Half a year later, Soul Society, Thirteenth Division Barracks Training Grounds in the suburbs.
With a loud bang, a short-haired male Shinigami rapidly retreated. Just as he was about to get up, Amamiya quickly appeared before him.
Amamiya held his Asauchi, its tip pressed against the man's throat.
"Thanks for the match, Murakami, Fifth Seat." Amamiya smiled as he looked at him.
The defeated Murakami couldn't help but give a bitter smile. This battle was indeed a complete defeat for him. But no one expected that Amamiya, who had joined the Thirteenth Division for half a year, already possessed the ability to defeat a Fifth Seat.
"It's only been half a year, and he's already beaten Murakami, Fifth Seat. Is this what a genius is?"
"This person was detected to have Fifth-Grade reishi upon enrollment. It's not surprising for him to have this talent."
"He's like Kaien Vice-Captain back then. Not only did he graduate early, but he also made rapid progress within the division."
"Perhaps our Thirteenth Division will soon have a true Vice Captain."
The words of those around her were like daggers, piercing Rukia Kuchiki's heart. Over the past six months, Rukia Kuchiki and Amamiya Miyako had battled very frequently. Although Rukia Kuchiki could feel Amamiya Miyako's progress, she never expected Amamiya Miyako to challenge a Seat Officer so quickly and succeed on the first try.
Recalling Amamiya Miyako's words from before, Rukia Kuchiki's pupils unfocused.
'Ah, I've really been surpassed by a junior, and that junior is a mischievous kid.'
"Congratulations, Miyako Amemiya, your talent is truly astonishing," Ukitake said to Amamiya Miyako, clapping.
"You flatter me, Captain Ukitake, I still have a long way to go," Amamiya Miyako said, sheathing her sword and bowing to Ukitake.
"Then, Captain Ukitake, will I have the opportunity to be stationed in the Human World?" Amamiya Miyako had not forgotten his true purpose.
"The last group of Shinigami stationed in the Human World is about to return. The two Acting Vice Captains and I are currently arranging new personnel for stationing. Miyako Amemiya's performance today certainly qualifies him for consideration," Ukitake said with a smile.
"Is that so? Thank you, Captain. I will continue to work hard, after all, I boldly declared that I would become a Vice Captain," Amamiya Miyako said earnestly.
Upon hearing the words "Vice Captain," Rukia Kuchiki's thoughts were pulled back. But, at this moment, her mind had already begun to wander.
After everyone had dispersed, Amamiya Miyako did not leave but called out to Rukia, who was about to go.
"Rukia-senpai, please wait a moment." Amamiya Miyako had noticed that Rukia Kuchiki had shown a look of disappointment after he successfully challenged the Fifth Seat.
"Miyako Amemiya, is there anything else?" Rukia forced a smile. "Oh, right, I haven't congratulated you on officially becoming a Fifth Seat. From now on, I should call you Rain Palace Fifth Seat."
Amamiya Miyako saw her expression and knew that she must be overthinking things again.
"Rukia-senpai, what was the outcome of our match yesterday?"
"The outcome? Wasn't it a draw yesterday? You caught up to me in just six months. At this speed, perhaps Miyako Amemiya, you truly are a genius."
"I don't deny that I might indeed be a genius. But for Rukia-senpai, who can fight me to a draw, do you know what that means?"
"What does it mean?" Rukia still didn't understand. Does it mean she'll be surpassed by a junior soon? Does it mean she doesn't have the talent to be a Shinigami?
Amamiya Miyako was a little frustrated at this moment. "Rukia-senpai, you fought me to a draw, and I can already defeat a Fifth Seat. That means you also have the ability to at least defeat a Fifth Seat."
"So what?" Rukia smiled bitterly. "Over the past six months, it's not that I haven't applied to Captain Ukitake to challenge other Seat Officers, but Captain Ukitake rejected all of them one by one. It seems Captain Ukitake still hasn't acknowledged my growth."
"Rukia-senpai, can you tell me your story before you joined the Thirteenth Division?" Amamiya Miyako pondered, perhaps it would be better if she told it herself.
"Before joining the Thirteenth Division? I can, but it's not something worth remembering…" Rukia recalled, with too many regrets in her heart.
"I want to hear it," Amamiya Miyako looked at her, gazing into her eyes.
Rukia Kuchiki seemed to feel Amamiya Miyako's resolve and slowly began to speak.
"My full name is Rukia Kuchiki," she began. "That's right, it's the Kuchiki Family, one of the Four Noble Families of Soul Society."
"But, before I became Rukia Kuchiki, I was just Rukia. When I entered the academy, I didn't have talent in swordsmanship, so my childhood friends joined the first class, but I didn't. Perhaps my talent was very poor back then."
"Soon after joining True Spiritual Arts Academy, I was adopted as a foster sister by the current Captain of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Byakuya, the current head of the Kuchiki Family. At that time, I didn't know what this meant, but my childhood playmates distanced themselves from me because of it."
"I once asked my foster brother why he adopted me, but I never received an answer. Even now, I still don't understand my foster brother's thoughts."
"Thanks to my noble status, I didn't participate in the True Spiritual Arts Academy graduation exam, nor did I participate in the Thirteenth Division's entrance test, yet I joined the Thirteenth Division…"
Amamiya Miyako listened quietly. A large part of Rukia Kuchiki's predicament was due to Kuchiki Byakuya's enigmatic behavior. Kuchiki Byakuya, this cold-faced but warm-hearted man, and his noble reserve, made him not know how to explain his late wife's matters to his foster sister, and not speaking was precisely the biggest problem.
And Kaien's death later only intensified her inner suspicion and lack of self-confidence. Solving this problem, in fact, was simple.
After Rukia finished speaking, Amamiya Miyako stepped forward and took Rukia Kuchiki's hand.
"Miyako Amemiya?" Rukia Kuchiki was puzzled. What was he doing?
"Rukia-senpai, let's go find Captain Ukitake now. I have a conjecture that I need the Captain to clarify," Amamiya Miyako said, pulling Rukia Kuchiki's hand and walking towards the Captain's office.
"Miyako Amemiya, that's too rude. You don't need to stand up for me to the Captain. The Captain must also think my ability is insufficient, right?" Rukia Kuchiki thought Amamiya Miyako wanted to question the Captain on her behalf.
"Idiot, it's not about that." Amamiya Miyako didn't look back, holding her hand and walking straight ahead.
...
Inside the Captain's office, Ukitake was finalizing the next group of personnel to be sent to the Human World with Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentaro Kotsubaki. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Captain Ukitake, it's me." Amamiya Miyako stood outside the door.
"Miyako Amemiya? Please come in." Ukitake was a little puzzled. Was he here to ask about work? He had just given an answer.
After opening the door, Ukitake realized that Amamiya Miyako wasn't alone. He looked at Amamiya Miyako, who was holding Rukia's hand, and asked in confusion, "Miyako Amemiya, and Rukia, what is this?"
The three people inside the room looked at the two standing at the door, all showing a hint of confusion.
"Excuse me, Captain Ukitake, please forgive Miyako Amemiya if he acts rudely later. He is…" Rukia spoke first, trying to salvage Amamiya Miyako's sudden rude idea.
Amamiya Miyako interrupted Rukia, "Captain Ukitake, I heard that Rukia has always wanted to challenge other Seat Officers, but you have always refused, is that right?"
'As expected.' Rukia thought she had guessed correctly, that Amamiya Miyako wanted to stand up for her.
"That is true, but as for the reason, I'm afraid I cannot elaborate." Ukitake felt a bit helpless. Should he tell them that Rukia Kuchiki's foster brother had been requesting this all along?
"No, that's not what I want to ask." Amamiya Miyako shook his head. "Captain Ukitake, what I want to ask is. Is Rukia-senpai's inability to challenge a Seat Officer your will, or someone else's will?"
"Miyako Amemiya, why do you…" Ukitake was somewhat surprised at this moment.
Rukia also showed confusion upon hearing this question.