. And even if it isn't quite enough, Hikari would probably be happy to help."

>>45967923
>>45967982
I think we should also say that if she does do that, she should be sure to help Hikari as well. Like even if seeing Moeka blossom is its own reward, an actual reward is also pretty good.

>>45967986
I feel like this doesn't really quash our hopes of changing for Shiori's sake, since even if our reiatsu is mediocre at best, we're still very smart.

>>45967623
>>45967677
>>45967755
You lack motivation and drive. While I never encourage comparing yourself to others or trying to meet others expectations this is an instance where that is a necessity. Do you want to remain stuck in your current station floating about aimlessly or do you want to prove your friend right that you CAN succeed? Perhaps the pressure has forced you to inactivity, but until you take a step forward in a direction you will continue to drown.

>>45967992
That's more or less the same as
>"You should ask Hikari for help, too. I think she'd be happy to do that for you."

>>45967755
Voting over, writing!

>>45967755
>Other. (Write-in).
"You should ask Hikari for help, too. And... maybe myself as well. When you took things seriously, we made an okay team."

>>45968185
>>45968217
Damnit I misunderstood the prompt and missed that we already agreed that motivation was good enough. Took me too long to consider offering our services as well. Though I don't know, would anyone else wanna go for that?

>>45968297
Then again, she might come up with the idea on her on, and I think Ryouta really doesn't want to do that.

>>45967923
>>45967982
>>45967992
"You should ask Hikari for help, too. I think she'd be happy to do that for you."

"You want me to ask Minami-chan for help... in making her happy? That's kind of circular, Ryouta-kun. I'm not trying to impose, but I was kind of expecting you to name yourself as the helper." Moeka smiles.

"I wouldn't be any good for someone like you." You say. Moeka's issue seems rather complicated for someone who only comprehends empathy on a notional level. The only one who could truly understand and help her would probably be Hikari, or, at the very least, most certainly not you. Not right now.

"You're a smart guy, so I guess I'll just have to trust you on that... on all of this. I can't say I'm happy at the prospect of sitting on her neck again, like I used to back in the Academy. I know that she's been really busy lately, so I'll have to make sure that she's willing to help me out first. If she says that she can't... no, she probably wouldn't admit it. If I see that she can't... I'll just have to do it myself."

Moeka grows quiet, intently staring at the table. She slowly exhales. Her palms slam into the furniture. "What is this?! I don't know if it's the booze or something, but I feel really pumped!"

She hops off her seat, the chair loudly sliding back and tipping over. "Well, Ryouta-kun! Let's go talk to Minami-chan right now! There's no time to waste, right? I can't let this kind of sensation just go to waste, right?!"

"It's too late to go to the Seireitei now. We'll go in the morning."

She glances out the window and finds herself unable to deny it. It's evening already, and the sun has nearly set. Her shoulders slump and she carefully sets the chair back up. When she sits down, she lets out a terrible groan.

"That was so mean of you to do, getting me all excited over nothing, Ryouta-kun! Even if that was the case, you shouldn't have ruined such a cool moment! Just who does that?!"

(1/2)

>>45969683
"...Well, we're Shinigami, so I guess it's not that dangerous for us to travel at nighttime."

Moeka jerks back up from her seat, the chair flying off her butt again, much farther this time. "You're just messing with me now, aren't you?! Let's go, let's go!"

Under the annoyed gazes of the other patrons, the two of you set out back home. The impatient and excited Moeka loses her energy a few hours into your nightly rush, succumbing to drowsiness.

In the following morning, and for the rest of your trip back to the Seireitei, the redhead doesn't crack a single dirty joke. It would be great if this newfound drive of hers lasts. You wonder if Hikari could make that happen.

...

"Ah, Ryouta-kun, let's split up here. I want to talk with Minami-chan alone."

You nod. Then you'll just be heading home.

"...Ryouta-kun?" She mutters your name just as you're about to leave. "I... whined quite a bit back there. I want you to know that... I just got a little drunk and talked about things without thinking."

...That's a strange thing to say. And that wouldn't serve as a good excuse even if she did drink more than one cup. She sets her hands on her hips, gathering her thoughts with a sigh.

(2/3)

>>45969736
"I'm grateful to you for listening and helping, but don't think any less of me for that. I'm not going to ask Minami-chan for help in the way you're probably expecting me to. I don't want her - or anyone - to pity me. I'm already getting too much of that from everyone. Nobody takes me seriously, and that really drives me up the wall... though I guess it wasn't enough to grow into a motivation. No, perhaps something like that could never have served as a motivation for someone like me in the first place. I guess I just don't want to care about what strangers have to say about me. But you and Minami-chan are different. I was just venting after getting drunk, please remember that. That's also why I don't want you around when I'll be talking to her. It's not that I don't trust you; I just want to handle it myself. You probably don't get it, but... that's just the way it has to be."

You nod again.

"...Thank you." Kirino Moeka pivots on her foot, her red ponytail trailing her turn, and walks away with wide steps.

About a week later, a letter arrives from her. Apparently, Hikari had agreed to tutor her. "It worked out the way I wanted it to." She writes.

Your days continue peacefully. You don't neglect your training.

...

>1/3 Demon Magic+
>1/3 Shunpo+
>0/3 Presence Concealment+
>0/3 Sixth Sense+

>>45969779
>0/3 Presence Concealment+
Even though Bleach does have power levels as bullshit, one thing has been clear: As long as you're not the arc boss, you're never too OP to escape being ganked in a sneak attack.

>>45969779
>1/3 Demon Magic+

>>45969779
>1/3 Demon Magic+
I really want to get presence concealment, but having more magic = more options.

>>45969949
Eh, I feel like kidou isn't a good option since the higher level spells just exhaust us.

>>45970112
Also Kubo never published most of the kidou so the variety isn't as high as it should be, unless Mushroom wants to come up with a bunch of original spells.

>>45969683
>>45969736
>>45969779
>1/3 Demon Magic+
Increase offensive (and by proxy) defensive abilities

>>45969779
Voting over, writing!

>>45970336
I don't think it's as good as it seems.

Like again the stamina thing.

>>45970371
Should've upgraded SPI instead of AGI

>>45970422
Well probably, but that doesn't change that I feel that Ryouta is better suited as an assassin rather than a wizard.

>>45970507
Ghost bondage is a thing. It fits into the sneakybitch fighting style and would work well when coordinating with others, which is something I see Ryouta having to do on the regular.

And apparently Captcha thinks a 7-11 is a train.

>>45969826
>>45969949
>>45970336
The next three years pass uneventfully. You spend your days assisting with research and staying at home whenever you aren't needed. One day, you're called into Urahara Kisuke's office. Naturally, you assumed that it's for a new mission, but...

"Sorry to call you in on such a short notice, Ryouta-kun." He sheepishly scratches the back of his blond head. You assure him that it's nothing. After a brief exchange of formalities, the Captain gets to the point. "You see... I'd like you to do something for me. I suppose I'm not about to give you an order as your superior, or even ask for a favor as a fellow researcher, but as a friend... even though it's kind of close to that second one..."

He seems oddly hesitant about this. Just what is he thinking?

"Well, I'd like to introduce you to someone..." Urahara's eyes dart to a corner of the room. "Uh, you don't have to stand all the way over there..." He briskly walks in that direction and takes the person meekly standing there by hand, pulling a little girl closer towards the middle of the room. She follows along without any resistance. Pale white hair streaks down to her shoulders. Her expression is obedient to a fault, distinct in its lack of personal will.

In a way, her expression could be described as lifeless.

The girl's wide yellow eyes look at you in something resembling uncertainty, like she doesn't know what she should be feeling. This girl, who looks like a surreal, living doll, is currently mimicking your own stare. Neither of you seem to know what to think, and yet there's clearly something about this encounter that demands an explanation.

...Who is this girl? You've never seen her before. So why is it that the sight of her feels so unexplainably familiar?

"Ryouta-kun, this is... Miyu. I suppose it wouldn't be wrong to call her your little sister."

...

>>45970787
imouto obtained
good job everyone, we finally made it

>>45970787
Neat! Free imouto. Though I feel like Urahara could have kept us in the loop for the interim steps.

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>>45970787
Ending thread for tonight, it's getting really late!

Next thread will be announced on twitter:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any questions or feedback, shoot them my way! Though if I crash before I answer them, I'll answer them if the thread's still up by the time I'm awake or on twitter!

Thanks for reading!

>>45970787
FINALLY OUR OWN CLONE

>>45970982
Ha, we did notice!

Also catch up to the manga, Urahara did stuff.

>>45971129
Chapter was hype as shit
it even made the "BEHIND YOU THIS WHOLE TIME" trope fresh and oh snap worthy again. Well worth the wait

So it's pretty much confirmed at this point that we're artificial now isn't it

>>45971303
I mean, what else would we be?