T/N: Sorry for lack of updates, more info on my ptr or AFK fic.
Under the harsh light, all eyes in the Central 46 chamber locked onto Asano Kiyoshi like iron chains, wrapping around him, trying to bind him in place. The air felt heavy and suffocating — everyone remained silent, waiting for Kiyoshi to respond.
Hearing the councilor's obviously leading question, Kiyoshi paused briefly. Then, his expression calm, he spoke evenly:
"Honorable Councilor, I believe any person with a conscience would never stand by when a classmate's mother is gravely ill. Kojirō wasn't just my opponent — he was my classmate. After our official, fair match, witnessed by many, I visited and treated my classmate's mother, accompanied by Captain Kyōraku. That is entirely reasonable."
Listening to this reply, Ukitake let out a long, quiet breath. For that question, the most crucial point was that Kiyoshi had to first break the hidden assumption that he had murdered Kojirō. If he didn't erase that seed first, nothing else he said would matter — it would all sound like excuses.
At the same time, how he rejected that unspoken "guilt" was just as important. If Kiyoshi had denied it outright, it would have made him look flustered — feeding right into their trap and letting the council control the pace of the entire trial.
Yet, to Ukitake's surprise, Kiyoshi's answer was so steady, so natural — it rivaled how an old political veteran would handle such bait. No loophole to grasp at, no hint of panic.
Not only Ukitake — the entire chamber looked at Kiyoshi with new eyes. Even the Tsunayashiro clan — who had intended to use this hearing to break him — showed a fleeting flicker of poison behind that white, round, smiling face.
The councilor, seeing he'd gained no ground, sounded faintly irritated:
"Asano Kiyoshi, next time I ask you a question, you answer only what I ask — no unnecessary remarks!"
But before Kiyoshi could speak, a voice as ancient and oppressive as a mountain thundered through the hall:
"And what was wrong with Asano Kiyoshi's answer? I think you've forgotten something: this is not a sentencing — this is to determine whether he's guilty or not. Do you understand?!"
With every word the Head Captain uttered, the crushing spiritual pressure around him grew thicker — like a mountain pressing down on every bone in the room. By the time he said the final word, everyone felt it — their faces reddened, breath catching in their throats as if the very air had been squeezed out.
And in that suffocating weight, the message was as clear as sunlight:
This man — I value him highly.
At that moment, everyone's thoughts shifted.
They'd known Kiyoshi and the Head Captain were close — but they'd assumed the boy was just a piece to trade for political leverage. Now, it was obvious: he was far more than that. And if Yamamoto Genryūsai himself saw him as important, then everyone had to reconsider which side they would stand on.
Compared to the old man's weight — the Tsunayashiro clan's power was suddenly much smaller.
One by one, the minor nobles who'd been firmly on the Tsunayashiro side began to back away, inching their chairs away in silence. For them, doing nothing was better than making a wrong move. One small slip in this hall could ruin an entire clan forever.
Seeing his position crumble under Yamamoto's glare, the councilor bit back his words. He knew the Head Captain could have him replaced with a single word — the Tsunayashiro's offers were not worth angering him. Deep down, the councilor even started resenting the Tsunayashiro for dragging him into this.
But that bitterness naturally spilled onto Kiyoshi too.
That damned brat. If not for you, would I be humiliated here?!
Realizing things were turning against them, Tsunayashiro Sōsuke cleared his throat and spoke up with a well-practiced sorrow:
"Honored councilors, I believe it's best to speak with evidence rather than mere words. Here is the material we have gathered from the scene."
As he spoke, Tsunayashiro clan members presented box after box of "evidence" to the Central 46:– Grass stained with blood.– A lump of earth with what looked like Kiyoshi's footprints.– Threads allegedly from his uniform.– A short surveillance recording.– And various odds and ends.
When it was all displayed, Tsunayashiro Sōsuke turned and spoke directly to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, standing behind the Head Captain:
"These materials were collected directly from the scene. If the Gotei 13 doubts their authenticity, I propose that Captain Kurotsuchi examine them himself. That way we can both honor our clan's deceased genius and expose Asano Kiyoshi's hypocrisy…"
He hadn't even finished his grand, righteous speech before Mayuri cut in — his distinctive, nasal drawl echoing through the room as he picked at his ear in boredom:
"All right, all right — spare me your pointless babbling. Give me the junk and I'll test it. Ugh — all these petty distractions keeping me from my important experiments. Disgusting."
Tsunayashiro Sōsuke showed no irritation — he knew this twisted man's temperament all too well. He just maintained that oily smile as the clan handed everything over.
Without another word, Mayuri began examining each item right there, in front of everyone. One by one:– The blood matched.– The fibers matched.– The footprints matched.– The wounds shown in photos matched Kiyoshi's blade.
One match after another — "Match!" "Match!" "Match!" — every word made the Tsunayashiro's grin grow a fraction wider. He squinted at Kiyoshi, whose expression remained eerily calm, giving no hint of what he really felt.
At last, they came to the final piece — the surveillance recording. Spiritual particles shimmered and condensed in midair, forming an image for everyone to see.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle