"Captain Arima…"
"Captain Arima?"
"Captain Arima!"
The continuous shouting jolted Seiya back to full awareness from his foggy state.
He let out a soft "ah," stumbling slightly as he stood in place, blinking in confusion at his surroundings.
He was inside a refined washitsu-style room—wooden décor, the scent of incense lingering in the air, exuding a calm and cultured atmosphere.
Around him…
Familiar figures stood, all looking his way.
Momo Hinamori at his side wore a worried expression, her hand halfway raised as if wanting to touch his face.
Seiya, with a hint of a headache, lowered his head and waved his left hand to signal he was fine. Then he raised his right hand to gently tap his forehead.
His muddled thoughts began to clear.
Eventually, he regained complete lucidity.
After a moment's silence, Seiya raised his head and waved to the others.
"It's fine, it's fine… I just got a little dizzy. No need to worry."
Somewhat awkward.
After all, this wasn't exactly a time where he could afford to lose focus.
Only three people sat facing Seiya—two of them were from the Kuchiki household, watching him nervously.
At the center sat a familiar woman with a frail expression, speaking in an almost pleading tone.
"Please, Captain Arima… There must be some kind of misunderstanding. I beg you, please go and talk to Lord Byakuya…"
A posture bordering on prostration—utterly humble and desperate.
And seeing her, Seiya recalled everything.
That fateful night that changed the course of fate had already passed some time ago.
Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends had been enjoying their time together, slowly learning the workings of the Soul Society through what they encountered.
Meanwhile…
The half of Seiya's soul that had been severed was slowly beginning to reawaken.
However, this came with a troublesome side effect.
His focus couldn't cover both fronts—likely due to the Hollow power being suppressed by Isshin Kurosaki's Soul Reaper abilities.
Trying to maintain consciousness on both ends while competing for control was an arduous task.
As a result, Seiya had been engaging in this kind of 'multitasking' frequently.
Naturally, his inexperience with the technique led to occasional lapses and delayed reactions.
And now, the timeline had reached its next turning point.
Rukia Kuchiki had violated Soul Society law by transferring her Soul Reaper powers to a human.
Such a crime demanded her immediate apprehension.
That was the reason Hisana had come to him.
"Rukia would never do something reckless, Captain Arima! Please… convince Lord Byakuya!"
Once again, she pleaded—highlighting the internal conflict brewing within the Kuchiki family.
Even in this timeline, Byakuya Kuchiki chose to trust Central 46's judgment and took it upon himself to bring Rukia back.
"Please raise your head, Lady Hisana..."
With a soft cough, Seiya lightly shook his head at Momo's concerned look and gently said,
"Byakuya might be rigid, but he's not foolish."
The Kuchiki family was strict and closed off, but judging by old man Ginrei's way of doing things, it was clear their people were stubborn to a fault.
"But Lord Byakuya has already left for the Human World…"
Hisana's anxious expression showed she still couldn't fully trust Seiya's words.
But Seiya had more to say.
"Let's try to look at this positively, Lady Hisana."
He paused, then smiled.
"If Rukia turns herself in before the Central 46 issues a formal judgment, and her punishment is handled internally… then the external pursuit should lose momentum."
Hisana hadn't considered that. She froze, mouth half-open but speechless.
Of course, that was an ideal outcome.
From Byakuya's standpoint, it was difficult to say whether it would be interpreted as betrayal of justice or as covert protection.
Having said that, Seiya stood.
"There's no need to discuss Rukia further…"
"After all, Lady Hisana—you know Byakuya's personality better than I do."
"He knows clearly what's right and what's wrong."
A hereditary hardhead. Even Hisana couldn't refute that.
"In any case, let's leave the conversation here. What matters most to Byakuya… is your health. Please, remember that."
Considering Rukia's safety, and the regret of having once abandoned her, now recovered—Hisana clearly wanted to say more.
But Momo had already stepped in front of Seiya, frowning as she silently shook her head.
The refusal was clear.
Given the circumstances between captains and the tangle of duties, Seiya coming to hear Hisana's plea in person and offering comfort was already a generous gesture.
Pushing further would cross a line.
Even if Hisana was a noble, Momo wasn't backing down. Not when Seiya's health was on the line.
The meeting ended awkwardly. Hisana left troubled, and Momo's dissatisfaction was evident.
Because Seiya's condition had clearly worsened lately.
"Captain, are you sure you don't need another checkup?"
Not just the coughs—his distractions were more frequent, too.
If not for the steady spiritual pressure he still emitted, Momo would've contacted the Fourth Division herself.
"Cough… No need for that. Just a minor issue, nothing worth fussing over."
It really was.
But it didn't look that way…
Momo bit her tongue, trailing behind in silence.
The gap between them shrank until they were walking side by side.
"Captain Arima, if something is wrong, please don't push yourself."
"Cough, thank you, Momo."
"Just doing my duty, sir!"
Her firm tone made Seiya smile inwardly.
Maybe it was because he'd stepped back in recent years, but Momo had taken on more responsibilities—growing more decisive, even tough.
She was stronger than in the original timeline.
Or perhaps…
"This is who Momo would've become naturally, without that manipulative bastard guiding her down a twisted path."
Without Aizen's psychological leash and obsessional dependency—this was who Momo was meant to be.
The thought made Seiya's gaze drift.
Humans were… so easily manipulated.
"Captain Arima?"
"It's nothing. Just thinking about something."
Momo's voice snapped him back. He shook his head and smiled weakly.
"Anyway… you've really grown, Momo. Helping me fend people off like that today… Brave girl, huh?"
She ducked away from his hand, embarrassed.
"I-It's not something worth praising."
Seiya chuckled.
"Oh~ So you know it was improper, huh?"
"So next time, don't do that again. Hisana was gracious today because she's kind-hearted, but other nobles might not be so forgiving."
Momo understood. She lowered her head.
"But I was just worried about you, Captain..."
"I know. Thank you, Momo."
This time, she couldn't dodge his hand. He ruffled her hair gently as he said,
"Just remember—next time, consider your own situation, too."
"Because if I, as your captain, can't look after you… what's the point of this job?"
There was no rebutting that.
Momo simply nodded in silence.
"Say it aloud."
"…Yes, sir."
"Too quiet! You are getting tired of your useless old captain, huh? I get it—I'll submit my resignation first thing tomorrow~"
"Please don't joke about that!"
He accepted her concern.
But the lecture still stood.
That was how Seiya always taught.
Still chatting and bickering, they returned to their barracks.
Since Seiya wasn't handling active duties, there was no need for a long wrap-up—Momo quickly took her leave.
His status as a patient came with its perks—no one would bother him unless absolutely necessary.
But…
"What about you, then?"
Seiya turned toward the shadows.
From the darkness, a figure slowly emerged.
Loose-fitting captain's haori hanging off a frame far too thin, giving off a sense of eerie imbalance.
"Shouldn't you bulk up a bit?"
Looking at Gin Ichimaru's increasingly skeletal form, Seiya clicked his tongue.
"You're skin and bones!"
"…Don't start."
Gin stepped forward, reaching out with his right hand.
"If it weren't for your health problems, I wouldn't have come all this way."
Seiya offered his hand with a smile.
"How kind~ Make sure to deliver the return trip, too."
Above the Seireitei, bands of reishi light surged.
If someone were attuned enough, all they had to do was look up—
To see two silhouettes building a reishi bridge through the sky, enabling high-speed travel.
Everyone knew—
High-speed reishi manipulation was forbidden within the Seireitei.
Even shunpo was restricted.
And yet these two completely ignored the rules.
As the city stretched beneath them, Seiya murmured,
"Same landscape… but from up here, it looks completely different."
Then he grinned.
"Right, Gin?"
"…"
Maintaining the reishi stream, Gin didn't respond.
Partly because he didn't feel like it.
But mostly—because something felt off.
Soon, the two descended.
But their destination wasn't the outer districts.
They were headed for the very heart of the Seireitei.
Beyond even the First Division's core.
Despite the swirling pressure of captain-level reiatsu around them, their presence caused no alarm.
Seiya couldn't help but be impressed.
"Aizen-sensei's Kyōka Suigetsu… looks like it's evolved again."
Not only did it conceal Gin's trail—it was now fine-tuned enough to pass unnoticed even at this level.
No wonder Yamamoto didn't dare go all out in Karakura Town.
He might've barbecued his own men by mistake.
"Glad you noticed, Seiya-kun."
"But manipulating one captain-level pressure isn't hard for me."
"Now, if I had to forge two peak-tier Soul Reapers at once… that's where it gets tricky."
From the other side of the shadows, Aizen Sōsuke stepped forward, flanked by Kaname Tōsen.
Aizen's smile was broader than ever, his tone unusually upbeat.
"Welcome, Seiya-kun."
Seiya walked forward.
The sickly aura that always surrounded him seemed to vanish with every step—replaced by clarity and poise.
"Thank you for waiting, Aizen-sensei."
"So—what's the current status?"
The one who answered was the ever-silent Tōsen.
"The Central 46… has been completely cleared out."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates