Shunsui Kyōraku's tone was calm, but his words carried a weight that made Seiya pause for a moment.
Before Seiya could respond, Shunsui gave a soft chuckle and waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah, forgive me. I got a bit carried away, digging too deep again… Work really does turn a person into someone else, doesn't it?"
His words sounded like casual chatter, but the undertone hinted at something deeper.
As Seiya followed Shunsui into the captain's office, he noticed the contrast between this space and the Fifth Division's.
The lighting was dimmer, with gray and dark wood tones dominating the décor.
It gave the room a calm, almost sleepy atmosphere.
A faint scent of incense lingered in the air, making it feel like the kind of place that could easily lull someone to take an afternoon nap.
But something caught Seiya's attention.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Seiya pause, Shunsui tilted his head in curiosity.
"…Nothing," Seiya mumbled, unsure how to phrase what he wanted to say.
After a moment of hesitation, he simply raised his hand and pointed toward the captain's desk.
Following Seiya's gaze, Shunsui turned and saw what the young man was pointing at.
A magazine lay open on the desk.
Its pink cover, thick pages, and the image of a bikini-clad woman striking a playful pose made its nature quite obvious.
The woman on the cover flashed a peace sign at the camera, exuding youthful energy.
There was no mistaking what kind of magazine this was.
For the first time, Shunsui's easygoing smile looked a bit awkward.
He quickly walked over and scooped up the magazine, pressing it to his chest.
"Ah… sometimes I forget to tidy up."
Seiya's expression remained blank.
Seriously? You're reading this kind of thing at work?
Does the old man—Yamamoto—know about this?
"Captain Kyōraku…"
"Ahaha! It's just a disguise, you see. Important intelligence disguised as a magazine!" Shunsui grinned, clearly trying to downplay the situation.
But Seiya wasn't buying it.
He crossed his arms and gave a knowing look.
"That magazine… was it the Spring Special Edition of Alluring Poses, Issue 109?"
Shunsui's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You recognized it?"
"Of course. There aren't that many interesting publications in Seireitei."
Even though Seiya didn't personally purchase these kinds of magazines, many students at the academy would bring them to class, flipping through the pages during breaks.
"Hmm…" Shunsui took a step back, a curious gleam in his eyes.
"And what else do you know about it?"
Seiya hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously:
"It's a New Year's Special Edition, right? The pages are thicker, and it includes a special photo set."
Oh, and if he wasn't mistaken…
"There was a bikini feature with Yotsuba Komatsu. Eight exclusive photos. If you subscribed for a full year, you'd get a signed photo and a custom frame."
Though he wasn't exactly a connoisseur, Seiya clearly knew his facts.
Shunsui raised an eyebrow, surprised by Seiya's detailed knowledge.
"I see… You're quite well-informed."
The captain removed his hat and scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well, you know how it is. There aren't many fun things to read around here."
Seiya glanced at the trash bin near the desk, noticing a familiar magazine cover inside.
It was Gennryū, a publication issued by the First Division and personally written by Yamamoto.
This magazine was mandatory reading for all divisions—every captain had to subscribe.
But here it was, tossed in the trash.
Seriously? He just throws away Yamamoto's magazine but keeps Alluring Poses on his desk?
Is this the kind of relationship they have?
Noticing Seiya's gaze, Shunsui leaned in conspiratorially and whispered:
"Ah… that's another secret of adulthood. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"…I'll try."
"I've got a couple of collector's editions of Alluring Poses in my stash. I'll let you borrow them."
"Consider it a done deal!"
"Attaboy!"
Their playful banter eased the tension in the room.
Once they settled down, Shunsui laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them, watching Seiya with an amused expression.
"Alright, back to business."
"Since you're here for an internship with the Eighth Division, we do have some formalities to go through."
"But before we start, I have a few questions for you. Don't worry, it's nothing serious—just a little pop quiz."
"First question."
"What do you think is the core essence of a secret?"
Seiya pondered for a moment.
"…Caution?"
Shunsui leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Interesting. I didn't expect you to be the cautious type."
"…Was that the wrong answer?"
"Ah, don't worry! There's no right or wrong answer here. I'm just curious about your thoughts."
Shunsui adjusted his posture and gave Seiya a mischievous grin.
"Personally, I believe the core essence of a secret is sharing."
"…Sharing?"
"Think about it, Seiya."
"There's no such thing as a wall that doesn't have cracks. If something exists—if it's recorded—then it's only a matter of time before someone finds out."
"So, rather than hoard secrets, why not find someone you trust and share them? It's better that way."
Leaning forward, Shunsui's tone grew softer, more introspective.
"Because, in the end… people get lonely if they keep everything to themselves."
He tilted his head and smiled at Seiya.
"Don't you think so, too?"
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Powerstones?
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