A family could have only one head. If he wanted his grandson to take over, he would have to step down.
In both the family and the Gotei 13, most of the older generation had already left. The ones rising through the ranks now were young.
Kuchiki Ginrei took a deep breath.
He wasn't clinging to power. He was worried that his grandson couldn't hold his own against those old schemers.
Yamabuki Chidori saw through him at once. "You can rest easy on that front. Byakuya is capable, and with his position as clan head and both of us backing him, few people will dare pressure him. You don't want your grandson to spend his whole life miserable, do you?"
Kuchiki Ginrei said nothing.
He was old. At most, he had a few hundred years left, while Byakuya had a long life ahead of him. What mattered now was laying a good path for his grandson.
"Fine. We'll do it your way. I'll go back and make preparations. But Byakuya will come looking for you soon. Don't tell him I was here." Kuchiki Ginrei turned and left the teahouse.
Every member of the Kuchiki Clan was stubbornly unable to admit what they felt.
Ginrei was worried his grandson would suffer, yet he couldn't bring himself to say so. In the end, he made things difficult for everyone.
Hmph. Men like that didn't deserve love.
Sure enough, not long after Kuchiki Ginrei left, Byakuya followed their Reiatsu to the teahouse.
"Teacher, was my grandfather just here? Did he say something to you?" Kuchiki Byakuya asked without preamble.
"No. I only came here to drink tea and slack off. Speaking of which, what brings you here? Something you want to tell me? Come have a cup of tea." Yamabuki Chidori looked perfectly