"Captain Arima! It's been a long time."
"Oh, it's Rukia from the Kuchiki family. Now that you mention it, it really has been years since we last met. I didn't expect you to have joined the Thirteenth Division already—impressive."
Rukia Kuchiki.
Ever since she was taken in by the Kuchiki family, she rarely showed herself in public.
Although Seiya often interacted with the Kuchiki household, the conservative principles passed down by old man Ginrei ensured that he rarely had the opportunity to run into her.
Now that they met again, it was quite a nostalgic moment.
After all—this girl was really short.
Looking at Rukia, who barely reached 150 centimeters, Seiya couldn't help but sigh internally.
She was way too tiny.
"Captain Arima, saying things like that is a bit rude."
Sitting nearby, sipping tea, Jūshirō Ukitake chuckled, his voice warm and amused.
"Ever since she joined the division, Rukia has performed exceptionally well. Even from a captain's standpoint, I can't find a single fault in her work."
That was very high praise.
So much so that the person being praised stiffened nervously.
"T-Thank you, Captain! You're too kind!"
"Ahaha! I'm only speaking the truth, Kuchiki."
In the Thirteenth Division barracks, two captains sat cross-legged, facing the garden beyond the veranda, exchanging casual conversation.
"By the way, Rukia, you recently got promoted, didn't you?"
Before she could answer, Ukitake, still grinning, picked up the teapot and refilled Seiya's cup nearly to the brim.
"That's right. Since she's been doing so well, it's only natural for her to be promoted."
It was obvious that Ukitake was in high spirits.
Part of it was genuine happiness for his subordinate's achievements.
But the other part…
Was because of the man sitting before him.
"You seem to be recovering, Captain Arima."
Compared to the frail figure he had been years ago, Seiya had clearly improved.
His once sunken cheeks had filled out again, and his weak, sickly aura had faded significantly.
However…
Perhaps due to decades of having half his soul stripped away, something about him still felt off.
If one had to describe it—
He gave the impression of someone who had just recovered from a severe illness.
A lingering gloom that hadn't quite faded.
It was a bit of a pity, but compared to before, his condition had improved considerably.
Bringing a hand to his lips, Seiya coughed lightly, casually covering his mouth.
After decades of living as a "patient," this action had long since become second nature.
"Thanks for your concern. I have indeed gotten much better."
"Is that so? That's truly wonderful news."
Ukitake sighed in relief—before grinning mischievously.
"Though, to be honest, as much as I want you to recover quickly, I sometimes find myself thinking, 'Maybe he should take his time.'"
"Hmm? And why is that?"
"Because once you're fully recovered, I'll be the only sickly captain left in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
…What kind of joke was that?
But…
It was very in-character for Ukitake.
Seiya shook his head with a helpless chuckle, taking a sip of the warm tea before shifting his gaze forward.
"By the way, Rukia, you're heading to the Human World soon, right?"
Kneeling properly on the veranda, Rukia straightened her back and responded seriously.
"Yes, Captain Arima. As you say, I will be stationed in the Human World for a period of time."
"Isn't that a bit reckless?"
It wasn't an unfounded concern.
Normally, a Soul Reaper assigned to the Human World had to pass a standard strength evaluation.
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, Kidō.
All four disciplines had to reach a certain level before one could qualify.
(In the original story, Rukia wasn't bad at these, but she was merely average—neither outstanding nor incompetent.)
Knowing his words might be misunderstood, Seiya added an explanation.
"Being stationed outside means handling your own food, lodging, and daily needs. And if trouble arises, you'll have to deal with it yourself…"
For a captain to say this could come across as overly concerned.
So he continued.
"It's not just me—Byakuya and Hisana would worry about you too, don't you think?"
If it was only a matter of doubting her abilities, Rukia wouldn't have backed down.
In fact, she might have stubbornly doubled down to prove herself.
But the moment Seiya mentioned those two people—
Her straightened back visibly shrank.
"I-I think… they must have already prepared themselves for this…"
Oh?
That lack of confidence was very telling.
Seiya immediately caught on.
"You haven't told Byakuya about this yet, have you?"
"…"
Crap. She couldn't answer.
Off to the side, Ukitake chuckled softly before speaking up.
"About that… don't be too hard on her. This was actually my decision."
"Rukia has already met the necessary requirements. Technically, there are still some formalities left, but…"
"As a captain, occasionally exercising a little privilege is acceptable, don't you think?"
Seiya turned to glance at Rukia.
She was pursing her lips, lowering her head slightly.
She looked nervous—
But also determined.
It was clear.
This petite girl had a powerful spirit.
She was just like Momo Hinamori.
Seeing her like this, Seiya leaned back slightly and let out a soft sigh.
So that was it.
He had been wondering why, as a Kuchiki, Rukia hadn't been assigned to an easier post.
After all, her family had enough influence to arrange a comfortable, prestigious position for her.
But instead, she was heading to the Human World—taking on a tougher, more demanding duty.
Now it made sense.
"She must have insisted on this herself."
She didn't want to rely on her family's power.
She wanted to forge her own path.
There was probably a little stubbornness behind it—wanting to prove herself to Byakuya.
But more than that, it was her own will.
And even in this timeline, where Hisana survived, Byakuya's personality remained unchanged.
Ginrei's teachings had shaped him too well—
Making him just as stubborn.
Soft-hearted, but cold on the surface.
Understanding all this, Seiya lost the urge to persuade her otherwise.
He set aside any desire to "help" and instead chose to respect her decision.
Though he didn't agree with her choice, he still gave his support.
"Though I can't say I fully agree, as someone who has been through this before… Young people should have ambition. If you want to challenge yourself, it's a worthy pursuit."
"I'll talk to Byakuya for you, so don't hesitate too much."
"Good luck, Rukia."
To have someone understand her, especially a captain—
It was the best encouragement she could ask for.
Her face visibly brightened, her voice more spirited than before.
"I-I won't let you down!"
"That's the spirit."
Seiya had come here to check on Rukia and visit Ukitake.
With his goals accomplished, there was no need to linger.
As he bid farewell, Ukitake smiled.
"Come visit more often, Captain Arima."
Seiya felt a tinge of emotion at that.
Though Ukitake was a well-liked person, few people could actually speak with him as equals.
Aside from Yamamoto's small circle, there were barely a handful.
He must have been lonely.
Under different circumstances, Seiya wouldn't have minded visiting more often.
But unfortunately…
"There's not much time left."
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Powerstones?
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