In the days that followed, Seireitei remained calm and peaceful, as clear and serene as the skies over Soul Society.
It seemed as though the leadership change hadn't stirred the waters within the Gotei 13. The Shinigami were remarkably composed about such a major event—there wasn't even a single celebration held for the appointment of the new Captain-Commander.
Yet, Masatsuki Aozaki had been anything but idle in recent days.
Order after order flowed from his hands, swiftly reviewed and approved by the Central 46, then distributed to each division through the Inner Court Troop. In a short span, the Gotei 13 underwent another wave of personnel reshuffling.
First, the 11th Division's Lieutenant, Kenpachi Zaraki, was promoted to Captain. Although he was eager to follow Masatsuki, the chain of command between a Captain and a Captain-Commander had to be respected. After being coaxed by his subordinates, he reluctantly accepted the promotion. In their eyes, with Masatsuki gone, no one was more suited for the position than him.
After all, he had the biggest fists.
Next, the 3rd Division Captain, Sōsuke Aizen, was transferred to the 1st Division as Lieutenant. The vacancy he left behind was filled by the 11th Division's Lieutenant, Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
Finally, Nemu Kurotsuchi, the 8th Seat of the 11th Division, and Nanao Ise, the 3rd Seat of the 9th Division, both joined the 1st Division as the Captain-Commander's secretaries.
With that, a new power structure within the Gotei 13 took shape—one that retained part of the previous Captain-Commander's personnel arrangements while also implementing Masatsuki's own new initiatives.
Everyone just figured it was the usual case of a new boss shaking things up.
After all, establishing authority is a critical step in becoming a strong leader. Their former Captain-Commander had also used various methods to prove himself before earning his squad's recognition and respect.
Still, there was no denying that this new Captain-Commander had an extraordinary presence and ambition. He had even convinced a dignified Captain to step down and serve as his Lieutenant!
And mind you, the Gotei 13 had never had a Deputy Captain-Commander position.
Even though the 1st Division's Lieutenant holds considerable authority, the title still ranks just below that of a Division Captain.
But since Sōsuke Aizen himself had no objections, no one else had anything to say.
With the strength he showed this time, no one would dare see Aizen as the overly nice guy who could be pushed around.
And yet, even someone capable of facing two founding Captains at once now quietly follows the orders of the Captain-Commander.
It's impossible not to be impressed.
"It's already dinner time… Huh? Why are you working here today?"
Ever since Aizen Sōsuke joined the 1st Division, Masatsuki Aozaki had barely touched any official work. Instead, he left everything to Aizen, as if he were the real Captain-Commander.
Masatsuki spent his days idling around, never once concerning himself with the team's affairs.
The workload for managing the Thirteenth Division had indeed grown heavier than ever, but Aizen was nothing like Masatsuki. He was fully dedicated to the job and even seemed to enjoy it.
Still, the guy was too trusting—handing over all the responsibilities without hesitation. Didn't he worry about Aizen abusing his power?
This idiot clearly had no concept of how important power was!
Aizen could only shake his head in resignation.
"Heh, take a look and see if I made any mistakes. Help me polish it up."
Masatsuki stood up, handing over a sheet of paper with one hand while casually tugging at the hem of his shirt with the other.
He said softly, "This haori doesn't fit quite right, so I'm planning to ask a friend to help me make a new one."
Doesn't fit? Aren't haori supposed to be loose by design?
Even if Masatsuki Aozaki was taller and more muscular than the old man, that still shouldn't make it ill-fitting. And if he wanted a new haori, why not just go to a professional tailor—or make one himself?
Why write a letter asking someone else?
Sōsuke Aizen mulled over it silently, not even sure where to start picking this apart.
At his insistence, he had personally designed the attire for everyone—from the average Arrancar of Las Noches to the Emperor of Hueco Mundo. He wasn't about to let this guy's wild whims ruin the aesthetic he'd worked so hard to establish.
The emperor only needed to indulge himself in his three palaces and six harems. Professional work should be left to professionals.
"Wait a minute, something's off with this letter… You're trying to reach Senjumaru Shutara and Kirio Hikifune?"
"That's right. I've gotten too lazy to cook lately, but I still want to eat, so I figured I'd call her down too."
Masatsuki Aozaki answered without hesitation.
"That's hardly something worth bothering her for. They're in the Zero Division—even if they wanted to come down, they wouldn't be allowed."
Aizen frowned.
"Gotta try, right? How else would you know?"
Masatsuki extended a hand and poured his Lieutenant a cup of tea.
"You never know until you take action. If you don't try, you get nothing—not even the chance to succeed."
His words rang with conviction, and Aizen gave a slight nod. He wasn't wrong.
When he'd first begun developing the Hōgyoku, he was completely lost—but he'd never given up. If not for discovering a Soul King fragment inside the soul of Masatsuki's classmate, he might never have made it this far.
Looking back, Masatsuki had been essential to the creation of the Hōgyoku from the very start.
"Tell me, you didn't have anything to do with today's surprise, did you?"
After talking it over, the two of them left the office together.
...
The cafeteria was buzzing with activity.
Antique-style tables and chairs were neatly arranged on the wooden floor. All sorts of gourmet dishes and fine wines were laid out in full.
Not only had the 1st Division members gathered, but even those from the 11th Division had come to celebrate.
"It was Third Seat Rangiku and the others' idea. I just gave them a hand," the Lieutenant said with a shrug, giving Masatsuki Aozaki a pat on the shoulder and flashing a smile.
"Becoming Captain-Commander is a big deal. Even if the whole Seireitei isn't celebrating, it's only natural that our squadmates want to take the chance to properly celebrate."
"You really are understanding, Lieutenant. Well then, I'll head over first."
Masatsuki said teasingly, turning toward the crowd—only to find the Lieutenant happily tagging along behind him.
"Don't get the wrong idea. As the Lieutenant, I have to share the joys and sorrows with our squad. It's part of my duty."
Masatsuki gave him an exasperated look and muttered inwardly. This guy was always so insincere.
He pushed open the wooden door to the hallway, and a wave of lively noise immediately met his ears.
His eyes scanned the room. Everyone there—from the 1st Division to those under Kenpachi Zaraki's 11th Division—was someone he knew well.
When they spotted him, they greeted him warmly.
He smiled and returned each greeting, showing no trace of arrogance despite his new status.
Of course, while not domineering, he still carried the dignified presence expected of a Captain-Commander. A kind man alone couldn't hope to control such a wild group.
As he took his seat and looked around, the only word that came to mind to describe the scene was—chaos.