Chapter 49: Control

Chapter 49: Control

Kazuya laid on the bed the whole night, pondering about every scenario that could take place today. It was a day of monumental importance, and he couldn’t afford a single mistake.

The door creaked open just as the clock hit the eight o’clock mark — Lisa came to wake him. Instead of doing her task, she observed him with ice in her gaze. His acting skill, which fooled Tier Harribel’s Hollow senses, easily made a mockery of former Shinigami Lisa.

‘What ticked her off?’

Splash!Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

He didn’t expect her to throw a bucket worth of cold water on him. Rising from his dampened bed, he stretched languidly, a yawn escaping his lips. He was unperturbed, as if Lisa didn’t give him a nonconsensual bath.

“To think you’ll bathe me on my bed to save my time... you are so caring, Lisa,” he praised her with a soft smile. “You missed a couple of spots and forgot to apply soap.”

Lisa’s hands twitched, barely holding back from giving his neck a little squeeze. She grabbed a pillow and held it like a war hammer over him. “What did you say to Izumi-sama? Why is she sending me on a date with you?!”

Lisa being angry and flustered was a positive sign since she acted calm and collected to everyone. She was showing more and more of her true personality hidden beneath the cool facade.

He released a long sigh. “I’m sorry, but I have to cancel that date.”

As if frozen in a block of ice, Lisa paused, her lips parting into a stunned ‘O’. Her shocked face was a sight to behold.

He smiled. “Let me guess the reason for your shock. Your anger was just a facade, and you actually looked forward to a date with me.”

Lisa was caught red-handed. Her plan was to throw a tantrum and reluctantly agree to go on the date — her first ever date with a man.

Ever since she came to the Living World, she had been stuck in the same loop of eating, reading, training, and sleeping. She was a little excited to do something new — the same feeling had led her to accept this ‘spy’ job.

She narrowed her eyes. “It was a rare opportunity to relax outside of my job. Yes, I was looking forward to it.”

The words she spoke weren’t her own. They belonged to her Inner Hollow, which exerted control over her in moments of weakness. It wanted her to relinquish control and sink into the pit of bottomless ‘instinct.’ Every one of Visored experiences similar things now and then, and will continue to do so until they fully take control over their Hollow.

‘Get lost.’

She steeled herself, suppressing her Inner Hollow, and soon her eyes returned to their normal state. Apart from Shunsui Kyoraku, her ex-Captain, only Kazuya had ever rattled her composure like this.

She let out an annoyed click of her tongue. “I’ll get him to fess up everything, no matter what it takes.”

...

Kazuya narrowed his eyes, taking in the swinging sign overhead. “Urahara Shop.”

He rapped on the door, which was promptly answered by a mountain of a man with a thick mustache connected to his sideburns. Tessai Tsukabishi, Kisuke Urahara’s right-hand man, was decked out in a black apron over a laid-back white tee and blue jeans combo. The guy looked like a gangster instead of a shopkeeper assistant.

Tessai straightened his rectangle-framed glasses, his expression as unyielding as a wall. “State your business.”

“Kisuke Urahara invited me here last night.”

“You’re his guest. Hmmm, come inside.”

Kazuya followed the big man through the hallway and arrived at the meeting spot. He could feel two presences inside, both masterfully restraining their Reiryoku.

As Tessai slid the door open, Kazuya saw Kisuke sitting side by side with a black cat. Her golden eyes narrowed as she spotted him.

‘She is here.’

Her appearance by Kisuke’s side was no surprise.