"Revenge? Against the Seireitei?"
Chikane Iba's hand quietly slipped toward her robes. At any moment, she could draw her Zanpakutō and cut Rose down.
"Relax, Granny." Rose smiled.
He was no longer the man he used to be. His improved strength made it easy to notice her subtle movement.
"We don't bear any hostility toward the Seireitei. We're only here to settle things with the one truly responsible."
"We? So Hirako Shinji and the others have returned too?" she asked.
"Yeah. All of us."
"You're not planning to go after Captain-Commander Yamamoto, are you?"
Pfft—
Rose nearly choked, spraying tea.
He had to admit—her guess was bold enough to scare him.
"Of course not! We're not suicidal. We wouldn't dare provoke him."
If Iba was someone Rose personally feared, then Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was someone the entire Gotei 13 feared.
He still remembered captain meetings—whenever Yamamoto struck the ground with his staff in anger, even captains would instinctively shrink back.
"Then who?" Iba pressed. "Who could make four captains and a group of lieutenants hold such a grudge?"
From her perspective, aside from Yamamoto, who else could stand against a force like that? Four captains and multiple lieutenants were enough to launch an expedition into Hueco Mundo.
"Granny… I used to think the same—that all captains were roughly equal," Rose said quietly. "It wasn't until I was completely manipulated and framed that I realized… there are levels even among captains."
"You're targeting one of them?" Iba's voice softened slightly. "Have you thought this through? If you do this, you may never come back."
"We have," Rose replied calmly. "All of us came back prepared to die."
"If we succeed… and clear our names, I plan to open a musical instrument shop in Rukongai."
He smiled faintly.
"When that happens, you'll come help me out, won't you, Granny?"
"You…"
Iba suddenly laughed, a rare warmth in her expression.
"If you'd been this proactive back then, I wouldn't have had to chase you around with a blade just to get you to do paperwork."
"But at least your love for music hasn't changed."
"Haha… I really caused you trouble back then."
Rose chuckled—but the mood quickly dimmed.
"Granny… how has Squad 3 been these past years?"
At that, Iba fell silent.
She slowly set down her teacup—then suddenly smacked Rose hard across the back.
"I've been wanting to do that for a long time, you idiot! You caused me no end of trouble back then!"
When he "defected," she had to stabilize the squad, face investigation from Central 46 Chambers and handle all administrative duties alone.
It had been the hardest time of her life as a Shinigami.
Feeling that familiar sting, Rose grinned.
Somehow, it eased his heart.
Iba gradually calmed down.
"Still… that's all in the past. Fortunately, the new captain they assigned was a genius. He picked things up quickly, so I was able to retire."
"…Ichimaru Gin."
At the mention of the name, Iba shot Rose an annoyed look.
"Honestly, what kind of luck did I have to end up with you? Ichimaru only needed to be told once—he mastered everything immediately. Meanwhile, I had to chase you with a sword just to make you work!"
"Ah… haha…" Rose laughed awkwardly.
Compared to Gin, his past self really did seem like a useless captain obsessed only with music. If not for accidentally achieving Bankai, he might never have held that position at all.
"Thanks to Ichimaru, the transition went smoothly," Iba continued. "His lieutenant is also very capable. The two of them have kept Squad 3 in excellent order."
Seeing her satisfied expression, Rose swallowed the words stuck in his throat.
If she knew that Ichimaru Gin would soon betray the Soul Society… it would only bring her pain.
Rose stood up.
"Granny, I'm relieved to see you're doing well. I should get going."
"You brat… If you've got nowhere else, stay here for now," she said. She knew how dangerous the Seireitei was under lockdown.
"I still have something I need to see," Rose replied. "No time to sit around drinking tea."
"You want to visit the squad, don't you?"
"…You always see right through me."
"Hmph. If I couldn't, how would I have dragged you back to work back then?" she said smugly, before softening. "Go on. Be careful."
"Got it. See you."
Rose vanished with Shunpo.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
One day later.
Squad 3 Headquarters.
Kira Izuru entered the captain's office carrying a stack of documents.
Even under lockdown, administrative work couldn't stop.
The task of dealing with the Ryoka had been fully handed over to Captain Ichimaru Gin—who, it was said, was working alongside Tōsen Kaname. A combination far stronger than any standard captain-lieutenant pair.
Thus, Kira and Hisagi Shūhei remained behind to manage routine affairs.
Kira placed the processed documents in Gin's usual office.
The room faced the courtyard. Sliding the door open revealed a persimmon tree outside.
But today—
The door was already open.
And someone was sitting there.
A man with long, wavy blond hair—definitely not a member of Squad 3.
Kira set the documents down and rested his hand on his Zanpakutō.
Given the recent Ryoka intrusion, a bad feeling crept in.
"…Who are you?"
Hearing the voice, Rose turned, offering what he believed was a gentle smile.
Noticing Kira's lieutenant badge, he said:
"You must be the current lieutenant of Squad 3. A pleasure. My name is Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi."
Kira had no interest in pleasantries.
"Please leave Captain Ichimaru's office."
"Sorry," Rose said. "I was just curious… about the only thing that's changed in Squad 3 over the past hundred years."
After Rose left, Ichimaru Gin hadn't drastically reformed the division. Instead, he preserved everything as it was—only making it more orderly.
Even this office remained exactly the same.
The only change—
Was the persimmon tree in the courtyard.
Planted personally by Ichimaru Gin.
With Gin absent from the barracks, Rose felt that tree was the only proof he had ever been here.
"…A hundred years?" Kira's expression shifted. "You… are the former captain of Squad 3?"
"That's right," Rose nodded. "You've done well managing things."
"But why are you here? Weren't you—"
"I'm no longer part of Squad 3," Rose said calmly. "I just came back to reminisce… and take something."
He stepped toward the room.
Kira immediately blocked his path.
"Ōtoribashi-senpai, I'm sorry, but this is Captain Ichimaru's space. Please obtain his permission before touching anything."
"…Ichimaru Gin…"
Rose looked around.
Aside from the paperwork on the desk, nothing had changed.
He didn't know whether to feel relieved or unsettled.
It meant that outside of handling duties, Gin rarely stayed here.
And that likely meant—
He was elsewhere… carrying out Aizen's schemes.
"…He probably won't be coming back."
"—What?"
Kira froze for a moment.
Tomorrow was the Sōkyoku execution.
If nothing unexpected happened, Ichimaru Gin would be with Aizen right now.
That was why Rose dared to come here alone.
Taking advantage of Kira's hesitation, Rose slipped past him.
By the time Kira reacted, Rose had already reached the alcove.
Click.
A hidden compartment opened.
Kira was stunned.
He had cleaned that alcove countless times—and never knew it existed.
Even Captain Ichimaru seemed unaware of it.
"Found it… It's still here. Thank goodness."
Rose carefully took out an exquisite violin.
He held it gently against his cheek.
This was his favorite instrument.
Back when he was captain, his love of music led him to collect many instruments—but under Iba's strict supervision, most were locked away.
Like a child hiding toys, he had concealed this violin here.
Whenever he had a chance, he would admire it while working—then hide it again before Iba returned.
"Senpai… how did you know about that?" Kira asked.
"I told you," Rose said, placing the violin on his shoulder and lifting the bow. "Aside from that persimmon tree, nothing in Squad 3 has changed."
"Want to hear some music?"
"Wait!" Kira interrupted. "Please tell me—what happened to Captain Ichimaru?"
"...You'll know tomorrow," Rose said softly.
He could tell—Kira was deeply loyal.
He couldn't bring himself to shatter that belief.
"Please, I must know!" Kira insisted.
Rose sighed.
"…Before that, how about you tell me something?"
"About the Ichimaru Gin you know."
Despite everything, he was still curious—
About the man who had inherited Squad 3.
"Captain Ichimaru…"
Kira began, his expression softening.
"He's a very gentle person. He often helps the squad members… He loves that persimmon tree. Every year, he makes dried persimmons with us—it's become a tradition in our division…"
As he spoke, he gradually lost himself in the memories.
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