"Don't call me Lord Yūshirō."
"From now on, address me as Captain."
Yūshirō was the type who only responded to firmness, never softness. Yet standing before him was Komamura Tokitani, as clingy and pliant as jelly candy, leaving Yūshirō at a complete loss.
"As you command, Lord Yūshirō!"
Tokitani dropped to one knee, the perfect image of a vassal pledging loyalty to his sovereign.
"I…"
Hearing Tokitani's words gave Yūshirō a throbbing headache. He didn't even know how to respond. If there was ever someone who could grind a person's patience into dust, then Tokitani was the strongest Yūshirō had ever met.
"Hahaha…"
"From the looks of it, the two of you are getting along quite well."
"At this rate, you'll be close friends in no time!"
Yoruichi Shihōin, watching her younger brother idly chat with Tokitani, let out a laugh.
"No, sister, how exactly do you see us 'getting along'?"
Yūshirō turned to his sister, exasperated, waving dismissively.
"That's my sharp sixth sense as your elder at work."
Yoruichi puffed out her chest proudly, her expression smug.
"Heh… let's go, Squad Member Tokitani."
Yūshirō gave a small chuckle at his sister's antics and turned back to Tokitani.
"As you command, Lord Yūshirō!"
Tokitani once again knelt on one knee, his gaze fixed wholly on Yūshirō, his entire body radiating respect.
"I told you—call me Captain."
Yūshirō could only sigh as he walked toward the squad barracks, still correcting Tokitani's choice of words.
"Yes, Lord Yūshirō!"
A mischievous smirk tugged at Tokitani's lips as he stood and followed closely behind.
"…"
Yūshirō said nothing more. His chest felt heavy; he had no words left.
"Goodbye, Yūshirō~"
Yoruichi waved playfully at her brother's retreating back.
"Goodbye, sister~"
Without turning his head, Yūshirō vanished through the doorway.
"Ugh—these grapes are so sour…"
After Yūshirō left, Yoruichi picked up a green grape with two slender fingers, popped it into her mouth, and shivered like a black kitten.
"Lord Yūshirō…"
Tokitani trailed after Yūshirō, whispering his name reverently.
"Call me Captain…"
Yūshirō's tone was sharp, serious.
"Lord… Captain…"
Tokitani nearly slipped and said "Lord Yūshirō" again, but at the last second corrected himself.
"Mm. That title I like."
Yūshirō gave a satisfied nod.
"Then forgive my boldness, Captain… but may I ask… are you perhaps from…"
Tokitani raised a finger toward the sky.
"Hm?"
Yūshirō frowned beneath his eyepatch, though Tokitani couldn't see his expression.
"Forgive me for being direct, but… you weren't originally of this world, were you? Do you carry… special memories?"
This wasn't probing anymore—Tokitani had almost laid it bare. In his eyes, Yūshirō resembled the Soul King himself—something born of an old world, carrying a fragment of divine authority, destined to keep the balance of existence.
"…I don't know." Yūshirō gave a small laugh, his tone tinged with irony. "I do have fragments of memories—strange, unfamiliar, perhaps from another world. But I can't say if they're real or something I imagined. After all, I spent centuries alone in a small room… my mind could have invented anything. I vaguely recall a figure in white speaking to me… but the words, the image—it's all blurred now. None of it really matters." He tilted his head, studying Tokitani. "But why ask me this? Such pointless things."
"Nothing serious. Just curiosity."
Tokitani offered a small smile, bowing lightly.
"…As I thought."
Tokitani lowered his head, conviction blazing in his eyes. For him, this confirmed it: Yūshirō was the destined one, the King chosen by fate itself. The betrayal of the Soul King by their ancestors had not been a mistake—it was necessary. Everything had been for this moment, for Yūshirō's birth. Everything was for destiny.
"Lord Yūshirō… what do you think of the Five Noble Houses as they are now?"
"The Five Houses?"
"I think they're fine the way they are."
"…You're strange."
Yūshirō gave Tokitani a long look, shook his head, and walked off.
"…Fine the way they are? That won't do, great King."
"You must have ambition."
Tokitani furrowed his brow, Yūshirō's words gnawing at him.
"It seems our duty as the Five Great Clans is to ensure that the King ascends."
He stood there for half an hour, pondering. Finally, he relaxed his brow. Yes—it was a test. The King was testing them. Only those of true worth would be fit to stand at his side when he took the throne.
Resolved, Tokitani strode toward the training grounds. His task for the day: scrubbing the sweat-soaked floors clean.
By nightfall, under a darkened sky, Tokitani slipped quietly from his quarters, glanced around, then made his way straight to the Central 46 Chambers.
The guards outside stiffened at his approach.
"Vice-Patriarch Tokitani…"
They immediately bowed deeply.
"Silence."
Tokitani hushed them with a gesture, then walked into the grand hall, descending into the underground chamber.
"You're here."
A middle-aged man stood waiting with his back turned.
"Patriarch."
Tokitani bowed to the head of the Komamura Clan.
"That Shihōin boy…"
The patriarch asked quietly.
"I'm certain now. I never truly doubted it, but today I'm convinced more than ever. Lord Yūshirō will ascend. He will cast down the false King and stand above all, with the Five Great Clans at his side."
Tokitani's eyes gleamed with fervor.
"Ascend to the heavens…?"
The clan head muttered, mulling over his words.
"…But there is a small problem. The King himself shows no desire to ascend. He is… content with the current state of the Five Clans."
"That's no obstacle. Whether he wants to or not doesn't matter. All that matters is whether he has the strength. If he does, we'll create the conditions that force him to ascend. Then he'll have no choice."
The patriarch smiled faintly.
"Perhaps…" Tokitani shook his head. "But I disagree. This time, it should not be our decision. It must be the King's. Last time, our ancestors chose in the Soul King's place, and what did it bring us? Nothing but failure. We are only mortals. We cannot command the divine."
"…"
The patriarch fell silent, thinking deeply. After a long pause, he finally spoke:
"Then we prepare the stage—but the choice will be his."
Tokitani bowed. "As it should be."
From then on, he devoted himself to Yūshirō's side, doing menial tasks—carrying water, cleaning, assisting others with training—living the life he desired most: serving the destined King.
Time passed. Wars raged across Soul Society. Shinigami fell, and others took their place. And yet, in the noble circles, a rumor stirred—about a member of the Komamura branch family who had brutally harmed both his wife and his squadmates…
At the gates of Central 46, a blind man screamed.
"Why?! Why would you treat her this way? What has she done wrong? Why forgive the real criminal while punishing her? Where is the fairness in this world?!"
The guards sneered.
"You're no Shinigami—just a commoner. Watch your mouth, or you'll die for it."
"Keep talking, and we'll cut you down."
Steel hissed from its sheath.
"Please, just tell me—why is there no justice?!"
But the blade never struck.
"Clang!"
A figure intercepted the blow.
The guards instantly bowed low. "Lord… forgive us!"
The blind man froze, confused. Someone had intervened—but he could not see who.
"…Do you feel your heart burning with injustice?"
A deep, magnetic voice rang in his ears, seeping into his mind.
"Who… are you?"
"I am simply one who could not stand by any longer—one who has come to uphold true justice."
The voice lingered, low and compelling.
"I knew Lady Utaka. She was kind—too kind. And because of that, she was never suited to enter the Komamura household. Her sense of justice shone too brightly. And in that light, the weak of the Komamura were consumed. And so, they extinguished her flame."
"…You seem to know much about the Komamura family. Please—tell me more."
The voice paused.
"…Of course. No one knows them better than I."