"What?!"
"Rukia?!"
Among the captains standing on the left—
the moment Bai Chen calmly met everyone's gaze and openly announced that he intended to select Rukia, a first-year academy student, as the vice-captain of Squad Nine—
Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of Squad Six and head of the Kuchiki noble clan, immediately changed expression.
His cold, refined face stiffened.
He raised his head sharply, eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Bai Chen.
Clearly—
he could not understand why Bai Chen would deliberately choose Rukia.
And instinctively—
he wanted to oppose it.
Because—
months ago, on the very first day Rukia entered the Shin'ō Academy—
Byakuya had already used his authority as a captain to obtain the full list of incoming students, along with their detailed profiles and photographs.
At that time—
the moment he saw Rukia's picture—
he had immediately recognized her.
That small, slender girl—
was the younger sister his late wife, Hisana, had entrusted him to find.
The sister who had once been abandoned in Rukongai.
After confirming her identity—
Byakuya had quietly begun watching over her life from afar.
However, due to his cold and reserved nature, he had never approached her directly.
In his original plan—
he intended to let Rukia live out a full year at the academy.
Then, when she advanced to her second year—
he would formally bring her into the Kuchiki clan.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly.
Without any complications—
he would have acknowledged her as his adopted sister the following year.
But now—
Bai Chen had suddenly declared that he would make Rukia his vice-captain.
To someone like Byakuya—
who harbored a deeply buried "protective older brother" instinct—
this was completely unacceptable.
Setting aside whether Rukia was qualified—
once she became a vice-captain, she would be thrust into the spotlight of the Soul Society.
And with that—
would come countless unknown risks.
Byakuya had no intention of allowing the girl he had spent so long searching for—
the sister he was about to bring home—
to be pushed onto the stage like that.
Exposed.
Endangered.
And potentially criticized for lacking the strength to match her position.
So—
before the other captains could even fully process Bai Chen's proposal—
Byakuya stepped forward and spoke out.
"Head Captain."
"I strongly oppose Bai Chen's proposal."
"I believe this decision has not been properly considered."
"In fact, it is nothing short of reckless… and absurd."
"And it is a grave insult to the members of Squad Nine."
Every word he spoke was firm, measured, and backed with reason.
His tone was cold.
Unyielding.
It was clear—
he intended to oppose this decision to the very end.
He would not allow Bai Chen to succeed.
"…So you've stepped forward, just as expected."
Bai Chen glanced at Byakuya, a faint, amused smile tugging at his lips.
"As expected of the most famous 'siscon' in the Soul Society."
He had already anticipated this reaction.
After all—
Byakuya's personality was as rigid as it was predictable.
But Bai Chen showed no intention of backing down.
Instead, he responded calmly:
"Captain Kuchiki, I don't quite understand."
"What exactly do you mean by 'disrespect'?"
"Or is it that you're looking down on a first-year student from the Shin'ō Academy?"
"Don't forget."
"Less than half a year ago… I was one of those students myself."
The meaning behind those words was crystal clear.
Who could say—
that Rukia wouldn't walk the same path he had?
Who could guarantee—
that she wouldn't achieve the same kind of miracle?
No one could.
And just like that—
Byakuya was left speechless.
He couldn't possibly say outright that the girl he intended to acknowledge as his sister—
was unworthy.
That she could never become a vice-captain.
As Byakuya's expression darkened—
and he struggled to form a rebuttal—
the Head Captain finally intervened.
He did not take sides.
Instead, he proposed a fair solution.
"Due to the influence of the traitor Tōsen Kaname—"
"the current vice-captain of Squad Nine, Yamada Seinosuke, is suspected of being an accomplice."
"Therefore, he will undergo a three-month investigation by the First Division and the Onmitsukidō."
"Only after he is fully cleared will he be allowed to return to his duties."
With that, the Head Captain first established one key point—
the position of vice-captain in Squad Nine was effectively vacant.
Then, he continued:
"And during these three months—"
"Rukia will serve as a trial vice-captain."
"After three months, regardless of the investigation's outcome—"
"a full vote will be conducted within Squad Nine."
"If more than eighty percent approve—"
"then Bai Chen's chosen candidate will remain in the position."
"As for Yamada, he will remain in the squad as an assistant."
The Head Captain lifted his gaze.
Looking directly at both Bai Chen and Byakuya, he asked:
"Is this arrangement fair?"
Three-month trial period.
Full squad vote.
Even allowing the former vice-captain to remain.
By all standards—
this was a perfectly balanced decision.
Though still visibly displeased—
Byakuya could not object.
He could only accept it in silence.
As for Bai Chen—
a confident smile appeared on his face.
Three months?
He didn't need that long.
At most—
a single day would be enough.
With his overwhelming strength—
once the initial unfamiliarity faded,
he was certain Squad Nine would quickly accept him.
And once they accepted him—
they would naturally accept Rukia as well.
From the moment the Head Captain proposed this solution—
Bai Chen already knew the outcome.
Victory—
was inevitable.
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