Today, he had arranged to drink with Rangiku, Shuhei, and Iba.
"Yoshio, where have you been this past month?"
At the table, Rangiku took a big swig of alcohol, then asked curiously.
"Don't even start. I just became a Lieutenant, and I'm already getting assignments." Yoshio sighed and took a drink.
"Oh, right, I heard Shuhei is going to become a Lieutenant?"
He looked at Shuhei.
Shuhei was in the same year as him. Everyone originally thought he'd be the first to become a Lieutenant, but the previously unremarkable Yoshio had beaten him to it.
Shuhei waved his hands hastily. "Not yet. Captain Tōsen is just considering it for now, but my ability isn't on your level, Yoshio. I'm not qualified yet."
Iba said in a deep voice, "Yoshio, because of you there's now a precedent in the Soul Society, which is why Captain Tōsen is thinking about having Shuhei take the Lieutenant seat, right?"
"Captain Aizen treats you too well." Rangiku laughed, "But there's no helping it. That bastard Gin went off to be captain of Squad Three, didn't he? Someone has to fill the vacant Lieutenant spot in Squad Five."
"Oh, right, enough about Yoshio and Shuhei—what about you…"
Rangiku turned to Iba and said, "I heard you're going to be a Lieutenant too?"
"Huh?" Shuhei froze, then quickly said, "But isn't Senior Iba in the Eleventh Division? The Eleventh already has Lieutenant Yachiru."
"Not the Eleventh—Seventh Division." Iba's face betrayed nothing as he poured himself a drink.
"The Seventh lost a Lieutenant. Higher-ups say I'm an all-rounder and want to transfer me there as Lieutenant."
"Congratulations, Iba." Rangiku raised her glass. "I hear your family's always hoped you'd become a Lieutenant."
The four of them had become a steady little group, often going out drinking together.
Seeing Rangiku again this time, Yoshio noticed her affection toward him had reached eighty-one, and he had permanently acquired [The Animals] ability.
As for gaining Iba's ["All-rounder"] ability, that was only a matter of time.
It was foreseeable that in the decades to come, they'd keep drinking together often, and getting their affection up to eighty would be practically effortless.
After drinking his fill, Yoshio headed home a bit tipsy.
He pushed open the door and froze.
Because inside were Shuhei, Rangiku, and Iba, just back from the bar.
And also Renji, Hinamori, Kira, and Hitsugaya.
"What are you all… doing?"
Yoshio scratched his head, puzzled. "What are you doing at my place?"
"You really don't remember?" Rangiku's eyes widened in surprise.
"Remember what?" Yoshio had had a bit too much, and when he heard Rangiku say that, he felt like he'd forgotten something important and quickly sank into thought.
"Yoshio-kun, today is your birthday."
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind him.
Yoshio hurriedly turned, and when he saw who it was, he blurted, "Captain… Captain Aizen?!"
Yes, it was Aizen!
Aizen was holding a huge cake. He carried it in and set it on the table.
God, today is my birthday?!
Wait, today is December 25th. Oh man, it really is my birthday!
Yoshio was stunned.
"No way, Senior Yoshio, you actually forgot your own birthday?!"
Renji looked surprised too. "I thought only Rukia forgets her birthday. So even nobles can forget."
"All right, all right, don't just stand there—come in and cut the cake. Yoshio-kun, you're the birthday boy today, you have to blow out the candles first."
Looking at everyone, Yoshio couldn't help feeling warm inside.
Even though he had initially befriended them with an agenda, looking at things now…
The feeling of making friends…
Was very good.
A faint smile curled Yoshio's lips—this wasn't his usual fake smile.
"Seriously,"
Yoshio said softly, "If I'd known, I wouldn't have eaten so much earlier."
"You've got some nerve," Shuhei grumbled, a bit heartbroken. "I heard I was the one paying, and you didn't even leave a little for your old classmate."
"Haha, it's rare for Shuhei to treat us—of course we have to make the most of it!"
"What?! Miss Rangiku isn't qualified to say that, is she? You're always dining and dashing!"
"Hm? Do you really want to make a woman as beautiful as me pay the price?"
"This is life in the Gotei 13," Hinamori Momo said, watching the two argue, unable to help herself.
"What a pain," Hitsugaya folded his arms and looked at them, exasperated.
"Don't act so mature." Yoshio walked up to him and pressed down on his head.
Hitsugaya quickly wriggled free.
"Don't press my head!"
Yoshio chuckled and walked over to the cake.
It was big, with thirty-three candles on top.
That didn't mean Yoshio was thirty-three. In reality, one candle stands for a year, but that doesn't work in the Soul Society.
After all, there are many people there who've lived for hundreds of years—would they need hundreds of candles on their cakes?
Here, each candle represented a year of Yoshio's complete independence.
Yoshio's parents had died thirty-three years ago. While they were still alive, he had always followed the path they'd set for him.
Only after they died did Yoshio have his own will.
It seems…
Aizen had investigated him very thoroughly.
Well, if he couldn't find this out, he wouldn't be Aizen.
Yoshio blew out all the candles.
Although he was already quite full, he still cut a big slice of cake for everyone and for himself.
"Thank you. Thank you, everyone."
Yoshio said sincerely, "I hope we can always be together from now on. No one's allowed to leave."
Though he meant it from the bottom of his heart, he knew it was impossible.
Everyone…
Ultimately goes their separate ways.
Like ripples in the river of fate, spreading farther and farther, moving ever away from the center…
Ever farther.
Everyone else was fine, but everything about Aizen now was a façade. And what about him?
Was he really moved right now, or was he, like Aizen, just unconsciously putting on an emotional display?
To be honest, he wasn't so sure anymore.
Yoshio glanced at Aizen, but Aizen seemed not to notice, still chatting and laughing with the others as he ate cake.
For a captain to manage that, he truly was very "approachable."
Who cares? Worry about it later!