Persuading Rukia

Writing novels during work hours was so comfortable.

In the blink of an eye, the workday was over.

Gaoyu looked at the twenty thousand words he'd written and happily tucked them into a folder.

He'd arranged to go out for a meal with Shūhei today, and figured he'd bring up submitting his work to the Seireitei Times while they were drinking.

Shūhei was the Ninth Division's Vice-Captain and the Seireitei Times' editor-in-chief. Aside from Kaname Tōsen, the chief editor, he was the most powerful person on the editorial staff. Of course Gaoyu had to talk to him about submitting his work.

Since Shūhei hadn't joined them at Daruma House last time, they were drinking there again. Besides, the food was delicious, and the drinks were excellent too.

This time, it was just Gaoyu and Shūhei. As soon as Gaoyu arrived, he set the folder down in front of him.

Curious, Shūhei took it and asked, "What's this?"

"I wrote a novel. Think you can arrange to serialize it in the Seireitei Times?"

Shūhei looked astonished. "A novel?! You can write novels?!"

"What do you mean? You think I can't write novels?" Gaoyu replied. "I love reading."

"Seriously?" Shūhei took the draft out of the folder and read a few lines. Before long, he was completely absorbed.

By the time Gaoyu had finished two bottles of sake, Shūhei finally put the manuscript down.

He said, looking stunned, "This is incredible. It's even more compelling than Captain Ukitake's The Two Fishes' Rejection!"

"Of course it is," Gaoyu said smugly. "I'm not saying The Two Fishes' Rejection isn't excellent, of course."

"It's just that The Two Fishes' Rejection is always trying to teach people lessons. That makes it an excellent and educational novel, but it's bound to fall a little short when it comes to sheer entertainment."

"All right, I'll take it. Don't worry, I'll find it a good spot in the Seireitei Times. I guarantee it'll sell like crazy!"

If the novel sold well, he'd earn a nice sum as editor-in-chief, too.

Unlike Gaoyu, who was a noble with some savings, Shūhei was already a Vice-Captain and still had far too many expenses.

Once they'd settled things about the novel, Shūhei hurried off to make arrangements. He left after only a few drinks.

Gaoyu watched him go with a smile, then shook his head and prepared to head home as well.

But just as he was about to leave, he spotted Kuchiki Rukia.

Daruma House was fairly close to the Kuchiki Family's home, so it wasn't strange to see Rukia there.

After thinking it over, he simply walked over to her.

He hadn't had a chance to get to know Rukia all this time. He'd have to take the initiative and make one.

At present, there was hardly any communication between the different divisions of the Gotei 13. The only time they met was at regular Captains' Meetings, when Captains and Vice-Captains alike went to the First Division for a gathering.

And even at those meetings, Captains mostly stayed with Captains, and Vice-Captains with Vice-Captains.

As a result, many Vice-Captains didn't even know the Captains of the other divisions.

By the time the story began, Renji didn't even know who the Captain of the Tenth Division was. It was ridiculous.

Gaoyu rarely had a chance to meet Captains from other divisions, and approaching them out of the blue was simply impolite.

So most of the time, Gaoyu preferred to hold back.

He'd focus on building up his own position first.

But Rukia's abilities were too important, so Gaoyu had decided to get to know her.

"You're..."

Standing in front of Rukia, Gaoyu said, "You're Kuchiki Rukia, right?"

Rukia froze for a moment. She looked at Gaoyu, who had suddenly appeared in front of her, puzzled.

She was part of the Kuchiki Family, and everyone in District Six knew it. People always treated her with deference, which meant she couldn't make friends with anyone else.

She also knew just about everyone who regularly came to District Six, but now...

Who was he?

Gaoyu looked a little familiar to Rukia. She felt like she'd seen him somewhere before.

"I'm a friend of Renji Abarai's," Gaoyu introduced himself. "I also graduated in the class of 2061, so you could say I'm your senior. I'm the Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, Gaoyu Kouun."

"A friend of Renji's..." Rukia said in surprise, then bowed. "So you're Vice-Captain Gaoyu. Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Huh?" Gaoyu was taken aback. He hurriedly took a couple of steps back. "Whatever you do, don't let anyone else see you do that. I may be a Vice-Captain, but you're a member of the Kuchiki Family. We're equals."

In terms of the law, a Vice-Captain and an ordinary member of a Great Noble House were indeed equals.

Of course, if he were her direct superior, then it would make sense for Rukia to bow to him.

But he wasn't a Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division, so he had no authority over Rukia.

"Vice-Captain Gaoyu, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to talk to you about Renji. I'm having a meal here, as it happens. Would you like to come inside and sit with me?" Gaoyu gestured toward Daruma House.

Rukia hesitated.

After a moment, she said, "All right, but I can only talk for ten minutes. If I get back late, my brother won't be happy."

"No problem."

Ten minutes would do. Gaoyu led Rukia back into Daruma House.

Before going in, Gaoyu grabbed another bottle of sake.

"Do you drink?"

"No," Rukia said, waving her hand.

Gaoyu poured himself a drink and said, "Renji's in the Fifth Division now, too. He's told me about you, so I couldn't help being curious about what kind of person the Kuchiki Family would take in as an adopted daughter."

Rukia gave a bitter smile. "Now that you've seen me, are you disappointed? If I didn't look like Miss Hisana, I wouldn't have been worthy of being adopted by the Kuchiki Family."

"..." Gaoyu looked at her strangely. "Why wouldn't you be worthy? You've only just graduated from Shino Academy, Miss Kuchiki, and you already have this much Spiritual Power. I don't think it'll be long before you become a seated officer."

"...Is that so?"

Rukia lowered her head. Though he was praising her, she didn't seem very happy.

At this point in time, Rukia was somewhat insecure.

Gaoyu shook his head. "Actually, you can figure some things out from the smallest details. What you believe to be true may not be true at all."

"...What do you mean?" Rukia looked up, asking in confusion.

"Miss Kuchiki, you like sweets, don't you?"

"Huh? Did Renji tell you?"

Gaoyu didn't answer. Instead, he gave her a mysterious smile and said, "The food you eat at the Kuchiki home is all sweet, isn't it?"

"...Yes..." Though she was a noble, Rukia's voice lacked confidence.

"But Mr. Byakuya likes spicy food," Gaoyu added.

"!?! That's impossible!" Rukia said, growing agitated. "The food at home is always sweet!"