On the way back to their barracks, the members of the Thirteenth Division walked in a quiet line.
Shiba Kaien seemed preoccupied.
"What are you thinking about?" Ukitake suddenly asked.
Kaien smiled lightly. "Nothing much."
But after a moment's hesitation, he added, "I was just wondering... whether what Shin did today might cause some trouble."
Ukitake reassured him, "Don't worry. It won't."
The fact that Kitazume lost to Togakure Riku was telling enough.
Compared to everything else, it was clear the Head Captain valued Shin more.
"The Head Captain sees Shin's potential. He's far more inclined to appreciate him," Ukitake said.
"Let's hope so." Kaien sighed. "Still, the things Shin pulled today… they were enough to make anyone's heart race."
Ukitake gave a soft chuckle. "True… But the fact that he beat Vice-Captain Ichimaru really caught everyone off guard. He's been out of the Academy for less than a year."
Kaien smiled wryly. "That's what it means to be a prodigy. Always unpredictable."
Ukitake looked at his vice-captain with a gentle gaze. "Aren't you one too?"
"Me?" Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Depends who you're comparing me to. Against those two who were on stage today, I don't really count."
Ukitake didn't respond, only smiled.
He knew… after today, the Head Captain might very well be reconsidering his plans for the Third Division captaincy.
Originally, Ichimaru Gin had practically been set for the position.
Ukitake looked at Kaien and sighed quietly.
"Kaien."
"Hm?"
"Is it too stifling to remain as my vice-captain?"
Kaien laughed. "Captain, what are you saying? I'm just waiting for you to retire so I can inherit your position."
Ukitake smiled helplessly.
The Thirteenth Division was arguably the most critical of all the Gotei 13.
After all, the core duty of a shinigami was to maintain the balance of the three worlds, and the Thirteenth was responsible for real-world deployment, Hollow purification, and soul guidance. It could be said that, aside from defending Seireitei itself, all the other divisions existed to support Division Thirteen's work.
Such an essential squad couldn't be handed off lightly. Even if Ukitake wanted to step down, the Head Captain would be the first to refuse.
He had once considered the possibility when his lung illness was worse—but now that it had been healed, this position would be his until the day he died.
The same logic applied to the Eighth Division as well.
Kyōraku Shunsui held the keys to the Great Spirit Book Hall.
As disciples of the Head Captain, both Ukitake and Kyōraku bore the weight of the Gotei's most critical responsibilities.
In Ukitake's eyes, Shiba Kaien's talent was not inferior to anyone's.
Certainly not to Ichimaru Gin's.
As Kaien's captain, Ukitake saw that very clearly.
But for now, Kaien would likely remain a vice-captain for a long time.
Not because the position was beneath him—but because someone like Kaien deserved more, and the path simply wasn't open yet.
After all, the Thirteenth Division already had one Captain Shiba.
In the Fourth Division's infirmary, the wounded from the tournament had been gathered into one room: Ōmaeda Marechiyo, Ichimaru Gin, Saitō Hisaya, and Ayasegawa Yūshirō.
The four had been chatting idly when Shin entered. At once, the room fell silent.
Shin entered with a bright, sunny smile, greeting them casually:
"Yo! How are you all holding up?"
He didn't show the slightest trace of guilt—like their injuries had nothing to do with him.
Ayasegawa muttered bitterly, "Thanks to you? Not great."
He'd once thought he'd be spared—given that he and Shin got along. But instead, he'd gotten both hands pierced just like the others.
Shin burst into laughter. "Come on now, what happens on the arena stays on the arena, right? It was just a friendly match. Isn't that right, Vice-Captain Ichimaru?"
Gin smiled with eyes closed. "Easy for you to say, Shin-kun. You're not the one stuck in a hospital bed."
Shin gestured toward the nearby Fourth Division medics to give them privacy, then turned to Gin again.
"No need to be petty. I've heard the rumors—you're practically guaranteed to be the next Third Division captain."
"Just rumors," Gin replied. "Shin-kun, you're clearly stronger than me. If anyone deserves that position, it's you."
Shin shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. We were only sparring. If it were a fight to the death, I might not be your match. I haven't even achieved Bankai yet. I've only just become a shinigami—there's still so much I lack compared to you."
Gin didn't buy it. He hadn't gone all out in their match, true—but would that have let him pierce Shin's defenses?
He doubted it.
Gin smiled again. "Then why have you come, Shin-kun? To show off?"
"You're all here because of me. Of course I came to take responsibility."
Shin drew his asauchi and approached Gin. Without hesitation, he placed the blade against Gin's throat.
Moments later, Gin blinked in surprise and looked down at his hands.
Fully healed.
Despite his mediocre Kaidō skills, he could tell something miraculous had just happened. The medics had told them recovery would take days.
With Shin? Seconds.
Shin proceeded to heal Ayasegawa, Ōmaeda, and Saitō one after the other.
"Incredible," Gin murmured. "Your strength isn't limited to the battlefield."
"Is that your zanpakutō's ability?" Ayasegawa asked. As a member of the Eleventh, he'd suffered plenty of injuries over the years—but never such rapid recovery.
Ōmaeda and Saitō exchanged a glance, visibly impressed.
"You're all fully healed now," Shin said. "You're free to leave. Apologies if you felt neglected."
Ōmaeda approached, clapped Shin on the back, and laughed. "So it's Tachikawa, huh? We've seen each other around, but now we're properly acquainted. If you ever need something, come find me."
Clearly, he wanted to make connections.
After all, the Gotei's upper ranks were a small circle—they'd be seeing each other often.
Saitō gave a quiet nod in acknowledgment.
As they left, Ayasegawa turned back. "Drop by Eleventh sometime. We'll welcome you warmly."
"Maybe when I feel like picking a fight."
Gin was the last to leave. He said nothing—only looked at Shin with a complicated expression for a long moment.
As evening fell, Kotetsu Isane sat in the vice-captain's office, sorting the last of the reports.
Since Shin had mentioned he'd come find her later, she'd been restless the entire afternoon. She didn't know when he would show up—only that she kept glancing toward the door.
A sudden knock made her heart skip a beat.
She composed herself. "Come in."
But it was only Iemura, holding a report.
"Vice-Captain, a new critical injury case from the World of the Living—wounded during a battle with a Hollow."
Isane sighed, somewhat relieved, but with a twinge of disappointment she couldn't quite name.
She took the file and asked, "You didn't go to Shin?"
"He wasn't in his office."
Since Shin joined the Fourth, critical cases had become rare.
As part of the Emergency Rescue Unit, he typically only assisted when things got complicated.
"I'll pass it on to him," she said.
"Much appreciated."
Iemura departed, and Isane stared blankly at the report.
She didn't know how much time passed. The sky darkened completely.
When the door creaked open, she snapped back to awareness—only to see Shin entering and closing the door behind him.
Her eyes trembled, and she instinctively stood.
"You… didn't knock."
"Should I step back out and knock now?" he teased.
"You're getting less respectful by the day," she muttered, voice softening as he approached.
"What do we need formalities for, between us?"
He stopped barely a meter away, and her heartbeat surged. She averted her gaze.
"You should know your boundaries... Didn't you call me your sister?"
"There are many kinds of sisters, you know."
"…"
She said nothing, gripping the report in hand and thrusting it at him.
"Iemura wanted you to see this."
He glanced at it, then slipped it away casually.
She took a deep breath, trying to appear calm. "Is there… something else you wanted?"
Shin tilted his head. "Yūne-neesan, don't tell me you've forgotten what I said earlier?"
She hesitated, then mumbled, "…No."
"Eh?"
"I mean… I didn't forget. Just say it—what do you want?"
Shin's grin deepened. He took a step closer, and she instinctively stepped back.
With their height difference, his head barely reached her chin—so she always had to look down when speaking to him.
Yet right now, she felt oddly… overpowered.
Despite her tall frame, Isane had never been confident in herself. Her height always made her feel awkward.
"Yūne-neesan… like I said, there are different kinds of sisters."
"…"
She tightened her lips. She couldn't meet his gaze—but she could feel the heat in it, like fire ready to burn her.
Her fingers curled around the hem of her uniform. Her throat tightened with a cottony tension. She tried to retreat, but her heel hit the invisible wall behind her.
"Shin… what exactly are you trying to say?"
She understood his meaning—but still asked, because part of her didn't dare believe it.
She'd never faced anything like this before. Her heart raced, and she wanted to resist.
But not because she disliked him—quite the opposite. She liked him far too much.
She just didn't know…
Was she even worthy of being the object of such feelings?
Her breath grew ragged, like a trapped butterfly beating against glass.
"I want to ask… if Yūne-neesan can stop seeing me as just a little brother."
"…"
That was it?
In the past days she'd feared so many possibilities—demands too bold, embarrassing, or unthinkable.
But this one gentle request held more weight than any of them. His sincerity rang clear in every word.
Why hadn't he just said it outright?
Was he… afraid of rejection?
Was he nervous too?
Her ears burned. The heat climbed her throat, flushing her cheeks. Her senses sharpened: the rush of her own breath, the pounding of her heart, the delicate tremble of her own reflection in his irises.
"I…"
He reached for her hand, and though she flinched, she didn't pull away.
Then suddenly, he pulled her into his arms.
She froze.
But after a brief hesitation—she didn't push him away.
"Shin…"
"Mm?"
"I… I haven't decided yet…"
Shin's arms tightened slightly around her.
And then—
Bang!
The door burst open, a clear voice calling out—
"Sis!"