And how much he might one day wants to kill him.

"Captain of the Gotei?"

"If Aizen knew that the Head Captain held such high expectations for him, I think he'd be very pleased."

"After all, he often tells me how much he dreams of becoming the Captain of the Gotei."

Aiyan caught a glimpse of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's rare bright smile and couldn't help glancing sideways at Aizen.

Truly... it's a satisfying feeling to push the future king forward.

He could already imagine it.

Just how pleased Yamamoto Genryūsai was now, how much he valued Aizen—how much he'd grow to admire him—and how much he might one day want to kill him.

"Is that so?"

Yamamoto's stern expression softened even further upon hearing that Aizen viewed the title of Captain of the Guard as a lifelong goal and motivation for self-discipline. A sense of pride rose in his heart.

He had already made up his mind.

Once Aizen returned to Squad One, he would begin passing down everything he'd learned across the centuries.

The conversation between the three was filled with ease and warmth—a rare atmosphere of harmony.

… 

Ninth Division barracks.

The air was thick with tension, like the scent of gunpowder before a battle.

Because Muguruma Kensei, Love Aikawa, and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō—after experiencing the Kōga Rebellion and having their Zanpakutō suppressed by Aiyan—had begun to question Hirako Shinji's claims that the Sōsuke brothers were dangerous.

Kensei, especially, had grown bold.

He told Hirako bluntly: it was time to let go of his prejudice.

That statement was the last straw.

Already depressed from losing the position of Captain of Squad Five and stripped of all former prestige overnight, Hirako Shinji exploded.

"Kensei, what the hell is going on in your head?! You're saying Brother Aiyan is a good person? Just because he helped you suppress your Zanpakutō?"

"Did you forget why Kōga rebelled and became a criminal? Wasn't it because of Brother Aizen?"

"In the assembly hall, Aiyan didn't just make him lose the captaincy of the Special Forces—he couldn't even stay as Squad Six's Third Seat. He was demoted to an ordinary member of Squad One! And Aizen? He straight up took Kōga's position as Captain of the Special Forces!"

Hirako slammed the table. His golden hair flared wildly.

He didn't know about Kyōka Suigetsu.

But after hearing Kensei recount what had happened, he couldn't help but notice the similarity—

How he lost Squad Five.

How Kōga lost the Special Forces.

Too similar.

Even more humiliating, Kōga's downfall was worse than his own.

So, even if it looked like Kōga initiated the Zanpakutō rebellion… he remained convinced that it was all part of the Sōsuke brothers' scheme.

"You're saying Brother Aiyan's behind it all? Where's your proof?"

"Hirako, I get that you're bitter. But don't throw accusations without facts."

"Even if you can't prove it, at least talk sense."

"At the inauguration, there were six of us. Twelve eyes. We all saw Kōga insult Aiyan during the ceremony and get stripped of his title by the Head Captain."

"Then later, during Aizen's appointment as Vice-Captain of Squad One and Captain of the Special Forces, Kōga lost control again—and got punished again."

"It wasn't some conspiracy. It was jealousy. Plain and simple."

Kensei tried to stay calm, hoping Hirako would finally drop the grudge.

"Kensei's right," Rōjūrō added. "We all witnessed the same thing."

"You say Aiyan caused Kōga's fall—but all we saw was Kōga interrupt the captain's inauguration repeatedly. And the Sōsuke brothers? They didn't even fight back! Aizen even tried to mediate."

"Even if, somehow, Aiyan orchestrated everything, Kōga still provoked him first. And the positions of Captain and Vice-Captain were assigned directly by the Head Captain. Are you saying the brothers can manipulate Yamamoto Genryūsai?"

Love Aikawa crossed his arms. "You're blaming the wrong person, Shinji. It's not fair."

"But still… Don't you think what happened to Kōga is just like what happened to me?" Hirako muttered.

"Same outcome. Both incidents are tied to Aiyan."

"Forget the facts for a second—doesn't that feel suspicious to you?"

That line made everyone go silent.

"Forget the facts?" Lisa, Mashiro, and the others looked at each other, all thinking the same thing.

If not reason or truth, then what was Hirako trying to use?

Feelings?

Hirako and Kōga had both gone after the Aiyan brothers first. No one forced them.

Aiyan and Aizen had been minding their own business at the Spiritual Arts Academy when Hirako picked a fight, demanding Aizen admit he was dangerous. Aiyan defended his younger brother and ended up being forced into early graduation.

At the inauguration, Aiyan was composed.

But Kōga couldn't stop provoking him.

Aizen got injured—Aiyan still spared Kōga.

He showed strength and compassion.

So who's in the wrong?

"What?"

"You all think Brother Aiyan is a good person, and I'm just the villain now?"

"That's it?"

Hirako's voice trembled in disbelief as he saw their reactions.

"That's not what we mean," Hachigen said softly. "It's just—Shinji, you and Kōga can't keep bullying Aizen for no reason."

"He's already been stabbed," Lisa reminded him. "Squad Four is still treating him."

"Maybe you should give it a rest," Mashiro said more directly. "Pick someone else to bother. Why's it always Aiyan's younger brother?"

"We're friends," she added. "But don't expect us to just go along when you're twisting the truth and trying to gang up on Brother Aiyan."

"Even if we did agree to help you fight—who's to say we'd even win?"

Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō narrowed his eyes.

"You say Aizen's a bad guy? That Kōga's the victim? But you're not making sense anymore, Shinji."

"If not for our long friendship, we'd have walked away long ago."

"As friends, you should trust me, not doubt me!" Hirako snapped, slamming the table.

But before his hand landed, Sarugaki Hiyori—who'd been silent all this time—smashed a slipper straight into his face, sending him flying across the room.

"I trusted you once," she said coldly. "When the Academy warned me, I still helped you lure Shiba away."

"But I didn't blame you. Everyone makes mistakes."

"But this?"

"You're picking fights, causing trouble, doubting everyone…"

She walked up with her other slipper raised high.

"It's time to stop, you idiot."

"You don't believe me?" Hirako shouted from the floor.

"I'm telling you—Aiyan is not a good person!"

But when he looked around—at Kensei, Love, Lisa, Mashiro, Rōjūrō, and Hiyori—all their expressions were the same.

Their eyes held the same message, even if they didn't say it aloud:

"I don't believe you."