Hitsugaya's demeanor was unusually tense, enough for Shimo to notice something was off.
Shimo casually placed a hand on the boy's head and said with a faint smirk,
"Don't overthink it, brat. This is grown-up business."
He could already tell what the young captain wanted before he even spoke—Hitsugaya's eyes were far too easy to read. That sort of straightforward gaze might fool the muscleheads in the Eleventh Division, but not him.
A vein bulged on Hitsugaya's forehead. His eyes burned with barely contained anger.
Being treated like a child—especially about his age—was something he couldn't stand.
But there was nothing he could do.
He couldn't beat Shimo, and worse, he needed information from him.
After a few deep breaths, Hitsugaya finally managed to suppress the agitation in his chest.
"Lieutenant Shimo," he said at last, switching to a more respectful tone.
"This matter is very important to me. I beg you to tell me—
Has Hinamori… already returned to Soul Society?"
Shimo's expression remained composed. "I brought her back myself—together with Captain Aizen."
Hitsugaya's eyes widened. "Then where is she now?!"
Shimo gave a faint, dismissive smile.
"As one of the Gotei 13's most dutiful captains, you should know our laws better than I do. Granting reiryoku to a human—do I really need to explain the punishment?"
His tone sharpened. "Hinamori is currently imprisoned within the First Division's barracks, awaiting judgment from the Central 46 Chambers."
The color drained from Hitsugaya's face as he listened.
"If nothing unexpected happens," Shimo continued, glancing up at the sky,
"the Central 46 will announce their verdict tomorrow morning. You'd best return and wait."
Hitsugaya left in silence, his steps heavy.
He didn't blame Shimo—after all, the man was only following orders. But that didn't make the ache in his chest any easier to bear.
When he was gone, Shimo turned and headed back toward the Fourth Division.
---
It was already late at night, yet the Fourth Division compound was still brightly lit.
As the only medical squad in the Gotei 13, its members were always the busiest.
Aside from the monthly ikebana contests, there was rarely a time when the division wasn't active—healers and couriers constantly shuttling through the streets of Seireitei.
When Shimo returned, passing members greeted him warmly. His standing in the division had grown tremendously over time. After numerous missions and victories, his name carried quiet respect even among the newest recruits.
"Welcome back, Lieutenant Shimo!"
Rokushima Yusuke, the guard stationed outside Shimo's private courtyard, called out cheerfully.
"Good work, Yūsuke," Shimo replied, giving a small nod as he approached his residence.
As lieutenant, he had his own private quarters—a small courtyard and home outfitted for rest and reflection. It was the most comfortable residence in the entire division.
Just as he reached the door, Yūsuke's voice sounded again, nervous and oddly hesitant.
"Ah, Lieutenant Shimo, before you go in… please, uh, prepare yourself mentally."
Shimo blinked, puzzled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Yūsuke's expression turned awkward. He fidgeted for a moment, then suddenly bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your hard work, sir!"
And before Shimo could say another word, the man vanished in a flash step—closing the courtyard gate behind him.
"…?"
Confused, Shimo released his spiritual sense.
There was no unusual spiritual pressure inside the room.
"What the hell was that about?" he muttered.
Without thinking too much of it, he slid the door open and stepped inside—
—and froze.
The entire room had been cleaned to perfection.
He wasn't the untidiest man, but he always left a bit of clutter lying around—books, paperwork, and the occasional sake bottle.
Now, everything gleamed. The bedding was neatly arranged. The air smelled faintly of cherry blossoms.
On the table sat several plates of delicate sweets and a small bottle of fine sake.
The label read: Kuchiki Family Special Reserve.
Shimo stared. "Did I… get robbed by someone with good taste?"
He walked to the table and spotted a folded piece of paper.
[Shimo-kun,]
the handwriting was elegant, feminine, and unmistakable.
[I heard you like the Kuchiki Family's special sake, so I procured some for you. I hope it suits your taste.]
[—Unohana.]
As he read it, he could almost picture Unohana's serene smile.
Shimo rubbed his temple. His emotions were… complicated.
So this is her idea of expressing affection?
Subtle as always.
He sat cross-legged at the table, reaching for the bottle.
Then paused.
"Wait…"
He frowned.
"Yūsuke's been guarding the gate all evening. That means he saw Unohana come in—and everything she did."
He exhaled slowly. "And with his big mouth, the whole division will know by tomorrow."
A dangerous glint passed through his eyes. "Maybe I should… silence him?"
---
Meanwhile, in the Sixth Relief Unit quarters, Yūsuke was animatedly recounting his story to a crowd of friends.
"—I saw it with my own eyes! Captain Unohana herself went into Lieutenant Shimo's courtyard—"
Before he could finish, he sneezed violently.
He rubbed his nose, a shiver running down his spine.
"You okay?" one of his friends asked.
"Yeah, yeah," he said, brushing it off. "Anyway, like I was saying—"
Poor Yūsuke never realized how close he'd come to being marked for "transfer" to the Eleventh Division's next mission.
---
The night passed quickly.
At dawn, Shimo began his usual training, then prepared to visit the medical wards for inspection.
But suddenly, a vast wave of spiritual pressure spread across the skies above Seireitei.
He looked up, sensing it immediately—woven like a great net of energy that blanketed the Seireitei.
Then a deep, authoritative voice echoed in every Shinigami's ears.
"Attention, Captains and all Gotei 13 personnel.
This is First Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe.
I now convey the official verdict issued by the Central 46 Chambers."
Shimo's expression darkened slightly.
"Former Fifth Division Lieutenant Hinamori Momo, while performing a mission in the Human World to suppress a Hollow outbreak, recklessly transferred her own spiritual power to a human.
To evade detection, she then concealed herself within a Gigai.
Such conduct constitutes a grave violation of Soul Society law."
The voice grew heavier.
"After deliberation, the Central 46 has ruled as follows:
First, the accused shall be confined within the Fourth Level of the Senzaikyū.
Second, in one month's time, she shall face public execution at Sokyoku Hill."
And with that, the spiritual pressure in the sky dispersed, leaving silence in its wake.
Shimo's eyes gleamed faintly.
"As expected. The only difference is that this time, it's Hinamori instead of Rukia."
Then, the familiar tone of the System echoed in his mind:
[New Check-In Mission Issued: During the Ryoka Invasion, check in within the Fourth Level of the Senzaikyū and prevent Hinamori Momo's escape!]
[Reward: Shared Soul Barrier]
Shimo blinked.
"…Hinamori plans to escape? Seriously?"
At first, he nearly laughed aloud.
"A lieutenant breaking out of the Senzaikyū? Dream on."
But then he frowned.
"Unless… someone helps her."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "A few extremists in the Gotei 13 might actually try. If they all work together… it's possible."
The idea intrigued him.
"If that happens, the entire Seireitei will descend into chaos. I might even get to see the old man release Ryūjin Jakka."
A small spark of excitement lit his eyes.
He'd always wanted to test himself against Yamamoto's flames, to see if his time techniques could endure them.
"Staircase of Time: 99,999th level… just one step short of 100,000. Been stuck there for a year."
He muttered to himself. "Maybe this new Shared Soul Barrier will be the key. Even if it doesn't push me past the limit, it'll still be a gain. No losses here."
He smiled faintly.
"Suddenly, I'm looking forward to execution day."
---
The Central 46's verdict caused a storm in Seireitei.
A lieutenant sentenced to public execution—such a thing hadn't happened in centuries.
Shinigami across the divisions whispered in disbelief.
Some felt the sentence was too harsh.
Cases like this were rare, but they existed—and none had ever ended with the Sokyoku.
Usually, the guilty were merely imprisoned or exiled.
But few dared question the Central 46's authority.
Even Captain-Commander Yamamoto had approved the decision, leaving no room for dissent.
---
Senzaikyū – Fourth Level
Hinamori Momo sat alone in the center of her cell, a sealing collar etched with Kidō script clasped around her neck.
After hearing her sentence, she had lost all hope.
As a lieutenant, she knew what "execution by Sokyoku" truly meant.
"So this is the end…" she whispered.
"How I wish… I could have kept serving under you, Captain…"
Her thoughts spiraled into desperate, impossible wishes—
Until a gentle voice broke through the silence.
"Hinamori… I've come to see you."
Her eyes widened. She jumped to her feet.
"C–Captain Aizen!"
Joy flickered across her face—only to fade as she remembered her situation.
Aizen stood before her, his warm smile unchanged.
"Hinamori, don't give up hope. Even with the sentence declared, we still have a month. I'll do everything I can to overturn the verdict."
Tears welled in her eyes. "R–really, Captain?"
"I promise," Aizen said softly. "I'll do my best."
But as his words lingered, a sudden chill swept through the corridor outside the cell.
Though the walls of the Senzaikyū were forged from Sekkiseki, which blocked most reiatsu transmission, even that could not fully stop the aura that now approached—cold, sharp, and unmistakable.
Aizen's brown eyes glimmered slightly as he turned toward the passage.
"Captain Hitsugaya…?"
----------------------------///
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