Forty Years of Warmth

Seiya did not respond immediately.

At that moment, he merely showed an expression of contemplation in response to Gin's question.

"Gin, you—"

"Standing around like this will only draw attention, Captain. Let's walk and talk."

Watching as Gin turned and walked ahead, Seiya followed with a subtle expression.

—What exactly do you mean by that?

—Do you have some other plan?

—Or… are you testing me as well?

There were countless things he wanted to say, yet as the words reached his lips, they all transformed into something else.

Crossing his arms, Seiya casually glanced to the side.

"Did something happen recently?"

His tone carried no reproach—in fact, quite the opposite.

His concern was the most evident thing in his voice.

Gin hesitated for a moment before turning his head back in mild confusion.

"Why…"

"Hmm?"

"Why aren't you asking why I said that?"

From the perspective of being Aizen Sōsuke's adopted son, Gin's earlier words were practically treasonous.

The kind of statement that could easily lead to a brutal reckoning later.

"Doubt, anger, even drawing your sword on me… Those would've been the normal reactions, wouldn't they?"

Hearing Gin's reasoning, Seiya paused briefly, then gave a small nod.

Technically, he wasn't wrong.

If their stances were incompatible, then talking at all would be meaningless.

But before considering that…

"I think trusting you comes first."

After saying this, Seiya nodded to himself, reaffirming his own judgment.

"We've known each other for years, Gin… I know you're not someone who speaks carelessly."

"And after all this time working with me, I know your temperament well."

"You wouldn't do something reckless unless you had no other choice."

But then…

"From the way you're speaking, I can tell you're uneasy."

If an experienced employee suddenly started acting out, the first response of a good boss shouldn't be to scold them for slacking.

That would be poor leadership.

"So tell me—did Aizen-sensei give you a hard time recently?"

"…"

Gin stared at Seiya in silence for a few breaths.

Then, as if resigning himself to something, he let out a long sigh.

"…This is kind of unsettling, Captain. It feels like you can see right through me."

"Then I'll take that as a compliment. So, what's the problem?"

Gin was silent for a moment before tilting his head toward the sky.

"…I'm a little scared."

As soon as those words left his lips, it was as if all the tension in his body drained away.

He wore a rare expression of deep contemplation.

"It must sound strange, right? But I'm not someone who enjoys making trouble."

"I… consider myself a fairly clear-headed person. Once I decide on something, I see it through to the end."

"I can put up with things I don't like if it means achieving my goal."

That much was true.

For Gin, personal sacrifices meant nothing if they brought him closer to his objective.

But reality never quite aligned with expectations.

"Being with you, Captain… spending time with Rangiku… I've been satisfied."

"To be honest, these past decades have been the happiest years of my life."

"Peaceful, quiet, without conflict. Never worrying about food, shelter…"

"When we were kids in Rukongai, Rangiku and I couldn't even dream of living like this."

But here they were.

The world that once seemed cruel and indifferent had a warm side after all.

"I want this life to continue… so…"

There were some things—some people—that simply had to be removed.

Gin stopped walking, turning to face Seiya.

His pale blue eyes narrowed slightly, focusing intently.

"Captain."

"That man… Aizen Sōsuke… is far more dangerous than I ever imagined."

"If I could, I'd leave immediately and never deal with him again."

In truth, even this wording was cautious.

Over the years, Gin had been exposed to more than enough of Aizen's secrets.

His arrogance, his cruelty, his utter disregard for life.

Gin rejected everything about him.

"That man wants to tear everything down and rebuild the world to fit his vision."

"But does any of it really matter? Do his ideals truly change anything, Captain?"

"You're a smart man. You understand what I'm saying."

So.

"I want you to understand my stance—and stand with me."

"…"

Seiya did not answer immediately.

Instead, he fell into a thoughtful silence for a long moment.

Then, almost incredulously, he raised his right hand and touched his cheek with a subtle expression.

"Being trusted like this feels nice, but… you're just telling me outright?"

Wasn't that a little reckless?

After all…

"Did it never occur to you that I might report this to Aizen-sensei?"

Nothing had been set in stone yet.

Coming forward so directly at this stage—it was an incredibly bold move.

From any perspective, it seemed like a risky gamble.

Yet Gin simply smiled in response.

"…That's fine."

"Just as you understand my temperament, Captain, I understand yours."

"You may appear to be on Aizen Sōsuke's side, but in reality… you have your own plans, don't you?"

Even if he didn't know what they were.

"But I'm certain your intentions aren't perfectly aligned with his."

…Oh?

Had that already been exposed?

Seiya was a little surprised but quickly let it go.

He had never openly discussed such thoughts with Gin, but given how long they had worked together, maybe it wasn't so strange.

Gin was a genius, after all—someone who had managed to deceive Aizen himself in the original timeline.

Perhaps he had simply picked up on the smaller details.

Faced with Gin's direct confrontation, Seiya pondered for a while before replying.

"Well… I do have my own little agenda."

But that wasn't enough to make him betray Aizen.

If Gin thought he could convince Seiya to defect so easily, he was being far too naive.

"Gin, if that's all, I can't give you an answer."

Simply put, the reasoning was far from sufficient.

However, Gin only nodded slightly, as if he had expected this response.

"Of course. I never thought you'd decide right away."

"I just want you to consider this possibility."

"After all… wouldn't it be nice if this peaceful life could last a little longer?"

There was a rare trace of self-mockery on Gin's face, mixed with uncertainty.

But in the end, it solidified into something resolute.

"If possible… I hope you'll choose to turn Aizen Sōsuke in."

"Forgive me for overstepping, Captain."

"But that's where I stand."

—So that's how it is.

Understanding Gin's mindset, Seiya wore an expression of realization.

It seemed his interference had caused quite a ripple effect.

The biggest proof was right in front of him—Gin himself.

The little fox had spent his whole life enduring hardship, and now, after forty years of warmth, he was tempted to just stop fighting.

But really…

That wasn't surprising.

From an outsider's perspective, those who weren't privy to the full picture could never understand the weight on Seiya's shoulders.

The Battle of Karakura Town was ultimately a matter of choosing sides—if he didn't fight Aizen, he'd have to fight Yamamoto.

And even if they survived that…

The ever-lurking Wandenreich would be waiting next.

There was no room for complacency.

Seiya sighed, feeling an inevitable sense of helplessness.

Since he couldn't lay everything bare, he'd have to take a more indirect approach.

Stepping forward, Seiya slowly extended his right hand toward Gin.

His movement was deliberate.

Gin's eyes flickered, showing a hint of hesitation.

Given the current situation, a sudden move like this could easily be an attack.

How was he supposed to react?

Under Seiya's gaze, Gin ultimately remained still.

He stood there in silence, staring straight into Seiya's eyes.

It was an act of courage.

And more than that—it was trust.

Seiya smiled warmly.

Patting Gin's shoulder, he spoke with sincerity.

"Gin, there are things I can't explain to you just yet. But there's one thing I want you to remember…"

"…What is it?"

"People rarely get to choose their path. But trust me… I am walking the right one."

Doubt, hesitation…

They were all just fleeting illusions—fears of the unknown.

"Until you find your own answer, just follow me."

Gin immediately picked up on the wording.

"So this is purely your own belief, not a reflection of Aizen's ideals…"

Even if he despised Aizen.

As he had said earlier—if it was Seiya, Gin was willing to trust his judgment.

Lowering his head slightly, Gin's expression returned to normal.

"In that case… as you wish."

Besides—

A Vice-Captain's duty was to follow his Captain.

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