The Eleventh Division's Soiree

I have no idea what Watanabe Yuji and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi talked about.

After finishing his conversation with Watanabe Yuji, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi walked straight up to Natsuki.

He was a tall, unkempt man with hair as messy as wild grass, left to hang loosely behind his head. His eyes were sharp, like those of a beast; if he didn't speak, he gave off a cold, unapproachable aura.

But once he opened his mouth, that sense of oppression vanished entirely.

"Natsuki, is it? Yuji has already told me about your situation. Since Yuji brought you back, you are a member of our 11th Division from this day forward. No need to be so nervous; just treat this place as your home and treat us as your family."

"Our 11th Division has the best atmosphere in the entire Gotei 13."

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi spoke with a gentle, easygoing tone. After saying a few words to Natsuki, he asked, "By the way, do you know how to drink?"

"???"

Natsuki was stunned, not understanding his meaning.

He soon found out.

To celebrate Watanabe Yuji's return from Hueco Mundo, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi held a welcome party. It seemed he valued this old subordinate who had been on the Hueco Mundo expedition for years, but once Natsuki understood the reason, he realized that wasn't the case.

The members of the 11th Division were all people who craved battle.

They did not fear death, and whenever a Hollow appeared, they were the first to rush into the fray.

Influenced by Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, they were particularly fond of holding parties. Every few days, they would host one, with the expenses drawn from the division's operating funds.

Usually, as long as a Hollow was repelled or there was something worth celebrating, such as a member's birthday, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi would hold a party.

They had just held a party before this gathering.

But that didn't stop Kuruyashiki Kenpachi from holding another one under the pretext of welcoming Watanabe Yuji back from Hueco Mundo.

It is worth mentioning that before the party, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi found a form and had Natsuki fill it out. Afterward, he collected the form, and just like that, with extreme simplicity, Natsuki became an officially registered Shinigami of the 11th Division.

This left Natsuki with a sense of unreality.

Is the 11th Division always this sloppy?

Because he had filled out the form, Natsuki was now attending the party as an official member of the 11th Division.

At the party, he finally got a clear look at the 11th Division.

In terms of numbers, there weren't actually many, only about three hundred people.

He had assumed that as a combat division, it would be a group of unruly, fierce-looking tough guys, but that wasn't the case at all.

Although there were fierce-looking men, Natsuki also saw many women among them.

This surprised him.

He was not entirely ignorant of this world.

In his impression, while there were female Shinigamis in the Gotei 13 in the original story, he had never really seen any in the 11th Division, aside from Lieutenant Kusajishi Yachiru. Yet now, not only were there female Shinigamis, but there were quite a lot of them.

These female Shinigamis varied in appearance; some were ugly, some plain, and some were beautiful and charming. But they all shared one thing in common: their personalities were as bold and forthright as men's.

Once the party began, they took the initiative to find the male members nearby, clinking cups and drinking heartily. As they drank, some began playing games of finger-guessing, while others drew their Zanpakuto and started sparring on the sidelines.

As captain, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi did not stop them. He sat in the seat of honor, holding a jar of wine, watching the scene with a hearty laugh, seemingly delighted to see such a spectacle.

Natsuki didn't really know how to drink. Before he was diagnosed with a terminal illness in his previous life, he would drink a little, but once he discovered his health issues, he didn't touch a drop.

But in the current situation, not drinking at all felt a bit out of place.

He didn't take the initiative to find anyone to drink with; he simply found a corner, held a small bowl, and watched the lively atmosphere of the 11th Division—especially the women who were actively seeking out men to drink with—with great interest.

"Is it surprising?"

A familiar voice rang out beside Natsuki's ear. Natsuki turned his head and saw a round, flat face.

"Not going to drink with them? You should have plenty of old friends."

Natsuki asked Watanabe Yuji.

After joining the 11th Division, he learned that Watanabe Yuji was a seated officer of the 11th Division, and his rank was not low—he was the 5th Seat. He hadn't gone to Hueco Mundo because of a crime, but had volunteered, just like Ashido, whom he had seen earlier.

"I can catch up with old friends anytime. What about you? Sitting here all alone, aren't you going to get to know these guys?"

"Don't let their appearance fool you; they look wild, but they are actually a very easygoing bunch."

Watanabe Yuji said to Natsuki, a faint smile hanging on his lips.

Natsuki said, "As you said, I can get to know these people anytime. Today, it's just not quite right." He paused and explained, "I don't really know how to drink."

"I see!"

Watanabe Yuji nodded.

He followed Natsuki's gaze to look ahead, seeing the group of women mingling among the men, and a strange smile appeared on his lips. "Is it surprising?"

Natsuki glanced at Watanabe Yuji, confused.

Watanabe Yuji said, "I know, you're very curious why there are so many female members. Here, I have to mention another name for our 11th Division."

"The Flower Warrior Group!"

"Even though they are women, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi doesn't look down on them because of it. On the contrary, he believes their strength is no less than that of men. Because of this, many female Shinigamis admire Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and choose to join the 11th Division."

"This can also be considered a unique kind of scenery for our 11th Division."

As he spoke, Watanabe Yuji revealed another malicious grin. "By the way, Natsuki, you don't look that young anymore. Have you really not considered finding a woman to marry? After getting married, you'd have a real home, a place to settle down."

"There are quite a few female members in the 11th Division, and you aren't bad-looking. As long as you want to find someone, you should be able to find someone you fancy, right?"

Hearing these words, Natsuki was stunned. He did not answer Watanabe Yuji's question, but instead turned his head and asked, "What about you? Are you married?"

"Of course I'm not," Watanabe Yuji replied.

"Then why don't you find a woman to marry? Although you don't look like much, you are powerful and a seated officer. If you were willing, there should be women who would take a fancy to you, right?" A series of counter-questions spilled from Natsuki's lips.

He looked at Watanabe Yuji, waiting for his answer.

The Flower Warrior Group, as well as many female members of the 11th Division, all originate from the official novel BLEACH Spirits Are Forever With You.