A Big Sister's Concern / In Ten Years, You'll Be Captain
Hearing that string of titles, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was so embarrassed he nearly clawed another Soul Society out of the ground.
"What was all that supposed to be?!"
"Captain Hirako, you can just call me Kyōsuke."
"No way. If Byakuya heard me, he'd say something about how calling a noble by his first name was an insult, then fly into a rage at me!"
Shinji Hirako shrugged, looking thoroughly put-upon. Clearly, he had been through this before.
"Sorry, we still have to get ready at our division's recruitment desk, so we can't stay and chat."
"I look forward to working with you, Kuchiki."
He patted Kyōsuke Kuchiki on the shoulder, delivered those words, and left with Aizen.
Watching the two walk away, Kyōsuke Kuchiki nodded to himself.
Shinji Hirako might have looked carefree and unreliable, but he was actually a very dependable person.
Long ago, the Fifth Division Captain had seen through Aizen's disguise.
That was why he had deliberately recruited Aizen as a subordinate: he wanted to see what Aizen was up to.
He was a good man. What a pity...
Without dwelling on it, Kyōsuke Kuchiki turned and walked into the auditorium.
Like at any graduation ceremony, all the graduates sat together, though Shin'ō Academy had rather few students.
There were no more than a hundred graduates in total.
As soon as Kyōsuke Kuchiki entered the auditorium, he drew a great many gazes.
His handsome looks, noble birth, and heroic deeds during the Konsō test.
Now, wherever Kyōsuke Kuchiki went, he was the center of attention.
He had also gained seven utterly loyal subordinates.
Gin Ichimaru was not among them.
Gin was a special case. Getting Gin Ichimaru to pledge his allegiance was not something just anyone could do.
Not long after Kyōsuke Kuchiki sat down in the top student's seat, the graduation ceremony officially began.
He had completed the entire curriculum in just one year and slain an Adjuchas during the Konsō practicum.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki received a medal of honor, a ribbon, and a large monetary reward.
Genryūsai Shigekuni personally handed Kyōsuke Kuchiki the medal.
The old man's face was full of approval, and he opened his eyes to look at him for once.
"An outstanding student like you is a source of pride for the Seireitei and the Kuchiki Clan."
"Do not forget what you did that day, and do not forget the responsibilities you bear."
"Thank you for your recognition. I'll keep working hard."
Amid a round of applause, Kyōsuke Kuchiki accepted the medal and armband.
Afterward, Genryūsai Shigekuni gave a brief speech and declared the graduation ceremony over.
After all, he knew the main event was not here, but...
Division recruitment!
Every year, the graduates entered the courtyard behind the academy full of anticipation.
As the Stealth Force, the Second Division had a special role, and most of its members came through invitations and transfers.
Aside from it, all twelve other divisions were present. Each had its own recruitment desk to answer students' questions and handle the assessment applications submitted.
But this year... things were very different.
When he entered the area, even Kyōsuke Kuchiki could not help looking surprised.
The people sitting at the recruitment desks were not the divisions' Seated Officers, but captains and lieutenants!
The divisions' Third Seats, who usually served as examiners, had all been relegated to assistants' assistants, doing menial odds and ends.
The other graduates stared at the sight, then erupted in excitement.
"Is the lineup this impressive every year?"
"So many captains gathered in one place. Aside from captain meetings, this must be a first!"
"Phew—their Reiatsu feels so intense. I can barely breathe."
"..."
Chapter 37: A Big Sister's Concern
The division recruitment area in Shin'ō Academy's rear courtyard!
Eleven captains were present, everyone except Kiganjō, the 11th Division's captain, and the Captain-Commander of the First Division.
It was no exaggeration to say that all of Soul Society's strongest fighting power was gathered here today!
And naturally, there was no need to explain why they had come.
As the graduates talked among themselves, countless gazes turned toward Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
If he had not been so exceptionally outstanding, how could so many captains have come to recruit for their divisions?
Even now, they could scarcely believe the rumor was true.
A trainee Soul Reaper who had still been a first-year only a few months ago had wiped out over a hundred Menos Grande single-handedly.
It was so outrageous that it was practically a myth.
The original rumor had been fairly close to the truth, but it grew more outrageous each time it was passed on.
By now, even the truth sounded a little like a lie.
For a moment, the looks those people gave Kyōsuke Kuchiki were filled with deep envy and awe.
To these young Soul Reapers, whose blood still ran hot, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was everything they dreamed of becoming.
Everyone present dreamed of being a hero.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki was the hero of their dreams, only a little more perfect.
His real experiences were the stuff of myths they would never have dared dream of themselves.
Faced with someone like that, the vast majority found it hard to think of anything else.
Since they could never surpass him no matter how hard they tried, ordinary people naturally felt no jealousy.
After once again gazing in admiration at their "role model in life," Kyōsuke Kuchiki, they looked at the gathered captains and began chattering.
"Captain Unohana is looking at me!"
"Isn't she looking at Kyōsuke Kuchiki?"
"Captain Ōtoribashi is as handsome as ever!"
"You people have no taste. Captain Ukitake is the best! He's famous for looking after his subordinates!"
"Nonsense! Captain Muguruma is clearly the one who cares most about his people! He's all man, a real man!"
"..."
Watching the graduates, who were almost too excited to speak coherently, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was speechless. He thought to himself:
Should I have the captains you support fight it out? Whoever wins is the best. That would be the fairest way.
The captains paid no attention to the lively sixth-year graduates, who were just like those of previous years.
To varying degrees, their attention was fixed on Kyōsuke Kuchiki, who stood calmly to the side.
They knew that his presence here meant he did not intend to join the Sixth Division as tradition dictated.
Kyōsuke Kuchiki stood with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart.
"A buyer who rushes in gets no bargain." In this invisible contest, whoever made the first move would be at a disadvantage.
Whichever division he joined would make little difference to Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
What he wanted was the freedom to act independently.
That kind of authority was not normally given to a newcomer, even one as renowned a genius as Kyōsuke Kuchiki.
While Kyōsuke Kuchiki was thinking, a weight suddenly settled on his back.
"My adorable little brother, it's only been a while since we last met, and you've become so amazing that your big sister can hardly recognize you."
"That won't do. Come join your big sister's division. We can spend our days and nights together and get to know each other better."
At the sound of the clear, pleasant female voice, something stirred in Kyōsuke Kuchiki's heart.
He had not even noticed when she arrived!
That speed and skill at concealing her presence...
He turned his head. The woman leaning against his back had healthy brown skin and a pair of bright, round amber eyes, like a cat's.
Her purple hair was cut short against the sides of her face, its ends curling up slightly, giving her a lively, playful look.
The woman had the body of a leopardess, moved with agility, and was full of wild charm.
There were plenty of beautiful women in the Seireitei, but only one possessed such wild appeal.
Feeling the strange, heavy weight against his back, Kyōsuke Kuchiki smiled.
"Captain Yoruichi, mind appearances. Everyone's watching. And please talk to me normally."
"Huh? Why so formal? Kyōsuke, I watched you grow up. You could be a little more familiar with me!"
Rather than move back, Yoruichi reached out with her slender, shapely hands, placed them on Kyōsuke Kuchiki's shoulders, and embraced him.
She was not short to begin with, and next to Kyōsuke Kuchiki's height, coupled with their intimate pose, they looked from a distance like a couple being affectionate.
The pair's blatant display of "feeding dog food" left the students waiting in line for recruitment staring.
"Hey, hey, is that... Yoruichi, the Second Division Captain?"
"Shh! She's a noble. It's disrespectful to call her by name!"
"What does it matter? Captain Shihoin doesn't care about that at all."
"Damn it... if I could, I'd want Captain Yoruichi to hold me in her arms too."
"Big-sister types are the best!"
"..."
Listening to the chatter around him, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was a little speechless.
Yoruichi, behind him, seemed to sense Kyōsuke's helplessness and grew even happier, her actions growing bolder.
Teasing this little brother who's gotten so much stronger is so much fun!
She pinched Kyōsuke Kuchiki's cheek and continued with a smile.
"Come on, be good and call me big sister."
"I can take you to the Second Division right now and give your body a thorough examination, to see if your progress is really as impressive as the rumors say."
Her words carried an irresistible force, as though she were certain Kyōsuke Kuchiki could not defy her.
Chapter 38: In Ten Years, You'll Be Captain
"Captain Yoruichi, I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in the Second Division..."
With her warm, fragrant softness against his back, Kyōsuke Kuchiki was enjoying himself a little.
But he kept his head and did not fall into that sweet trap.
With tremendous willpower, Kyōsuke Kuchiki took a step forward, freeing himself from Yoruichi's grasp.
She had a tendency to get carried away in front of an audience. If she really got into it, she might even spill his embarrassing childhood stories.
So in front of all these people, it was best to keep his distance from this overly enthusiastic Sister Yoruichi.
"How about it?"
"Would you consider the Fifth Division?"