Departure

The next day.

Second Division barracks.

The moment Soi Fon entered,

she found her Vice Captain, Omaeda, tinkering with a large bag of miscellaneous items in the captain's office, seemingly food.

Soi Fon frowned and asked, "Omaeda! What the hell are you doing here so early in the morning?! Get out there and patrol already!"

Hearing Soi Fon's voice,

Omaeda scratched the back of his head and laughed like a big fool. "Captain, I'm preparing food for you! I've been to that hellhole Hueco Mundo once before. There's nothing there. If you don't bring more food, life will be miserable."

As Omaeda spoke,

he laid out all kinds of snacks he had prepared for Soi Fon.

Soi Fon looked at the huge bag before her,

and her eyelids began twitching uncontrollably.

"You idiot! I'm going to Hueco Mundo to eliminate rebels, not on vacation! How am I supposed to move around if you make me bring all this stuff?!"

Seeing Soi Fon's stern expression,

cold sweat ran down Omaeda's face. He put the snacks away and said awkwardly, "All right, then I'll put this stuff away for now. You can eat it when you come back."

...Soi Fon.

"Tch!"

11th Division.

Kenpachi Zaraki held his long, narrow, nameless Zanpakuto in his arms.

Kusajishi Yachiru stood beside him.

The two sat atop the roof of the 11th Division office,

watching the clouds drift and gather over Soul Society.

"Ken-chan, it's been a long time since we acted separately. You have to be careful when you go to Hueco Mundo this time." Kusajishi Yachiru stared into the distance with her usual innocent look, voicing her concern for Kenpachi Zaraki.

Kenpachi Zaraki looked at Yachiru.

His broad mouth split into a grin,

and he burst into hearty laughter.

"Be careful? Don't you think