Chapter 135: Senior
12th Division, Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
The Shinigami Research and Development Institute was located within the 12th Division's compound, a mysterious research facility nestled deep in the mountains. On the surface, it appeared as a towering white building, but its true core operations were hidden underground.
After tidying up her desk, the purple-haired woman absentmindedly ran her fingers through her long hair, her gaze fixed on the screen in front of her. Even the food she had lifted to her mouth seemed to have lost its appeal.
At noon, the entire institute was enveloped in silence. It was hard to tell whether the rising temperature had induced a sense of laziness or if everyone had simply succumbed to drowsiness.
Kirio Hikifune never expected that her daily routine of eating, drinking, and occasionally researching temporary souls would lead to something like this.
"Technology really has advanced rapidly. A few hundred years ago, we didn't have such convenient tools," she mused, shaking her head as she stared at the screen in her office.
Still, recalling the two figures whispering suspiciously outside the institute's entrance, Kirio couldn't help but smile.
"Kisuke has done a great job... but does he not realize there's surveillance? Or does he think I wouldn't notice?"
"And Masatsuki... that kid is way too bold. How could he say something like that in broad daylight?"
Her fingers twirled a strand of hair as she thought back to all the times she had personally sought out Masatsuki Aozaki to teach her his craft. The memory made her feel slightly embarrassed.
"Wait... do I actually like him?" She shoveled a couple of mouthfuls of food into her mouth, deep in thought about their moments together.