Chapter 215: Let's Have a Drink Tonight
Time moved in Soul Society in layers — the visible world on the surface, the invisible world surging beneath it like hidden currents.
Two sides running parallel, like a river and its undertow, neither touching, both advancing at almost the same steady pace.
Spring gave way to autumn. Deep winter arrived and passed. Decades blinked by.
And today.
The Gotei 13 was welcoming a bright-eyed new face.
The neatly dressed young man stood backstage with a serious expression, wearing his captain's haori and his hair in order. A blade hung at his waist, but it seemed to bring him no particular comfort — all he could do was take slow, deliberate breaths and try to quiet whatever was running through him.
Clearly, he was nervous.
Though what he was feeling was less anxiety and more an excitement he couldn't quite put into words.
His mind was full of things he had heard before taking this step — the words rolling through him in waves, sharpening his focus to a fine point.
'What is most important for a captain?'
'What does family legacy mean to you?'
'Our entire future may rest on your shoulders. Work hard.'
Carrying the hopes of so many people on his back, he had absolutely no grounds for retreating.
With that resolve quietly set, Sasakibe Chojiro's voice came from not far away.
"And with that, today's session comes to a close... ahem. Everyone. Let us proceed to the final segment. Please extend a warm welcome to our newest colleague."
Pat.
The curtain ahead opened.
The young man, already prepared, drew in a long breath, raised his head, and stepped forward.
Into the light.
As the brightness opened up, the figures lined on either side came into view.
Scrutinizing looks. Appraising looks. Curious looks. Amused looks. Every gaze converging on him at once — the weight of it was almost tangible, pressing down on his chest until breathing felt slightly difficult.
In the most literal sense of the word. Pressure.
But more than that, what it made him feel was something that had a different name.
Responsibility.
He would have to face more challenges, more threats. He would have to carry the hopes of his entire family and become the force that kept them moving forward.
A tangle of fragmentary thoughts rose and scattered, breaking apart into pieces that drifted through his mind without settling.
He took a breath, set aside all the watching eyes, and walked straight ahead.
Until he was standing directly before Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. He bowed with a serious expression and raised his voice.
"I am the candidate taking the position of Squad 10 Captain — Shiba Isshin!"
The voice was steady, full of confidence.
As Yamamoto gave a slight nod, somewhere in the assembled crowd, one particular gaze took on a quietly moved quality.
Barely made it in time.
That's Ichigo Kurosaki's biological father, isn't it. In the literal, biological sense of the word.
Because the nomination itself had already been completed beforehand, everything happening now was essentially a formality.
Soul Society had always been remarkably ahead of the curve when it came to bureaucratic process.
And since this was only the informal portion of the proceedings, the proper protocol still called for going through it all again at the official meeting afterward...
Shiba Isshin, at this particular moment, showed a helpless and slightly pained smile.
Is this job really this involved?!
After the proceedings concluded, the formality in the room dissolved all at once.
The previously serious-faced members of the Gotei 13 all began speaking in considerably more casual tones.
"It wasn't easy finding someone for Squad 10's captain seat... hasn't that position been empty for a good few years?"
"Quality over quantity is necessary. It's not wartime. Having standards is reasonable."
"This Captain Shiba's ability isn't going to be poor. Talking behind his back is a bit much."
Some people warmed up to new arrivals naturally. Others had no particular interest in doing so.
Facing these assorted reactions, Shiba Isshin's expression shifted into something mildly awkward.
Wanting to say something, but not sure where to start — and then a hand reached out from behind him and landed on his back.
Thud.
"Hey. Isshin."
He turned around with a mildly baffled expression.
And saw a grinning face standing right there, looking at him with obvious cheerful satisfaction.
"Congratulations. You finally made captain."
The tone was easy. The posture was relaxed. The two of them looked exactly like old friends who had known each other for years and had no barriers left between them.
And that was, in fact, true.
The moment he saw the face, Shiba Isshin visibly let go of something.
He broke into an open, easy smile and responded in a tone just as warm as the greeting he'd received.
"Since it's someone I actually know, please don't catch me off guard like that at a moment like this... Captain Matsushita!"
Current Captain of Squad 11, Matsushita Yusuke.
Compared to several decades ago, his appearance hadn't changed at all. But his posture, and the general quality he projected, had shifted in a way that was immediately noticeable.
Simply put...
He looked considerably more easygoing than before.
You could tell just from his expression — this was absolutely the type who slipped out for drinks and naps during working hours.
No actual evidence. Just the feeling he was giving off.
Matsushita Yusuke.
By seniority, he wasn't the kind of senior figure who could pull rank on newcomers just because he felt like it.
But because of his completely uninhibited personality, he could basically talk to anyone in the captains' ranks.
As for someone like Shiba Isshin — they'd known each other long enough that their dynamic had settled into something casual a while ago.
How did they know each other? Come on. After all these years, if he couldn't manage even this level of advance groundwork, what kind of behind-the-scenes operator would he be?
"Didn't think you'd make captain this quickly... want to grab a drink once we're done here?"
Matsushita Yusuke raised his right hand to his mouth and made a drinking gesture — the direct, completely unabashed motion was enough to stop the Captain-Commander in his tracks as he was about to leave.
You little... the boss is still in the room and you're already planning your exit?
"Ah... sorry, let's find another time for that."
Too late to walk it back now.
Yamamoto straightened up, turned his head partway, and fixed his gaze this way.
"Matsushita. Come find me after this."
Well. No getting out of that one.
With a helpless quiet sigh, Matsushita Yusuke reached out and patted Shiba Isshin on the shoulder.
He leaned in close, conspiratorial expression in full effect.
'Tonight, though. What do you say?'