The surrounding squad members swarmed forward like a tidal wave. Poor Amamiya Miyako was immediately surrounded, unable to move even a step. He had no choice but to smile awkwardly and respond to each person's enthusiastic questions one by one.
Meanwhile, Ukitake-taichō quietly left with Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki, showing absolutely no intention of helping their freshly appointed fukutaichō out of his predicament.
Glancing back at the scene, Kiyone leaned in toward her captain and asked in a small voice, "Ukitake-taichō… are you really going to just leave Amamiya-fukutaichō like that?"
Ukitake chuckled softly. "I believe in Miyako-kun. He'll be fine."
He had already gotten a fairly good grasp of Amamiya Miyako's personality. There was something about him that reminded Ukitake of Shiba Kaien… and now, that feeling was becoming more and more certain.
They shared the same quality—both Kaien and Miyako treated everyone in the division equally, regardless of seat or status. Whether it was how Miyako had just addressed Sentarō and Kiyone, or the stories Ukitake had heard from other members, it all pointed to the same thing.
"Our Thirteenth Division was often looked down on by the other squads," Ukitake said, voice low and filled with reflection. "We haven't had a proper fukutaichō since Kaien… and because of my health, I haven't been able to keep things running properly. Recruitment's dropped. Morale's been shaky. That's on me…"
"Taichō! Please don't blame yourself!" Sentarō interrupted, his voice laced with guilt. "It's my fault—I wasn't strong enough to be considered—"
Ukitake held up a hand, stopping him with a gentle smile. "It's not your fault, Sentarō."
He looked toward the crowd surrounding Amamiya Miyako.
"But now… with Miyako officially becoming our fukutaichō, I think the whole squad is feeling more hopeful again."
"Yeah," Kiyone said softly, her eyes gleaming. "It's just like when Kaien-fukutaichō took his position. Everything feels… alive again."
Ukitake nodded. "Let's hope he leads the Thirteenth Division to even brighter days."
Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, Amamiya Miyako was starting to get overwhelmed. He even considered using shunpo to escape—but no, these were his new comrades. Running away wouldn't leave the best impression.
Yare yare daze... I need an excuse to leave, he thought, scratching the back of his head.
Then—he spotted Rukia-chan in the distance. She seemed like she was about to walk away.
"Oi! Rukia!" Miyako shouted. "Didn't we say we'd train together later?! Wait up!"
"Eh—what…?" Rukia blinked in surprise, but before she could say anything, Miyako rushed over and suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Ahahaha! Rukia-chan, you rascal! Trying to sneak off without me, huh?" Miyako laughed loudly, clearly performing for the squad's benefit. He kept his back to them as he forcibly turned Rukia around and half-dragged her away.
"Wait, was that… Kuchiki Rukia?"
"The noble from the Kuchiki clan?"
"She's a Sixth Seat now, right? And she trains with Amamiya-fukutaichō?"
"Yeah, they used to train together every day when he first joined!"
"Mmmph! Mmph—!!" Rukia, still caught off guard, struggled to pry his hand off her mouth, her face quickly turning red from both embarrassment and frustration.
"I'll be heading off now! If you need anything, just find me later!" Miyako called back to the crowd. Then, without waiting for a reply, he grabbed Rukia's arm and bolted.
Of course, Rukia immediately realized she'd been used as an excuse.
When she had come to congratulate him earlier, she couldn't even get close because of the mob of squad members surrounding him. So she'd decided to quietly leave—but instead, Miyako had grabbed her like a lifeline.
This baka…! The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. Whatever excitement she had felt for congratulating him had evaporated.
As Amamiya Miyako continued running with Rukia tucked under his arm, she finally lost her patience.
"Oi! Miyako! There's no one around anymore, so where the hell are you still trying to carry me to?!" she shouted, wriggling out of his grasp and kicking him sharply in the side.
"Gah—!" Miyako groaned and stumbled, clutching his waist where she'd landed the blow. He didn't argue—after all, she wasn't wrong.
"Ahaha... Rukia-san, what a coincidence. I didn't think you were watching my match with Kotsubuki-senpai too," Miyako said, trying to change the subject with an awkward grin.
"You moron! Don't try to smooth-talk your way out of this. I knew you were using me as an excuse to escape that crowd!" Rukia snapped, arms crossed and her brow twitching.
Seeing her irritation wasn't going away anytime soon, Miyako raised both hands and bowed his head slightly. "Gomen, Rukia-san. The squad members were getting way too fired up, and I couldn't bring myself to turn them down. So... I panicked and ran. You were the first person who came to mind."
"Hmph. Figures..." Rukia exhaled deeply, her expression softening just a little. "The Thirteenth Division's been under fire lately from the other squads. We've been mocked plenty for not having a Vice-Captain."
"Mocked? Eh? Nani sore?" Miyako blinked, genuinely surprised. "Captain Ukitake is one of the oldest and most respected captains in all of Soul Society! Who'd dare say anything against his squad?"
"They don't talk about the captain directly," Rukia explained, her gaze turning somber. "But with no Vice-Captain for so long, the other divisions assume we're lazy or lack drive. They whisper behind our backs. That's why... I've been working so hard. I wanted to prove the Thirteenth isn't weak."
"I see…" Miyako nodded slowly. "So that's the story behind it."
He thought back to what he knew of Soul Society's internal dynamics. Even the Eleventh Division, full of meatheads, wouldn't dare speak ill of Unohana-taichō. But status didn't always silence gossip.
"I was actually going to congratulate you, y'know," Rukia said suddenly, then sighed again. "But after that ridiculous stunt you pulled... I almost changed my mind."
"Ehh, don't be like that, Rukia-san." Miyako chuckled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "You really saved me back there. I owe you one."
"Tch... fine." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Still... congratulations, Miyako. You're officially the Vice-Captain now."
Miyako blinked. "…You really mean it?"
Rukia gave a small smile. "This pace of yours... it's insane. Our agreement was that the loser would have to treat the winner to dinner, remember? I never thought you'd catch up to Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien so quickly."
"You've got it all wrong, Rukia." Miyako wagged his finger.
"Eh? What now?"
"I already told you last time... when I returned from the Human World," he reminded her, puffing out his cheeks slightly. "You keep getting my name wrong."
"Ah…" Rukia blinked, realization dawning. "Right. You're officially a Vice-Captain now, so I should call you Amamiya-fukutaichō—"
"No, no, no!" Miyako waved his hands frantically. "That's not what I meant! I already told you not to be so formal with me, didn't I?"
"…Miyako... kun?" Rukia tried, testing the word slowly on her tongue.
"Just Miyako is fine," he said, exasperated. "Yare yare… you're so stubborn, Rukia."
Rukia went quiet.
She stared at him for a moment. His attitude—this feeling—somehow reminded her of someone else. Someone who had spoken to her just like this, with no pretense, no walls…
"Oi, Rukia," Miyako waved his hand in front of her face. "You spacing out again?"
She swatted his hand away with an annoyed grunt. "I'm fine."
Then she turned away, stepping to the side. Her eyes stared off into the horizon, past the rooftops of Seireitei, as if seeing something beyond.
"What're you looking at?" Miyako asked gently.
"No… it's nothing." She hesitated, then looked back at him. Her violet eyes were calm but resolute.
"Miyako," she said. It was the first time she had said his name so clearly, so sincerely.
"I want to visit two people… Will you come with me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Hah? That's it?" He gave a light chuckle. "Even if you wanted to go pick a fight with your nii-sama, I'd still tag along. Though, we might not survive it."
Rukia couldn't help but laugh.
She didn't know why she felt so at ease asking him—maybe because deep down, she knew that Amamiya Miyako would always say yes. That he'd stand beside her without needing a reason.
This feeling… it's not so bad, Rukia thought to herself.
Miyako, meanwhile, watched her in silence. Something inside him stirred—something warm. Quiet. Gentle.
And somehow, he didn't mind the way it made his chest feel a little lighter.