Misfortune and Fortune

"Ha!!"

Zabimaru swung down heavily, and the enemy facing Abarai Renji was finally struck to the ground.

However, it was not over yet.

Abarai Renji extended Zabimaru, wrapping it completely around the enemy before slamming them back and forth against the ground, finally forcing the enemy to lose the strength to hold their Zanpakuto and sending it flying.

The enemy had lost the ability to continue fighting, so it could be determined that Abarai Renji had won.

Ganjuro announced, "The seated officer challenge is over. 10th Seat Aoi has lost to 18th Seat Abarai. From this moment on, their seated rankings are swapped."

"Awesome!" Abarai Renji cheered loudly, as if the hole in his body pierced by the opponent's Shikai meant nothing at all.

"Cough, cough, cough!" 10th Seat Aoi—no, 18th Seat Aoi—struggled to stand up while coughing.

Youth is truly great, having such a hardworking and ambitious spirit... No wonder he was just a regular soldier a week ago and defeated me a week later.

He is much better than me!

Having witnessed Abarai's drive to win at all costs, 18th Seat Aoi also resolved to make a comeback... He wasn't old yet!

However, just as everyone was about to leave after the battle, Ganjuro called out to them.

Since all the seated officers were present, he didn't need to wait for dinner time... It wasn't even certain if these two injured guys would make it to the cafeteria anyway!

"Tomorrow, 13th Division Lieutenant Shiba Kaien will be getting married. Lord Hyakume has asked me to select three seated officers to accompany him to the wedding. Anyone who wants to go, raise your hand now!"

Upon hearing this, Abarai Renji raised his hand immediately, not caring that it would tear his wounds further.

But when he turned his head, he saw that every single seated officer was raising their hand.

No one wanted to pass up this opportunity.

Because everyone knew that Lord Hyakume and Lieutenant Shiba Kaien were good friends.

So, at the wedding, Lord Hyakume would surely bring along many good things, right?

Especially some high-grade ingredients that weren't easily brought out...

The Shinigami of the 11th Division had all been turned into foodies by Aoto.

Abarai Renji hadn't expected everyone to want to go, and his gaze involuntarily drifted toward 8th Seat Ganjuro.

If that was the case, shouldn't the decision be based on the order of seated rankings?

Abarai Renji had fought tooth and nail to challenge for the 10th Seat precisely for this reason.

Otherwise, given his current strength, the 13th Seat or so was his rightful place.

However, things did not go as well as he had hoped.

This situation did not seem to catch Ganjuro by surprise.

Thus, Ganjuro took out a box he had prepared in advance.

It was a lottery box.

Inside were twelve small balls numbered nine through twenty.

Ganjuro would proceed to draw three from it, and whoever's number was drawn would get to go.

Very fair!

Only, in Abarai's eyes, this kind of fairness was "unfair."

What was the point of him fighting so hard then!

But he couldn't object and could only watch as 8th Seat Ganjuro began to draw the balls.

Three out of twelve... with about a one-in-four chance, he still had a shot.

The first ball, number 18!

Nani???

━Σ(ﾟДﾟ|||)━

Abarai's eyes were practically popping out of his head!

When 18th Seat Aoi heard he had been selected, he was overjoyed!

"Hahaha, what a coincidence!"

Listening to the congratulations from the other seated officers, 18th Seat Aoi glanced at 10th Seat Abarai, feeling very grateful for his challenge.

Ganjuro ignored the commotion and continued to draw the balls.

The second ball, number 13!

Abarai Renji's expression darkened further... this was the position he had originally intended to challenge!

The final ball!

Ganjuro drew the last ball and teased them for a moment, letting everyone start cursing at him before he finally smiled and showed it to them.

It was... ball number 9!

The 9th Seat over there let out a sigh of relief, while Abarai looked like he was about to faint.

Seeing the state Abarai Renji was in, the others did not delay any longer and rushed him to the 4th Division for treatment.

Kira Izuru had been waiting there the whole time, and upon seeing Renji being brought in and referred to as the 10th Seat, he knew the challenge had been a success.

But if he had succeeded, why was he pulling such a bitter face?

Once Abarai Renji explained the situation, all Kira Izuru could offer was sympathy.

Since it was simply a matter of bad luck, there was no room for complaint.

Could one really blame Ganjuro for his impartial handling of the matter?

To have such a fair-minded seated officer, the squad members should consider themselves quite fortunate.

It just went to show that Renji and Rukia were lacking a bit of fate.

"Who told you to distance yourself from Rukia when she joined the nobility? Otherwise, why would you need to go through all this roundabout trouble? Regretting it now, aren't you?"

Hearing Kira's sarcastic remarks, Abarai Renji gritted his teeth in frustration.

Yet, Kira was not wrong; he had brought this upon himself.

What a regret!

After all, this was the wedding of a head of the Five Great Noble Families. Even though the Shiba House resided in the Rukon District, the Shinigami coming to offer their congratulations arrived in an endless stream.

From the seated officers down to the rank-and-file, the entire 13th Division was helping to manage the event.

As for the captain, Ukitake Jushiro, he was confined to his seat by his two 3rd Seats and forbidden from wandering about—he didn't need to help, he just needed to rest!

Ukitake Jushiro was not only unbothered by this treatment, but he was also quite content.

Ukitake Jushiro had already decided that as soon as Kaien mastered Bankai, he would retire and pass the captain's position to him.

With Kaien there, even if he retired, the rest of the Shiba House would not collapse immediately.

Ukitake Jushiro was determined to focus on his recovery after retirement—perhaps he might even live a little longer.

Seeing the thriving scene at the Shiba House now, Ukitake Jushiro felt deeply gratified.

It was just that... the seat next to him was a bit noisy.

Because Ukitake Jushiro saw Hyakume-ki Seikyo being pestered by Kaien's sister.

However, the next turn of events left even Ukitake Jushiro stunned.

Faced with Kūkaku Shiba's pestering, Hyakume-ki Seikyo slammed a fist onto her head and knocked her unconscious.

"Ganju, come over here and drag your sister away!"

The twelve or thirteen-year-old Ganju trotted over, threw his sister onto a large, fat boar, and carried her back into the house.

Seikyo turned to look at the astonished Ukitake Jushiro, scratched his head, and said, "Haha, I've let Captain Ukitake see a joke!"

Ukitake Jushiro actually laughed.

Like Unohana Retsu, he believed that Seikyo would also become a captain in the future.

With his help, Kaien's future should be quite easy, right?

Thinking of the relationship between the two, Ukitake Jushiro couldn't help but think of the camaraderie he shared with Kyoraku Shunsui, which was exactly the same as their classmates' bond.

To reach the level of captain and still have a classmate to support one another—they were truly fortunate.

And amidst such reflections from Ukitake, more guests arrived.

The most prominent among them was the one brought over by Kuchiki Rukia...

Byakuya Kuchiki!