Aizen stared at Lu You for three seconds.
Then he smiled.
That smile was completely different from his earlier false gentleness. It was pleasure that came from deep within.
Like a chess player discovering that the one sitting across from him was not a piece, but another player who was his equal.
The excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.
"I see."
Aizen slicked back his hair with his hair-gel hand, then grew utterly excited.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. You were waiting for this moment from the very beginning. In that case, you must have eliminated another pair of participants.
"So that was why Starrk never responded to me. Interesting. The mastermind behind the scenes? Heh, this really is... excitement I haven't felt in a long time!"
"Not exactly. Hmm, all right, I suppose so."
Lu You thought about it. He really had eliminated Souichirou Kuzuki. If he had not casually borrowed the First Espada, Aizen would probably have had a much easier time than he did now.
"But I have no designs on this war."
"Then what were you doing just now? If you have no designs on it, why stop me?"
"If I really wanted to stop you, you would have died when you fulfilled your first wish."
Lu You nodded, then shook his head slightly.
"Indeed."
Aizen did not deny it either. He raised his head and looked toward the sky, brimming with immense confidence.
"This trip to the World of the Living was splendid. Far more splendid than I expected."
Then he burst into laughter.
His laughter echoed over the ruins, startling birds in the distant woods into flight. He laughed without any resentment, even with a measure of unrestrained satisfaction.
"Good!"
Aizen stopped laughing, his gaze settling on Lu