Two weeks later, inside the Fourth Division barracks, the current Third Seat, Kotetsu Isane, received a message from their taichō, Unohana Retsu.
"Isane-nee, what does the taichō want with you?"
A Fourth Division member who was currently receiving Kidō (Demon Arts) instruction from Kotetsu Isane asked nervously.
"No idea. Taichō just told me to go to the taichō's lounge for a moment. Sorry, Hanatarō—looks like I'll have to trouble you to practice on your own for a bit~"
Kotetsu Isane showed an extremely apologetic expression to the new recruit who had only recently joined the Fourth Division.
To be honest, as the current Third Seat, Kotetsu Isane didn't need to lower her posture this much. But the newcomer's surname was Yamada—and he had an older brother named Yamada Seinosuke, the current fukutaichō of the Fourth Division.
Because of that, Kotetsu Isane always put extra care into training Yamada Hanatarō.
"It's fine, Isane-nee! Just go ahead, I'm okay!"
Seeing Kotetsu Isane acting like that, Yamada Hanatarō immediately waved his hands in embarrassment.
Before long, Kotetsu Isane arrived at the taichō's lounge—and saw Unohana Retsu waiting inside.
"Isane. If I remember correctly, you often help Seinosuke handle Fourth Division affairs, yes?"
Unohana Retsu sat calmly and smiled as she asked.
"Yes, taichō. But I volunteered—I requested it from Yamada-fukutaichō myself!"
Kotetsu Isane still didn't know why she'd been called over, so she left herself some room in how she answered.
She was worried the taichō had summoned her to question her about how Yamada-fukutaichō had been slacking off lately.
Even though Yamada-fukutaichō's reputation within the division really wasn't great, as Third Seat, Kotetsu Isane wouldn't do something as petty as kicking someone while they were down.
But that worry was completely unnecessary. If Unohana Retsu cared about that kind of thing, Yamada Seinosuke wouldn't still be fukutaichō up to now.
"I also remember you're a member of Shuuichi's Hirugetsu Class. Shuuichi spoke very highly of your Kaidō (Healing Arts)."
Unohana Retsu continued.
"Shuuichi…" Kotetsu Isane almost didn't react. This was probably the first time she'd heard the taichō refer to that former fukutaichō—now the Katana-gari-shū (Blade-Hunting Corps) Grand Blade-Hunting Chief—so intimately in a private setting. And in her memory, among the Shinigami with a real name that included 'Shuuichi'… there was only one.
"B-but Shuuichi-sama said my performance in every course besides Kaidō was… really not good. I still have a lot to learn!"
Kotetsu Isane said modestly.
And it was the truth.
"That's fine. Our Fourth Division's tradition for choosing a fukutaichō has always been Kaidō first. Right now, in the entire Fourth Division, your Kaidō should be the best. So… Isane, do you have any desire to become fukutaichō?"
"Ah? Fukutaichō? But Yamada-fukutaichō, he…"
Kotetsu Isane was thrown into complete panic by Unohana Retsu's words. Fukutaichō? She hadn't done a single bit of mental preparation for that!
And replacing that Yamada-fukutaichō?
Dame, dame!
Just thinking about Shuuichi-sama—
As a veteran Fourth Division member who had personally witnessed the love-hate mess between Higashino Shuuichi and Yamada Seinosuke, Kotetsu Isane knew exactly what the fukutaichō position meant to Yamada Seinosuke.
And since when did the Fourth Division have some "rank by Kaidō only" tradition?
Wasn't that just the excuse Yamada-fukutaichō made up back then—specifically to kick Shuuichi-sama out of the fukutaichō seat?
"You mean Seinosuke? He's not our Fourth Division fukutaichō anymore, Isane~"
Unohana Retsu smiled at her.
"Ah?!"
Okay. Kotetsu Isane realized her mouth apparently didn't get a chance to close at all today—because the shocking news just kept coming, one after another.
She couldn't remember hearing about any major incident in Soul Society lately. Hueco Mundo also seemed calm. The only "big thing" was that, a few days ago, her taichō had been taken to Hueco Mundo by Shuuichi-sama for a fight—and even that was only known to a handful of captains, and a few seated officers in the Fourth Division.
None of that sounded like it included an opportunity for Yamada-fukutaichō to die on duty.
(Yamada Seinosuke: Are you being polite?)
"No need to be surprised, Isane. Right now, Seinosuke should be at the Shin'ō Shiyakuin on Nagarezakura Avenue, attending the ceremony where he takes office as Director-General~"
Unohana Retsu's gaze drifted off to the side.
—
Perspective shifts.
As the noble-affiliated Katana-gari-shū Grand Blade-Hunting Chief, Higashino Shuuichi naturally had to show up and "support" Yamada Seinosuke's appointment.
Not only that—security for the entire ceremony wasn't handled by the Gotei 13 at all. It was handed over to the Katana-gari-shū.
Honestly, Higashino Shuuichi thought it was a bit ridiculous. Because if you counted properly, the Katana-gari-shū currently had—besides Higashino Shuuichi himself—only three members: Kisaragi Shūsuke, Matsumoto Rangiku, and Nagasawa Satomi.
This wasn't a question of whether they could ensure security.
It was that, in a massive venue, there were only three security personnel standing there—so it looked absurdly comical.
But Tsunayashiro Kamihara insisted on it, saying this was an important moment to display the Katana-gari-shū's capability and strength, and they absolutely could not let other Shinigami come out and steal the spotlight.
Higashino Shuuichi wanted to laugh when he heard that—but held it back.
If Tsunayashiro Kamihara truly thought that way, then the Katana-gari-shū wouldn't still be stuck with only three measly members.
A few nights ago, Higashino Shuuichi had personally seen Tsunayashiro Kamihara assigning tasks to the nobles affiliated with the Tsunayashiro clan.
As for what those tasks were—because of a reishi barrier, Higashino Shuuichi didn't know. But just looking at the scale of who had shown up for Yamada Seinosuke's ceremony today, he understood: it definitely wasn't simple.
Because this was only a "Director-General of the Shin'ō Shiyakuin" inauguration ceremony, yet it had invited nearly the entire Gotei 13's captains and fukutaichō to attend. Only four captains hadn't come: the Third Division taichō Ichimaru Gin, the Twelfth Division taichō Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the Thirteenth Division taichō Ukitake Jūshirō, and the Fourth Division taichō Unohana Retsu.
All the other captains and fukutaichō were basically here.
A lineup this luxurious could practically steamroll all of Hueco Mundo as it was now.
Which also meant that, right now, the Gotei 13's control over Soul Society—and its ability to respond—was at its weakest.
Higashino Shuuichi looked into the distance at Aizen Sōsuke, who was enthusiastically chatting with Shiba Kaien. Aizen seemed to sense something, and just happened to lift his head—his eyes meeting Higashino Shuuichi's.
His gaze narrowed slightly, revealing something deeply meaningful.
To be honest, Higashino Shuuichi felt that if he were Aizen, he wouldn't be able to resist making a move at a time like this.
But Aizen's expression didn't look like someone who'd arranged a plan.
Wait.
Since when had Aizen ever looked at him like that in public?
If he had to say… that look felt more like someone else. And fittingly, Ichimaru Gin wasn't attending the ceremony—because he'd gone to Hueco Mundo to assist the expedition force with rebuilding and technical support.
Could it be…
Higashino Shuuichi felt the possibility was high.
But hadn't Aizen just said not to stir up any big trouble in Soul Society for a while?
So what did he want to do?
Higashino Shuuichi felt a restless itch in his chest.
Unfortunately, he didn't have Kyōka Suigetsu (Mirror Flower, Water Moon). He couldn't slip away.
"Hear they found the killer from last time—the one who murdered those nobles? Supposedly some huge villain from the far end of Rukongai?"
Sitting in the audience and watching the former Director-General give an impassioned speech on stage, Shiba Kukaku strode up to Higashino Shuuichi without restraint, lifted the pitiful Yushima Ōko off the seat at Higashino Shuuichi's right like he was a chick, and plopped down.
"Yeah. Some idiot who thought he could get my attention that way, then join the Katana-gari-shū and gain privileges. I already executed him.
And since then—up to now—nothing similar has happened again, which also confirms that conclusion."
Higashino Shuuichi glanced at Yushima Ōko, who had watery eyes and looked like he wanted to complain, then simply returned him an utterly helpless look as he answered.
"What a waste. I really don't know what that guy was thinking!"
Shiba Kukaku said.
"Mm. If you've got something to say, just say it, Kukaku. Between us, do you really need to be that polite?"
Higashino Shuuichi shot a glance at Shiba Kukaku, who still refused to look at him, and tore through her act.
After spending time with her, Higashino Shuuichi knew Shiba Kukaku was the kind of person who spoke directly—and when she spoke, she liked to stare the other person straight in the eyes.
If she couldn't even meet his gaze… then whatever it was, it wasn't simple.
Having been called out, Shiba Kukaku revealed an awkward-but-still-polite smile, threw an arm around Higashino Shuuichi's shoulder, and said:
"Ay, I knew there was no way I could hide it from you. You really guessed it with one look!
Help me with something, will you?"
Feeling that ruthless, soft pressure squeezing against his right arm, Higashino Shuuichi instinctively shifted his arm—letting it sink into the "valley."
"What kind of help?"
"Let my little brother, Shiba Ganju, join your… what was it… Hirugetsu Class~"
Shiba Kukaku leaned in even harder, acting like she hadn't noticed his little movement at all.
"Shiba Ganju? If I remember right, he's not aiming for that kind of path, is he?
He seems to prefer helping ordinary civilians in Rukongai.
Becoming a Shinigami might not actually be a good thing for him.
And why would you think of sending him into my Hirugetsu Class?"
Higashino Shuuichi thought about it, and realized Shiba Kukaku was probably the first noble who'd ever proactively tried to stuff someone into his group.
Well—Kyōraku Shunsui didn't count. Ise Nanao was more like a contact line Kyōraku Shunsui deliberately tossed in to link himself to Higashino Shuuichi.
"Because you're insanely strong. Don't tell me you still don't know?"
But when she saw the slight confusion on Higashino Shuuichi's face, Shiba Kukaku turned sly and started playing coy.
"What do you know?"
Higashino Shuuichi frowned.
"Oho~ so you really don't know. Fine, then I won't say it. But I can tell you a tiny bit."
Shiba Kukaku lowered her voice dramatically.
"One of the Shinigami in your Hirugetsu Class has secretly mastered Bankai (Final Release) recently. My big brother Kaien saw it with his own eyes!"
After hearing that, Higashino Shuuichi narrowed his eyes.
Bankai?
His Hirugetsu Class didn't have many members. And among them, the ones who could master Bankai right now were very few. Setting aside Yushima Ōko—whom Higashino Shuuichi knew extremely well—combined with the fact that Shiba Kaien had witnessed it personally, Higashino Shuuichi had basically already guessed who it was.
"Madarame Ikkaku, right?"
Higashino Shuuichi calmly spoke the name.
Now it was Shiba Kukaku's turn to be shocked.
"That's so boring!
How did you guess that in one shot?!"
Higashino Shuuichi smiled slightly. "It's simple. Among my students, only a handful have reiatsu that barely reaches captain-class. But if you're asking who's most likely to master Bankai the moment they just meet the threshold, it can only be Madarame Ikkaku—someone who's either fighting every day, or on the way to a fight. A battle maniac like that could do it.
Besides, in his sparring partners… Zaraki Kenpachi and I have 'taught him lessons' plenty of times."
"Boring, still boring!
So are you taking my brother or not?
Letting him wander all over Rukongai all the time isn't a real solution!"
Shiba Kukaku finally released Higashino Shuuichi's shoulder, puffed her cheeks, and spoke like she was genuinely annoyed.
"Actually, I've got an even better solution. Want to hear it?"
Seeing Shiba Kukaku so anxious for her brother, Higashino Shuuichi thought about it and planned to suggest she send Shiba Ganju to the Tenth Division instead—after all, the Tenth Division taichō right now was Shiba Isshin.
And if nothing unexpected happened, the Tenth Division was going to become extremely busy for a long time.
Because creating a Soul King candidate—while it sounded simple—was anything but easy in execution. Along the way, no one knew how many innocent lives would be consumed.
But right at that moment, as Yamada Seinosuke was just about to step onto the stage to accept the Director-General position and deliver his inaugural address—
A little girl stumbled into the ceremony hall.
Her long clothes dragged on the floor. Both sleeves covered her face as she giggled.
In an instant, every Shinigami present turned their eyes toward the girl.
Confusion. Surprise.
Because almost all the captains could tell: this little girl wasn't a Shinigami, and she wasn't some civilian from Rukongai either—
She was a manifested Zanpakutō (Soul-Cutter Sword).
Countless spikes suddenly erupted and sprayed out from every direction of the venue.
"Bakudō no Hachijūichi: Dankū (Severing Void)!"
Higashino Shuuichi swept out a hand. Black petals bloomed behind Shiba Kukaku, blocking the sudden spikes for her.
As for himself—he raised his blade and swung. Not a single spike could come within one meter of him.
At the same time, all the captains and fukutaichō in the venue used their own methods to block the attack.
Only the Ninth Division fukutaichō, Shiya, looked particularly disheveled—because he realized in shock that this Zanpakutō spirit who had barged into the hall…
…seemed to be his Zanpakutō.
"This is getting interesting…"
Watching the flustered Ninth Division fukutaichō, the image of a man surfaced in Higashino Shuuichi's mind.
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