"Renji."
Yoshio sighed, looking at Renji's anxious face, and couldn't help saying, "Why don't you go see for yourself?"
"I..." Renji paused, his face flushing. "I... I'm just an ordinary Shinigami. Rukia's of noble birth. Before I can speak to her as an equal—before I become strong enough—I'll let Rukia live with her family."
Renji knows Rukia appears carefree on the surface but cares deeply about family. Now that she finally has one, he absolutely mustn't disrupt her life.
Yoshio felt helpless about his thinking. He'd actually tried to persuade Renji that the Kuchiki Clan isn't as scary as he imagines. Who says an ordinary Shinigami can't talk to a member of the Kuchiki Clan?
But...
Renji insists on facing Rukia as an equal, which means he needs at least Lieutenant level before seeing her.
So Yoshio stopped trying to convince him. Everyone has their own ideas.
He could only answer, "Rukia isn't physically injured; it's probably some kind of psychic trauma, so she hasn't woken up yet."
"But with the Fourth Division's Kaido, she should recover soon."
"That's good." Renji exhaled. "Thank you, Lieutenant Yoshio. I heard you were the one who carried Rukia and the others back in the end."
"I should be ashamed. I still couldn't do anything to that Hollow."
"Lieutenant Yoshio, I heard there's a Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team being formed—is that true?" Renji suddenly asked.
"..." Yoshio froze for a moment, then smiled. "You really are well-informed—even I only learned that not long ago."
"Hinamori told me," Renji said. "So it's true?"
Yoshio nodded.
"I..." Renji's gaze gradually firmed, and he said solemnly, "Can I join that squad?!"
"Hm?" Yoshio frowned, puzzled. "Why do you want that?"
"I... I want to grow stronger. If I fight in Hueco Mundo, I think I'll improve faster," Renji said. "And I want to avenge Rukia!"
"Do you know how hard and dangerous it is to find one specific Hollow in Hueco Mundo?"
Yoshio couldn't help saying, "You might search for a hundred years and still never find it. And Hueco Mundo is rife with danger—before you find that Hollow, you might get ambushed and killed by some other Menos Grande."
"I know, but even so, I still want to try."
Seeing the determination in Renji's eyes, Yoshio could no longer stop him from his own "suicidal" choice.
Forget it, forget it...
"I can mention it to Captain Aizen. Whether it works depends on his decision."
"Thank you!" Renji said, delighted.
"Alright, off you go. I'll go see Captain Aizen in a bit."
"Thanks..." Renji thanked Yoshio again and left.
Yoshio didn't dwell on it.
He already got Renji's Souls Ability, anyway.
He used work time to finish next week's The Thousand-Year Blood War novel. The Seireitei Communication is a weekly serial—meaning Yoshio only needs to update one chapter per week.
He took the finished manuscript to Aizen to look over first.
Yoshio had thought Aizen only liked those obscure "papers," but to his surprise, he was actually interested in Yoshio's novel.
Sitting opposite Aizen, Yoshio propped an arm on the desk and rested his head on his hand.
Aizen read for a long time, and Yoshio couldn't help yawning.
"That's all?"
Aizen said with a trace of regret.
This chapter's update ends with the Straw Hat Pirates defeating Arlong and setting sail with their companions.
To keep the Seireitei vibe, Yoshio couldn't copy One Piece outright or it would never pass review.
First, names had to match the "Seireitei" style, so he named the protagonist "Akagi Gamma." Second, the setting isn't entirely aimless.
Up to now, everything takes place in the Rukongai, then after passing through District 80 of East Rukongai, they continue east into the sea.
Yoshio defined that sea as the Quincy Sea, a refuge for the Quincy defeated by the Shinigami a thousand years ago.
"Captain Aizen, you think writing novels is easy?" Yoshio grimaced. "It's mentally exhausting, you know?"
"By the way, about the upcoming Hueco Mundo Dispatch Team—Captain Aizen, do you know who's on it?"
"Didn't you already hear from Kyōraku?"
"As expected of Captain Aizen—nothing gets past you," Yoshio flattered, then said, "Then you must also know about Renji, right?"
"Abarai-kun..."
Aizen's glasses seemed to flash as he murmured, "I've already decided to transfer him to the Eleventh Division."
"Yeah, Abarai's different from Kira and Hinamori—he's not easy to handle."
"Alright, I'll tell him it's settled. Transfer him to the Eleventh and send him with those guys as part of the dispatch to Hueco Mundo."
Yoshio chuckled. "They could search for a thousand years in Hueco Mundo and still not find the target."
He walked out; Renji, having noticed Yoshio had gone into the Captain's office earlier, was already waiting outside.
Yoshio made an OK gesture and said, "Relax, I've spoken with Captain Aizen. But you'll need to transfer to the Eleventh first."
"In that case, we'll be in different squads."
"Hmm?" Hinamori beside them was surprised and quickly asked, "Abarai is transferring divisions?"
"I..."
Renji hesitated for a moment, but soon his eyes turned resolute.
"I'm willing to transfer!"
"Good. I think the dispatch team will be formed soon." Yoshio walked over, patted Renji's shoulder, and said, "I hope you can find that Hollow in Hueco Mundo, and then..."
"Return in triumph."
"Don't worry, Senior Yoshio." Renji smiled as well. "When I return, I'll make you see me in a new light!"