Time flew by like a white steed galloping past a crevice.
Afternoon.
Ichimaru Gin's expression remained as calm as ever when he heard his Captain's order.
However, his heart was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up surging waves.
'Rangiku… has arrived?'
"You've been hiding quite a bit, kiddo." Hirako Shinji didn't notice anything amiss with Ichimaru Gin.
His gaze was fixed on the documents on the table, and his pen scratched across the paper.
As he wrote, he casually said in a half-joking tone:
"You had such a beautiful childhood friend in Rukongai and didn't tell us. Luckily, Captain Yoriichi found her."
"She even asked to see you by name."
"Otherwise, who knows when we would have found out."
"Are you reluctant?"
Hirako Shinji stopped writing, slowly raised his head, and asked with a hint of teasing in his eyes, "Or do you not want her to be in danger?"
In Hirako Shinji's opinion, both Ichimaru Gin and Matsumoto Rangiku possessed considerable spiritual pressure, so there was no reason why only one of them could become a Shinigami.
Childhood friends should advance together.
However, Ichimaru Gin ran off by himself, like a scumbag abandoning his wife.
As a Captain, Hirako Shinji didn't want to delve into the reasons behind Ichimaru Gin's choices, even if there was a hidden motive.
But now that she had come looking for him, he felt he had to give Matsumoto Rangiku an explanation, no matter what.
Otherwise, who knew what rumors might spread, slandering the Fifth Division.
Matsumoto Rangiku herself wasn't the issue, but the person behind her…
Hirako Shinji didn't want to get into trouble because of Ichimaru Gin.
Thinking of this, Hirako Shinji's slightly downturned lips curved upward a little, and his playful eyes narrowed slightly as he asked:
"Are you going?"
"If you go, I'll tell Sōusuke, and you won't have to go on the mission with him later. You're not still thinking of refusing, are you?"
"Ichimaru Gin, if that's the case, then I've truly misjudged you. At such a young age, you're already playing with girls' feelings…"
"Tsk…"
What was he saying?
Who was playing with whom?
Although, on the surface, it seemed that way, Ichimaru Gin deeply remembered Matsumoto Rangiku in his heart.
The reason he so resolutely abandoned Matsumoto Rangiku was simply because he didn't want her to be noticed by Aizen, and he didn't want her to encounter danger.
Rukongai wasn't bad.
At least, when he left Rangiku's side, they had already moved out of the particularly impoverished area.
She could live alone in District 50-something.
But now, someone was telling him that Rangiku had come after him…
This news was like a bolt from the blue, making it truly difficult for him to believe.
Or rather, he was unwilling to believe it.
"Why did you come?"
"Why don't you believe me?"
At this moment.
Ichimaru Gin completely forgot that he hadn't said a word when he left Matsumoto Rangiku's side.
In Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes, he had simply disappeared.
Any normal person would choose to search and follow. If he had just said something, Matsumoto Rangiku's mindset wouldn't have become so resolute…
The frustration in his heart piled up like dark clouds, and Ichimaru Gin heavily, almost imperceptibly, exhaled.
He wore a smiling face, his eyes narrowed, yet his inner emotions had undergone a complete reversal from a few minutes ago.
After much thought, Ichimaru Gin pretended to be unconcerned and said casually:
"Captain Hirako, you're mistaken. I just felt that she was holding me back."
"That's why I chose to become a Shinigami alone."
"However, since you've said so, and she's already come after me…"
"Then I'll meet her once."
"Consider it a complete farewell to the past."
"Oh?" Hirako Shinji chuckled softly, "You're willing to part with her?"
"What's there to be willing or unwilling about? She's just a girl. Decades spent with her mean nothing to a Shinigami."
Ichimaru Gin's eyes were narrowed, and his tone was slightly heartless.
"Aren't you the same, Captain?"
"At such an old age, you haven't even…"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Before Ichimaru Gin could finish his sentence, Hirako Shinji coughed repeatedly, clutching his fist.
As if he had heard a topic he didn't want to hear, he quickly interrupted Ichimaru Gin's words.
"Don't say those irrelevant things. Since you've agreed, then good, I'll give you half a day off to properly deal with your past."
"I don't want to hear any rumors about you spreading in a few days."
"Yes."
Ichimaru Gin nodded steadily, then turned and left.
Upon entering the Tsugikuni residence, he saw Matsumoto Rangiku, and he also saw the man he had met during his enrollment, who was far more dazzling than himself.
Aizen's words echoed in his ears, and Ichimaru Gin tried his best to suppress his breathing, easing the tension in his heart.
Once his mindset and heartbeat returned to normal, he slowly sat down cross-legged under Tsugikuni Yoriichi's gaze.
Facing her directly.
Bang!
Matsumoto Rangiku was a little angry; she slammed the table.
This was because Ichimaru Gin's demeanor was completely different from her memories.
She didn't understand the reasons behind these changes, she only knew that Ichimaru Gin had abandoned her.
And now he was sitting there with a smile on his face…
"Why?"
"Am I that insignificant in your eyes?"
"Gin, answer me!"
Their first meeting in Seireitei quickly began with Matsumoto Rangiku's questioning.
At this moment.
Hisana and Rukia sat outside, the gentle breeze blowing through their hair.
They understood Matsumoto Rangiku's plight, and thus felt great sympathy for everything she was going through.
Rukia understood this feeling quite well.
After all, if not for her Elder Brother's adoption, upon learning she had an older sister, she would undoubtedly have searched for her at all costs.
Hisana felt the same; she was the one who empathized the most. Putting herself in Ichimaru Gin's shoes, she was like him, however, unlike Ichimaru Gin.
She felt immense guilt for having abandoned Rukia in the past.
Therefore, after meeting Rukia, she tried her best to make amends.
Ichimaru Gin, on the other hand…
The two listened to the sounds coming from the room. Before long, Hisana felt a tightness in her chest.
The words made her feel as if she couldn't breathe.
"How can there be such a heartless person in the world?"
"Sister!"
Rukia suddenly gripped Hisana's hand, her eyes firmly glancing towards the room, seemingly conveying a certain meaning.
Upon seeing this, Hisana gently shook her head. They couldn't do that.
This was a conflict between Rangiku and Ichimaru Gin. Even if the conflict couldn't be resolved, they couldn't resort to force.
Besides.
Whether they could win or not was another matter.
He looked to be about their age.
Yet he was a Third Seat.
A Third Seat, in their opinion, should be at the level of Yachiru…
Hisana felt a little helpless, and slowly released Rukia's hand.
She slowly stood up, intending to brew a cup of tea and bring it in, urging Rangiku to be more resolute.
The next second.
She suddenly heard her Elder Brother's words.
"Ichimaru Gin, there's no one else here…"
"Why do you…"
"…still pretend?"
"You… have a hidden reason, don't you?"
Inside the room.
As Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words suddenly rang out, everything around them, including the quietly flowing air, seemed to instantly fall silent.
Time seemed to stand still, every second passing by extremely slowly.
Ichimaru Gin's smiling expression froze on his face at this moment.
Although he understood the meaning behind those words, he still found it hard to believe…
My disguise…
Was seen through?
Why?
He had always believed that he had portrayed his current persona perfectly.
He had worked hard to create an image of being sharp-tongued and calm.
As if nothing in the world, apart from power, could capture his attention.
Even if Matsumoto Rangiku asked why his personality had drastically changed from before, he had already prepared an answer.
He would say without hesitation that he had grown up, matured, and was no longer the child who could be appeased with a single dried persimmon.
In his opinion, growing up and maturing was the perfect answer to all changes.
People are like that; they change with the passage of time.
Even Captain Yamamoto couldn't deny this point.
Unless…
One possessed the ability to read minds.
Ichimaru Gin was confident that even Aizen couldn't see through his disguise.
Yet now, he had been seen through by someone he had met only a few times?
Is he trying to trick me?
This thought suddenly popped into Ichimaru Gin's mind.
A barely noticeable glint instantly flashed in his narrowed eyes, like a fleeting spark in the darkness.
Immediately, he took this thought as the truth.
—Yes, he must be trying to trick me!
Ichimaru Gin reacted immediately, a hint of denial mixed in the smile at the corner of his lips.
He slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of coldness:
"There's no hidden reason; this is my true feeling."
"Matsumoto is too weak; being with me would only hold me back."
"Undeniably, when I first met her, I saved her with a dried persimmon."
"But the favor from that incident has long since been repaid."
"We owe each other nothing."
"Why can't I leave her?"
"Captain Tsugikuni, not everyone is like you, who would care for a baby found along the way as a younger sister just because of a momentary softness of heart."
"Matsumoto and I are, at best, mere acquaintances who met by chance."
"There's no sibling affection, nor any romantic development between us."
"Separating is better for everyone."
These seemingly normal words, however, caused a clear ripple in Matsumoto Rangiku's heart.
Before, he called me Rangiku.
Now you call me Matsumoto?
Matsumoto Rangiku's fists clenched tightly, her nails digging deeply into her palms, yet she felt no pain.
Yoriichi's gaze lightly swept over Matsumoto Rangiku, his tone normal yet containing a hint of questioning:
"If that's the case, why don't you dare to look me in the eye?"
"What are you afraid of?"
"I don't want to expose this, but your actions are very disappointing to me."
"Constant concealment, in the end, leading Rangiku to extremes, is that what you want to see?"
"Do you know how much hardship she endured while searching for you?"
"I know, but that has nothing to do with me. It's what she chose to do."
This sentence pushed Ichimaru Gin's personality to another extreme.
In this situation, no matter what he said, it would seem justified.
Extreme heartlessness, extreme indifference.
Extreme selfishness.
But, Yoriichi didn't think so.
He slightly raised his eyes:
"Can you look into my eyes and say that again?"
"I can say it three times, but what's the point?" Ichimaru Gin retorted.
"I've already made myself very clear; her life or death is irrelevant to me."
"Captain Tsugikuni, I don't see the point in doing this."
"We've met, and I've explained my reasons. Is there anything else important?"
"No, I'll be leaving now."
Saying this.
He slowly stood up, looking resolute.
Matsumoto Rangiku, facing him, wanted very much to make him stay, but Ichimaru Gin had spoken to this extent, and she truly couldn't think of anything that could change his mind.
She turned to look at Yoriichi, her eyes filled with expectation, hoping Yoriichi could give her the answer she desired.
However, Yoriichi simply watched Ichimaru Gin quietly, making no gesture.
As Ichimaru Gin approached the doorway.
Click.
His palm pressed against the doorframe.
Yoriichi spoke softly:
"Tōsen Kaname has been exposed."
His voice was low and powerful, as if announcing important news.
"I'm not sure why you're pretending to be indifferent to Rangiku, but in my opinion, you've disguised yourself as so heartless, likely to abandon all weaknesses."
"Or perhaps, to protect her…"
"A person's personality cannot undergo a complete reversal overnight without experiencing some significant event."
"If what Rangiku said is true…"
"You often act with Aizen…"
"Is your target Aizen?"
"What did he do to Rangiku?"
As his words fell, Ichimaru Gin's body imperceptibly paused, then returned to normal.
He pulled the door open and walked out without answering Tsugikuni Yoriichi's words.
However, all of these actions were so obvious in Tsugikuni Yoriichi's eyes.
Click.
Once the door closed, silence returned to the room.
Matsumoto Rangiku, who had been beside him, finally came to her senses and pounced towards Tsugikuni Yoriichi, "bearing her fangs and claws":
"Ah, what did you say to him?"
Matsumoto Rangiku's voice had a hint of a sob.
"Gin has really cut ties with me now!"
"Didn't you say you could get an answer?"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi gently extended his palm and casually pushed away Matsumoto Rangiku, who was pouncing like a child playing, his tone slow:
"He already gave you an answer: to become stronger."
"Although that answer is a bit perfunctory, if he doesn't want to say it, can you force him?"
"But why is he so heartless?"
Matsumoto Rangiku was filled with indignation.
"Has he forgotten our decades of living together, relying on each other?"
"He hasn't forgotten, but compared to continuing to live with you, there's something else more important to him."
Yoriichi shifted his gaze, slowly looking at Matsumoto Rangiku,
"Rangiku, think carefully, what did you experience a day or even two days before he left?"
"I don't remember." Matsumoto Rangiku gave her answer without thinking.
"I've thought about this question for a long time, but I just don't have any impression."
"Before I woke up, Gin was still so caring towards me, but after I woke up, he left without saying goodbye."
"Nothing special happened during that time."
Hearing this.
Yoriichi roughly understood everything.
It was the same as before: a person's personality cannot undergo a complete reversal without experiencing some event.
Rangiku couldn't remember, but Ichimaru Gin had changed…
It could only be Rangiku's own problem.
Her memory might have been lost.
And this, perhaps, was the key to Ichimaru Gin's change.
Considering all of Ichimaru Gin's deliberate actions after becoming a Shinigami…
Was it Aizen who caused Rangiku's memory loss?
Or perhaps…
A Shinigami connected to Aizen?
Only this could explain.
Ichimaru Gin's resolute and clear attitude.
The problems with the Fifth Division were becoming more prominent; what his senior brother had said was confirmed.
Although he didn't know what the Shinigami there had done, he needed to pay attention.
Also…
Did Captain Hirako know?