'Where exactly are we going now?'
Kira Izuru really wanted to ask this question, but in the end, he could only ask it silently in his heart.
Slipping into chaos without realizing it, even when he was rescued by Captain Ichimaru, he had subconsciously answered, "I also hope someone can save me," without thinking about whether he was actually in danger right now.
Even though his mind was a complete blank, his heart was a tangled mess. Kira just subconsciously followed Ichimaru Gin, not even noticing the passage of time.
"My, my, it seems I'm late. I'm truly sorry."
'Did Captain Ichimaru arrange to meet someone?' Kira subconsciously looked up. Although the person had his back to them, the figure was all too familiar.
"I just arrived early, but you really should apologize." Kōe turned his head, his displeased gaze sweeping past Ichimaru Gin before finally landing on Kira. "This isn't what we agreed upon, Ichimaru."
"Shi... Instructor Shihouin..." Kira couldn't help but shrink back. Even if he didn't know the reason, he understood he shouldn't be here.
"What does it matter?" Ichimaru Gin asked in return, spreading his hands as if bringing Kira along was the most normal thing in the world. "I appreciate Kira just as much as you do. He knows very well that I have absolutely nothing to do with Captain Aizen's death, much like how you know that, isn't it?"
"He is a child well worth nurturing and trusting."
Kōe stared at Kira for a good while. Ichimaru's words were not unfounded.
Abarai Renji, Hinamori Momo, and Kira Izuru were the three most outstanding students from his first batch, and among them, the most inconspicuous Kira was actually the one who satisfied him the most.
Kōe always felt that Kira was the one most like him. They both feared battle, but they didn't let that fear make them hesitate; instead, they pushed themselves to their absolute limits during combat. Because of this, back in the Shin'ō Academy, Kira was always the fastest to grasp various tactics.
At the same time, they could both, to a certain extent, avoid being clouded by emotion and maintain a calm mind as much as possible. This was evident from how he didn't hesitate to cross swords with his close friend and classmate, Hinamori, in order to protect Ichimaru.
Professionally, Ichimaru Gin was his captain, and as a lieutenant, protecting his captain was only natural. Personally, was Aizen's death really related to Ichimaru Gin? If the suspect was truly that obvious, how could Aizen, the victim himself, not have known and thus be so easily killed by Ichimaru Gin?
Ultimately, given the way Aizen died, Ichimaru Gin should have been the first suspect ruled out. This logic was simple and easy to understand, but unfortunately, the number of people capable of calm reasoning could be counted on one hand. Even his ostensibly most outstanding student—Hitsugaya Tōshirō—had fallen into his own prejudice.
And now, was Ichimaru Gin paving the way for Kira? Was this an early precaution against the suspicion that might fall on Kira after he left the Seireitei?
"He is indeed outstanding among his peers, but he still has a long way to go. Now is not the time for him to be involved in these matters," Kōe said dismissively, confident that with Ichimaru Gin's intellect, he would understand the underlying meaning of his words. "Let's leave the matter of bringing Kira here at that. I hope you merely brought an extra person, rather than bringing the wrong person."
"Then I must apologize once again." Ichimaru Gin placed his right hand over his chest and smiled with a slight nod. "I am truly sorry, Mr. Shihouin."
Kōe knew exactly what was going to happen next, and he also knew he shouldn't be meeting with Ichimaru Gin and the others anymore.
Ever since Yoruichi entered the Seireitei, his task was to capture those brats as quickly as possible. After that, he just needed to wait quietly. Between Yoruichi and Aizen, he would neither help nor harm either side.
Unfortunately, Shiba Miyako had actually fallen into Aizen's hands. Under these circumstances, trading his own inaction for Shiba Miyako was practically a deal with zero cost.
But looking at it now, Aizen was still unsatisfied with this trade; he needed to add some more chips to the table.
"I finally managed to get people to drop their guard around me, and here you are. You guys are a real bunch of bastards."
"How could someone like Mr. Shihouin remain in obscurity within the Seireitei?" Ichimaru Gin suddenly said loudly. Kōe knew this wasn't directed at him.
Sure enough, Ichimaru Gin abruptly turned his head. "You think so too, don't you, Captain Hitsugaya?"
As soon as his voice fell, a short figure materialized from the shadows. It was the very person Ichimaru Gin had just addressed—Captain of Squad 10, Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
At this moment, his face was stern and cold. His sharp eyebrows were like swords in the hands of two duelists, radiating a fiery, scorching killing intent before they had even clashed.
His teal eyes, usually as calm as an icy lake, flickered with intensity. "I never expected you to be here, Instructor Shihouin."
"I've been ignored. But, this also proves that my words were correct, right?" Ichimaru Gin said with amusement. Kōe ignored him, instead speaking coldly to Hitsugaya, "That only shows you haven't been thinking enough."
"Am I to understand that you are on the same side as Ichimaru Gin?"
"It's quite obvious, Captain Hitsugaya," Ichimaru Gin answered preemptively on Kōe's behalf.
"Shut up!" Hitsugaya shouted angrily. Looking at Kōe, he gritted his teeth and continued to ask, "I need your answer!"
"Does it matter? Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"
'Does it matter?'
"Of course it matters. But, the current you probably wouldn't understand."
Hitsugaya understood that the Instructor Shihouin who was strict in class, the one who constantly warned the students at the graduation ceremony to absolutely never die, was gone.
"Before I cut you down, I'll ask one more question." Hitsugaya lowered his head, his right hand gripping the Zanpakutō strapped to his back. "Why? Why did you betray so many people who trusted you, Shihouin Kōe!"
This was going a bit off-script. Kōe had no idea what kind of bizarre script Aizen had written, nor what role he was supposed to play in it.
However, just like Ichimaru Gin's half-threatening cooperation, there would always be someone to lend a helping hand at the right moment.
"She should be able to answer that question for me."
"Because you are the one Captain Aizen has been looking for all along—the person who wants to use Rukia to seize the Sōkyoku, aren't you, Instructor Shihouin."
It was Hinamori's voice. Hitsugaya knew it without even turning his head. Sure enough, Aizen had written everything he knew in that suicide note, and upon learning the truth, Hinamori couldn't help but break out of prison to avenge him.
"Leave the rest to me, Hinamori." Hitsugaya extended his left hand, signaling for her to stop. Neither of these two men were opponents she could handle.
However, Hinamori didn't seem to understand his intention. She kept her head down, continuing to walk forward step by step.
"Sigh." Seeing this scene, Kōe couldn't help but look up and let out a long sigh at the sky. Beside him, Ichimaru Gin smiled and asked with feigned concern, "What's wrong?"
"Stomachache," Kōe said, slowly closing his eyes. "Out of sheer anger!"