Hirako and Aizen

Seeing Aizen greet him, Wang Xun was already feeling a little numb.

He could not even tell whether this was a simple coincidence or a carefully arranged encounter.

It was getting a little scary.

Wang Xun stopped, his expression unruffled, and gave a slight nod as he met Aizen's gentle gaze.

"It has been a long time, Lieutenant Aizen."

Aizen adjusted his glasses, his gaze settling on Wang Xun with concern.

"I heard you just finished your Konsō practicum in the World of the Living. Did everything go smoothly?"

Seeing the genuine concern on Aizen's face, he could hardly tell whether Aizen really cared about him.

Wang Xun marveled inwardly at how Aizen's acting had reached the pinnacle of perfection.

If he could act like that, perhaps Aizen would not have noticed anything unusual about him back then.

I still need more practice.

"Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant."

Wang Xun lowered his head slightly, his steady voice carrying just the right hint of gravity.

"The practicum... didn't go smoothly. We ran into some unexpected trouble, which is why I'm here."

"I've already reported the details to the captains."

Wang Xun said no more, offering no details as he gently passed the conversation back.

"Unexpected trouble..."

Aizen frowned slightly, showing just the right amount of worry.

"I hope the students didn't suffer too many losses. Missions in the World of the Living can be unpredictable at times. What matters is that you returned safely."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Aizen."

"Hey, that's enough. The captains are still waiting inside."

Marechiyo Ōmaeda spoke up at just the right moment, interrupting their conversation.

"Let's go, Lieutenant Aizen."

"You're right. We shouldn't keep the captains waiting."

Aizen readily agreed and nodded apologetically to Wang Xun.

"Then, Wang Xun, we can talk again another time."

"Please, Lieutenants."

Wang Xun stepped aside to let them pass.

"Hmm, a polite kid."

Ōmaeda patted Wang Xun on the shoulder and left with Aizen, the two sides parting ways.

But Wang Xun could feel Aizen's gaze linger on him briefly as he passed.

He kept his eyes straight ahead and continued outside with Soi Fon leading the way.

Only after he had gone a long way did the almost tangible feeling of being watched gradually disappear.

At the other end of the corridor, Aizen followed Ōmaeda and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Lieutenant Ōmaeda, I had just returned from the World of the Living when Captain Hirako urgently called me over, and we're meeting in the Second Division. Has something happened?"

Ōmaeda looked at the conference room door a short distance away without answering.

"Let's talk inside. You'll find out soon enough."

Inside, the somewhat lively atmosphere that the earlier discussion and decision about where Wang Xun would go had brought about had already faded.

Shinji Hirako leaned against a wall to one side, his arms folded across his chest.

His long blond hair covered his eyes and brows, leaving his expression indistinct in the shadows.

Shunsui Kyōraku gazed at the scenery outside the window, the teasing look in his eyes gone.

Yoruichi sat in the main seat, lightly tapping her fingertips on the armrest, seemingly lost in thought.

"Captain Hirako, Captain Kyōraku, Captain Yoruichi."

Aizen entered the room, his manner as modest and composed as ever.

"The rescue mission I led after receiving a distress signal from a member of the Thirteenth Division in the World of the Living has been properly concluded. May I ask why Captain Hirako summoned me?"

Only then did Shinji Hirako slowly raise his head, his gaze shooting toward Aizen like nails, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"You handled the rescue well. But, Aizen... there's something you may not know yet."

Shinji Hirako paused, each word seeming to be forced out through clenched teeth.

"Hasegawa Shinjirō defected."

"He attacked the Spiritual Arts Academy students during their Konsō practicum in the World of the Living, then fled into the Dangai and killed himself."

"What?!"

The expression on Aizen's face froze, then gave way to incredulous shock.

His eyes widened slightly, and he unconsciously repeated the words as though murmuring to himself.

"Hasegawa... defected? Attacked students? How, how could that be?"

Shinji Hirako stared fixedly at Aizen's face, trying to find the slightest trace of pretense behind those nonprescription lenses.

His voice grew colder.

"Yes, how could it be...? I remember you were the one who recommended him to me. You said that although he came from Rukongai, he was capable and dependable, and worth nurturing."

"I did follow your advice and promoted him from an ordinary squad member all the way to Sixth Seat. I always thought he was a trustworthy subordinate."

Hirako's gaze, filled with suppressed anger, scraped over Aizen like a knife.

"Aizen, tell me..."

"Why did a Seated Officer you recommended and I promoted, someone who should have been utterly loyal, suddenly become a traitor colluding with Hueco Mundo and attacking students?!"

The implication in his words was already plain; he was practically demanding an answer from Aizen.

Faced with Hirako's almost direct questioning, Aizen's face showed a mixture of gravity and self-reproach, along with a hint of dejection at being misunderstood.

He fell silent for a moment, as if digesting the sharpness of Hirako's words, then spoke slowly.

"Captain Hirako, I understand your anger and disappointment right now."

"I recommended him because I believed in his abilities and character at the time."

"If he truly had ulterior motives all along, then he must have hidden them too well. I failed to see it, and I'm willing to take the corresponding responsibility."

He raised his head and met Hirako's scrutiny with an open gaze.

"As for why he came to this point, I truly have no idea."

"But in any case, he committed such a grave crime and betrayed Soul Society. He deserved death. Perhaps he chose to kill himself because he couldn't bear to face you."

Shinji Hirako gazed at Aizen for a long time. The air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

Yoruichi stopped tapping the armrest and quietly watched the invisible clash.

"All right, Captain Hirako, what's done is done. There's no point blaming your lieutenant like this."

"You should think about how to handle the aftermath. If word isn't controlled properly, it won't be good if it affects the division."

At last, the light in Shinji Hirako's eyes slowly dimmed, like a candle burning out.

He said nothing more and did not even look at Aizen again. He simply straightened up slowly and walked straight toward the conference room door.

"Captain Hirako..."

Aizen called softly after him, concern in his voice.

Hirako did not break stride. As if he had not heard, he disappeared through the door.

Aizen watched Hirako leave, a trace of apology appearing on his grave and sorrowful face, then bowed slightly to Yoruichi and Kyōraku.

"Captain Yoruichi, Captain Kyōraku, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave as well."

"Go on, go on. Hirako was beside himself with anger, so don't take it too much to heart."

Yoruichi waved a hand, seemingly unconcerned by the delicate atmosphere.

Shunsui Kyōraku nodded as well.

Aizen bowed again, then left the conference room.

Inside the conference room, Yoruichi stretched and looked at Kyōraku.

"What do you think?"

Shunsui Kyōraku pulled his straw hat lower again and smiled meaningfully.

"Who knows."