"Captain Ukitake! Welcome back!"
Before even entering the gate, Amamiya Miyako heard two extremely loud voices, followed by a man and a woman running towards them, kicking up dust, and bowing ninety degrees in front of Ukitake.
Sentaro Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu, the Thirteenth Division's number one fans of Ukitake. Although the two often quarreled, they actually cared deeply for each other, but those voices were truly... Amamiya Miyako watched the two fussing over Ukitake, completely ignoring her, and stood silently behind Ukitake, shaking her head helplessly.
"Alright, alright, it's really just minor things, no problem," Ukitake explained to them with a smile. "Oh, that's right, let me introduce you." Ukitake slightly turned aside, directing their gaze to Amamiya Miyako.
"This is our new member of the Thirteenth Division, Squad Member Amamiya Miyako. Don't let Amamiya Miyako's youth fool you; he's also a rare genius student in Soul Society who graduated early from the True Spiritual Arts Academy," Ukitake introduced to Sentaro Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu.
"Hello, seniors, I am Amamiya Miyako." Amamiya Miyako greeted the two in front of her, but received no response.
The two carefully observed Amamiya Miyako for a while before Sentaro Kotsubaki spoke, "Welcome, rookie. To be personally brought into the Thirteenth Division by Captain Ukitake, your treatment is really good."
"Captain Ukitake, personally, brought someone to join?" Kiyone Kotetsu's thoughts began to soar. "Darn it! How enviable! Hey, rookie, once you join the Thirteenth Division, you must respect the Captain well, or I won't let you off."
"Idiot, what are you saying in front of the rookie? You're disgracing our division," Sentaro Kotsubaki scolded Kiyone Kotetsu.
"What did you say?" Kiyone Kotetsu glared at Sentaro Kotsubaki, angrily retorted, and the two glowered at each other.
Ukitake did not immediately stop them, merely wearing a wry smile, as if accustomed to it. He turned to Amamiya Miyako and said, "Miyako Amamiya, let me introduce you. For some reasons, the Thirteenth Division currently doesn't have a formal Vice Captain. The current Vice Captain duties are jointly held by Sentaro Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu."
"Some reasons?" Although he knew it might be due to the death of Shiba Kaien, leaving the Thirteenth Division without a successor for the Vice Captain position, Amamiya Miyako was still puzzled as to why they hadn't formally appointed a true Vice Captain after so long.
Ukitake merely gave a wry smile at this question, offering no answer.
"However, Miyako Amamiya, I have high hopes for you. With your talent, you might truly become the Thirteenth Division's next Vice Captain," Ukitake encouraged with a smile.
Just then, the two quarreling individuals simultaneously turned around.
"Captain Ukitake, aren't you overestimating this kid? Vice Captain is not a simple position."
"Right, right, I don't think anyone can compare to Kaien Vice-Captain."
"Kaien Vice-Captain?" Amamiya Miyako asked, feigning confusion.
"Ah, that was our Thirteenth Division's former Vice Captain. His strength and ability were both excellent. He was also like you, graduating early from the True Spiritual Arts Academy, and was a rare genius," Ukitake explained. "However, due to some reasons, he has passed away." Ukitake's expression was somewhat somber at this point.
"Kiyone, when we're in front of Rukia later, try not to bring up Kaien's matter too much," Ukitake said to Kiyone Kotetsu.
"Captain... I understand." Kiyone Kotetsu's tone also became subdued.
"Alright, let's go in first. If possible, I hope one of you can show Miyako Amamiya around our division headquarters."
"Leave it to me, Captain!" The two replied in unison.
"Kiyone, I'll leave that to you. Sentaro, I still need your help with some True Spiritual Arts Academy matters today, alright?" Ukitake asked the two.
"Yes, Captain!" The two immediately responded loudly.
"Rookie, come with me. I'll show you around our division headquarters," Kiyone Kotetsu said to Amamiya Miyako.
"Okay, senior, thank you." Amamiya Miyako then followed behind Kiyone Kotetsu, the four of them splitting into two pairs.
...
The suburban scenery where the Thirteenth Division was located was beautiful, with more natural landscapes than artificial traces. A river flowed through the interior of the division headquarters, its banks lined with bamboo, grass, and flowering trees, resembling a garden.
"The pavilion in the center of this river is the Captain's office. Captain Ukitake is one of the oldest Captains in Soul Society, but due to his poor health, he needs a more peaceful environment, which is why our Thirteenth Division's headquarters is in the suburbs," Kiyone Kotetsu explained.
"Next, I'll take you to the squad members' living area. That will be where you live from now on."
Kiyone Kotetsu walked ahead and soon passed an open space where a short-haired, black-haired woman was practicing with her sword.
"Hey, Rukia!" Kiyone Kotetsu called out to the woman in front with her loud voice. Hearing the call, Rukia stopped her sword-swinging and walked over.
"Oh, Kiyone, is something wrong?"
"It's already noon. Are you still training? The squad members' training should have finished in the morning, right?"
"Ah, no, I just wanted to train a bit more... Never mind that, who is this behind you?"
"Oh, that's right. Didn't I tell you this morning? We have a new member joining our division, and it's him, Amamiya Miyako."
"Rukia-senpai, hello." Amamiya Miyako greeted this important character.
"Amamiya Miyako?" Rukia looked at the black-haired male with a dazed expression, 'Graduated early like Kaien Vice-Captain, same name as Senior Miyako.' The combination of these factors made Rukia recall past events.
"Rukia?" Kiyone Kotetsu waved her hand in front of her, interrupting her thoughts.
"No, it's nothing. Welcome to the Thirteenth Division," Rukia said to Amamiya Miyako with a smile.
"Ah, that's right, since we're already here, I'll just mention it. This is our Thirteenth Division's training ground. All the squad members train here," Kiyone Kotetsu introduced to Amamiya Miyako.
"Rukia, I'm taking the new guy to the living area now. Don't overwork yourself, okay?"
"Thanks, I understand. I'll be done training in a bit."
With that, Kiyone Kotetsu led Amamiya Miyako away. On the way, Amamiya Miyako asked Kiyone Kotetsu:
"Senior Kotetsu, was the death of the former Kaien Vice-Captain related to Rukia just now?"
"How do you know?" Kiyone Kotetsu was very surprised.
"Because Captain Ukitake specifically instructed you earlier..."
Kiyone Kotetsu sighed, but still answered. "You'll find out about this in the Thirteenth Division sooner or later. Your guess is correct; the former Kaien Vice-Captain actually died by Rukia's blade."
"Died by Rukia's blade?" Amamiya Miyako feigned confusion, though she already knew.
"Kaien Vice-Captain's wife, Shiba Miyako, was once killed by a Hollow. Kaien Vice-Captain went alone to avenge her and fight that Hollow. Although Kaien Vice-Captain seemed to defeat the Hollow, he himself became contaminated by it. To maintain his sanity and dignity, Kaien Vice-Captain willingly impaled himself on Rukia's blade…" Kiyone Kotetsu grew more and more despondent as she spoke.
"Kaien Vice-Captain was once an extremely outstanding Vice Captain, benevolent and loyal, a good man admired by many team members. At the time, we all thought Rukia had killed Kaien Vice-Captain and were very hostile towards her. But later we learned the truth, and Rukia has been unable to forgive herself, believing that Kaien Vice-Captain's death was her fault. Every time Kaien Vice-Captain is mentioned, she becomes downcast."
"I'm telling you all this because I hope you won't look at Rukia with strange eyes, as some within the division still harbor resentment towards her. But I know Rukia did nothing wrong and has tried very hard," Kiyone Kotetsu explained to Amamiya Miyako.
Amamiya Miyako was silent for a moment. He also knew how painful it was to personally kill someone you respected, even if it wasn't intentional.
"I understand. Thank you for telling me about Rukia-senpai."
"Alright, we've arrived. This is the living quarters. Someone inside will arrange your accommodation. Go and get familiar with the place first. I need to go find Captain Ukitake now." Kiyone Kotetsu stopped in front of the living quarters and bid farewell to Amamiya Miyako.