Chapter 138

Because of the sage's tragic death yesterday.

Mutsuki Shōkaku, Daijiji Kū Seigen, and the current vice-captain of the Twelfth Division, who is in charge of the Menos Grande, were all questioned by the Central 46 Chambers:

Since the first two had passed away, only the vice-captain of the Twelfth Division was actually dismissed, and the vacant position was filled by Hiyori Sarugaki, who was on a mission in the World of the Living world... It must be said that the Gotei 13 was quite efficient during this period.

But.

Death does not mean liberation.

Because they failed to fulfill their duty of protection, these two were sentenced not to be buried in the Gotei 13 cemetery after death—which, in the Seireitei's public propaganda, is the glorious place for Soul Reaper in battle—or in the cemeteries of the various divisions; in addition, to "avoid suspicion," Mutsuki- sensei's family was not even allowed to enter the Seireitei's noble cemetery.

Left with no other choice, we had to ask Ayaka's family to handle this matter in the end.

By the way.

Teacher Mutsuki is able to receive such treatment because of her noble status, while the Vice-Captain Daijiji is still a commoner and can't even get in here... Although Ayaka is willing to make an exception, Hoshino, who is in charge of this matter, has shown considerable stubbornness in this regard.

So.

As for the matter of the Vice-Captain Daijiji, the Tenth Division will have to figure it out themselves.

"Thank you for your hard work, Hoshino."

"No, this is simply my duty."

In public, Hoshino presents herself as a typical well-behaved girl.

"Everyone."

Haruto glanced at the people around him.

"Let's set off back to the Shin'ō Academy."

"Graduation..."

It should be starting soon.

That's what they say.

But the nature of Haruto's graduation ceremony was quite different: out of the entire sixth-year students, only five of them, not including Byakuya, survived.

All the other students were killed in the attack as a result of Adjuchas's plan.

Yesterday, Kuchiki Sōjun led a team that included more than just Hirako and his group. However, the leading vice-captains were all concentrated at the scene of the fiercest battle, while the other squad members and Seated Officers were scattered to rescue people and collect evidence.

At last.

Apart from Haruto and his group, everyone who received the publicly announced results was affected... Haruto doesn't know if there's anything fishy going on.

"Um."

Isane carried Kiyone on her back.

Haruto, with Ayaka holding his arm around his shoulder, lifted Nanao onto his shoulder with one arm. Only Ayaka and Kiyone hadn't fully mastered Shunpo yet, but because of yesterday's battle with Adjuchas, the three of them, except for Isane, were only barely able to move.

Putting everything else aside.

The bandages wrapped around Ayaka's body alone are almost too much for a mummy cosplay.

"Whoosh!"

Shin'ō Grand Auditorium.

This year's graduation ceremony had a significantly different atmosphere compared to previous years.

The students didn't need to pay close attention; instead, when Haruto bid farewell to Mutsuki Shōkaku, the Shin'ō Academy also held a farewell ceremony:

A memorial service was held for the fifty students who sacrificed their lives during their graduation exams.

Their coffins will be escorted by the Seventh Division from the Shin'ō Academy to the Gotei 13, witnessed by more than 800 students.

But.

This is nothing to write about in the Soul Reaper.

Their profession inherently involves constantly facing life and death.

Even disregarding the nearly two hundred Soul Reaper who have already sacrificed themselves in the recent battles against the Quincy in the World of the Living; the reports sent back by the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force alone show the same number of losses... and these figures only account for deaths.

So.

The sun rose as usual.

After the memorial service, the graduation ceremony proceeded as planned... under the leadership of the temporary dean, Nagaki.

--It was the same Zanjutsu instructor that Haruto had visited.

But.

The atmosphere in the Shin'ō Grand Auditorium this year certainly won't be as lively as it used to be.

Whether they are junior staff with a few years of experience or newly admitted students, their understanding of death is not yet profound.

If it were a five-year-old...

Those who survived the Konsō internship were all much more composed.

At this time.

"Whoosh!"

The sound of Shunpo was not deliberately concealed.

Just as Dean Nagaki announced the start of the graduation ceremony, Haruto and the others arrived at the familiar Shin'ō Grand Auditorium right on time.

All eyes in the auditorium were looking out.

Even though everyone except Isane was injured, Haruto and his group displayed a completely different demeanor from the trainees in the audience.

By the way...

Soul Reaper upgrade doesn't mean a full recovery; Haruto's injuries and depletion haven't been completely healed. The reason he looks so good is entirely due to the powerful regenerative abilities brought by Bone Strike's "Bone Forging."

"..."

"It's so lively!"

Looking at the scene inside the auditorium, Haruto couldn't help but sigh softly.

--It has nothing to do with the younger generation in the audience; it's mainly because of the level of the representatives from the "recruiting unit" this time.

"They're mostly here for you, aren't they?"

Haruto bent down and placed Nanao, who was on his shoulder, and Ayaka, who was hugging his arm, on the ground.

"Don't underestimate yourself; at most, only half of them are after me."

"A-Qing, your skin is getting thicker and thicker."

Ayaka muttered something under her breath.

"Do you even need to tell me?"

"Cough!"

Nanao coughed softly beside her.

If it were before, Nanao's voice would probably have been several decibels louder; her restraint was mainly due to her concern about reopening her wounds.

"Let's hurry over there, we shouldn't keep the captains waiting."

Nanao's words were rather polite.

Even if not all of the "captains" she mentioned are Captain-level, it's still a rare sight to see so many vice-captains appear at a graduation ceremony... The last time was when Kaien Shiba graduated directly from the Shin'ō Academy in just one year.

Across from the Shin'yō Grand Auditorium, the Gotei 13 and the Kidō Corps were all present, and more than half of them were familiar faces:

Third Seat of the First Division, Genshirō Okikiba

Second Division Vice-Captain, Marechiyo Ōmaeda

Third Division Vice-Captain, Chikane Iba

Fourth Division Captain, Retsu Unohana

Fifth Division, Third Seat: Shinji Hirako

Sixth Division, Fourth Seat: Ginjiro

Lieutenant of the Seventh Division, Jin'emon Kotsubaki

Captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui Kyōraku

Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jūshirō Ukitake

Kidō Corps Kidō, Tessai Tsukabishi

This scale is quite exaggerated.

Take the First Division, for example, which never attends such occasions. Most of their members are recruited from other divisions, and they rarely select directly from the Shin'ō Academy.

The fact that they were able to send out Genjiro Oki, the Third Seat Genshirō Okikiba, is rare in the history of the school. Don't underestimate him just because he's only the Third Seat captain; his true strength is top-notch among the vice-captains... After all, the vice-captain above him is among the best of all the captains.

But.

The First Division is a very traditional team, Haruto doesn't think Genshirō Okikiba would break the established rules.

He's most likely just here on behalf of Captain -Captain-Commander Yamamoto.

"Nanao."

Haruto led everyone towards the captains' positions.

With only five graduates— Byakuya not participating—the choice of any one of them is quite remarkable.

"Um."

Nanao nodded in response to Haruto.

While healing last night, everyone had already consulted each other's opinions, and the choice of squad was already clear in their minds.

And just a side note.

The reason why the Ninth Division didn't send a proper Seated Officer is because they weren't familiar with the graduates of this year, and the Prison Squad was really too busy with the recent arrests.

The Tenth Division was affected by the sacrifice of its vice-captain; the 11th Division was busy with its mission to conquer the World of the Living; Twelfth Division was caught up in the attack on the Sage and had no time to participate in this matter.

Nanao walked towards the direction of the Eighth Division.

Upon witnessing this scene, Shunsui Kyōraku noticeably lowered the brim of his hat, which he wore even indoors, but it was too late to avoid it.

Lisa Yadōmaru specifically took the day off today.

"Kyōraku... Captain."

"... Yo!"

Now that things have come to this...

Shunsui Kyōraku had no choice but to confront Nanao directly... He regretted his attire today, especially the two hairpins he was wearing.

"I want to join the Eighth Division."

Nanao said very firmly.

"... A cute and hardworking girl is naturally very welcome to the Eighth Division."

Compared to his usual composure, Shunsui Kyōraku was a little reserved today.

However, things had already come to this point, and he no longer had any excuse to avoid it—although there would be many more troubles to come, he was no longer the boy who used to hide behind his older brother.

Captain of the Eighth Division.

A disciple of Shigekuni Yamamoto...

Shunsui Kyōraku's silhouette was even more resolute than that of his former elder brother.

Everyone made their choices quickly.

After Nanao joined the Eighth Division, Ayaka unexpectedly also chose to join the Eighth Division.

According to her, one should never follow Haruto around like Haruto: girls who are not independent are unlikely to be noticed by outstanding men.