Two days later, just past noon—
A huge, perfectly round golden sun hung high above Soul Society, its scorching rays pouring straight down onto the land.
The air throughout the entire Soul Society felt as if it had been set ablaze, filled everywhere with suffocating heat that made it hard to breathe…
Chirp... chirp...
Even the cicadas in the outskirts of the Seireitei sounded exhausted under the blistering heat, their rhythmic drones trailing off as if they were on the verge of succumbing to the temperature.
"Former 13th Division member Saitō Tsukiyomi, having committed a first-degree capital crime, is hereby stripped of all noble privileges and her position as a Shinigami.
She is sentenced to death at the Sōkyoku Hill in twenty-five days at noon. This is the final verdict of the Central 46!"
Inside the First Division headquarters beneath the Hill of Penitence, the captains' meeting concerning the sentencing of "Saitō Tsukiyomi, who illegally transferred Shinigami powers to a human" finally came to a conclusion, with Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai personally announcing the verdict.
"How could this be…"
Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, who rarely attended captains' meetings, couldn't help but cry out:
"Even for a major crime... those people shouldn't have stripped her of the standard one-month grace period!"
"Captain of the Thirteenth Division, mind your words."
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Ukitake.
"This is the final ruling of the Central 46. There shall be no appeal."
"But she's my subordinate! How can I—"
"Hey~ Jūshirō, you're losing your composure today." Kyōraku Shunsui hurriedly cut him off.
"..."
Ukitake fell silent. After hesitating for a moment, he bowed slightly toward Yamamoto.
"My apologies, Sensei. Please forgive my earlier disrespect."
"I understand."
Yamamoto slowly closed one eye and spoke in a calm voice.
"As a superior, your concern for your subordinate is natural. However, this decision was made by the highest authority in Seireitei—the Central 46. No one has the right to object."
"…Yes. I understand."
Ukitake quietly returned to the ranks, and after Yamamoto announced the meeting adjourned, he left the hall together with Kyōraku Shunsui.
That expression Captain Ukitake showed just now didn't seem fake at all. So then… the 'traitor' in Soul Society could be…
With that thought, Shiba Kaien couldn't help shifting his gaze toward another person.
At that moment, the bold "Five" on a spotless white captain's haori stood out with striking clarity.
"Well done, Captain of the Tenth Division!"
Ichimaru Gin suddenly stepped into Kaien's line of sight, smiling with narrowed eyes.
"Even though it was your first time going to the Human, you completed the mission splendidly…
Compared to the previous Captain Shiba, it seems you—the current head of the Shiba family—are far more capable!"
"Thank you, Captain Ichimaru… I'll take that as praise, then."
Kaien had always disliked Ichimaru Gin, feeling that the man was rotten to the core. No matter how one looked at those perpetually squinted eyes, he just didn't seem like a good person.
"My, my—Captain of the Tenth Division seems to have quite a prejudice against me. May I ask why?"
"You're overthinking it, Captain Ichimaru! I'm just allergic to men—
If I spend too much time around them, I start breaking out in pimples!"
With that, Shiba Kaien stormed out the door and quickly vanished from Ichimaru Gin's sight.
Shiba Kaien… he's quite an interesting fellow.
Gin murmured to himself, the smile never leaving his face.
But I do hope… he doesn't do anything foolish.
With that thought, Ichimaru Gin also left the hall, leading Kira Izuru, who had been waiting outside, as they slowly departed the First Division headquarters.