The vice-captains' duty report meeting was held inside the First Division barracks.
The atmosphere in First Division was noticeably stricter than in Fourth Division, and Nobu, stepping in for the first time, felt a twinge of discomfort.
Inside the meeting room, the vice-captains sat lined along both sides of a long table, with Sasakibe Chōjirō in the main seat. The Third Seats were in the side seats.
Squad Three's Togakushi Rikū sat among the vice-captains.
He was probably the busiest of all—attending the vice-captains' meetings and the captains' meetings—yet, somehow, First Division still seemed to have no plans to promote him.
Nobu listened for a while. The talk was simply the vice-captains giving brief reports on their squads' overall situations to Sasakibe.
Next to him, Madarame Ikkaku kept yawning, looking half-dead from boredom.
Nobu also found it dull—the conversation was all small, tedious matters. Before long, his mind drifted elsewhere.
By chance, his gaze slid over and found Matsumoto Rangiku smiling at him from across the table. When he met her eyes, she deliberately blinked at him in an exaggerated wink.
Ahem!
Sasakibe gave a loud cough, and Matsumoto finally pulled her gaze back.
Nobu found it amusing. He glanced at the Tenth Division's Third Seat, someone he didn't recognize, who was bent over their notes with full concentration.
The Thirteenth Division had two Third Seats present—Kotsubaki Sentarō and Kotetsu Kiyone.
Kotetsu Kiyone was Isane's younger sister—a short-haired blonde loli with a tomboyish style.
Eighth Division's vice-captain, Ise Nanao, was a bespectacled beauty of the intellectual type—a completely different kind from Matsumoto or Isane.
Still easy on the eyes.
When the meeting was nearing its end, Sasakibe picked up a document, read it carefully, and looked toward Isane.
"Why is Fourth Division suddenly purchasing so much training equipment?"
Isane immediately explained: "Lately, the members have been saying there's nowhere decent in the barracks to train, so we'd like to add some training facilities."
Sasakibe considered. "I see. We'll discuss it in First Division and give you an answer within the week."
"Understood. Thank you for your time."
"That concludes today's meeting. Togakushi, stay a moment."
Sasakibe rose, prompting everyone in the room to rise as well.
The most senior vice-captain in all of Soul Society was respected by everyone. Nobu noticed Ikkaku hadn't caught on and gave his foot a little kick.
Sasakibe led the way out, with Togakushi following.
Matsumoto stretched lazily. "Finally over."
She grumbled, "We do this every month, and it's always the same things. What's the point? Think we're not busy enough already?"
Shiba Kaien chuckled beside her. "Some things need to be said in meetings like this—like Kotetsu-san just now."
A few vice-captains didn't rush off, sitting back down instead.
Ichimaru Gin left.
Matsumoto only glanced at his back from the corner of her eye.
"What do you think Sasakibe wanted with Togakushi?"
The question came from a tall, heavily built man—close-cropped hair, broad face, a purple stand-up collar on his shihakushō, thick gold chain around his neck and gold bracelets on his wrists. Nobu felt the "rich man" aura hit him the instant he looked.
Second Division Vice-Captain Ōmaeda Marechiyo.
Also one of the so-called "Five Special War Powers" in his own mind.
Ise Nanao pushed her glasses up. "Probably about Squad Three's captaincy. I heard someone in the Gotei 13 has mastered Bankai, and Squad Three's been without a captain for decades."
Kaien perked up. "Who?"
Nanao's smile was faint, almost sly. "So you don't know?"
"Should I?" Kaien asked, puzzled.
She flicked her gaze toward Matsumoto. "That person was once your equal in talent."
That was enough for the rest of the room to realize who she meant.
"Ah… Vice-Captain Ichimaru," Kaien said in sudden understanding.
Nanao seized the moment to tease, "Speaking of which, Vice-Captain Shiba—you haven't secretly mastered Bankai yourself, have you?"
Kaien burst into loud laughter. "If I had, the whole Seireitei would know by the next day."
"That's true."
Everyone chuckled.
"Anyone up for dessert?"
A pink-haired little loli suddenly raised her hand.
Matsumoto walked over and simply scooped her up like a child.
"Let's go."
Kusajishi Yachiru cheered, calling over to Ikkaku at Nobu's side: "Come on, Baldy!"
Hearing his nickname shouted in front of outsiders, veins popped on Ikkaku's shiny head.
Arms folded, he scowled. "I'm not going! Rangiku-san, please make sure you send our vice-captain back to Squad Eleven later."
Matsumoto answered cheerfully and left with Yachiru in her arms.
They really did treat Yachiru like a child. With her guileless nature and hopeless sense of direction, Ikkaku had good reason to make sure Matsumoto escorted her back.
"I'll head off too," said Nanao.
The vice-captains each departed in turn.
Nobu was about to leave with Isane when Ikkaku stopped him.
"Tachikawa."
Eyes locked on him, Ikkaku asked, "Interested in visiting Squad Eleven?"
Nobu raised a brow, amused. "Sounds like I'd be walking into a fight."
"That's your thing too, isn't it?" Ikkaku shot back.
Nobu gave it some thought. "I'll pass. But if you want a spar, come to Fourth Division anytime—I'll be happy to oblige."
Ikkaku just snorted and said nothing.
Nobu had barely stepped out of the meeting room when Kaien suddenly threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Nobu!"
He grinned. "I heard you snagged Third Seat through the seated officer evaluations. Didn't think your Kaidō was that impressive."
Nobu replied without an ounce of modesty. "Of course. I'm a genius. Geniuses are good at everything."
He waved to Isane, signaling for her to go on ahead.
"By the way," Kaien said, "what Nanao mentioned just now reminded me—have you learned Bankai too? Is that why you turned me down for a spar last time?"
Kaien gave a wry smile. "You guys give me too much credit. That's a lot of pressure."
He sighed heavily. "It's all Vice-Captain Ichimaru's fault."
Nobu didn't fully buy that, but didn't press—Kaien's situation was… special.
"Anyway," Kaien went on, "Ganju's the Student Council assistant now. Was that your doing?"
He asked because the last Student Council assistant had gone on to be president—so some already suspected Ganju might be the next in line. And he was certainly qualified.
"No," Nobu said with a smile. "Whatever Ganju's doing now is all his own ability."
Kaien gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder and laughed. "When are you coming over for dinner at my place?"
"Anytime."
"You're Third Seat now, and still that free?"
"Depends on what it's for."
Like going to see your sister—there's usually time for that, Nobu thought to himself.
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