Chapter 204: Aftermath
Probably because of this world's entirely feudal background.
Sasakibe Chojiro hadn't noticed the dark humor in what he'd just offered.
Matsushita Yusuke was caught off guard, coughing repeatedly while waving his hand helplessly.
"Never mind, never mind... I'll just stay hungry. More comfortable that way."
And another thing.
"There should be other squad members who can confirm I didn't leave the compound tonight. They may not have had direct contact with me, but they can still provide some evidence of my presence."
Cooperating quickly was also the fastest way to clear himself of any suspicion. On that front, Matsushita Yusuke was quite willing to oblige.
Sasakibe Chojiro accepted everything and indicated he would follow up on all of it.
"Then let's leave it there for now. I have some things to attend to. Captain Matsushita, please feel free to ask the squad members outside if you need anything."
"Of course. No problem."
Neither pressed the matter further. Time passed quietly, and about an hour later Sasakibe Chojiro came back.
When they met again, his expression had noticeably softened.
He looked at Matsushita Yusuke with a smile. It was entirely the look of someone saying you've cleared.
"Captain Matsushita. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
"Not at all. I only contributed a small amount of my time. Compared to everything you're managing, it's barely worth mentioning."
Watching Sasakibe's somewhat flustered expression, one had to say... Matsushita Yusuke felt he understood Aizen's mindset a little better.
How genuinely interesting it was to play this kind of scene with people.
The thought that in these people's eyes he was an earnest, completely-unable-to-do-wrong figure.
And when the day came that he revealed his true colors, the look on their faces would be something to treasure. He was already looking forward to it.
With that reflection settling, Matsushita Yusuke offered his well-wishes.
"I hope you find a lead soon. If there's anything I can help with going forward, please don't hesitate to reach out at any time."
"Of course, of course..."
Matsushita Yusuke left the Squad 1 compound with Gin Ichimaru trailing behind, having apparently eaten his full in the interim.
The kid had zero hesitation. The moment he heard there was katsudon available, he'd gone after it without reservation.
"Captain, Squad 1's cooking is genuinely good. You think we could poach their chef?"
"You're actually enjoying this..."
On the way back, Matsushita Yusuke suddenly stopped in place, his expression shifting slightly.
Gin Ichimaru behind him nearly walked straight into his back, then raised his head with a baffled look.
"Captain Matsushita, what's wrong?"
Yusuke dropped his gaze and appeared to be thinking.
"Nothing... suddenly need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back."
There were enough public facilities within the Seireitei. Gin glanced to the side and made a quiet sound of acknowledgment.
Nature called when it called. Nothing unusual about that.
He leaned his back against the wall and watched Matsushita Yusuke turn into the facility.
And in the very next instant.
Matsushita Yusuke walked back out from the other side as though no one was watching, with a perfectly calm expression, and headed off in a different direction entirely. Gin remained at the entrance staring straight ahead, apparently completely unaware that his captain had already gone.
Matsushita Yusuke moved at a brisk pace until he stopped in front of a figure and gave a brief bow.
"Aizen-sensei..."
Aizen Sosuke had been quietly tucked away in a corner, having just communicated with Matsushita Yusuke through a reiatsu transmission.
The whole scene had the atmosphere of a clandestine rendezvous.
"You've worked hard, Matsushita-kun."
Aizen's words were genuinely courteous. After all, his subordinate had taken the heat on his behalf to some degree.
"It really was, boss."
"..."
You're actually being that casual about it?
"Ahem. Back to business. During your exchange with Vice-Captain Sasakibe, did he notice anything unusual?"
Without rushing to answer, Matsushita Yusuke dropped his gaze and thought it over carefully.
Then he gave a slight nod.
"At minimum, I don't believe any critical information was exposed."
When the boss asked a question, you thought it through before answering. That was how you showed you were taking the work seriously. A casual off-the-cuff response looked like you weren't paying attention regardless of how right you actually were.
Classic workplace wisdom.
"If Matsushita-kun says so, I can more or less set my mind at ease."
Even though that response was itself a fairly casual acknowledgment, hearing it said was genuinely affecting in its own way.
"Let's talk while we walk. We can find Tosen along the way."
"Yes, Aizen-sensei."
After exchanging notes as they walked, the two quickly had a general picture of where things stood.
"As expected. Vice-Captain Sasakibe deliberately staggered the questioning times."
According to Aizen, he had been the third captain called in. Matsushita Yusuke was sixth.
"The order itself probably doesn't carry any particular meaning, likely just a randomized result. It seems they genuinely don't have any reliable information to work from."
The questioning process had been more or less the same as what Matsushita Yusuke experienced. The only difference being that given Aizen's established reputation as an agreeable colleague, he was treated with noticeably more courtesy throughout.
So.
"What do we do now, Aizen-sensei?"
"Hmm. Let me think..."
Aizen stood still and looked upward for a moment, considering.
Then he turned around with a smile.
"Why don't we find somewhere for a drink first? Tosen hasn't been called in yet. Briefing him once he arrives won't be too late."
At a time like this, drinks first?
Matsushita Yusuke couldn't help scratching his head. One had to say, this particular boss had an impressive ability to stay relaxed about things.
The two found a nearby izakaya and sat down. Over drinks, Aizen naturally asked about the alt's specific situation.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Matsushita Yusuke thought about it genuinely for a moment and found there really wasn't.
"No particular method needed. This Arrancar's ability set is inherently built around accumulation and recovery. As long as some fragment remains, it'll reconstitute itself on its own over time. Like an earthworm cut in two."
Even Aizen Sosuke, who had experienced so much and studied so many Arrancar, showed a genuinely impressed expression upon hearing this.
"Where exactly did you find this one? To think that Hueco Mundo could produce someone with gifts like this... it's genuinely remarkable."
Well, he had raised it himself. That was why it was so strong.
After all, raised-from-scratch specimens were generally much stronger than wild catches. Everyone who had done any breeding knew that.