Confrontation

After returning to the Eighth Division barracks, Ise Nanao immediately informed Kyōraku Shunsui about Matsumoto Rangiku wanting to transfer from the Tenth Division to theirs.

"Matsumoto-fukutaichō wants to come to our division?" Kyōraku was visibly surprised. "Why?"

Ise Nanao recited the explanation she had prepared: "Rangiku... had some conflict with Captain Tachikawa..."

Kyōraku cut in directly, "If there's a conflict, they should find a way to resolve it, no?"

Nanao replied, "It's not that simple. Things between them have gotten to a point where they're completely incompatible. That's why she wants to leave the Tenth Division."

Kyōraku fell silent, frowning in thought. This wasn't a simple matter. Matsumoto Rangiku wasn't just any seated officer—she was a fukutaichō. In the Gotei 13 and all of Seireitei, such a role carried immense weight. Furthermore, the relationship between a taichō and their direct subordinate fukutaichō was always delicate, since the former held the authority to appoint or dismiss the latter. Fukutaichō were often trusted confidants.

Historically, the only valid reason for a fukutaichō to transfer was promotion to captain; one didn't simply hop from one division to another as a regular seated officer.

"What exactly happened between them?" Kyōraku wanted to understand the root of the issue.

Ise Nanao faltered, hesitant.

Kyōraku gave her a curious look.

"It's... inconvenient to say."

"…"

Kyōraku was both amused and annoyed. "You want my help, but you won't even tell me what happened?"

Ise pressed her lips together in silence.

Kyōraku's eyes narrowed. "Is it that it's inconvenient, or that you actually don't know?"

Finally, she murmured, "Both... I suppose."

Kyōraku let out a sigh of exasperation. "You're asking me to get involved in something you yourself don't fully understand? Nanao, you're not usually this reckless."

Nanao tried to explain, "But Rangiku and Captain Tachikawa have really reached..."

Kyōraku waved her off mid-sentence.

"Does Captain Tachikawa even know about this?"

"He doesn't yet. Rangiku plans to submit her transfer request soon. She's just worried he won't approve it, so she hoped you might intervene..."

Kyōraku let out a long breath. "So not only does Captain Tachikawa not know, you don't even know how he'll react."

"…"

Kyōraku pursed his lips, gazing at her. "If Vice-Captain Matsumoto were a man, I might ask what kind of love potion she's poured into you... So why exactly are you getting involved in this? Just because she's your friend?"

Nanao lowered her head. "I just want to help Rangiku."

Of course she knew this wasn't the wisest course of action. But she also couldn't bear to turn her back on Matsumoto.

Kyōraku was silent for a while, then said, "Do you really think this is helping her?"

"…"

He removed the straw hat from his head and placed it aside, then calmly explained, "First, Matsumoto Rangiku belongs to the Tenth Division. Within the Gotei 13, that makes her entirely Captain Tachikawa's responsibility. We have neither reason nor standing to intervene."

"Second, Captain Tachikawa rose to his rank at a young age. That means he's likely prideful. If I, as a senior captain, step in out of nowhere, it might offend him. He could think Matsumoto asked me to back her up. What would he think then? What would he do? Have you considered if he might take it out on her?"

Nanao stayed silent.

"Lastly, you don't even know what the root of their conflict is. If Matsumoto was the one in the wrong, would you still stand by her unconditionally? Do you think that's good for our future relationship with the Tenth Division?"

By the end, Nanao had no words left. She stood there, silent for a long time, before finally saying, "I'm sorry, Captain. I was wrong."

Kyōraku, seeing that she understood, softened. "I know you're worried about your friend. But maybe there's another way to help her—something less risky, more constructive."

Nanao hesitated, then clenched her teeth and confessed, "Actually... I have a suspicion about what happened between them."

"Go on."

"When I asked Rangiku about it, she didn't say much. But... she called Captain Tachikawa a bastard. And... she looked terrible. Hollowed out. Drained. Like she'd... like she'd been assaulted."

She'd decided it was better to say it, so the captain could better understand the truth and help Rangiku appropriately.

Kyōraku's eyes widened.

"You're sure?"

"It's only a suspicion. Rangiku never admitted it and didn't say more."

Kyōraku grew pensive. If the truth was that Tachikawa had acted on lust and violated Matsumoto, then the Tenth Division truly wasn't safe for her anymore.

But... could that really be the truth?

Tachikawa didn't seem like someone capable of that.

From everything Kyōraku had seen, Tachikawa Shin was a composed, sharp-minded man with a strong sense of autonomy. That kind of impulsive, mindless crime didn't match his character at all.

And with his power and standing, if he liked a woman, pursuing her wouldn't have been difficult. At most, it would have taken some time.

Kyōraku didn't want to believe Nanao's suspicions were true.

That could only mean Matsumoto Rangiku was hiding something.

After a moment, he asked, "Did Vice-Captain Matsumoto ask you to speak for her?"

Nanao quickly replied, "No, it was my own idea."

But Kyōraku could already guess the truth. His impression of Matsumoto dropped slightly.

You don't use friends like that.

"I understand." Kyōraku nodded calmly. "I'll go talk to Captain Tachikawa."

Nanao was elated, thinking he had agreed to help. She bowed deeply. "Thank you, Captain!"

Kyōraku simply smiled faintly.

Tenth Division.

When Hitsugaya heard Matsumoto had returned, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been stuck handling everything on his own. He rushed to the vice-captain's office, but got no response after knocking.

Puzzled, he went to the captain's office instead.

"Enter."

Hitsugaya stepped in and saw Matsumoto standing before Shin's desk. He opened his mouth to speak, but the strange atmosphere in the room stopped him. Matsumoto's face was cold. Shin was reading a document.

On the desk lay the vice-captain's armband.

"Hitsugaya." Shin spoke.

"I heard Vice-Captain Matsumoto returned, so I came to check—"

But looking at her expression, something clearly wasn't right. He swallowed the rest of his words.

What happened?

He had no clue. But it was obvious he shouldn't be here right now.

"Perfect timing," Matsumoto suddenly said. "Let Hitsugaya formally take my position from now on."

Hitsugaya froze.

Shin tossed the papers aside, voice flat. "Do you get to decide who becomes vice-captain?"

Matsumoto didn't bother arguing. "Whatever you want."

Hitsugaya looked between the two. Even a fool could tell something had happened.

She'd taken leave, and now this? Had a fight broken out? And wasn't the leave approved by the captain himself?

Was she resigning as vice-captain?

Sure, Hitsugaya had long felt that being Third Seat was a waste of his talent, but he'd never planned to replace Matsumoto.

He hesitantly asked, "Captain, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Leave."

"…Got it."

His eyes lingered on them a moment longer before he stepped out.

Captains and vice-captains arguing wasn't rare. Usually one would be fuming and the other furious.

But this silent, tense coldness? This was new.

What had happened?

Only Matsumoto might say—after she came out.

Inside, Matsumoto said, "Here's the transfer request. If you approve, sign it."

Shin replied slowly, "Who said I approve?"

His tone sparked anger in her. She sneered, "You seriously want me to stay in the Tenth?"

Shin propped his chin on one hand, smiling faintly. "Rangiku-san, is that how you speak to your captain? Just a few days away and you've grown a spine."

Matsumoto snapped, "How should I speak to you? After what you did?! I was blind to drag you out of Rukongai! Should've left you there to rot!"

"Yet here I am," Shin stated calmly.

She laughed bitterly. "Yeah. I brought back a fucking traitor."

Shin sighed. "You helped me, and I remember that. But that doesn't give you a free pass to do whatever you want. As vice-captain, you have responsibilities. I simply gave you a lesson to remind you."

His righteous tone made her burn inside. What he did—he dared call that a lesson?

Sure, she had her faults. But now she just wanted out.

"Sign the damn form. Even if you don't, I'm not coming back."

He wasn't fazed. "Then I'll consider it an extended unauthorized leave. Failure to return. Dereliction of duty. You're eyeing the Maggot's Nest?"

Just hearing that name made her shiver.

She knew well what that place was—the covert prison under Second Division's jurisdiction. Different from the Onmitsukidō's detention cells. Those thrown into the Nest rarely came out alive.

She gritted her teeth. "Are you really this heartless?"

"I'm heartless?" Shin looked innocent. "You're the one who walked away. The one issuing threats."

She hissed, "Aren't you afraid I'll blow everything up? Tell everyone what you did to me?"

"You're still threatening me."

He leaned back lazily. "Go ahead. I've got my own version too—Matsumoto seduced her captain for a bed, failed, then stormed out and smeared his name. Lucky for her, I was too noble to press charges. But now she turns around and accuses me. Two other captains happened to know about that day. Whose story do you think they'll believe?"

"You...!" Her hands trembled, clenched so tight her knuckles turned white. "Tachikawa Shin! You shameless bastard! I can't believe you'd—"

"What?" he tilted his head slightly, that mocking smile deepening. "Lying? Or just telling the story from my side?"

"…"

Rangiku fought to stay composed. She wanted to lunge at him, rip him apart.

But reason held her back. He was a captain. She had no ground to stand on. One misstep, and even if she was in the right, she'd be condemned.

She turned sharply to leave, but his voice halted her.

"Wait."

He pointed to the transfer form. "Take it with you."

A soft puff of air blew the page to the floor.

Her face darkened, but she didn't erupt. With heavy steps, she walked to the desk, glared at him, bent down, picked up the paper, and crushed it in her fist.

Shin added, "You have duties today, don't you? Your leave's over. Don't waste time here."

She said nothing and left.

Shin didn't bother checking whether she'd left the barracks. But as noon neared, he sensed her reiatsu quietly stationed in her office.

A smile tugged at his lips.

This woman—so fierce on the outside, but truly, no bite.

He grew tired of paperwork and had Hinamori take the rest to the vice-captain's office.

When she returned, she reported, "Captain Kyōraku of the Eighth Division is here to see you."

Kyōraku?

What was he here for?