"It's not like everyone in the 11th Division enjoys drinking. I'm the exception."
"As for why someone like me, who can't hold his liquor, became captain of the 11th Division, I can only say I was lucky."
Yoruichi had been teasing him, and Natsuki smiled before explaining a little. "At first, I only wanted to be an ordinary Soul Reaper. But during a spar with a Seated Officer of the 11th Division, I accidentally beat him, and just like that, I became a Seated Officer."
"Later, during another training session, I sparred with the Third Seat and won by a hair. He wanted to hand his position over to me. I wasn't willing to accept it at first, but the Kenpachi at the time stepped in, so I became the Third Seat."
"After becoming Third Seat, I thought that was probably enough. But I didn't expect the Kenpachi at the time to do something that got him stripped of his captaincy. Gosu, who was the lieutenant, was then appointed by Central 46 as the 9th Kenpachi. And just like that, I became lieutenant."
"Sounds like you really were lucky." Yoruichi and Natsuki weren't strangers; they sparred often, and she knew he was strong. But this was the first time she'd heard about his past.
The fact that Natsuki had become lieutenant in such a roundabout way was truly surprising.
Still, she knew that the fact he'd repeatedly beaten Seated Officers, including the 11th Division's Third Seat, showed he was already quite formidable. Without enough strength, no amount of luck would have qualified him for those positions.
"So what about becoming Kenpachi this time? Did you defeat Kiganjo Kenpachi without meaning to, too?"
Yoruichi marveled at Natsuki's past, then asked him another question.
According to Natsuki, he hadn't intended to become a 9th Seat, Third Seat, or lieutenant. He'd ended up in those positions by chance. Yoruichi was curious why he'd challenged Kiganjo Kenpachi this time.
If she remembered correctly, Kiganjo had only been Kenpachi for a few months. His tenure had been very short.
"Or did you challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi on purpose, to avenge Gosu Kenpachi?"
Before Natsuki could answer, Urahara Kisuke beside them raised his head and looked at him curiously.
Kisuke was curious about this, too.
After all, the title of Kenpachi carried a great deal of weight, and the secrets surrounding it were bound to pique anyone's curiosity.
Feeling their gazes on him, Natsuki fell silent for a moment before answering. "Challenging Kiganjo was my own idea. This time, I wasn't dragged into it; I did it willingly. And no, I wasn't trying to avenge Gosu. He lost to Kiganjo because he was weaker. That proved he didn't have what it took to protect the title of Kenpachi. You can't blame anyone else for that."
"And I chose to kill Kiganjo because leaving an idiot like him as Kenpachi would be an insult to the 11th Division. Rather than let him keep the title, I'd rather take it myself."
Natsuki had said something like this when he faced Kiganjo that day.
Now, facing Yoruichi and Kisuke, he'd said it again.
Both Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke sensed the resolve in his words.
They couldn't help but see their friend in a new light.
After they'd talked a little more about the Kenpachi matter,
Yoruichi asked Natsuki, "So, are you going to drink or not?"
"Normally, I don't drink much," Natsuki replied. "But you said this was a fine liquor the Shihoin Family had kept for centuries. Even someone who can't hold his liquor like me has to try some."
A satisfied smile appeared on Yoruichi's face.
And so, in the secret base beneath Sokyoku Hill,
Natsuki, Yoruichi, and Urahara Kisuke sat together, raising their cups.
Natsuki had been in the 11th Division for years, but even in that kind of atmosphere, he'd never built up much of a tolerance. That didn't mean he couldn't drink at all; he could manage a little.
This time, he only took a few small sips.
Yoruichi, on the other hand, drank quite a lot. Even with her dark skin, it was easy to see how flushed her face had become. Once drunk, she grew even more lively, muttering all sorts of nonsense and getting handsy. She grabbed Natsuki and began examining his body. Natsuki held her down with one hand, briefly stopping her wild behavior, then looked across at Urahara Kisuke.
"Is she always like this?"
Kisuke had clearly drunk quite a bit, too, but his expression hadn't changed at all. He had to be the one with the best tolerance.
"Yoruichi must be very happy today, which is why she drank so much. She likes drinking, but normally knows when to stop," Urahara Kisuke explained.
"I see. Then I should be happy, too, shouldn't I?"
Today's drinking party had been held by Yoruichi specifically to celebrate his becoming captain. If she was this happy, it seemed a little unreasonable for Natsuki, the guest of honor, not to be happy as well.
Urahara Kisuke paused, thinking that Natsuki really was an interesting person.
Natsuki asked him, "So, are we just going to let her carry on like this?"
"Shouldn't we get her something to sober her up?"
"I heard that something sour can help you sober up after drinking. Why don't you go get some?"
Urahara Kisuke looked at Yoruichi, who was still clawing and flailing even with one of Natsuki's hands holding her head down. She was clearly drunk and doing her best to make a scene. At last, he nodded and left.
Natsuki had no idea where Urahara Kisuke went, but he soon returned with something to sober her up.
He made Yoruichi drink the concoction.
It seemed to work remarkably well. Yoruichi quickly came down from her drunken excitement and fell into a deep sleep.
Since this was a private gathering,
Natsuki couldn't simply leave and abandon Yoruichi there, so he waited for a while. During that time, he chatted with Urahara Kisuke. Kisuke's personality at this point really wasn't very likable. He was too quiet, like a closed book; ask him something, and he'd give a short answer. If no one asked, he hardly ever spoke.
Natsuki found it a little boring.
It seemed that without Yoruichi there to smooth things over, he and Urahara Kisuke really couldn't get along.
Just as Natsuki continued making small talk with Urahara Kisuke to pass the time, Yoruichi finally woke up.
Soul Reapers really were different from ordinary people. They sobered up unbelievably fast.
Before you continue