The rain in Seireitei always fell with that same soft, endless drizzle — like a silent, sorrowful person standing in a downpour.
Asano Kiyoshi sat on the wooden corridor of Squad 1's barracks. A gust of wind swept by, bringing with it a faint mist that dampened his face; even his eyelashes were beaded with droplets.
Old Man Yamamoto stepped out from the room, rubbing his tired eyes. When he looked at Asano Kiyoshi, there was a hint of warmth and relief in his expression:
"What's wrong? Are you regretting your choice?"
Hearing the voice from behind, Asano Kiyoshi turned his head and smiled:
"No. It's just... I'm feeling a bit nervous, I suppose."
Yama-jii took a sip of tea. He watched the tea leaves swirl up and down in the steaming cup, his face softening into a gentle smile:
"Is that really all?"
Hearing this, Asano Kiyoshi sighed and said:
"Sigh... I knew I couldn't hide it from you, Sensei... I went to pay my respects at Kojiro's grave the other day. How should I put it... it made me feel a little heavy inside. Not long ago, he was still a living, breathing person. His mother even told me that, if things turned out well, she'd cook for me one day…"
Old Man Yamamoto's eyes grew understanding. He spoke softly:
"You feel a bit guilty?"
"Yeah, something like that. Even though I know I wasn't the direct cause of his death, if it hadn't been for me, maybe he really could've cured his mother, gotten his royal seal, and spent his days peacefully with her afterward…"
Yama-jii gently blew on his steaming tea; wisps of white vapor floated off into the drizzling rain, stirring faint ripples in the air. His voice carried a subtle, indescribable weight:
"If that were the case, maybe the one lying in the rain today would be you instead. And even so, would you still feel guilty?"
Asano Kiyoshi opened his mouth but said nothing. He turned his eyes toward the courtyard. Curtains of water fell from the eaves. His voice lowered:
"I suppose… I would. I don't really know. Even if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't choose to lose to Kojiro back then. How do I say this… I don't want to die, but I didn't want Kojiro to die either. It's contradictory, isn't it?"
Hearing his student's melancholy tone, Yama-jii simply reached out and gently ruffled Asano Kiyoshi's hair. He said kindly:
"It's not contradictory at all. You feel compassion for the tragedy of a good man, you fight desperately for your own survival, you strive for gentleness in your heart, and you mourn the despair of reality. There's nothing contradictory about any of that."
"You're a sensitive, thoughtful child — remember what I told you? The Soul Society needs the color of all four seasons. It can't be only a blazing sun."
Feeling the gentle touch on his head, Asano Kiyoshi slowly let go of the stiffness and awkwardness he'd felt at first. He closed his eyes and sank into the coolness of that summer afternoon, listening to the patter of rain.
This is the world I live in.A world where tragedy is inevitable.A world where the rain always brings a touch of chill.
Beneath the steady downpour, Yama-jii and Asano Kiyoshi sat side by side, watching the rain soak the blue bricks, white walls, and green willows.
No one knew how much time passed. Eventually, Yama-jii's tea was gone. He looked at the still daydreaming Kiyoshi and said:
"You got the royal seal, didn't you?"
"Yeah, I did. But my control over its power isn't great yet — right now, I can only manage short-range spatial movement."
"Use it well. If you find yourself facing certain death in Hueco Mundo, remember to run."
Hearing these words, Asano Kiyoshi felt a warm surge in his chest, hidden beneath his surprise.Originally, he'd thought Yama-jii would be angry — maybe even make him hand the royal seal back. In his mind, Yama-jii had always been a stickler for rules. But the man standing here now seemed different from that stubborn old man in the original timeline.
Noticing Kiyoshi's surprised look, Yama-jii rapped him lightly on the head:
"Alright, stop staring at me. Go pack up. The Hueco Mundo expedition team leaves in three days. Spend these days saying your goodbyes, train here if you want, or just rest if you don't. But before you leave, come see me again — I have something for you."
With that, Yama-jii stood up, patted the rain off his robes, and hunched back into his semi-open office to continue reviewing documents.But just as Kiyoshi was about to leave Squad 1's barracks, Yama-jii looked up, his face holding a faint smile and a glimmer of hope:
"I look forward to the day you're sitting here reviewing papers — and I'm over there, sipping tea."
Kiyoshi paused, then smiled back:
"When that day comes, I'll make sure you have the best tea, Sensei."
With that, he turned and left Squad 1. Watching the young man's departing figure, Yama-jii couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
When he returned home to Shirogate, the first thing Kiyoshi saw was Rukia sitting by the front door, looking exhausted and a little worn out.Rukia must have dozed off — she leaned under the courtyard tree, eyes half closed, until she felt him standing there. She startled awake, eyes red-rimmed.
"Kiyoshi-nii! I'm so glad you're alright!"
At her words, Renji and the others emerged from hiding. Worry was etched on all their faces — especially Granny Hana, whose white hair seemed even more streaked with grey.
Seeing them all, Kiyoshi just looked up with a small smile, tinged with guilt:
"Everyone — I'm back."
For the rest of that day, Kiyoshi walked the entire shopping street with Rukia and the others, buying them all kinds of things.A rabbit plushie for Rukia — even though having one this early was a bit odd.White rice for Renji, flowers for Granny Hana…
But he didn't tell them he'd be going to Hueco Mundo soon. He only said he'd be working far away in Seireitei, and wouldn't be back for a long time.Hearing this, Granny Hana didn't say much. She didn't understand such things, but she understood Kiyoshi — and because she understood him, she didn't press him.
She only said to him:
"Will it be cold there? Do you have enough clothes? And shoes? I'll make you another pair. And food — I heard that…"
Her gentle nagging, alongside the warm glow of the lamplight, made him ache with longing.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Kiyoshi spent that time saying farewell to many old friends — including Byakuya, Ikkaku, and Yumichika…
Meanwhile, the Tsunayashiro family, now mired in scandal, had gone completely silent, pretending to be dead.
Now, the day to leave the Soul Society had come.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle