A higher position meant greater responsibility, and it also meant taking on more dangerous missions.
Jūshirō Ukitake could understand why the Kuchiki Clan, out of concern for Rukia Kuchiki's safety, did not want her exposed to danger.
After Rukia Kuchiki used Bankai in battle, the Kuchiki Clan had likely realized that safety did not come from avoiding danger, but from having the strength to overcome it. That was probably why, two days ago, they had specially sent someone over with a gift and withdrew their previous request to revoke Rukia Kuchiki's candidacy for a Seated Officer position.
Most importantly, however, both Rukia Kuchiki and Muten Natsu had received a great deal of care and guidance from Kaien Shiba, and the Shiba couple had spoken highly of the strength and character they had shown.
Muten Natsu clearly had no intention of returning to Seireitei, so Jūshirō Ukitake's wish to have Rukia Kuchiki take on this position could also be considered a kind of inheritance and remembrance.
Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu had shared the duties of Lieutenant for years. If he was going to appoint someone else as Lieutenant now, it was only natural that he consult them first.
If they had other thoughts or objections, Jūshirō Ukitake would not force the matter.
Seeing the two exchange looks, their expressions a little complicated, Jūshirō Ukitake added, "Well... that said, Rukia will still be going to the World of the Living, so nothing about the division's affairs will really change. Of course, if you two..."
"You mean..." Sentarō Kotsubaki stared at his Captain intently. "You're serious?"
"Mm." Jūshirō Ukitake nodded. "It's time."
Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki raised their hands at the same time and cheered, "That's great!"
"Huh?"
"We've had the same thought for a long time," Kiyone Kotetsu said, looking visibly relieved. "We were just worried you wouldn't be able to get past it, Captain."
Sentarō Kotsubaki slapped his thigh. "We were still wondering when we should bring it up with you. I didn't expect you to mention it yourself. This is probably the best solution."
Jūshirō Ukitake opened his mouth. "But this is still, in a sense, bringing someone in over your heads..."
"What are you worried about?" Kiyone Kotetsu laughed. "We watched that girl grow up. Do you really think we'd be afraid she'd make things difficult for us?"
"And you're the Captain. The division's affairs should follow your decision in the first place. Only someone as easygoing as you would think to discuss it with us..." Sentarō Kotsubaki waved it off. "Besides, she's definitely going to the World of the Living to be with Muten. Nothing in the division is actually changing. If anything, it feels more like..."
Jūshirō Ukitake looked at the slight redness around their eyes and sensed the same feeling in them. "...more like a regret has finally been made whole."
Who knew what Rukia Kuchiki would think when she saw the appointment letter.
"Is this a transfer order?" When Rukia Kuchiki heard that someone was looking for her, she temporarily set aside the 4th Division paperwork and went to the visitors' room. Once she saw Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu, she had a rough guess.
Since she had grown up in the 4th Division, and with the 4th Division Captain in poor health while the division's administrative work was so heavy, it was understandable for her to come help.
But no matter what, Rukia Kuchiki was still a member of the Thirteenth Division. She could not keep ignoring the Thirteenth Division's work and stay in the 4th Division every day.
If she transferred to the 4th Division, the problem would be solved.
Rukia Kuchiki had planned to apply for a transfer herself, but the 4th Division had been so busy these past few days that she had never found the time.
"No, no, no..." Kiyone Kotetsu hurriedly waved her hands. "It's a letter of appointment."
"A letter of appointment?" Rukia Kuchiki hesitated. "I can become a Seated Officer?"
"Very close!" Sentarō Kotsubaki's voice boomed. "Lieutenant Kuchiki!"
"Huh?" Rukia Kuchiki blinked her large, bewildered eyes. "Lieutenant?"
"Effective immediately, Rukia Kuchiki of the Thirteenth Division is hereby appointed Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division." Kiyone Kotetsu handed the appointment letter to Rukia Kuchiki. "Congratulations, Rukia."
"There will still be an official commissioning ceremony later, but from now on, you're already Lieutenant!" Sentarō Kotsubaki added. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you very much..." Rukia Kuchiki took the appointment letter on reflex, obvious unease appearing on her face. "But... am I really qualified?"
"Of course you are!" Kiyone Kotetsu leaned forward excitedly. "Whether it's ability or character, you're perfect."
"But..." Rukia Kuchiki looked up from the appointment letter. "You two are both more suited for it than I am."
The two of them had been Third Seats for longer than Rukia Kuchiki had even been a Shinigami.
"Not at all~" Kiyone Kotetsu drew out her words. "This guy isn't Lieutenant material!"
Sentarō Kotsubaki snorted. "You're not much better!"
"What did you say?!"
"You said it first!"
The two of them started bickering as usual.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Kuchiki." Muten Natsu's voice came from the doorway.
Renji Abarai's voice followed right after. "A bright future ahead of you, Lieutenant Kuchiki."
"Muten..." Rukia Kuchiki's gaze paused on Muten Natsu's lips for an instant. "And Renji."
"What do you mean, 'and'?" Renji Abarai protested. "Coming from you, I sound like some extra Lieutenant tacked on at the end."
Muten Natsu chuckled. "How impressive, Lieutenant Abarai."
"If you felt like it, you could probably become Captain, right?" Renji Abarai shot Muten Natsu a sideways glance. "Muten Natsu-kun?"
"Now that my height has temporarily dropped, I can't see your M-shaped bald spot at all." Muten Natsu rolled his eyes. "You suddenly look a lot more pleasant, Lieutenant Abarai."
"You'll end up like this sooner or later!" Renji Abarai gritted his teeth. "You traitor who chooses romance over friendship!"
"Hm?" Clear confusion appeared on Muten Natsu's face. "Who?"
"You!" Renji Abarai had wanted to settle this score with Muten Natsu before, and now he had finally found the chance.
Muten Natsu looked even more puzzled. "Me, what?"
Renji Abarai ground out through clenched teeth, "Choosing romance over friendship!"
Muten Natsu frowned. "I chose romance?"
"Yes!"
"And neglected friendship?"
"Exactly!"
Muten Natsu searched his memory and came up empty. "Did that happen?"
"When we were attacked inside Garganta, you only cared about Inoue and... Rukia doesn't count." Renji Abarai glared fiercely at Muten Natsu. "You didn't care about me at all!"
Rukia Kuchiki: "..." What do you mean, I don't count?
Muten Natsu remembered. While passing through Garganta, their group had been attacked and scattered by the Reishi turbulence. "Didn't I shout?"
Renji Abarai glared. "I got blown away, and you didn't even shout!"
Muten Natsu looked toward Rukia Kuchiki.
"You really didn't shout," Rukia Kuchiki said, remembering it too.
Muten Natsu remembered shouting [Oh no]. "Maybe I shouted it in my head."
Renji Abarai crossed his arms over his chest. "So it's my fault for not hearing your inner voice?"
"It's fine." Muten Natsu waved a hand generously. "I forgive you."
Renji Abarai nearly ground his teeth to pieces. "How generous of you!"
"Right, speaking of Orihime." Rukia Kuchiki helped Muten Natsu change the subject. "Have you seen her?"
Now that she had received her appointment as Lieutenant, Rukia Kuchiki wanted to share the news with Orihime Inoue.
"She's at the General Treatment Center," Muten Natsu replied. "She's been helping with treatment the whole time."
Inside the General Treatment Center, golden barrier light flowed gently, carrying a power that put people at ease.
Everyone's eyes were drawn to the owner of that barrier without realizing it. Over the past few days, this human girl had treated a frightening number of injured patients.
If Inoue Orihime kept going, she might even achieve the first-ever record of zero wounded patients since the General Treatment Center was founded. Rumors like that had already begun spreading among the 4th Division members.
It was a little exaggerated, but even without such powerful healing ability, her smile, warm as sunlight, gave the wounded the illusion that their pain had simply flown away.
Especially when Muten Natsu was there.
"Orihime?" Rukia Kuchiki called softly. "Are you busy?"
"Give me just a moment." Orihime Inoue answered while maintaining the barrier and completing the final treatment. "There, that should do it. But it will still take longer for your Reiatsu to recover."
"I never thought my wounds would heal this quickly." Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi moved his arm. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Orihime Inoue returned Shun Shun Rikka to its hairpin form and left together with Rukia Kuchiki.
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi got up from the hospital bed. Aside from the weakness that came with severe injuries, there was no longer much wrong with him.
Seeing Orihime Inoue and Rukia Kuchiki chatting and laughing together after returning to Soul Society brought back a few memories from long ago.
After speaking with a 4th Division member and learning that moderate exercise would help his recovery, he left the General Treatment Center and wandered through Seireitei.
The scenery, both familiar and unfamiliar, made him feel as if he were walking through hazy memories. It was more interesting than he had expected.
He wandered wherever his feet took him. When he came back to himself, he realized he had somehow stepped into the grounds of the Third Division.
Gathering his long golden hair, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi smiled. "A homing instinct... perhaps?"
As he walked among the division barracks where he had spent so many long years, old trivial memories inevitably came to mind.
Within the Gotei 13 barracks, as long as they did not exceed the division's assigned grounds, the Captain had the authority to decide whether to expand or renovate the facilities.
Perhaps it was because of the division's culture, but no one seemed particularly interested in that sort of thing. Aside from necessary repairs, the buildings were basically no different from when Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi had been Captain.
That lack of change awakened even more memories, turning into a casual hum that drifted through the air.
"Excuse me... you are Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi-san... correct?"
The melody, which had somehow grown melancholy, was interrupted by a deliberately lowered voice.
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi turned his head and saw a gloomy-looking young man. "Yes... that's me... and you are?"
"I am the Lieutenant of the Third Division, Izuru Kira." Izuru Kira bowed respectfully.
"So you're the current..." Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi shook his head. "Ah, right! Could you take me to the VIP room? I feel it would be rude for an outsider to barge in on his own, and I was just wondering what to do about it."
"How could you be an outsider?" Izuru Kira straightened up. "Captain Kyōraku told me that Ōtoribashi-san was once the Captain of the Third Division, so please don't be reserved. You're welcome to visit the barracks anytime!"
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi had already prepared himself for the possibility that the Shinigami might not accept him, so Izuru Kira's attitude surprised him. "That was all in the past."
"Respecting one's seniors is only natural." Izuru Kira turned to lead the way. "You wanted to go to the VIP room, yes? Please follow me."
Seeing that the VIP room had barely changed, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi looked somewhat excited. He glanced around, then finally stopped in a corner by the west wall. "I remember it should be around here..."
He placed his right hand against the wall and applied Reiatsu to his palm.
A section of the wall silently sank inward, revealing a square recess before sliding upward.
"This..." Izuru Kira could not help crying out in surprise. A storage space had opened in a wall he thought he knew so well.
"Did you know about this mechanism?"
"Not at all." Izuru Kira shook his head. "What exactly is this...?"
"This mechanism identifies its target through Reiatsu. Only its owner can open it, so I suppose you could call it a Reiatsu recognition system?" Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi took a black case out from inside and placed it on the VIP room table. He unfastened the clasp on one side and lifted the lid, revealing the violin inside. "I asked Kisuke to make it for me."
Seeing that the item inside was still there, Izuru Kira looked even more astonished. "No wonder no one ever found it..."
After Gin Ichimaru left, this place had been searched multiple times, yet something had still remained hidden.
After hearing Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's explanation, Izuru Kira finally understood.
After all, it was the work of Kisuke Urahara.
"Is this... a musical instrument?"
"That's right. It's a violin. Her name is Candice." Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi brushed his slender fingers over it. "What do you think? She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Uh... I don't really understand that sort of thing," Izuru Kira answered vaguely. He knew little about musical instruments to begin with, let alone the beauty of one.
Rose eagerly rubbed rosin onto the bow, carefully set the violin in place, closed his eyes, and swayed with it.
A soft tone filled the entire room.
Even though Izuru Kira knew very little about musical instruments, he could still feel Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's joy in that moment.
"This is wonderful... I thought an instrument from over a hundred years ago might not make any sound anymore, but I never expected it to still sound this lovely." Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi adjusted the strings. "It's all thanks to this case that maintains constant temperature and humidity. Kisuke really is incredible. To think he could make something this impressive more than a hundred years ago... If the World of the Living had possessed this kind of technology in the same era, surely countless famous instruments could have been preserved. Don't you think?"
"Uh... I don't really understand that sort of thing," Izuru Kira answered honestly, his expression growing even gloomier.
Although he had briefly shared in Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi's joy, he was ultimately still a dull person.