Chapter 63: Piercing the Heart! Questioning the Heart!

Amid the endless fireworks, a single plume of light burst from the muddy ground, shooting straight into the night's embrace — then, with a dazzling, passionate kiss, it answered the evening's gentle darkness.

Sparks rained down, purple, red, yellow… countless brilliant streams of color dyed all of the Seireitei in striking hues — not the pale stillness of grey and white, but the fervent, unique beauty of summer.

A warm yellow glow from the fireworks fell across the Head Captain's face, making him look almost gentle. While everyone's eyes brimmed with the light of the exploding flowers in the sky, the old man quietly appeared behind Asano Kiyoshi. He gently patted Kiyoshi's shoulder, smiled, and asked in a calm, kind voice:

"Kiyoshi — this old man can tell you've got something stuck in your heart after today, something you can't get past. I'd like to hear what you're thinking."

Kiyoshi flinched at the hand on his shoulder but, turning to meet the Head Captain's eyes, showed a hint of hesitation on his face. His mouth opened — but for a moment, he didn't know how to begin.

Yamamoto saw the conflict in his eyes. He smiled gently, and with his rough, timeworn palm, he gave Kiyoshi's cheek a little pinch.

"It's fine. Today, don't think of me as the Head Captain. Just think of me as your elder. Say what's really in your heart."

Seeing that warm, grandfatherly smile, Kiyoshi felt the last of his guard melt away. He drew in a deep breath, gathered his scattered thoughts, and began to speak, slowly:

"Yama-jii… Honestly, near the end of my fight with Koshiro today, there was a moment when I wanted to give up. Seeing his mother like that — it really hurt. I've read Koshiro's file; he wasn't really a bad person. He just wanted to save his mother…"

Hearing this, Yamamoto nodded gently and asked,

"Yes, I could see it. Your hand trembled when you swung your sword. So — do you think having that feeling in your heart was wrong, or right?"

At these words, everyone nearby — enjoying the fireworks — subtly perked up their ears. This was a sharp question. In fact, it was a question meant to pierce the heart.

If Kiyoshi answered that his feeling was wrong, then it would contradict his moment of hesitation in battle — showing that he wasn't speaking the whole truth. And once there's even a hint of deceit, as the old saying goes: "Loyalty that is not absolute is absolutely disloyal."

But if Kiyoshi said that feeling was right, then it would imply he disagreed with the core tenets of the Head Captain's path — in other words, that he had a "divided heart." And for someone in Kiyoshi's position now, to show a divided heart would mean losing status within the Head Captain's circle — or worse.

This was a question designed to test his true heart. Answer it poorly, and there would be no coming back from it.

Kiyoshi froze for a moment. He looked at the old man — at Yamamoto's face reflected in his own eyes — and in that instant, he chose to trust this elder, to speak the truth buried deepest in his heart:

"Yama-jii… I know, from my own position, that feeling is absolutely wrong. But — if we're talking about the perspective of the entire Soul Society… then I believe that feeling is, without a doubt, right."

A ripple of shock swept across everyone within earshot. Kiyoshi's answer was beyond what they'd expected. Did he really know what he was saying? Did he truly grasp who this elder was — and what his words could mean for his future? Did he not see the consequences?

Yamamoto's slightly narrowed eyes slowly opened, reflecting the determined face of the boy before him, lit up by the flickering fireworks.

Kiyoshi saw the surprise in everyone's eyes — but he didn't falter. He forced his trembling body to steady itself, drew in a breath, and spoke words straight from his soul:

"Yama-jii — Koshiro and I had no personal grudge, but because we stood on opposing sides, he was forced to burn his very life away just to save his mother. Is he evil?! From any angle, he was no villain!"

"I carry the debt of your teachings. I know how filthy, how rotten the nobles can be — and I know we can't let them keep reaping more profits. I just wanted to contribute to the peace of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I just wanted to repay you for your kindness — does that make me evil?! I don't think so!"

"So then — why must two people whose hearts mean no harm be forced to fight a battle that burns up their souls and their lives?! It's no one person's fault. It's the tide of the times that's crashing down on us!"

"I know — just the two of us can't explain everything. But I grew up in the lowest Rukongai districts. I've crawled through the filth. I've lived in the rotting, stinking outer wards where people survive like stray dogs! They have no dignity, no hope, not even a scrap of joy in simply being alive!"

"Their eyes are dull and empty. They claw and bite each other like beasts, drink each other's blood just to stay alive — and this has been going on for thousands of years! Thousands! The bones and blood piled under the nobles' feet could bury the entire Seireitei a hundred times over. We live on this mountain of corpses and call the sliver of land that floats above it — 'peace.'"

"If one person commits a crime for money or luxury — then yes, that person is guilty."

"But if tens of thousands of ordinary souls must steal bread or water just to survive, if children must pickpocket to eat, if a single illness can destroy an entire family — then the guilty ones are us!"

As his words rang out, everyone fell utterly silent.

At that moment, the grand finale of the fireworks soared up behind the boy — blazing bright as the noon sun, casting its searing light over him.

"Yama-jii! I want to change all of this!"

T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at p@treon.com/LordHipposApostle

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