Emergency Assembly

Emergency assembly, emergency assembly! Captains of the Gotei 13, emergency assembly in the middle of the night.

Because of the urgency and the unusual nature of the situation... attendance at this gathering was not mandatory.

It was a temporary meeting where those unable to attend could be excused depending on their circumstances.

Even so.

"Waking people up in the middle of the night for a meeting? That's a little too inconsiderate, isn't it?"

Kensei Muguruma raised his right hand with a haggard expression, idly twirling the long hair draped over his shoulder.

"Staying up late is bad for your hair, you know."

Hirako Shinji was dressed in pajamas, with only a captain's haori thrown over them.

"Come on, ease up on the complaints. If they called everyone here at a time like this, it must be for something important."

Kisuke Urahara tried to smooth things over, while Yoruichi Shihouin beside him could not resist teasing him.

"That has nothing to do with you, though. You'd be staying up late even if there wasn't a meeting, wouldn't you?"

"Ahaha... That wording is a little hurtful. If possible, I'd prefer you call it 'research'..."

The capable-looking man, patting the back of his head with an irritated expression, rolled his neck and produced a string of cracking sounds.

Kensei Muguruma wiped his mouth and said,

"Who cares about that? I just want to know why they called us all here at a time like this."

Looking around, everyone present appeared sleepy and bleary-eyed.

Only the white-haired old man with a thick beard stood off to one side, his eyes narrowed and his back straight, murmuring quietly.

"The affairs of the Gotei know neither priority nor urgency. If there is important business, we must naturally answer the call."

Not far away, Yoruichi Shihouin let