Chapter 214
Momo Hinamori was afraid deep in her heart, afraid to leave the ward and return to the division. It was not only because she had been lying in the ward for so long while pushing piles of tasks onto her subordinates, making her feel incompetent as a fukutaichō. The place itself also carried memories of her former captain, Aizen Sōsuke, and those memories made it even harder for her to move forward.
Hirako Shinji spoke quietly.
"Hinamori, I also spent time with Aizen. It's true that we can never forgive his actions in this lifetime, but within the Fifth Division, I hold good memories with him too. Even if those moments were only part of his act, I don't intend to discard them. Don't misunderstand-the team doesn't think poorly of you. On the contrary, they are hoping for your return. If you don't want to disappoint their expectations, leave this ward soon, Momo."
"Thank you… Captain Hirako."
After Hirako-taichō left, Yuta also knocked on Hinamori's door and entered to check on her condition. He placed the peaches he had brought on the nearby table.
"How are your injuries?"
Hinamori looked at the fruit.
"...I didn't expect Captain Yuta to still remember that we shared peaches when we first met."
"After all, your name is Momo, it's hard not to remember," Yuta replied while standing near the window, his eyes on the view outside. "If you've rested enough, it may be time for you to return to your duties in the division."
At his words, Hinamori lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Captain Yuta... what do you think of Captain Aizen?"
Yuta answered evenly.
"What do you think of sacrificing some people so that others may live better lives?"
Hinamori hesitated. She had never considered such a question. In the past, she had followed Captain Aizen without doubt. As long as she trusted him, she believed the direction he chose must be correct, and she had lived her life guided by that faith. Now faced with Yuta's question, she needed to think for herself about what was right and what was wrong.
"...I think those who were sacrificed must have suffered greatly," she said finally, holding one of the peaches close to her chest with both hands.
Yuta glanced at her and let out a quiet sigh within himself. For Hinamori, such actions were clearly wrong, but if the one responsible was Aizen Sōsuke, she would have chosen to believe in him regardless. He wondered if, in his own case, Kuchiki Rukia and Matsumoto Rangiku would stand against the world to trust him if he ever did wrong. He did not know the answer. If he were Aizen, then Hinamori would be an outstandingly loyal subordinate. To anyone else, her blind faith seemed foolish. Her personality leaned toward dependence-she clung to strong figures in order to survive. Aizen once said that everyone relies on someone stronger, and the strongest seek even greater strength. In the end, such reliance points toward a single ruler. Hinamori's fear was in independence, and overcoming that fear would be part of her growth.
---
After returning to the division, Momo Hinamori overworked herself with relentless dedication. Hirako Shinji, as a result, found himself far more at ease than he had expected. It reminded him of more than a hundred years ago when Aizen had handled the affairs of the division efficiently and even left behind systems that continued to benefit them. Not everything Aizen left was a negative legacy. Still, Hirako felt some regret for Sarugaki Hiyori. When he had accepted the position of captain within the Gotei 13 again, Hiyori had struck him in anger. To her, his decision had likely felt like a betrayal. Fortunately, she still had support from Hachigen Ushōda and Aikawa Love, along with Urahara Kisuke's shop, so there was little concern for her safety.
Since the incident over a century ago had been resolved, Urahara Shōten had effectively become a base for Soul Society in the Human World. Shinigami sent to eliminate Hollows often came there for supplies, treating it as a de facto "Soul Society Embassy in Karakura Town." Kuna Mashiro and Yadōmaru Lisa frequently traveled to the Human World to visit as well. Ushōda Hachigen's reason for staying behind was tied in part to his cats and also to maintaining barriers over the Visored base. As for Aikawa Love, he felt Soul Society lacked interest for him compared to the Human World, as it had no boys' manga for him to read.
---
Muguruma Kensei had taken up the position of 9th Division captain. Kuna Mashiro naturally followed him there. However, with Hisagi Shūhei already serving as fukutaichō, she demanded recognition of her own. Throwing herself to the floor in exasperation, she rolled about like a child.
"What? That's unfair! If Kensei is captain now, then I want to be vice-captain too! I want to be vice-captain! Kensei, you idiot, idiot, idiot!"
Kensei said simply, "I've arranged another position for you."
Mashiro stopped rolling and squatted down, staring at him expectantly.
"What position?"
Hisagi Shūhei cleared his throat before explaining.
"We would like you to serve as the ultimate editor and reporter for the Seireitei Communication under the Ninth Division. You'll ensure it remains cool, novel, stylish, and exciting."
Mashiro immediately adopted the title of "Super Vice-Captain." She altered her vice-captain's badge to display both the Ninth Division and the word "super," then began traveling between the Human World and Soul Society to track and report stories.
---
Yadōmaru Lisa became a businesswoman, living with Shiba Kūkaku. She transformed Human World books into spiritual copies and brought them into Soul Society to sell. After completing another delivery, she removed her invisiblity cloak and collapsed onto the table in exhaustion.
"Another day of being taken advantage of."
Her eyes settled on Yuta, who sat at the table calmly drinking tea. Lisa's irritation sharpened in her voice.
"Why is it that you can sit there doing nothing as a shareholder and still earn money?"
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