The vice-captain reporting eting was held in the 1st Division's main barracks.
The atmosphere in the 1st Division was noticeably more rigid and formal than in the 4th, and for Shin—his first ti stepping into its halls—it felt stiff and unfamiliar.
Inside the conference room, the vice-captains were seated in two rows along a long table. Sasakibe Chōjirō, First Division Vice-Captain, sat at the head. The Third Seats present had been given side seats along the walls.
Togakure Riku from the 3rd Division, who also acted as their de facto leader, was seated among the vice-captains themselves. He was likely the busiest among them—required to attend both vice-captain and captain-level etings—yet still hadn't been promoted.
Shin half-listened to the proceedings, where each vice-captain gave a summary of their squad's current status.
Beside him, Madara Ikkaku was yawning constantly, clearly bored out of his mind.
Shin was no different. Most of the discussion was trivial chatter and bureaucratic minutiae. After a few minutes, his mind began to drift.
But then—he caught Rangiku Matsumoto smiling at him from across the room. Their eyes t, and she playfully winked.
"Ahem!"
Sasakibe let out a sharp cough. Rangiku withdrew her gaze, feigning innocence.
Shin smirked. He glanced over to 10th Division's Third Seat—an unfamiliar face, diligently scribbling notes like his life depended on it.
13th Division had two Third Seats present: Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu.
Kiyone, Isane's younger sister, was a short girl with boyish clothing and cropped golden hair. Shin noted her appearance and thought she looked like a little tomboy.
Across the room, 8th Division's Vice-Captain Ise Nanao—cool and refined, glasses perched on her nose—projected an air of academic elegance. A contrast to both Rangiku and Isane. Still very easy on the eyes.
When the eting finally reached its conclusion, Sasakibe picked up a file, studied it carefully, then looked toward Isane.
"Why has the 4th Division suddenly requested so much training equipnt?"
Isane imdiately replied,
"Recently, there have been repeated complaints that our squad lacks proper training space. We'd like to repurpose and refit so areas."
Sasakibe nodded after a thoughtful pause.
"Understood. The 1st Division will discuss this internally. You'll have an answer within the week."
"Thank you, sir."
"That concludes today's eting. Togakure, a word."
Sasakibe rose to his feet, and so did everyone else in the room. No one dared remain seated in front of the most senior vice-captain in all of Soul Society.
Shin saw that Ikkaku still hadn't moved, so he nudged his foot lightly.
Sasakibe exited with Togakure in tow.
Rangiku stretched dramatically.
"Finally over. These etings are always the sa—month after month. I don't even know why we bother. As if we aren't already busy enough."
Shiba Kaien chuckled beside her.
"So things need to be said formally. Just like Kotetsu-san earlier."
A few vice-captains sat back down, not in a rush to leave.
Ichimaru Gin quietly slipped out.
Rangiku caught a glimpse of his back but didn't say a word.
"Say, what do you think Sasakibe wanted with Togakure?" asked a booming voice.
A large man with a samurai topknot, thick purple-lined shihakushō, and garish gold jewelry spoke up. One look, and Shin felt overwheld by the man's sheer "rich uncle" aura.
It was Ōmaeda Marechiyo, 2nd Division Vice-Captain—one of the so-called "Five Special War Powers," or at least he liked to think so.
Nanao adjusted her glasses slightly and replied,
"Probably about the 3rd Division captaincy. I've heard soone in the Gotei 13 recently achieved Bankai again. That position's been vacant for decades."
"Who was it?" Kaien asked curiously.
"Oh? You didn't know?" Nanao smiled thinly.
"Should I?"
Her gaze flicked toward Rangiku.
"That person was once hailed as your peer, after all."
That was all it took for everyone present to realize who she ant.
"Ichimaru, huh." Kaien nodded, finally catching on.
Nanao pounced.
"Speaking of which, Kaien—have you secretly mastered Bankai yourself and just been hiding it all this ti?"
Kaien laughed loudly.
"If I had, the whole Seireitei would know by the next morning."
"Fair point."
Everyone chuckled.
"Anyone up for dessert?"
A small girl with cotton-candy-pink hair suddenly raised her hand.
Rangiku scooped her up like a child.
"Let's go."
Kusajishi Yachiru cheered, turning to Ikkaku:
"Let's go, Baldy!"
Ikkaku's forehead veins throbbed at the nickna.
"I'm not going! Rangiku-san, please see to it our vice-captain gets ho safely."
Rangiku grinned and strolled out with Yachiru.
They really did treat her like a child—though she was innocent and chronically directionally challenged, so Ikkaku's concern was valid.
Nanao also stood.
"I'll take my leave as well."
Soon, the remaining vice-captains departed.
Shin intended to leave with Isane, but Ikkaku called out.
"Tachikawa."
He stared at Shin.
"Wanna visit our 11th Division soti?"
"Why does it sound like you're inviting to a fight?"
"Isn't that your kind of fun too?"
Shin gave it so thought.
"I'll pass. But if you ever want a spar, co visit the 4th. I'm always happy to entertain guests."
Ikkaku snorted but didn't argue.
Shin turned to go, but Kaien suddenly slung an arm around his shoulder.
"Shin!"
"I heard you beca Third Seat through the internal seat exam. Didn't expect your Kaidō to be that impressive."
Shin didn't bother with modesty.
"Of course. I'm a genius—naturally gifted in everything."
He waved Isane off, telling her to go on ahead.
"By the way," Kaien continued, "Vice-Captain Ise's comnt earlier reminded —did you master Bankai too? Last ti I challenged you to a spar, you dodged ."
Kaien's smile was teasing. Shin smirked.
"You guys give too much credit."
Kaien sighed.
"It's all Ichimaru's fault."
Shin didn't press. Kaien's situation was... unique.
Then Kaien said,
"By the way, Shiba Ganju's now the student council assistant. Was that your doing?"
It wasn't an unusual question. With Shin's successor as student council president, so assud Ganju would be next in line.
Shin chuckled.
"Nope. That's all him. Kid earned it."
Kaien punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"Co over for dinner soti."
"Anyti."
Kaien raised an eyebrow.
"A Third Seat that free, huh?"
"Depends on what it's about," Shin said with a sly grin.
Especially when it's about going to see your sister.
He thought that last part silently to himself.
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