On the eve of the expeditionary force's departure for Hueco Mundo.
Araki, Kuruyashiki, and Kuruyashiki's deputy, Ashido, stood shoulder to shoulder on the podium temporarily constructed by the 1st Division members...
Originally, Kuruyashiki had planned to give the center position to Araki to display Araki's distinguished status. After all, Araki was the strongest and highest-ranking of the three. However, Araki refused Kuruyashiki's request...
Araki said that today's protagonists were not him, but Kuruyashiki and the expeditionary force. Thus, he had Kuruyashiki stand in the middle, while he willingly played a supporting role at Kuruyashiki's right.
At that moment, the three of them faced the expeditionary force members before them...
For a time, all three seemed to have something to say, wanting to give the soldiers a pre-battle pep talk.
"Commander, the troops are all looking at you. Say a few words, will you?!"
With his hands behind his back, Araki looked at the spirited expeditionary force members below the stage. He smiled faintly before softly speaking to Kuruyashiki beside him.
"Captain-Commander Araki, you flatter me."
"I grew up in the Rukongai District! I barely know how to read, and I have no education to speak of! Faced with such a grand occasion, I truly do not know what I should say to the troops. How about this? For today's rally, Captain-Commander Araki, could you speak in my place?"
After hearing Araki's words, Kuruyashiki immediately smiled.
He truly did want to properly express the excitement in his heart to the soldiers below...
But considering that Captain-Commander Araki was standing beside him, after pondering for a long time, he ultimately decided to have Captain-Commander Araki serve as the speaker for this rally.
"Heh heh..."
"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."
After hearing Kuruyashiki's words, Araki chuckled softly and agreed to