"Captain Hitsugaya...? Did you need something?"
"I'm here because I need something."
Oh dear... What a incredibly blunt attitude. People are going to hate you if you keep acting like that.
'It seems the little master is in a foul mood,' Nubatama remarked.
I mean, I might be a newcomer "as a Captain," but really... the only things I definitely have over Captain Hitsugaya are my height and my age, you know?
'Perhaps that is exactly the problem?'
I have absolutely, completely, not a single shred of a memory of doing anything to him... I don't recall ever saying to his face, "Come back when you've finally grown taller than me, you pipsqueak," or anything like that!
'If you could actually say that to his face, I would respect you so much it would circle back around to awe,' Nubatama quipped.
Regardless, I should probably clear up this misunderstanding.
"Captain Hitsugaya, I don't know why you're so angry, but—"
"Don't move!"
"—! What was that for, so suddenly?"
"Keep your mouth shut. You don't have the right to speak."
Oh, my! To think he'd point his blade at me and follow it up with such harsh words. Talk about a strong rejection.
'Even you feel something in your heart when a comrade points a sword at you, Milady?'
Comrade...? Ah, yes, that's right, a comrade... Yes, yes, Captain Hitsugaya is a fine comrade! Everyone on Earth is a comrade!
'Your sense of camaraderie is paper-thin!!'
It is not! My head is just currently full of thoughts about Orihime!
"Hey, Kira."
"..."
Even though he was called, Kira just kept his head down.
"Kira!!"
"!? Y-Yes, sir!!"
"Good grief, get it together... Well?"
While clearly losing patience with Kira's hesitant attitude, Captain Hitsugaya pressed him for an answer.
"...It was... just as you said, Captain Hitsugaya."
"I knew it... That settles it then."
Settles it? That's quite a...
'Given the situation, those words give me nothing but a terrible, sinking feeling!'
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"Shut up!!"
Whoa, dangerous. Captain Hitsugaya actually swung at me. However, dodging something of this level is easy. If I'm being honest, Ichigo's attacks right now are probably sharper than that.
"Whoa there... To suddenly swing your sword at me, what's the meaning of this? Depending on your explanation, I might have to report this to the higher-ups—"
"Report to the higher-ups?! Do you think you have that right anymore?!"
I took a little distance and evaded his second horizontal slash. But I can't just let those words slide.
"—...What do you mean by that?"
"We've already gathered the evidence!"
Ah, this is no good. He's not listening to a word I say. I stepped to the side to parry his third thrust and grabbed his arm to stop him.
"I don't know what your reasoning is, but this is a misunderstanding."
"Still trying to play dumb?! Fine, I'll tell you then!!"
Even though our physical distance had closed, the distance between our hearts remained vast. He was glaring at me with eyes full of intense rage. Setting that aside, I wonder what he's going to "tell" me?
"You're working with Urahara to pull the strings of this incident from the shadows, aren't you?!"
"...Eh?"
What? I don't know anything about that. I was so caught off guard by the unexpected response that I accidentally loosened my grip, allowing Captain Hitsugaya to pull away.
"I wasn't involved back then, so I don't know the full details. But I heard that a man named Kisuke Urahara committed a terrible crime about a hundred years ago."
The incident that started with the disappearance of souls, right. In the end, it was officially ruled that it was caused by Urahara's research into hollowfication—though in reality, Aizen just pinned the whole thing on him.
"But immediately after the Central 46 issued their verdict, he vanished with someone's help."
That was Yoruichi-san breaking into the assembly hall to rescue him.
"Since then, Kisuke Urahara's whereabouts were unknown."
Because he fled to the World of the Living. No matter how much you searched the Soul Society, you weren't going to find him.
"However, Kisuke Urahara was dissatisfied with the verdict. Holding a grudge because his research was interfered with, he fled to the World of the Living to sharpen his fangs and wait for a chance at revenge."
Oof! Things are getting suspicious fast!!
"Then, Kisuke Urahara learned that Rukia Kuchiki was to be executed at the Sokyoku. He decided to use that to destroy the entire Soul Society and fulfill his revenge."
Oh dear, he was thinking of something quite dangerous, wasn't he? I had no idea.
"And you are his accomplice! Yukawa!!"
"...Eh?"
What? I don't know anything about that either.
"You, who had a connection with Urahara, have been secretly communicating with him, leaking internal information, and assisting in his revenge, haven't you?!"
"W-Wait a minute! That's not right!"
"Don't play innocent!"
I'm not playing anything!
"Crossing squad boundaries to gain the trust of numerous Captains and Lieutenants!"
Is there something wrong with that...?
"Taking a position as an instructor at the Spiritual Arts Academy to bring many new recruits under your control!"
Captain Unohana was the one who suddenly brought that job to me, though...? I never said a single word about "wanting to become a teacher to seduce younger students," you know?! Ah, but it's true my goal was to discipline the cocky rookies and beat the hierarchy into them, so I suppose you could say I brought them under my control...
"Approaching the Kuchiki family of the Four Great Noble Houses and the Shiba family, the former Great Noble House, to place them in your debt and gain their trust!"
Yoruichi-san was the one who introduced me to both the Kuchikis and the Shibas, though?
"You were also in contact with Yoruichi Shihoin, who was on friendly terms with Urahara!! I bet you approached her just so she could act as a bridge to the other Great Noble Houses, didn't you?!"
That started because I saved Tankaho-san's life, and that's how I met Yoruichi-san! I became her acquaintance because she invited me to her "leaving the hospital" party! And I only met Urahara after I met Yoruichi-san!
The order is all wrong!! Are you actually investigating and verifying these facts before you speak? If this were a mystery novel, people would be calling you "Little Shiro (lol)" by now!
"All of this was preparation for Kisuke Urahara's revenge!!"
I don't know why, but I'm starting to get a massive headache... I just want to go to sleep today... But honestly, watching this is incredibly entertaining. Maybe I should keep quiet and listen a bit longer?
"The reason you accepted the mission to capture Rukia Kuchiki was so you could go to the World of the Living yourself and receive whatever was needed for the revenge plan from Kisuke Urahara... Was it a detailed plan or a secret weapon to deal with this situation? It's not every day a Captain-class goes to the World of the Living. You used your position as a former teacher to make it happen!"
No, it's because Byakuya begged me while crying.
"After that, you followed the plan and controlled the situation from your position as a Soul Reaper... That formation you suggested the day the Ryoka appeared, that was also a tactic to make it easier for you to control the situation, wasn't it?"
I just thought giving Aizen a free hand would be a pain, and since I'm leaving soon anyway, I figured I'd work him to the bone under supervision?
"But too bad! The Central 46 realized that the target was the Sokyoku and ordered the execution to be temporarily suspended! At the same time, by announcing the suspension, they intended to smoke out the idiot who would show an unusual reaction."
Who's the idiot...? Oh, he means me.
But I see, so that was the reason. It wasn't just Aizen being selfish and saying "The execution is on hold for now!" because he wanted to reduce his workload.
'The renewal period for the magazine was around New Year's, so I truly thought Lord Aizen just wanted to take a New Year's holiday,' Nubatama added.
That meta-commentary is a bit much...
"The Ryoka are just humans who were fed false information to involve them in Kisuke Urahara's revenge... To keep them from realizing the truth, you confined them in your old stomping grounds, the 4th and 11th Divisions. Yoruichi Shihoin is likely the same... No, she's a former Captain of the 12th Division. There's a chance he brainwashed and manipulated her a hundred years ago, but I wouldn't know about that."
So he thinks Yoruichi, Ichigo, and the others were just fed convenient lies by Urahara. He sees them as innocent third parties. But in that case, I wonder what kind of outrageous lies he thinks Ichigo and the others were told...? I'm curious...
"I didn't know where some of the Ryoka were, but thanks to that idiot moving, I've got a lead! And thanks to Kira's testimony just now, I'm certain! You are the traitor, the snake in our grass!! Well?! Have anything to say for yourself?!"
Um... Nubatama-san, our commentator, please give us your thoughts.
'As a comedy routine, it was quite enjoyable. More importantly, I'm hungry. I want to eat udon. No, shaved ice would be better. So hurry up and make Lord Hyorinmaru work!!'
Yeah, right... right... um, right... well, right. You're right...
"Then, let me say something. It's true I knew Kisuke Urahara back then. But how was I supposed to stay in contact with him after he vanished?"
"Hah!"
He laughed right in my face.
"I hear you received a 'something-or-other' room from Kisuke Urahara himself! You've got it rigged so you can contact him anytime! And without anyone else noticing!! You've been communicating in that room and leaking internal information to him! That's how Urahara found out Rukia Kuchiki was getting the death penalty and that the Sokyoku would be used!"
Something-or-other...? Ah! He means the Spirit-Pressure Shielded Room!! Well, I suppose you could argue that since it's hard to tell what's happening inside, it could be used for secret communications.
"There is no communication device in there! You are welcome to check!"
"I wonder... You probably don't need to stay in touch anymore anyway. You've likely destroyed it long ago so it wouldn't matter when it was checked, right?"
Ah, this kid is hopeless. He's been suspicious from the very start. No matter what I say, he won't believe me. It can't be helped... in this case, let's try changing the target.
"...Kira-kun, were you doubting me too?"
"!!"
I guess he didn't expect me to call his name here. He had a massive "shocked" reaction. His face turned pale.
"A-Ah... Sensei, I... I..."
"Of course he did! That's why Kira followed your orders today! To confirm the decisive evidence with his own eyes!!"
Don't butt in! This is a conversation between members of the 4th Division!! Come back when you're taller than me!!
'If you say things like that, you'll get cancelled, you know?'
Why? Momo's height is one thing, and they always say a certain height difference is ideal for a man and a woman, right? So I just thought if he were a little taller, they'd look good together as a pair!
'Lord Hitsugaya is short, so that difference already exists! The man being shorter is just a minor detail, so there is no problem!! Please be mindful of the current social climate!!'
Ah, now that you mention it, you're right. Fine, he can butt in!
"Kira, I'm grateful to you... Thanks to you, I can personally strike down the person who was using Hinamori and Aizen!!"
"Wh...!! Captain Hitsugaya!! That wasn't the promise...!!"
"Don't worry about it!!"
Promise? Kira is trying to stop him for some reason, but Hitsugaya—I'll just call him Hitsugaya from now on. It's getting ridiculous to call him "Captain"—released his Shikai and attacked. The blade, shrouded in cold air, was thrust forward to pierce me.
"Why, how?! Leaving Captain Aizen aside, why would it mean I was even using Hinamori—I mean, Momo?!"
I can understand the Aizen part. He was mentioned in the story, and from the flow of things, it's natural to imagine I gave instructions like "He's vulnerable now" at the perfect time for the murder. But Momo?! In all that explanation just now, the name "Momo" didn't even come up once!!
"You traitor! Don't you dare! Use that name for Hinamori!!"
He swung at me with more fury than ever before. Because of that, his swing was too wide and full of openings. I can easily dodge a Zanpakuto being swung around with nothing but brute force.
"You! For such! A stupid revenge plan! You used so many Soul Reapers! Back at the Academy! You set your sights on Hinamori! And brought her in! That was all part of your plan, wasn't it!!"
Good grief, really... Since he's swinging his sword while shouting at the top of his lungs... he's out of breath in no time...
Besides, I don't remember ever telling Momo to "come to the 4th Division." Sure, I thought I wanted a connection, but if anything, she was the one who approached me... Or rather, Captain Unohana was the one who pulled her in...
But this is Hitsugaya's true feelings. He had the feeling of "Don't you dare use Hinamori!" first, and the logic was built up around that.
'By the way, seeing you call Lady Hinamori "Momo" so familiarly makes him hit the peak of irritation! His head is boiling with rage, a total eruption!'
...Wow... I mean, Hitsugaya... wow...
"Dammit! In terms of swordsmanship, I guess someone who's been a Soul Reaper for a long time has a head start...!"
Oh? Did he just say... something outrageous? Specifically, something that would justify me punching him about twenty or thirty times.
"Kira! You help too!!"
Ah, since he can't win, he finally called Kira for backup.
...I feel like it's perfectly fine to start calling this guy "Shiro-chan" now...
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]