Crossover PS 208 (Patreon)

The private room was at the far end of the second floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of Ginza's night scenery. The lighting was soft, and the table was set with fresh flowers and candlesticks.

Asuna sat down and opened the menu. "What would you like to eat? Order whatever you want."

Mahiru looked at the French on the menu, feeling a bit lost. "Asuna, could you give me a recommendation?"

"Sure."

Asuna leaned in and pointed at a dish. "This appetizer is their signature. It's seasonal vegetables with White Asparagus Mousse, it's very refreshing."

"For the main course, this roasted Chateaubriand is good. The meat is very tender, and the red wine sauce is their own blend."

Mahiru listened attentively and nodded. "I'll go with your choice then."

Asuna smiled and turned to Erii. "What about you, Erii? Anything you want to eat?"

Erii flipped through the menu and pointed at a fish dish in a picture. "This one."

"Okay. What about Kiss-shot?"

Kiss-shot leaned back in her chair, her golden eyes scanning the menu. "What do they have for dessert?"

"The Chocolate Lava Cake is very famous. There's also the Chestnut Mont Blanc, which is the chef's specialty."

"I'll order both."

"Alright."

The dishes were served one by one: appetizer, soup, main course.

Mahiru tasted every dish carefully, occasionally discussing the cooking methods with Asuna.

Erii ate quietly, occasionally looking up to say, "It's delicious."

Kiss-Shot elegantly sliced the Chateaubriand, surprisingly refraining from any sharp-tongued comments.

"The sauce is okay."

This was her highest praise for a main course.

Minoru sat opposite, watching Asuna. She kept talking—chatting about the food with Mahiru, about games with Erii, and about desserts with Kiss-shot, but she never once looked at him.

Soon, the dessert was served. The Chocolate Lava Cake was served with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Kiss-Shot took a bite and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

Asuna couldn't help but smile seeing her expression. Then she looked up and suddenly met Minoru's gaze.

Asuna's heart skipped a beat. "W-what is it?"

"It's nothing." Minoru smiled. "I just think you're more relaxed in reality than in the game."

Asuna was stunned.

In the game, she was always nervous, afraid of being a burden, afraid of being disliked, and afraid of not being good enough.

But in reality, she could choose a restaurant, order food, and chat with people. Asuna realized that maybe... she wasn't so bad after all.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Thank you for coming to dinner." Asuna lowered her head, her voice very soft. "And thank you for playing the game with me today."

Minoru looked at her. "Let's play together in the future too."

Asuna looked up.

"Didn't I say? You're already a member of the team." Minoru said.

Asuna smiled. "Mhm, thank you."

...

Near the end of the dinner.

Asuna leaned back in her chair, with a smile on her face.

She looked at the four people opposite her.

Mahiru was scooping her Chestnut Mont Blanc with a small spoon.

Erii was carefully cutting the Chocolate Lava Cake into small pieces.

Kiss-shot sipped the last of her black tea elegantly, she had finished her dessert long ago.

Minoru sat by the window, looking at the night view of Ginza.

Asuna suddenly felt that today was truly wonderful.

Just then, Minoru's fingers paused slightly and the Quincy power within his body suddenly stirred.

As if something had lightly plucked it, or as if something far away was trying to touch it.

At the same time, [Reality Anchor] was passively triggered.

Minoru closed his eyes, his consciousness tracing back along that flickering trail.

'Is someone locating me?'

Under the enhancement of multiple traits such as [Law Vision] and [Rule Breaker].

Minoru easily sensed this.

No, to be precise, someone was locating his Quincy power. At this stage, there were very few beings capable of doing such a thing. A name flashed through Minoru's mind.

Yhwach.

The Progenitor of the Quincies, the Emperor of the Wandenreich.

But what motive would he have for doing this?

In the original Bleach series, Yhwach used "Auswählen" to forcibly take away the powers of all mixed-blood Quincy, returning himself to his peak state from a thousand years ago.

But now, the feeling of that trace was different from Auswählen. It was more hidden and restrained.

Minoru opened his eyes, his gaze passing through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows.

Within the void, two consciousnesses, separated by an immeasurable distance, collided silently.

'It really is Yhwach.'

...

Yhwach sat upright on the throne of the Wandenreich and 'glanced' at his side.

He felt it.

The source of that Quincy power was in some corner of the Human World.

The consciousness he sent out surged in that direction, attempting to lock onto those coordinates but it hit nothing. It wasn't a miss, it was repelled.

Yhwach's brow furrowed slightly.

—

Human World, Ginza, L'Osier restaurant.

Minoru didn't pursue that mark anymore. Not because he couldn't, but because he didn't want to.

He knew about Yhwach's ability—The Almighty.

When those eyes opened, he could see the future and even change it. Any ability "known" by him could no longer harm him.

But that ability had a limitation: Yhwach had to "see" it.

Minoru didn't give that consciousness any feedback. He was thinking about one thing.

Yhwach couldn't have tried to track him for no reason.

According to the current timeline, Aizen Sosuke has gone to Hueco Mundo ahead of schedule, so it's impossible for him to collude with Yhwach for now.

Soul Society's side is a mess. With different stances, it's completely impossible for them to do such a thing.

Then why would Yhwach's attention be captured by an "ordinary" Quincy?

Unless... someone told him there was something here worth his attention.

Another pair of eyes flashed through Minoru's mind.

That god whose memory he had erased and who had been driven away.

God and Yhwach.

If these two beings joined forces...

Interesting.

Minoru's expression darkened slightly.

Mahiru asked, "Minoru? What's wrong?"

Minoru withdrew his gaze, a smile returning to the corners of his lips. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about something."

Mahiru looked at him and didn't press further. Intuition told her that Minoru might have encountered some trouble again.

Asuna also noticed Minoru's pause. "Minoru? Is the food not to your taste?"

Minoru said, "No, it's delicious. I was thinking about which place to go next time."

Asuna's eyes lit up. "I know several good ones There's an Italian place, and a Japanese one..."

She began to introduce them enthusiastically.

Mahiru listened with a smile, occasionally chiming in.

Erii ate her cake quietly, looking up at Minoru from time to time.

Kiss-Shot's eyes lingered on Minoru's face for a moment, saying nothing.

Yhwach.

And that driven-away god.

Minoru leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm. 'It seems tomorrow might not be very peaceful either. For now, I'll finish this meal.'