"I actually don't approve of you doing that."
"Mm. I know."
"You were too extreme."
"Mm. True."
"You could've chosen a gentler approach."
"Mm."
"Are you even listening to me seriously?"
"I am. But tell me—do you really think I was wrong, Kukaku?"
Before setting off, Shiba Kukaku asked to spend some time alone with Higashino Shuuichi.
Under Matsumoto Rangiku's slightly surprised little stare, Kabuma Sayako was magnanimous enough to agree.
Faced with Higashino Shuuichi's shamelessly slippery answers, Kukaku didn't know what to say for a moment.
Because she knew this was who Higashino Shuuichi was.
If he didn't have that kind of nerve, he couldn't have climbed step by step to where he was now.
It was just… what happened to the Tsunayashiro clan, and what happened to those nobles…
Kukaku couldn't really say who was right and who was wrong. But when her gaze met Higashino Shuuichi's eyes, she understood she couldn't bring herself to say the words "You were wrong" to his face.
No matter what Kyōraku Shunsui said—about when Higashino Shuuichi became his undercover agent, and what kind of partnership the two of them had afterward—
Kukaku still trusted her own judgment.
That Higashino Shuuichi did all of this for the Shiba family.
Because Higashino Shuuichi knew that once he went to the Zero Division, he might not know when he'd return.
In Kukaku's imagination, it wasn't even impossible that this trip would end with Higashino Shuuichi becoming a new member of the Zero Division.
So for the Shiba family's standing and safety, Higashino Shuuichi chose a method that would solve everything once and for all.
Even if this Shinigami was a bit of a womanizer—
On the surface, he already had a beyond-friendship relationship with Kabuma Sayako, the head of one of the Five Great Noble Houses—the Kabuma clan, a house with barely any presence or voice.
And he also had a relationship with Matsumoto Rangiku, the current vice-captain of the Tenth Division, that was hard to define.
But still…
After Kukaku finished handling every last preparation for Higashino Shuuichi's trip to the Zero Division, she walked up to him, pressed her body tightly against his, and made the soft curves between them distort.
Then she rose onto her toes, just enough for her lips to reach his—
and kissed him.
A long kiss that lasted a full minute.
Just as Higashino Shuuichi was about to pull her in even tighter, Kukaku decisively shoved herself out of his arms.
"I'm giving you that one for free!
Remember to come back!"
She didn't answer his question directly—she answered in another way.
And with that, Kukaku turned and left without looking back, leaving him only a dashing silhouette.
To be honest, the kiss had been abrupt—almost an ambush. Higashino Shuuichi had always felt that between him and Kukaku, things stayed warm-but-not-hot.
They didn't talk all that much day to day. Sometimes they'd gather to chat about life, brainstorm ways to discipline Shiba Ganju, or talk about ideals.
As for that "task" Aizen gave him—Higashino Shuuichi never planned to seriously carry it out from the start.
After he and Aizen "split," the matter became something both sides conveniently forgot.
Yet it was like trying to grow flowers and failing, only to have willows sprout where you never meant to plant them.
Some feelings had quietly taken shape over time, in the steady trickle of ordinary days.
It wasn't as fiery and proactive as Kabuma Sayako.
But it still carried the same kind of youthful heat that belonged to Shiba Kukaku.
"…Great. Now I owe another one."
Higashino Shuuichi murmured with a wry smile.
After Kukaku left, Kabuma Sayako led Kisaragi Shūsuke and the others over. Even Azashiro Sōya, driven by curiosity, approached as well.
Compared to everyone else, whose eyes were on Higashino Shuuichi, Azashiro's gaze lingered more on the enormous firework beside him.
Azashiro Sōya genuinely couldn't imagine that the "vehicle" to the Royal Palace would be… this thing.
"I'll miss you every day, Shuuichi~"
In front of everyone, Kabuma Sayako naturally leaned her whole body into Higashino Shuuichi's arms and spoke softly.
No blessings. No demands for promises.
She simply told him in advance how much she would miss him in the days to come.
And that, too, was absolute trust.
She believed her Shuuichi-kun would return safely from the Zero Division.
After Kabuma Sayako, it was Kisaragi Shūsuke and the others' turn to speak.
This would inevitably be a long absence. As the people closest to Higashino Shuuichi, there were things that had to be said.
Kisaragi Shūsuke vowed that while Higashino Shuuichi was gone, he would continue taking responsibility for protecting their "shishō's wife," Kabuma Sayako.
Yushima Ōko vowed he would keep a close watch on Yamada Seinosuke—who had narrowly escaped disaster at the Shinigami Academy—making sure he completed the research on a Soul King "backup."
Matsumoto Rangiku swore that before Higashino Shuuichi returned, she would finish digesting and absorbing the fragment of the Soul King's nail he had given her—and become a true captain-class Shinigami!
Though Higashino Shuuichi didn't really believe that promise in the slightest.
Yes—back when he was in his cell, the "trade" between Higashino Shuuichi and Aizen was precisely this:
Aizen would return the Soul King nail fragment he'd obtained years ago from Rangiku's body—back to Rangiku.
Because the current Higashino Shuuichi had already obtained the Soul King's left leg from the former Twelfth Division taichō, Miyazaki Sakai Masato.
After re-merging with his Quincy avatar and fully mastering both Quincy power and that portion of the Soul King's power, he no longer needed the nail fragment as a last-resort "life insurance" trump card.
So he chose to repay the guilt he'd always carried toward Rangiku.
Aizen, though he didn't really understand it, still accepted.
After all—taking the fall for Aizen could only be worth that much.
Anything more, and it wouldn't match the price.
One other thing worth mentioning—
Azashiro Sōya's Zanpakutō, Urozakuro, actually tried to seduce Higashino Shuuichi into taking her along to the Royal Palace.
That lunatic wanted to go "merge with" the Royal Palace.
Sadly for her, she hadn't even managed to slip her robe off her shoulder before Azashiro covered his face and shoved her back inside.
Embarrassing—truly embarrassing.
Call it a tragedy of the Zanpakutō family line.
Urozakuro's lack of restraint was only a tiny bit better than Kuchiki Kōga's Muramasa.
But just as Higashino Shuuichi was about to activate the firework that would take him to the Royal Palace—
another unexpected person appeared before everyone.
"Unohana-taichō?"
Yushima Ōko cried out in surprise when he saw that figure.
Then, under Kisaragi Shūsuke and Matsumoto Rangiku's puzzled stares, Yushima immediately raised both hands and shook his head hard.
"Don't look at me! It definitely wasn't me!
I already put the traversal device away!"
Compared to their shock, Higashino Shuuichi was surprised too—but remained composed.
At the very least, Unohana Retsu appearing here didn't feel strange to him at all.
A first-generation Kenpachi that only Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni could barely keep in check—if Unohana Retsu genuinely decided she wanted to come see him in Muken…
who in Soul Society could stop her?
Aizen might be able to.
But Aizen wouldn't bother with something that pointless.
"Why did you come?"
The moment Higashino Shuuichi spoke, Kabuma Sayako frowned.
That tone wasn't right.
It was too gentle.
"I don't know why, but I felt… uneasy.
I guessed it might be because something important was about to leave, so I came to take a look~"
Unohana Retsu spoke as if no one else existed, her gaze fixed on Higashino Shuuichi.
Her tone was just as gentle—carrying a relaxed familiarity, like an old married couple.
At the same time, a shrill alarm bell started blaring inside Kabuma Sayako's heart.
Wait—when did these two get together?!
As for Kisaragi Shūsuke and Yushima Ōko, the two of them silently dragged the petrified Matsumoto Rangiku off into the distance, somehow produced three small stools, and sat down.
As expected of their Shuuichi-sama—this drama was too good not to watch.
"This is a Kenpachi's intuition, then?"
Higashino Shuuichi asked.
"Is it right?"
Unohana stood with her hands folded neatly before her.
She wore a pale beige kimono, wooden sandals on her feet—quiet and elegant, like a proper Yamato nadeshiko.
"Right—and not right.
Strictly speaking, I'm not leaving Soul Society. I'm just going… above it."
Higashino Shuuichi did prefer Unohana like this.
"That place, huh~
Did they invite you?"
As the first-generation Kenpachi, Unohana naturally knew the Zero Division existed.
And she herself had once received an invitation from the Zero Division—one she refused.
"Not really an invitation.
I'm the one who wanted to go take a look.
They just… accepted my request~"
Higashino Shuuichi explained.
"So this time, you'll bring back a surprise again?"
Unohana Retsu smiled and spoke words only she and Higashino Shuuichi could understand.
A secret between them, unknown to outsiders.
Unfortunately, that kind of exchange was very easy to misunderstand.
For example—one Kabuma woman, whose gaze was now full of vigilance.
Shiba Kukaku was someone Sayako could completely ignore; their standings were similar enough that Sayako naturally held an advantage.
Matsumoto Rangiku also wasn't a threat. Even if Higashino Shuuichi truly wanted to take Rangiku in—
with their many years together, Sayako had full confidence she could keep Rangiku obedient.
But Unohana Retsu was different.
From the start, their "standing" wasn't even on the same level. There was no comparison.
"So what's the surprise?"
Sitting on his stool, Yushima Ōko somehow produced a handful of sunflower seeds, cracking them as he muttered curiously.
"Who cares about the surprise?! Is that the point?
The point is Shuuichi-sama called Unohana-taichō 'Kenpachi'!
But Unohana-taichō is the Fourth Division taichō!"
Kisaragi Shūsuke was painfully unromantic—his focus was far too upright.
Rangiku was still petrified.
"Probably. There's always a surprise, isn't there?"
Higashino Shuuichi ignored their whispering entirely and nodded to Unohana.
"Good. I'm looking forward to it, Shuuichi-kun~"
With that, Unohana bowed slightly to him—like a wife bowing to her husband.
Even Higashino Shuuichi froze for a moment.
Because his relationship with Unohana hadn't progressed to that stage—at least not in his mind. And before today, Unohana had never done anything like that to him.
But when his eyes swept over Sayako—
he understood everything.
A silent declaration of territory?
Why did this suddenly feel like a headache?
Sayako hadn't intended to stir up more trouble, but at this point, she felt she had to do something.
So she stepped forward, hooked her arm around Higashino Shuuichi's right arm, and said to Unohana,
"So, Unohana-taichō—did you come to see our Shuuichi off too?"
Unohana only smiled gently, as if she hadn't even noticed Sayako's possessive gesture.
"Yes. Every time Shuuichi-kun left before, I never personally saw him off.
This time, since I have the chance, I naturally came myself~"
What now—her punch had hit cotton.
Sayako had no way to deal with an answer like that.
It was flawless.
And if she pressed further, she'd only look overly aggressive.
Thankfully, Higashino Shuuichi chose that moment to interlace his fingers with Sayako's, then gently kiss her forehead.
"You'll be my wife, Sayako~"
He leaned to her ear and gave her his promise.
It was like a calming pill—instantly washing away every last trace of tension and unease inside Kabuma Sayako.
Because she knew Higashino Shuuichi didn't make promises lightly.
And every promise he had ever made to her—
he had fulfilled.
"Shuuichi…"
Sayako leaned into his arms again.
Not far away, Unohana watched. Her gaze flickered slightly, but the tenderness in her eyes never changed.
"You should be outside. You shouldn't be here~"
Off in the distance, Yushima Ōko "comforted" the petrified Rangiku with brutal honesty.
Whether it helped or not wasn't his problem.
All he knew was—
this drama was delicious. He loved it. He wanted more.
Wasn't it obvious?
Even Urozakuro, freshly released again, was practically drooling while watching.
This top-tier live drama-eater couldn't resist temptation like this at all.
In the end, under everyone's gaze and blessings, Higashino Shuuichi climbed onto the massive firework alone and activated it exactly as Shiba Kukaku had taught him.
The Royal Palace—
here he came!
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