It was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back from luxury to frugality.
The 11th Division's members had been eating food provided by Aoto that could replenish and even increase their Reiatsu. If it suddenly disappeared, they definitely wouldn't be able to take it.
They'd nearly gone berserk after running out of food for a month before! If their supply were cut off for good, a riot might break out.
So since Aoto had said they'd have to pay for it, Yumichika could only agree.
"As for the 4th Division's share..." Yumichika wanted to discuss the price with Aoto.
"Of course the 11th Division has to pay for the 4th Division's share too. After all, it's a benefit arranged for the 11th Division," Aoto said righteously. "But I can give you half off for that part."
"Well, thank you so much!" Yumichika replied, though he didn't mean it.
It felt like Aoto was the only one profiting from the 4th Division's goodwill, while the 11th Division itself got nothing out of it!
After seeing Yumichika and Ganjuro off, Aoto welcomed his next guests.
They were Toshiro and Isshin Shiba, who had come with him.
They were finally here!
After all, since he was the one who had "killed" Kaien, Isshin Shiba ought to have good reason to talk things through with him.
But just as Aoto and Toshiro waited with serious expressions for a confrontation with Isshin Shiba, Isshin asked offhandedly, "Hyakume, do you want to marry into the Shiba House? Kūkaku's probably still fond of you, and you only killed Kaien because you had no choice. If you let her think it through, she should forgive you. If you're willing, I can even make you head of the Shiba House."
The offer left Aoto a little stunned.
But he quickly came to his senses and didn't get swept up in the tempting offer.
"What's the matter, Captain Shiba? Don't you want to be head of the family?"
After Kaien's "death," not only had the position of lieutenant become vacant, but the head of the Shiba House had too.
Kūkaku could inherit it, but Isshin Shiba was actually the first choice.
The trouble was, Isshin Shiba really didn't want the job.
The difference between the main and branch families of the Shiba House wasn't how closely related they were by blood, but whether they had spiritual power.
Although Soul Reapers' children were mostly Soul Reapers themselves, a considerable number were ordinary souls without spiritual power.
For the Soul Reapers and nobles living in Seireitei, if they had a descendant without spiritual power, they would usually send them straight to Rukongai.
It was cruel, but also merciful. After all, the concentration of Reishi in Seireitei could easily kill an ordinary soul.
For the Shiba House, who already lived in Rukongai, things were simple.
Descendants without spiritual power were sent to the branch family, where they could live safely in the outer districts of Rukongai.
Isshin Shiba's father had been an ordinary soul without spiritual power, so he had been assigned to the branch family.
But Isshin Shiba had been born with powerful Reiatsu.
He could have returned to the main family, but his father had stopped him, calling him "the branch family's hope for rising to prominence."
Unfortunately, Isshin Shiba had no such ambition.
And while the main family had Reiatsu, ordinary souls in the branch family could live for only a hundred and fifty years at most in Soul Society.
So although Isshin Shiba had successfully become a Soul Reaper, his ambitious father had passed away long ago.
Now, the ones hoping Isshin Shiba would become head of the family were the more discontented elders in the branch family...
Isshin Shiba didn't want the Shiba House to turn against itself.
If Aoto married into the family, all those problems would be solved.
The main family would gain another captain, so the branch family wouldn't be stronger than the main one!
But that plan was unlikely to work.
Because Aoto turned it down.
"Forget it! I'm not in love with Kūkaku. If I married her, it wouldn't be fair to her!"
Aoto's reason had nothing to do with self-interest. It was purely about his feelings.
If he wanted to maximize his own gains, of course he should agree.
Once he became head of the Shiba House, he could quickly bring many of his plans to fruition.
Unfortunately, Aoto didn't need that much.
Turning his life into an endless grind would be incredibly dull.
The idea of balancing work and rest seemed to have fallen out of fashion!
Aoto was already good at making the most of his time, but he still made sure to relax, too.
Isshin Shiba was a little disappointed by Aoto's answer, but thought even more highly of him.
Isshin Shiba couldn't help sighing... Looks like I'll have to do it myself after all!
After settling that matter, Isshin Shiba brought up Toshiro.
The main reason was that he didn't want Toshiro to leave.
In many people's eyes, Toshiro was Aoto's student. Since his master was about to become a captain, no one would object if he called his student back.
Toshiro wouldn't just be qualified to become a seated officer; he could easily become lieutenant.
But Isshin Shiba was reluctant to let him go.
Aoto had taught Toshiro too well!
His progress in strength and his conduct were both impeccable.
He was only a little young and a little short... But those could be considered advantages, too.
By now, Toshiro had nearly become one of the 10th Division's main pillars.
Aoto had actually thought about this issue.
If he became a captain, would it be inappropriate not to bring Toshiro back?
Now that Isshin Shiba had come, Aoto put the question to Toshiro himself.
"Toshiro, what do you think? Go ahead and tell us what you want!"
Aoto and Isshin Shiba both looked at Toshiro.
Half a year earlier, Toshiro's grandmother had passed away... She had been peacefully sunbathing when she fell asleep and never woke up.
Since then, Aoto had been Toshiro's only elder!
By rights, if Aoto became a captain, Toshiro should go with him.
But Toshiro didn't see it that way.
He didn't want to return to living under his master's protection.
Since joining the 10th Division, he'd asked his master for advice on how to handle people, but his ability was what had earned him a place as one of the division's main pillars.
He'd worked hard to get where he was mostly through his own efforts. Even if he could become lieutenant sooner by going to the 13th Division, Toshiro's goal had long since outgrown that rank!
He wanted to become a captain like his master—or rather, to become one even younger than him.
Besides, he knew his own situation best.
He knew firsthand how overbearing his master could be.
Honestly, things weren't exactly relaxed with Captain Shiba, either.
So Toshiro chose to stay in the 10th Division.
When Isshin Shiba heard Toshiro's decision, he was deeply moved!
All those watermelons he'd treated Toshiro to had paid off!
"Since that's what you want, Toshiro, then of course I agree!" Aoto laughed and pointed at Isshin Shiba. "Get your strength up to Captain-level as soon as you can, then knock Captain Shiba off his seat! The two of us becoming captains together would make a wonderful story!"
Toshiro nodded quickly. "That's exactly what I'm thinking."
Uh...
Now it was Isshin Shiba's turn to stare in shock!