In Runlin An's tavern, afternoon light slanted through the wooden window lattice onto the dark tabletop.
Yan Si sat by the window, three empty sake flasks before him.
He picked up the fourth flask and poured. Clear sake flowed into his cup, stopping just a hair below the rim.
He raised the cup to his lips and tipped his head back to drink.
There were few people in the tavern.
Several division members talked quietly in a corner. Behind the counter, the shopkeeper wiped a cup, his cloth making a steady rubbing sound against its ceramic interior.
"Hey, drinking away your troubles alone?"
The voice came from beside him.
Hirako Shinji had taken the opposite seat without him noticing.
He casually picked up another cup from the table and filled it.
"Why didn't you go watch today's captain selection?" Hirako Shinji took a sip.
"Aren't you pretty close to Urahara?" It was no secret that Urahara Kisuke and Yan Si were on good terms.
When Yoruichi nominated Urahara for captain, most people assumed Yan Si had put in a word for him behind the scenes.
Yan Si smiled. "Tell me, Hirako, what's the most important thing about being a captain?"
"Strength, obviously." Hirako curled his lip. "What else? Good looks?"
He raised an eyebrow as he spoke. Although he knew Yan Si was strong now, he had his own pride in that department.
However talented Yan Si was, he couldn't possibly have surpassed him in such a short time.
"Strength, sure." Yan Si picked up the flask and poured himself another cup.
"But what if the difference in strength between two people isn't that great?"
Hirako gave him a sidelong look. "Then it comes down to Zankensoki, of course. What else would you fight with, your mouth?"
When spiritual power