Chapter 107: Conclusion
Afternoon sunlight slanted across the veranda's wooden boards, dividing clear boundaries.
Suoh held a handheld game console purchased from the World of the Living, appearing idle as he leaned in the shadows playing.
His fingertips moved nimbly across the buttons, producing light sounds. Images flickered across the screen.
The console's radiance reflected in his eyes, displaying patterns formed by simple pixel blocks.
Documents on the desk had long since been neatly compiled, delivered to one corner of Shiba Kaien's desk.
His work efficiency ran high. He'd spent one morning completing today's paperwork.
As long as no emergency orders arrived, this afternoon's leisure belonged entirely to him.
Wind passed through the courtyard, stirring the bamboo wind chime suspended above Suoh's head, producing intermittent sounds.
"Tsukasa, playing your console again."
Kotetsu Kiyone's voice carried amusement as it reached from beside him.
She strolled leisurely to Suoh's side, crouching beside him, leaning forward with interest to observe the screen.
"Is this thing fun?"
Watching the constantly changing patterns and rising numbers in the screen corner, she asked curiously.
Though she'd helped bring this gadget back, she remained quite unfamiliar with it.
"It's alright. Pretty good for passing time."
"This also provides some light training for control and reaction speed."
Suoh didn't raise his head in response, his hands continuing uninterrupted.
Though current generation consoles offered limited playability, they still helped relax the mind and thinking.
No complex thought required, only maintaining nearly instinctive rhythmic finger movements.
His gaze followed simple screen changes, his mind gradually emptying within this rhythm.
"Oh—I see."
Kotetsu Kiyone nodded with vague understanding.
"Want to try?"
"No thanks. I'll just watch."
Just as the two chatted casually, a resonant voice carried from outside the office door.
"I'm back!"
The door slid open.
Shiba Kaien strode inside with large steps.
Several people in the office raised their heads at the sound.
"Kaien, welcome back. Thank you for your hard work."
"How did the lieutenant meeting go?"
Shiba Miyako naturally approached, speaking gently.
Shiba Kaien replied helplessly.
"The meeting? Same as always, nothing new. Basically just going through procedures."
"Where's Tsukasa?"
"I'm here!"
Suoh flicked the power switch off, casually tucking it into his clothes before raising his hand and standing.
Moments later.
Several people sat around the square table in the office center.
Shiba Kaien's expression turned serious.
"Regarding the abnormal Hollow activity issue Tsukasa raised previously, I brought it up at the meeting. The lieutenants discussed it somewhat."
"Twelfth Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi's opinion stated: Hollow active behavior represents periodic normal phenomena, with no abnormalities exceeding conventional understanding."
"Some lieutenants consider rising casualty rates normal circumstances, at most indicating some Thirteenth Division members' insufficient daily training or lax combat readiness."
"Normal phenomena? Lax readiness? That conclusion's far too hasty!"
"Our division's casualty rate only decreased after adopting new tactics. Tsukasa's report clearly pointed out such obvious problems!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro slammed the table, making teacups clatter, speaking angrily.
"Who has such a foul mouth? I'm furious!"
Kotetsu Kiyone's face flushed red with anger.
Shiba Kaien shook his head, expression grave.
"I raised objections at the meeting too."
"For this, Lieutenant Nemu transmitted a message back to her division, displaying statistical data from years of Research Department surveillance reports during the meeting."
"Interaction between Hueco Mundo, the World of the Living, and Soul Society isn't constant. From a long-term perspective, short-term Hollow quantity increases can indeed be viewed as normal fluctuation."
"From the technical division's professional perspective, her conclusion establishes logical validity."
"While some lieutenants attributed problems to individual Hollow or squad member differences—though the most direct, convenient inference—it can't be called completely wrong."
"After all, all divisions typically only track fatality numbers. Few people like Tsukasa specifically track casualty rates."
Fatalities represented irretrievable losses, hence detailed recording.
But injuries, especially non-fatal injuries, traditionally were viewed as unavoidable battle costs.
Casualty rates represented a line Suoh set for himself, maintaining constant vigilance.
Metastacia's specific appearance time remained uncertain, only known to occur after Kuchiki Rukia joined the division.
It might also attack members of other divisions rather than Thirteenth Division squad members.
Western Rukongai fell under joint jurisdiction of several higher-numbered divisions.
If possible, Suoh hoped to minimize casualties before dealing with it.
"No matter. My intent was only warning other divisions."
Suoh's tone remained calm, showing no dejection over his carefully written report being dismissed.
Never mind questioning his report.
For him, even if others considered him sensationalist—that mattered not at all.
He simply did what he wanted. Nothing more.
Shiba Kaien smiled, his tone gently encouraging.
"Tsukasa, don't be discouraged."
"At least the Eighth and Tenth Division lieutenants both recognized your report, expressing they'd prioritize this issue."
"They also agreed after the meeting to regularly share Hollow subjugation casualty rates with our division, jointly monitoring subsequent developments."
"That's enough."
Suoh harbored no savior complex.
He simply did what he could within his capability range.
Those ordinary squad members might represent merely common soldiers within Seireitei's vast system.
But behind each name often lay a human life.
Like his subordinate squad members—after such extended interaction, they'd already occupied some weight in his heart. He couldn't remain indifferent.
He'd rather waste extra time than face others' grief.
Though recent abnormalities quite likely reflected overthinking, he had leisure time anyway.
"We don't concern ourselves with other divisions. The Thirteenth Division will proceed our own way."
"The division supports you!"
"Just means more hard work for you, Tsukasa."
Shiba Kaien's generous hand patted Suoh's shoulder, his gaze full of trust and affirmation.
"Right, Tsukasa. We all witness your efforts."
"Trust your own judgment."
Beside them, Shiba Miyako also nodded gently, smiling warmly at him.
"Me too!"
Kotsubaki Sentaro and Kotetsu Kiyone nearly simultaneously raised hands, speaking loudly.
"Everyone, stop this. It's embarrassing!"
"I'm really fine!"
Suoh couldn't help laughing, waving his hands.
"You brat, what kind of attitude is that!"
"Everyone's being kind and you won't accept it? Take this!"
Hearing this, Shiba Kaien raised an eyebrow. His large hand extended, heading straight for Suoh's head.
"Naive!"
Suoh reacted extremely quickly, standing to easily dodge this attack.
However the next moment, two people wearing mischievous smiles seized his body left and right.
That normally smooth black hair was instantly ruffled into chaos, losing all its usual neat appearance.
***
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