"Regarding the day Captain Seiya was murdered, may I ask where you were and what you were doing?"
"..."
"Let me rephrase that, then. Has Seiya ever acted strangely, or in any way that seemed abnormal to you?"
"..."
"Um… Lieutenant Hinamori?"
The officer sent to investigate under the authority of the 1st Division found himself sweating under the silence.
She wouldn't say anything—how was the investigation supposed to proceed?
5th Division Barracks.
Inside Lieutenant Hinamori Momo's quarters, she sat on the bed, leaning against the wall, dazed and vacant.
It wasn't that she couldn't hear.
She simply didn't want to think or respond.
Like someone completely shut off from the world, she was unresponsive—like a lifeless doll.
Just then, footsteps approached from outside, and as she turned her head slightly, 10th Division 3rd Seat, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, pushed the door open and entered.
No need to assess the scene. He understood it all at a glance.
With a sigh, Hitsugaya closed his eyes, speaking with a heavy tone.
"Thanks, you can head back now… I'll collect the information and report to the Head Captain."
Relieved, the investigator stood up quickly.
"I'll leave it to you, then!"
—Honestly, this job was thankless.
Essentially showing up to bring grief to someone's doorstep.
Hadn't anyone noticed how soulless the lieutenant looked?
They scrambled to gather their things and retreat to the door.
Leaving now was clearly the wisest choice. But just as they were about to step out…
They paused, exchanged glances.
After a moment of hesitation, the lead officer stepped back into the room.
Facing Hitsugaya's weary and puzzled gaze, the visitor solemnly bowed deeply.
"Captain Seiya's passing was truly unexpected."
"No one foresaw this… and no one wished it to happen."
"But now that it has, please extend our condolences to Lieutenant Hinamori."
The dead are gone.
The living must carry on.
Some sentiments need not be said aloud—they are understood.
With that, they departed in unison.
Whether because of the visitor's words or Hitsugaya's presence, Hinamori's vacant gaze trembled slightly.
Like a rusted, frozen machine, she slowly turned her head and looked at the figure beside her.
"Shiro…"
Now wasn't the time to argue over nicknames.
Hitsugaya scratched at his mouth corner with a sigh and placed the bag in his hand beside her.
"You haven't been eating these past days, have you? You need to take in something, or your body will give out."
I don't want to eat.
Before she could say anything like that, Hitsugaya cut in.
"If you get sick before we even find the killer, does that make any sense?"
His words reached deeper than any lecture. After a pause, Hinamori forced a faint smile.
"I… I understand…"
"Then go ahead and eat. I came today to pass along some updates."
It had been three days since the emergency captains' meeting.
The tension from the Ryoka incursion had somewhat eased.
"Let's start with the good news."
Hitsugaya took a seat nearby, folding his arms, looking far too serious for his age.
"One of the Ryoka has been captured. While many captains advocated interrogation… the Head Captain decided instead to simply detain him and ask some basic questions."
"His name, I believe, is Yasutora Sado."
This boxing enthusiast met an end nearly identical to the original timeline.
He hadn't regrouped with his companions after entry—just charged ahead blindly. You could say the jock got lucky.
This time, because Seiya was killed, he didn't encounter Kyōraku Shunsui.
Instead, he ran into the heavily patrolling Komamura Sajin.
Strangely enough, Sado and Komamura found common ground in their ideologies. But swords still clashed.
Unsurprisingly, Sado was the first to be arrested.
Hearing all this, a bit of light returned to Hinamori's eyes.
"And did he…?"
"No, he knows nothing about Captain Seiya's situation."
Hitsugaya continued after a pause.
"He could be lying, but we can't use torture, so for now it's on hold."
—Then how is this good news?
Unbothered by her mood shift, Hitsugaya shifted his posture and continued.
"Now for the bad news…"
Technically, this shouldn't be disclosed to anyone below a captain.
But given the 'wartime' status, exceptions could be made.
"Shihōin Yoruichi, missing for some time, has appeared in the Soul Society."
"She seems to be involved with the Ryoka. The reasons are unclear, but she seems to be an enemy now."
"This explains the former 2nd Division Captain Sui-Feng's odd behavior."
Though some details had changed, Kaien successfully reached the tower and met Rukia, triggering a series of events.
Byakuya returned, Ichigo appeared, then Yoruichi intervened, and so on.
Whether the info was critical or not, one thing became clear to the captains:
Things were far from simple.
"The Ryoka invasion and Captain Seiya's murder are likely unrelated."
Then where was the issue?
Though the exact cause remained elusive, the Gotei 13 were each pursuing their own leads.
"Some are tracing Seiya's movements, others watching Central 46."
"Despite various approaches, something strange has emerged—Rukia's execution date has been moved up again."
"This is completely unprecedented. Even the worst criminals aren't executed like this."
The deeper they investigated, the more unnatural the Soul Society seemed.
Like rot long hidden finally breaking the surface.
Hitsugaya had tried to present a clear breakdown to Hinamori, but—
"It doesn't matter."
"…Huh?"
"I said, things like this…"
Her cheeks slightly sunken, she turned to the window.
"Don't matter anymore…"
Nothing was worth caring about now.
Her attention wandered—distracted by what she saw outside.
The sun was warm, but not harsh.
Just seeing that sunlight brought tears to her eyes.
Captain Seiya had loved napping in the sun on days like this.
A pillow, a blanket, maybe some tea and snacks…
Fragments of memory surfaced, and Hinamori pressed her lips tightly.
She placed a hand over her chest—her face still frozen.
There was still a heartbeat.
But… how strange. Her body felt as stiff as death.
A drowning person fights desperately for breath—to truly live again.
But Hinamori no longer had that will.
She had forgotten her reason to live.
All she did now was cling to the past.
Watching her, Hitsugaya's brow furrowed deeply—his frustration plain.
But…
What position was he in to correct her?
He couldn't.
Unless…
Unless Seiya Arima could come back to life.
After a moment of silence, Hitsugaya seemed to give up trying to convince her.
"Rukia Kuchiki's execution."
"Has been moved up to…"
"Tomorrow."
Spoken aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
…
1st Division Barracks.
Yamamoto Genryūsai sat alone in the dojo.
Without his haori, his thin, aged body seemed frail.
But his eyes simply stared at the wall.
There, a former pupil had once proven their genius through action.
A personal style so impressive, even Yamamoto had acknowledged it.
Now, they were gone.
Outside the door, Chōjirō Sasakibe silently tightened his Western tie and sighed.
2nd Division Barracks.
Usually solemn and quiet as HQ of the Stealth Force, today it was different…
Ōmaeda's family was visiting.
A noble family with many members, his siblings were running amok.
"Don't touch that! That's Captain's stuff. If you break it, I'm dead!"
"But you're rich, big bro! Just buy another one!"
"…You're not wrong…"
Affectionate as always, Ōmaeda gave up trying to enforce discipline.
That was, until someone knocked over the memorial altar.
Ash scattered, covering the floor and their clothes.
But before anyone could complain, Ōmaeda smacked the kid on the head.
"Idiot! Help me put it back up!"
His siblings scrambled to fix it.
"Why so careful, bro?"
Ōmaeda pressed his palms together and bowed silently to the altar.
"Because the person enshrined here looked after me when I was younger."
He paused.
"When our dad retired, he said this person was the one he believed in most."
But now…
"Be careful out there. Don't do anything reckless."
3rd Division Barracks.
Aizen Sōsuke sat with Tōsen Kaname and Gin Ichimaru.
They gazed silently at the sky—waiting for time, and fate, to unfold.
4th Division Barracks.
Retsu Unohana stared at the closed door to her lieutenant's room.
She seemed about to knock… but stepped away silently.
Comfort wasn't a cure. Some wounds had to be healed by the one who bore them.
6th Division Barracks.
Byakuya Kuchiki, dressed formally, knelt before the family altar.
He had ordered that Hisana be confined.
See nothing. Hear nothing. Think nothing.
He would carry the pain alone.
Waiting—his only remaining option.
7th Division Barracks.
Komamura patrolled Seireitei as usual, dutiful and vigilant.
8th Division Barracks.
Kyōraku Shunsui read reports with a serious look—rare for him.
He sensed something was off.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
No door opened. Instead, Nanao's voice came from outside.
"I left the sake at the door."
After a pause, she added:
"But for your health, I only filled it halfway."
"…Ahaha, better than nothing."
11th & 12th Division Barracks.
With both captains injured, their divisions were somber and busy.
Uncommanded, Nemu simply sat in her room.
She stared at a small glass vial for a long time.
Until Mayuri's voice called from the other side.
"Nemu, come help."
"Yes, Mayuri-sama."
She rose, but instead of leaving, went to the water basin.
She changed the slightly yellowed water carefully.
Returning the vial, she brushed it softly—wordless.
After a breath's pause, she turned and left.
Emotions may be useless, but…
Can humans truly be emotionless?
Nemu didn't know the answer.
13th Division Barracks.
Jūshirō Ukitake's illness seemed worse.
His officers gathered, but he waved them off.
"Cough… I'm fine."
"It's just the old ailment."
"Once… tomorrow comes, I'll be fine."
Wiping the blood from his lips, Ukitake whispered—
"Once tomorrow comes…"
Everything will be okay.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates