A talent indeed.
This was the sole reason Suō Tsukasa had given the treatment log to Kira Izuru.
It was a whim, a casual gesture. There was no ulterior motive of recruitment or networking involved.
In the future, the ability of Kira Izuru's Zanpakuto, Wabisuke, would be quite interesting. It was not mere gravity manipulation, but rather a rule-based effect that continuously doubled the weight of anything struck by its blade. If utilized skillfully, it could yield unexpected results in specific situations.
However, the current Kira Izuru was still quite far from awakening that unique power. It wasn't just a matter of accumulating spiritual pressure or imprinting upon his Asauchi; the crux was that his heart was lost in a maze. Like a pond shrouded in thick fog, he could neither see his own silhouette nor cast a clear reflection.
Then again, this was normal. The reasons most Shinigamis originally chose this path were myriad and complex. Those who started with a firm goal and possessed the agency to execute it were a rarity in the Seireitei. Most people were like the current Kira Izuru—swept along by the tide of graduation and assigned randomly to a division. From there, they began to fumbled through adaptation, slowly searching for their place and purpose amidst day-to-day duties and training.
This confusion became particularly clear and painful when held up against others.
His classmates and friends, Abarai Renji—with his stubborn determination and hunger for strength—and Hinamori Momo—with her superior talent in Kido—had both entered the high-profile Squad Five. That was the division led by Aizen Sosuke, a man of immense prestige among the students of the Shin'o Academy. Squad Five handled a diverse range of missions, from guarding the Living World to dealing with Hollow threats and other special incidents, which meant rapid opportunities for promotion. Furthermore, the captain's leadership by example had fostered an excellent team culture, making it the ideal destination for many graduates harboring high ideals.
It was exactly what Kira Izuru had hoped for.
Instead, of the three of them, he alone had been assigned to Squad Four, at the bottom of the pecking order. His daily tasks consisted mostly of trivial and repetitive chores: checking medicines, moving equipment, and endless cleaning.
At the Squad Four barracks.
The treatment log personally handed over by Suō Tsukasa now sat quietly on the desk in Kira Izuru's quarters.
"I'm glad I didn't give up..." Kira Izuru whispered to himself after washing up and changing into his undergarments. Though exhausted, sleep eluded him. He lit the oil lamp and knelt before the desk, carefully opening the log. The light illuminated his face.
Time flew by like a white horse passing a gap.
As the end of the year approached, the air became thick with a layer of busyness and a palpable sense of relaxation that differed from ordinary days. A thin layer of frost had formed on the windowsills of the office, glinting in the morning sun.
During this period, Suō Tsukasa completed two more rescue missions and finished two training sessions on bloodletting under Unohana Retsu's guidance. Though the progress was not yet glaringly obvious, the direction was correct.
As for Kira Izuru, the confusion in his eyes was gradually replaced by proactive initiative. Recently, he had begun to use gaps in his work to seek advice from Tsukasa, showing a serious and motivated attitude. Tsukasa didn't think much of it; whenever a question was asked, he provided an answer. Their relationship underwent a subtle shift through these interactions.
However, it went no further than that. Kira Izuru strictly maintained the posture of a subordinate. He never omitted honorifics, remained unfailingly respectful, always greeted Tsukasa with a formal bow before asking a question, and followed proper protocol when taking his leave. They were not exactly friends.
Beep beep—
The notification sound of the Denreishinki in his robes chimed. Tsukasa stopped his paperwork and pulled it out. Among the many message logs, the vast majority were from Hitsugaya Toshiro. Today was no exception, though the message was slightly longer than usual, even if it contained nothing of great importance.
In the quiet office, the sound from Tsukasa's side was particularly noticeable, breaking the silence. Shiba Kaien looked up from the mountain of end-of-year reports, craning his neck to peer over with curiosity.
"What's up, Tsukasa? You look quite serious. Don't tell me something's come up at this time of year?"
"It's nothing. After duties are finished later today, I'm planning to go buy Year-End and New Year's gifts with Toshiro and Rangiku. We're just coordinating the time and meeting place," Tsukasa replied honestly as he sent a response.
He had previously made a promise to Toshiro that when the time was right, they would head to the commercial district to buy some holiday supplies. He had originally intended for it to be just the two of them, but Matsumoto Rangiku had joined in later. His reason for wanting it to be just him and Toshiro was purely out of concern for efficiency. Two men could be goal-oriented, moving in and out quickly—he estimated they could finish everything in about an hour. Given Matsumoto Rangiku's shopping habits, he feared the three of them wouldn't even make it out of the first store before nightfall. But since she had somehow found out about their plans, he had no choice but to bring her along.
"Oh? Toshiro and Matsumoto Rangiku? Your little group's social activities are quite lively. Shopping for gifts? Sounds like exactly the kind of thing young people should be doing." Shiba Kaien smacked his lips. He didn't mean anything by it; he just found it interesting.
"Brother Kaien, why does your tone sound so strange? There are Year-End gifts to send and New Year's preparations to be made. Doesn't all that need to be organized? Surely you've prepared everything already?" Tsukasa asked, putting away his Denreishinki with a composed expression.
Seibo, or Year-End gifts, were typically given by subordinates or juniors to superiors and elders to express gratitude for the year. It was only when Konoe Shuzo and several other squad members jointly gave him gifts a few days ago that Tsukasa remembered this was a thing. Otherwise, he truly would have overlooked the custom.
Given Shiba Kaien's boisterous and casual personality, Tsukasa guessed he was much the same. Tsukasa didn't usually give Year-End gifts because he was a transmigrator, whereas Kaien was simply like that by nature.
"Uh, about that..." Kaien was caught off guard, his momentum immediately dropping by half. He scratched the back of his head and glanced toward his wife, attempting to seek reinforcements. "Miyako, the gifts for the Captain... have we prepared them yet?"
"I prepared them long ago. If a certain someone hadn't been shouting about how 'busy, busy, busy' he was lately, we wouldn't have dragged it out this long without finding a suitable chance to deliver them." Shiba Miyako placed a freshly brewed cup of tea gently on her husband's desk with a faint smile.
"Ahem! Speaking of which, Tsukasa, what do you plan on buying? You'd better pick something good for the Captain—and for me, too." Shiba Kaien coughed tactically to change the subject. He took a sip of his tea, only to end up huffing from the heat. He didn't hold back at all; while mentioning the Captain, he seamlessly included himself in the gift list.
"Kaien! How can you just demand a gift like that? It's so rude," Miyako scolded lightly, patting her husband on the shoulder.
"What does it matter? We're all family! Right, Tsukasa?" Shiba Kaien leaned over in his chair toward Tsukasa, speaking with righteous confidence, his face sporting a bright, unabashed grin.
"It's fine. Of course I have something for you, Brother Kaien, and I won't forget Sister Miyako either. I actually have a few ideas, but I'll keep them a secret for now. I'll reveal them when I deliver the gifts," Tsukasa said with a smile, having long since grown accustomed to Shiba Kaien's straightforward personality.