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Gotei 13, Eighth Division Squad Barracks.
Aozaki Reiji stood quietly in the distance, gazing at the snow-white building bathed in sunlight.
The building appeared solemn and dignified, giving off a mysterious and majestic aura.
This was the Squad responsible for "intelligence gathering..." and its security was so stringent that there was a guard every five steps and a sentry every ten.
Each room in the office area was tightly guarded by two or more Shinigami, as if some unknown secret was hidden within.
And Aozaki Reiji, this famous person, was extraordinarily popular in this Squad.
He was not only the Eighth Division Captain's junior disciple but also had a good relationship with the Vice-Captain.
It could be said that his relationship with the Eighth Division was as close as family.
After all, it was an intelligence Squad, and the Squad members all possessed keen observational skills.
They were well aware of the private relationship between Aozaki Reiji and their Vice-Captain.
Aozaki Reiji, this leisurely fellow, took a full half-hour to walk a path that originally only required ten minutes.
Along the way, he and Lisa Yadōmaru each held a small hand.
And the young girl held between them was the Eighth Division's precious darling, Kyōraku Shunsui's niece, Nanao Ise.
Her adorable appearance made people involuntarily feel fondness, as if the whole world became brighter because of her.
Two adults and one child, although they had no blood relation, their interactions were as warm and harmonious as a happy and complete family of three.
"We're like a family now..." Aozaki Reiji said softly, his gaze returning to them.
"What family… Don't say such misleading things in front of the Squad members!"
Lisa Yadōmaru's expression remained unchanged, but she involuntarily straightened her chest, like a proud white swan, with only a slight hint of excitement in her voice, revealing her inner joy at this moment.
"I'm just stating the facts, look, adorable little Nanao Ise is nodding too, it seems she also thinks I'm right!"
Nanao Ise glanced at him, then nodded slightly, indicating, "Brother Shinji is indeed right."
Aozaki Reiji showed a triumphant expression and nodded contentedly.
Lisa Yadomaru's cold face twitched slightly, not because she agreed with that man's words, but because her two closest people were colluding and excluding her, which made her feel displeased.
"Just kidding… Are you alright?" Aozaki Reiji asked cautiously.
"Do I look like the kind of person who would get angry over such a small matter in your eyes?" Lisa Yadomaru sighed.
Aozaki Reiji shook his head.
He had known this woman for decades and understood her thoroughly; he couldn't be more familiar with what kind of person she was.
This was a woman who could remain calm even while reading strange publications in public, a mindset that made Aozaki Reiji feel inferior.
"Do you even know how to interact with girls? At a time like this, you should be holding me close, whispering sweet nothings to me, and then using actions to move me speechless, like pressing me against a wall, and then…"
Lisa Yadōmaru lectured him earnestly.
Feeling the strange gazes of the surrounding Squad members, Aozaki Reiji's forehead began to sweat, and he hastily covered the woman's mouth:
"Enough, there's a child here!"
"I'm not a child, my hundredth birthday is in a few years..." Nanao Ise quickly shook her head, this time she had to refute.
"She looks so small, but she's so much older than me… That's not the point!"
Aozaki Reiji looked very embarrassed.
He felt like the surrounding Squad members were going to perceive him as a strange uncle luring innocent young girls, and perhaps the Tenth Division was already geared up to arrest him.
He didn't even need to think; he knew his brother-in-law would definitely "take good care" of him then.
"Tell me that when you're 120 years old!"
"120 years old… will I be like you then?" Nanao Ise mused.
"It depends on who you're comparing yourself to; there are people who are almost 200 years old and still look like children..." Aozaki Reiji shrugged.
Lisa Yadōmaru felt a little relieved; it seemed this guy at least had some bottom line. A little over 100 years old was indeed too young.
"Actually, I've also seen people who are 300 years old and still look like children. Some people develop early, some develop late, it's all normal..." Lisa Yadōmaru continued, "Little Nanao Ise, don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Nanao Ise's expression looked as if she had just eaten that 300-year-old child.
"Speaking of which, I think little Nanao Ise seems to have grown quite quickly these past few years."
Aozaki Reiji looked at Nanao Ise's small face, already sensing her mood was off, and quickly comforted her.
Nanao Ise pouted her small lips, "But Shinji is even younger than me."
"This is a special case for me; I've been like this ever since I came to Soul Society..." Aozaki Reiji pinched her little face.
Nanao Ise lowered her head.
She didn't resist, though.
She was often pinched on the cheek by Aozaki Reiji, his reason being that she was too cute not to pinch.
She liked this feeling very much, just as she liked being patted on the head by him; it was a similar comforting gesture, so sometimes she would show very strong emotions.
And Aozaki Reiji was very cooperative, pinching her cheek and smiling, which made Nanao Ise too shy to look up.
"Actually, there's nothing good about growing up; there are so many things to worry about..." Aozaki Reiji held Nanao Ise's small hand and squatted on the ground so she could see his face clearly.
Her eyes darted left and right, refusing to meet Aozaki Reiji's gaze.
"Really?" Nanao Ise didn't think this man looked like he had worries; he lived every day so freely and happily, many people envied him.
"I'm also very tired, and there are many things that require my attention..." Aozaki Reiji pouted, like a small child, a wronged expression on his face, "Hey! What nonsense are you telling our adorable little Squad member, you hateful fellow?"
Suddenly, a thick, powerful hand, like an iron clamp, tightly gripped Aozaki Reiji's head.
At the same time, an incredibly lazy voice entered Aozaki Reiji's ears.
"Adult matters should be handled by adults. She's still a child, why are you telling her this stuff?"
Upon hearing this voice, Aozaki Reiji's body trembled slightly.
This voice represented not just his senior disciple, but also someone he might call 'uncle' in the future.
He was intimately involved with the other party's niece and was caught in the act. Anyone in this situation would probably feel a bit guilty about meeting the parents.
But then he thought that Nanao Ise herself wasn't even aware of this familial connection, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
An uncle Nanao Ise didn't even know, why should he treat this guy as an uncle?
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