"All right, rise." Shihōin Hiroki's voice wasn't loud, yet it rang clearly across the spacious front court of the Sixth Division's barracks, carrying a calm that tolerated no dissent.
His gaze swept over the line of officers who had bowed in greeting.
"Yes, Captain." A perfectly unified answer came back.
Hiroki gave a slight nod and stepped forward.
"I trust you've all received word," he began, tone steady. "I am Shihōin Hiroki. By Captain Commander Yamamoto's favor, I succeed the late Kuchiki Ginrei as Captain of the Sixth Division."
The air seemed to freeze for an instant; the officers held their breath, every eye fixed on the newly appointed noble captain.
"Daily affairs of the Sixth Division will continue as usual," Hiroki went on, voice calm yet weighty. "Every post, every duty—carry on as before and keep the division running. I have full confidence in your dedication."
He paused, sweeping the assembly once more. "Very well, dismissed. Third Seat Ginjirō, remain."
"Yes, Captain." A composed-looking Shinigami wearing a third-seat's badge stepped from the ranks.
At Hiroki's order the officers dispersed in sequence; the courtyard quickly emptied, leaving only Hiroki, Ginjirō, and a figure that had stood silently in the shadows behind the captain.
When the footsteps faded, Hiroki turned to make a formal introduction. "Third Seat Ginjirō, this is Uchiha Shisui beside me."
At that moment the presence that had been hidden became razor-sharp, like a blade just drawn.
Hiroki lifted a hand. "From today, he will serve as Sixth Division's Vice-Captain."
Surprise flickered in Ginjirō's eyes, but long experience reined it in. He bowed at once. "Understood! Pleased to work with you, Vice-Captain Shisui!"
"Mm." Shisui's expression was serene, voice clear. "No need for formalities, Third Seat. I'm new here—let's learn from each other." He inclined his head with perfect courtesy.
Hiroki cut straight to business. "Third Seat, show Vice-Captain Shisui around—get him up to speed on our procedures and layout."
To Hiroki, appointing a Vice-Captain was a captain's prerogative; filing the paperwork with the First Division afterward was a mere formality.
Handling Uchiha Shisui's identity was even simpler—officially he'd always been listed under the Onmitsukidō, with records in the Second Division, while the core data was sealed by the Onmitsukidō itself; even the First Division had no copy.
Exploiting that, Hiroki could place his own people without effort.
Transferring Shisui from the Second Division served one purpose: he would be the Sixth Division's strongest blade—any thorny problem would fall to him.
As for the other—Izuna—Hiroki had likewise used the Onmitsukidō record to slip her into the Sixth Division, though only as an inconspicuous rank-and-file officer.
"Understood, Captain Shihōin." Ginjirō accepted the order.
As if just remembering something, Hiroki glanced along the verandas. "Oh, right," he asked casually, "where's my office?"
"Captain Shihōin, this way." Ginjirō hurried to lead.
"Mm." Hiroki followed, then added, "And drop the 'Captain Shihōin'—sounds distant. Just call me Captain Hiroki."
"Ah… yes…" Ginjirō's steps faltered at the oddly familiar request, but he quickly bowed. "Yes, Captain Hiroki."
Ginjirō guided Hiroki and the others through the gardens and long wooden corridors to a grand building.
Pushing open the heavy doors revealed the heart of the Sixth Division—the captain's office.
Even prepared, Hiroki couldn't help an inward whistle.
That old fox Kuchiki Ginrei sure knew how to live.
The chamber was more spacious and luxurious than the Captain Commander's own office.
High ceilings, delicate latticed windows letting in soft light, priceless scrolls on the walls, thick carpets underfoot, exquisite hardwood desk and chairs—even the tea service for guests breathed refinement.
The whole room exuded the quiet authority of top nobility.
Hiroki walked straight to the massive desk and settled into the broad chair, its back framing him perfectly.
"Have a seat." He motioned to Shisui and Ginjirō below, and to Izuna who had slipped into a corner.
"Yes, sir." Shisui and Ginjirō took the opposite chairs.
Izuna needed no cue; as if switching modes she glided to a side table and began preparing tea with silent expertise—her "maid" role.
"From here on," Hiroki said, eyeing the two seated men and the quietly brewing Izuna, "daily business of the Sixth Division is yours to handle."
"Understood." Shisui answered without hesitation.
"Eh?" Ginjirō looked up, startled. "M-me as well?" He hadn't expected to keep authority under a new captain.
"Indeed," Hiroki's mouth hinted at a smile. "Your reputation and competence are solid. The three of you will keep the division running—I'm at ease."
It was true; Ginjirō's steadiness and seniority were well known.
Hiroki had no intention of sweating the small stuff; he'd leave it for them to practice on.
Of course, the one actually juggling the trivia would be Izuna—an ordinary soldier in name only, in truth a Shadow Clone.
Shisui's role was clear: combat and deterrence.
"Yes, Captain Hiroki!" Ginjirō's eyes shone with gratitude; he straightened, voice booming. "Rest assured, I'll give my all, assist Vice-Captain Shisui—ah—and manage the division, never failing your trust!"
"Good." Hiroki was pleased. "Handle specifics among yourselves and decide."
He had resolved to be a hands-off captain.
The day drifted by in lazy perusal of documents—or rather, fiddling with a phone.
When the light outside turned soft and golden, quitting time finally arrived.
Hiroki stretched hugely, sighing in satisfaction, and snapped shut the anachronistic object in his hand—
a smartphone bought from a mysterious system, linked to another world's network—placing it on the glossy desk.
Yes, a phone.
It was the talisman letting him endure the rigid, slow life of Soul Society without boredom.
Without its link to the distant Honkai: Star Rail network, feeding him endless novelty and entertainment, those dog-eared Soul Society booklets would have driven him mad long ago.
"Time's up! Off duty!"
He announced cheerfully, stood, and slung the captain's haori over his shoulder.
"Tch," he muttered, remembering his next appointment, "still have to drop by the Kuchiki Clan tonight."
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