"From what I know of the Forty-Sixth Bureau, they must have learned of my previous plan through some channel," Shirogane Sōya said without holding back. Or perhaps, in his eyes, Kisaragi Akira was simply the only one worthy of trust.
"Perhaps the Forty-Sixth Bureau, driven by needless caution, will fabricate some charges against me for self-preservation."
"Then they'll issue a punishment… confinement, perhaps."
"So after this… seeing each other again may be impossible for a very long time."
It was clear that Sōya already understood what fate awaited him in the underground council, and he had prepared himself for it long ago.
Akira crossed his arms, growing more puzzled.
From his perspective, he couldn't comprehend why Sōya would so willingly submit to their judgment.
With his abilities, even defecting from the Soul Realm, no one could truly touch him.
Even a captain intervening personally could, at most, defeat him—not kill him.
Ever since achieving his Bankai, very few means could end him—short of the destruction of the world itself.
Seeing Akira's confusion, Sōya's lips curved slightly, a genuine smile spreading across his pale face.
"Everyone has their own reasons," he said.
"In the days since I acquired the bell, I've thought a lot… and spoken a lot with my sister."
"She respects every one of my thoughts."
"And coincidentally, I've been wanting to set down my burdens and rest for a while."
Akira's eyes widened in sudden understanding.
So this guy wanted to step down, but didn't want to be locked in some worm-infested prison. He was taking the opportunity to hole up in the Mao Underground Prison for a while—a retirement plan, basically.
Akira had expected Sōya to be aiming for some dramatic upheaval in the Soul Realm like Kenpachi, but his ambitions were… simply to take a break.
Not that it was a bad thing. After a century of loneliness, exhaustion in both body and soul, and finally reuniting with his only family, some rest was more than deserved.
"My only concern is for you, Kisaragi-kun," Sōya's gaze returned to Akira.
"This may sound ambiguous, but your kindness to me has been like rebirth itself."
"And yet my previous decisions undoubtedly dragged you into chaos."
"To repay my debt, I instructed Gosuke that once you've mastered your skills, and your name is known throughout the Soul Realm, the title of Kenpachi will be passed to you."
"A small compensation… if nothing else."
Akira: "???"
Before he could respond, Sōya dissolved like a bubble, vanishing from sight.
Judging from the direction of his spiritual pressure, his destination was the most heavily guarded inner sanctum—the Underground Council.
"Just… let him do that?" Akira muttered, his face falling.
"Did he even ask the First Kenpachi's opinion?"
At the Mao Spiritual Arts Academy cafeteria, Aoyama Sosuke stared in astonishment at the boy hunched over his tray, eating with focus. Calmly, he said:
"So… you are already the future Kenpachi."
Amid a busy day, Akira lifted his head briefly to glance at Sosuke.
"You could put it that way, sure… but what use is the title of Kenpachi? Doesn't fill my stomach."
Sosuke couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh.
To most Shinigami, the title of Kenpachi was worth risking everything—even life itself—but for Akira, it was less useful than a single meal.
To hold the Kenpachi title meant being one of the strongest in the Soul Realm, second only to the captain—both a symbol of honor and a lifelong goal for countless warriors.
"The situation is worse than I expected," Sosuke said, tucking away his unnecessary thoughts. Eating elegantly, he helped Akira analyze the current circumstances.
"Judging from Captain Yamamoto and Shirogane Sōya's words, this turmoil may affect not just the Soul Society but potentially the entire Rukon Court. The only ones able to act with such audacity without repercussions are probably the five great noble houses. Be cautious."
He added, "If you encounter situations you cannot handle, immediately call upon the Eleventh Division. Captain Yamamoto will not stand by while a Genryu disciple suffers."
Akira nodded and turned his worry into determination, lowering his head to wage a deadly battle with his grilled fish.
In the Underground Council, dim lights shone upon a solitary figure dressed in pure white at the center. Around him, the judgment seats rose high, dozens of eyes of all kinds fixed on him.
A thick aura of malice pervaded the chamber.
"Eleventh Division Captain! Did you conduct the Rukon Street soul modification incident?!"
A fierce voice boomed from behind the partition, as if shouting could instill awe in its victims.
"Yes."
Sōya's eyes were indifferent, his face expressionless, as he stared up at the lofty Forty-Sixth Bureau members.
It was ironic.
The scene mirrored events from a century ago: fabricated charges, nobles laughing atop a high dais, treating the deaths of Shirogane family members as their amusement.
"For the sake of ambition… and vengeance already erased, you altered the souls of innocent Rukon Street civilians."
The speaker's tone dripped with superiority, as though his words dictated law itself.
"Judgment is announced!"
"Eleventh Division Captain Shirogane Sōya, for crimes including illegal soul modification, use of forbidden techniques, and murder of nobles, all spiritual powers shall be sealed, senses restricted!"
"You are to be confined to the eighth cell [Mugen] of the Mao Underground Prison's lowest tier for a term of 19,200 years!"
Sōya offered no objection, allowing the officers to bind him with Kido restraints before he was escorted by dozens of Shinigami to the deepest reaches of the Seijō Tower.
Yet his ears and mouth—supposedly sealed—were suddenly freed.
"Sōya, do you truly wish to be imprisoned in that place devoid of time and space?"
A voice whispered in his ear.
"The annihilation of hollows… such a noble ideal. Join me, Sōya, and I will help you achieve it. All you need to do is—"
"Obey your orders?"
Sōya's lips curved in a derisive smile.
"Pathetic tricks… unchanged after a hundred years. You truly underestimate me…"
The voice that had tried to tempt him trembled at once.
The only response was Sōya's faint, unyielding, mocking smile.