Before anyone realized it, a month had passed, and the storm had long since faded from the small imperial court.
The ruling court of Soul Society had returned to its usual solemnity and silence. As a residence for the privileged class, its population density was far lower than that of Rukongai.
For most, this quiet life was nothing new—they had long since grown used to it.
With the arrival of the weekend, people took to the streets, adding a rare touch of life and energy to the city.
...
11th Division, Squad Barracks
"4th Seat Ichimaru! Hurry up and tidy things up. You're in charge of guarding the dormitory today. If the Captain finds out I haven't prepared anything, I'll never hear the end of it!"
Gin Ichimaru's eyebrow twitched as he glanced at the new 3rd Seat, Mashiro Kuna, a transfer from another squad.
She hadn't seed particularly diligent when she first arrived, so why the sudden burst of responsibility?
At this ti of day, she would usually sneak off to the ss hall, rummaging through the cupboards for her favorite sweets. Without fail, she'd get caught by Ittora Yamazaki, who was soon to be promoted to Lieutenant, and be used as an example of what not to do in front of the whole squad.
Then Masatsuki Aozaki would step in as the peacemaker, smoothing things over on her behalf...
But today was different.
Mashiro Kuna was responsible for organizing patrols around the Captain's quarters, and just yesterday, she had boldly declared that she could manage the team without Ittora Yamazaki's help. She had even gathered the squad mbers to give them a lecture about it.
Watching her now, frantically scrambling to get things in order, Gin Ichimaru had his doubts. Could she really handle planning the patrols?
Tap, tap!
Footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a familiar voice.
"Is my adorable little Mashiro here?"
Even Gin Ichimaru, who rarely opened his eyes fully, couldn't help but roll them.
Masatsuki Aozaki sure knew how to talk. Just the words adorable and little were enough to make Mashiro Kuna's face light up with joy.
"I'm here, I'm here! Weren't you supposed to be visiting a friend in Rukongai? Why are you back so early? I thought you wouldn't return until dinner!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Mashiro Kuna dashed out to greet him, throwing her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug.
Gin Ichimaru watched the scene in silence.
Masatsuki Aozaki might just be playing along, but Mashiro Kuna? She was definitely taking full advantage of the situation.
"Did you all see that? Learn from your 3rd Seat, Mashiro Kuna!"
Gin Ichimaru had been about to sigh when he heard Ryuuseki and Izumo lecturing the other squad mbers.
Turning around, he was t with an odd sight—the female squad mbers were staring at Masatsuki Aozaki like wolves eyeing a fresh al, while even so of the male squad mbers were looking at him in a very strange way.
"...Has the 11th Division turned into so kind of weird cult? Mashiro, where exactly are your hands wandering? And the rest of you—could you at least wipe the drool off your faces?"
Gin Ichimaru was exhausted just watching this.
"Mashiro, I brought you so peony cakes."
Feeling the weight of everyone's stares—and the soft warmth of the woman clinging to him—Masatsuki Aozaki quickly handed over the box in his hands.
He had to admit, both Mashiro Kuna and Suì-Fēng had a petite, loli-like stature. However, Mashiro Kuna's figure felt slightly softer—probably due to their different lifestyles.
Suì-Fēng had undergone Onmitsukidō training from a young age and was a devoted follower of Yoruichi Shihōin, holding herself to strict standards.
anwhile, Mashiro Kuna's life was far more relaxed, unbound by rigid rules and discipline. She was free to retain a more natural softness.
"The Captain brought a present? Thank you, Captain!"
Beaming, Mashiro Kuna eagerly unwrapped the peony cakes, though she looked a little embarrassed as she did so.
"Eat slowly. I know you love these, so I picked them up when I saw them in town."
Masatsuki Aozaki chuckled, taking her hand and leading her inside.
"I even found a pastry shop in the Noble District. From now on, they'll be supplying desserts to the 11th Division—including peony cakes!"
"Really!? Captain, you're the best!"
Mashiro Kuna practically jumped for joy.
Watching from the sidelines, Gin Ichimaru fell silent.
No one understood better than him why so many won in the squad were drawn to Masatsuki Aozaki.
...
While the team mbers were sharing snacks, Masatsuki Aozaki finally had a mont to return to the captain's quarters.
He called out softly, "Gin..."
"I understand."
Gin Ichimaru nodded, sitting on a chair in the corridor as he watched the wooden door to the captain's quarters slowly close.
Inside the room, Masatsuki Aozaki felt the hard object in his arms and took a deep breath. Unhurriedly, he took a sip of tea before placing his hand on the portrait in the bedroom.
The painting depicted Masatsuki Aozaki, a piece created by his own hand. The figure in the portrait stared out coldly, as crimson-stained clouds floated in the sky like billowing battle flags. Beneath him, a mountain of skeletal remains stretched toward the heavens.
Masatsuki Aozaki thought it looked rather impressive, but Yoruichi Shihōin had only given it a two-word critique—"Narcissistic."
A white glow emanated from Masatsuki Aozaki's hand as his Reiatsu flowed into the painting, moving in a rhythmic pattern like scattered stars.
This lock was specially crafted by Kisuke Urahara at Masatsuki Aozaki's request. To open it, three elents were required—fingerprint, Reiatsu, and a patterned password—none could be missing.
Click!
The wooden bed slowly shifted aside, revealing a secret door beneath it.
A deep, resonant sound echoed from the tunnel as the lights flickered on automatically, gradually illuminating the dim passageway.
Listening to the steady, pleasant rhythm, Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but smile.
This was his first true laboratory. The underground space in Rukongai had rely been a ramshackle room cluttered with equipnt. Now, even that equipnt was gone, leaving only dirt and rubble.
"Hōgyoku."
Masatsuki Aozaki retrieved the beautifully crystallized jade from his robes, finally granting it the na he had long envisioned.
The gemstone shimred with an ethereal blue-black glow, as if it held endless, unfathomable mysteries—its allure unforgettable at first glance.
Its form was nearly identical to the true Hōgyoku.
Masatsuki Aozaki understood, however, that it was only a hollow imitation.
Unlike before, he could now sense a faint power within it, yet it remained inert—incapable of fulfilling wishes of evolution or breaking the boundary between Shinigami and Hollow.
"Don't worry, I'll grant your wish soon enough." Masatsuki Aozaki smiled indulgently, his expression almost fatherly.
He placed the Hōgyoku into a specially crafted Kidō containnt device, then eagerly turned to the other side of the room.
A black cloak hung on the wall—an anti-Reiatsu tool developed by Kisuke Urahara, modeled after the Shihōin Clan's Tenshiheisō.
During his ti at the Shinigami Research and Developnt Institute, Masatsuki Aozaki had morized the manufacturing process and secretly crafted a perfect replica. The effectiveness was indistinguishable from the original.
Recalling Yoruichi Shihōin's promise of a Senkaimon, Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but smirk.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake
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