1-3 Echt Quincies

How is school coming along? ...Masaki?

Oh! Were you talking to me?

Sorry, Aunt Izumi. Well, I go in every day and I'm always on time!

I see. And how about your Seiren training?

Ah. My Seiren training. Well, it's going so-so, I guess.

Just "so-so"? That's all?!

Yes, I'm sorry!

I don't think you really understand your situation.

You're the only surviving member of the Kurosaki family, without parents or siblings of any kind! It's only because you're a fellow Quincy that we even took you in!

Mother!

That's quite enough. I could hear you all the way down the hall.

I'll be in my room.

Where's Father?

At the Fünfte Feld. Don't ask me when he'll come back, he never tells me.

Masaki. I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive my mother. She's taking her loneliness out on you.

Oh, don't be silly, Ryu. There's nothing to forgive, I totally understand! Thanks for the meal!

Be careful of the shrimp casserole, it's addictive. I'll see you later!

Katagiri...

Yes? What is it, Master Ryuken?

It's about Masaki. I think she's aware of the real reason she was brought into our household...

She knows it's because Mother wants to ensure the Echt Quincy bloodline of the Ishida family.

How does she know? Did your mother tell her?

Do you really think she needed to be told? She's not the ditz she seems.

Makes you wonder... Could she be happy marrying me, do you think?

That's so like you, to think that happiness is necessary for a marriage between Quincies, Master Ryuken.

............

You're so kind.

Even putting aside your other attributes, your kindness alone will be enough to make her happy, I'm sure.

............

Don't be ridiculous... Kindness has nothing to do with it.

I only care about her happiness because without it, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to secure our future.

And I don't mean hers and mine... I mean the future of the Quincies.