"Thud, thud, thud, thud..."
"Thud, thud, thud, thud..."
Early in the morning, the tranquil Seireitei was suddenly roused by an alarm.
However, everyone could tell from the signal that it was not an emergency alarm, merely a summons for the Gotei 13 captains to convene for a meeting.
In the Kuchiki Clan residence, Ginrei Kuchiki's body swayed slightly upon hearing the alarm.
This day had finally come.
After stepping out of his room, Ginrei Kuchiki immediately spotted his younger daughter and son-in-law waiting outside.
"Father-in-law."
"Father."
Ailin and Haruko Kuchiki respectfully bowed to Ginrei Kuchiki.
"Father-in-law, thank you for your tolerance and understanding toward your son-in-law all these years."
Having lived together for five years, the Kuchiki Clan residence had become the home Ailin knew best, apart from the Second Division barracks.
Moreover, aside from the clan elders, everyone in the Kuchiki Clan—whether it was Ginrei Kuchiki's tolerance, Haruko's gentleness, or Byakuya Kuchiki's childlike affection—had let Ailin feel the warmth of family.
Especially Ginrei Kuchiki.
When Ginrei Kuchiki had sought a husband for Haruko, he had wanted to find someone who could hold up the Kuchiki Clan after his death.
Yet in the end, Ailin had gone against his wishes and chosen to accompany Haruko to the Human World.
And Ginrei Kuchiki had also chosen his daughter over the clan, allowing Ailin and Haruko Kuchiki to go to the Human World to recover.
One could imagine that after Ailin's departure, in order to keep the Kuchiki Clan elders from gossiping about Ailin and Haruko, Ginrei Kuchiki would have to once again shoulder the positions of Kuchiki Clan head and Sixth Division captain.
For Ginrei Kuchiki, who was already nearing the end of his life, this would only hasten his death.
Even so, he had never said anything to Ailin and