Toshiro didn't waste a single word. He simply turned around and strode toward a side room connected to the spacious hall.
With a clatter.
He slid open the shoji door of the side room and walked inside.
Isshin Kurosaki picked himself up from the floor, rubbing the cheek that had been kicked red by Ichigo, and dropped his earlier goofy demeanor.
He glanced at Kaien Shiba, who had similarly stowed away his smile.
The two exchanged a complex, somewhat helpless look.
"Looks like there's no dodging this scolding," Kaien said with a bitter smile, scratching his spiky black hair.
"Yeah... After all, I owe him," Isshin sighed deeply, straightening out his wrinkled shirt.
Without hesitation, the two silently followed Toshiro into the side room.
The door to the side room was pulled shut tightly, completely isolating them from the noise and the gazes of everyone in the main hall.
The space inside the side room was not very large.
Originally used by the Shiba family as a tearoom or a place for quiet meditation, it was decorated quite elegantly.
A low wooden table sat in the center of the room, and Toshiro sat formally at the head of it, his back perfectly straight.
After entering, Isshin Kurosaki and Kaien Shiba also knelt down properly in the seats opposite him.
Three men, three generations of Tenth Division Captains.
No one could have expected that after so many years of twists and turns, they would gather in this cramped space in such a dramatic, yet somewhat awkward manner.
The room was quiet; no one spoke first.
From outside, the cheerful laughter of Yuzu and Kukaku discussing the evening's menu could faintly be heard, along with Shinji Hirako curiously asking Ichigo Kurosaki if he felt his power had been a bit off lately.
It felt as though they were separated by an entire world from the stifling atmosphere of the tearoom.
The three looked at each other.
Isshin's gaze wandered over Toshiro's youthful yet stern face, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Back when he was forced to leave the Soul Society, Toshiro had only been the Third Seat of the Tenth Division.
But even then, Toshiro had shown extraordinary talent, handling matters far more steadily than the average Soul Reaper.
Although he possessed the inexperience and stubbornness of a youth in his bones, he was much more reliable than Isshin himself, and many of the division's duties had been handled by him.
And now...
This boy sitting before him was already wearing the Captain's haori that represented the Gotei 13 over his shoulders.
He had grown up, truly maturing into a Captain capable of standing on his own and supporting an entire division...
Kaien's gaze also fell upon Toshiro, his eyes filled with nothing but guilt and self-reproach.
He understood just how much pressure the subordinates had to endure after a division lost its Captain.
Especially the Tenth Division, an important squad responsible for the patrol and security of the entire Seireitei, which had unexpectedly lost two Captains in succession...
'They must have been the subject of much gossip... If only I had been a bit more careful back then and moved with the main force...' he thought.
After a long silence, the suffocatingly awkward atmosphere was finally broken by Toshiro.
"Do you two really have nothing to say to me?"
Toshiro slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing the two men opposite him.
Faced with this oppressive questioning, Isshin Kurosaki, who was usually full of witty remarks and banter, felt as if his throat was blocked, unsure of what to say.
"I'm sorry, Toshiro..." he finally managed to squeeze out dryly.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya," Toshiro replied coldly. "Isshin Kurosaki, or should I say, Isshin Shiba."
"Back then, you left the Seireitei all by yourself and were never heard from again."
"Do you have any idea what kind of chaos the entire division was thrown into when the news of your disappearance reached the Tenth Division?!"
Toshiro's voice began to rise. "The squad members were in a state of panic, and Rangiku searched for you for an entire month!"
"She scoured every place in the World of the Living you might have gone, praying every day that you would suddenly jump out from some corner like before, grinning and saying you just went off to slack off!"
"During that time, she drank herself into a stupor every single night. Do you know how she managed to survive that period?!"
Isshin's body trembled violently, cold sweat sliding down his forehead.
How could he not know? He had taken Rangiku under his wing the moment she joined the division; she was like a younger sister to him, and he knew her personality better than anyone.
He could imagine the breakdown that strong girl went through after losing her Captain.
But he couldn't go back... In order to suppress the Hollow inside Masaki, he had to stay in the World of the Living; he had to become a human without Spiritual Power.
"And you, Kaien Shiba!"
Toshiro suddenly turned his head, directing his spearhead at Kaien sitting nearby.
Kaien instinctively straightened his back, bracing himself for the incoming storm.
"Everyone thought that with you, the hailed genius heir of the Shiba family, taking over as Captain, the Tenth Division could finally get back on track."
"But what was the result?! How many days were you even in office?" Toshiro sneered, clearly furious. "You disappeared again before you even learned the names of all the Tenth Division members!"
"Do you know how much disgrace the Tenth Division bore throughout the entire Seireitei because of the consecutive disappearances of you two?!"
Toshiro spoke through gritted teeth. "A cursed division, trash who can't even protect their own Captains... For a very long time, the members of the Tenth Division had to endure the strange looks and behind-the-back pointing from other divisions just walking down the street!"
"The newcomers who had just joined felt fear and inferiority because of those rumors, while the veteran members felt a deep sense of powerlessness because they couldn't wash away that shame!"
"Do you two think you've done right by the squad members who trusted you?!"
Faced with Toshiro's rapid-fire questioning, the faces of the two Shiba Captains had turned as pale as paper.
Everything Toshiro said was absolutely right...
"I'm sorry..."
Kaien spoke up first, bowing his head to sincerely apologize to Toshiro.
"I know saying this now is meaningless, and it can't make up for the grievances the Tenth Division has suffered over the past decade or so..."
"But I still must say I'm sorry to you, and to all the members of the Tenth Division."
"I shouldn't have rashly stayed behind to cover the rear. That was indeed my dereliction of duty... I only hope I still have the chance to make it up to everyone in this lifetime."
After saying that, he bowed to Toshiro once more.
These words had been bottled up in Kaien's heart for a long time, and saying them now brought him a sense of relief.
Seeing Kaien's complete lack of airs and his sincere admission of fault, the anger in Toshiro's eyes subsided slightly.
He turned his head and looked at Isshin Kurosaki.
"Toshiro... no, Captain Hitsugaya! You're right to scold me. I am an incompetent Captain, an irresponsible man."
"But..." Isshin raised his head. Although there was guilt in his eyes, they also carried a calm determination. "If I had to do it all over again, I would still make the same choice."
"I believed in my heart that leaving the Tenth Division in your hands wouldn't be a problem, which is why I shamelessly stayed in the World of the Living to protect that Quincy girl..."
Thinking of Masaki, Isshin's eyes grew moist. "I know my choice was incredibly selfish toward the Tenth Division, toward you, and toward Rangiku."
"I don't ask for your forgiveness. I only hope you can understand... I have never forgotten you all, and I have never regretted leaving the Tenth Division to you."
"I'm sorry, Toshiro, for making you bear so much worry and pressure."
Isshin's defense, which hardly sounded like an apology, was taken to heart by Toshiro.
Of course, he knew the hidden truth.
Before coming here, Yoruichi and Rangiku had already explained some of the reasons why Isshin had stayed in the World of the Living.
He knew that Isshin had initially done it to save someone, and later to protect his wife and family.
Rationally speaking, Toshiro could understand Isshin's choice.
If he were in his shoes, he might have made the exact same decision.
This was their Tenth Division, a place that valued loyalty and emotional bonds.
The tearoom fell into a long silence once again.
Only the sound of the three men's breathing intertwined.
After a long time, Toshiro's tense shoulders finally relaxed slowly.
He closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy breath.
"That's enough."
Toshiro opened his eyes again, the anger in them having already subsided.
He looked at the two men before him, who had once led him both in name and in reality, and spoke in a calm tone.
"I accept your apologies."
"At this point, there is no longer any meaning in pursuing past responsibilities."
"The Tenth Division did not collapse because of your departure."
Toshiro raised his chin slightly. "Rangiku, myself, and all the members of the Tenth Division—we made it through."
Although his stature was the smallest among the three.
But in this moment, the aura he exuded was taller and more imposing than the two former Captains sitting opposite him.
"The current Tenth Division does not exist because of the name Isshin Shiba, nor does it exist because of the genius halo of Kaien Shiba."
"It exists because of every member who still stands at their post, because of the hard work of those of us who stayed behind."