December was fast approaching. A biting late-autumn wind whistled through the gaps in the Seireitei's walls. Despite the season, the atmosphere within the Squad 1 barracks was thick with a prickling tension.
It hadn't been long since the conclusion of Sosuke Aizen's rebellion. While a heavy mood was now common among the rank-and-file, today's unrest was centered around a group of "guests" visiting the barracks—a sight that had the veteran officers particularly on edge.
"I have to say, Shinji, I'm glad you agreed to come back. It's a huge help," Shunsui Kyoraku said.
The "guest" in question—a man with a blonde bob cut named Shinji Hirako—scowled at the bearded dandy walking beside him.
"Agree? Don't give me that. You and the others basically dragged me back here against my will."
"Now, now. Think of it as picking up where we left off a hundred years ago. Everything is back where it belongs."
"Tch. You've got some nerve. Back then, none of you would listen to a word I said. You just signed off on our exile, and now you're acting like we're old pals."
Shinji aimed the barb directly at Shunsui, the Captain of Squad 8, who was accompanied by his beautiful Lieutenant. Shinji had once been the Captain of Squad 5 before Aizen's conspiracy forced him out of the Soul Society. Despite his natural easygoing nature, he was already starting to regret his decision to return. He knew exactly which seat they were going to force him into.
"It's going to be Squad 5, isn't it? There's no way they'd leave that post to a rookie right now," Shinji muttered.
"Bingo. Definitely Squad 5," Shunsui replied.
"Give me a break. Why am I the one who always gets stuck with the short straw?"
"Don't be like that. Out of the three of you who are currently 'free agents,' you had the longest tenure as Captain. Besides, I know your first impression was bad, but she's actually a very sincere, good girl—Momo."
Shinji's face twisted at the mention of her name. Momo Hinamori—the former Lieutenant of Squad 5 who had been used as a subject in Aizen's horrific experiments. She was a woman carrying an impossibly deep darkness.
Noticing Shunsui's Lieutenant nodding in agreement, Shinji spat out a dismissive remark.
"She was just playing the part of the perfect student because Aizen told her to. You haven't changed a bit, Shunsui—still babbling about things you don't actually believe."
"We Captains faced her together and couldn't even touch her," Shunsui said, his tone turning serious. "I'll admit her power is terrifying."
"And you're making me look after this 'traitor' after I failed to kill her when she was being framed? You're a real piece of work!"
As Shinji complained, he noticed a sharp look from the woman beside Shunsui. Nanao Ise—the Lieutenant of Squad 8, who had grown into quite the beauty since Lisa used to dote on her a century ago—adjusted her glasses and spoke up.
"If I may, Captain Hirako. Former Lieutenant Hinamori's charges were formally cleared not by the Central 46, but by a mandate from the Royal Palace itself. Describing her as a 'traitor' is a violation of the law. Please retract that statement."
Shinji blinked. "What's with you? Are you buddies with that explosion-girl?"
"She's Nanao's precious reading partner," Shunsui chimed in. "Apparently, they have very similar tastes in books."
"I am not so immature as to let personal feelings interfere," Nanao stated firmly. "I am simply stating the facts."
Feeling the weight of her clearly personal glare, Shinji waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, my bad."
Momo Hinamori, the woman who was to be his Lieutenant. Between her reputation for being bright and adorable and the specialized "Internal Kido" training method that had caught the eye of Squad Zero, her standing in the Soul Society was much higher than he expected. It felt like he was being saddled with Aizen's legacy wrapped in the skin of a vulnerable teenage girl. Shinji wanted to bury his head in his hands.
"Look on the bright side," Shunsui added. "Thanks to Aizen's influence, everyone in Squad 5 is hyper-competent. Your paperwork will be a breeze. Plus, Momo and the Third Seat, Hotaru Kanisawa, are both beauties. It'll be a treat for the eyes."
"Don't act like my generation was full of idiots! And who's this 'Kanisawa' girl anyway?"
"Kanisawa? She was one of Aizen's most devoted... actually, you're lucky to be surrounded by such lovely flowers!"
Another landmine girl brainwashed by that guy, Shinji thought. He slapped Shunsui on the shoulder with a fake smile.
"If you're so jealous of Squad 5, why didn't you say so? Since Nanao is so close with her, I'll suggest a transfer to the Head Captain at the next meeting."
"Wait, what!? No, no... Captain assignments are handled by the Central 46. I don't think Old Man Yama can change that on a whim!"
"Stop shaking like a leaf, you coward!"
As Shunsui fled toward the Captain's office, Shinji let out a heavy sigh.
The Central 46's intent was transparent. They wanted to use Shinji—another victim of Aizen—to open Momo's heart. They wanted to get to the "Something" behind her that was powerful enough to move Squad Zero.
But Shinji doubted that Aizen's legacy would be so easily tamed. If they poked the bear and that massive power turned its fangs on the Soul Society again, who could possibly stop it?
"Man, I really hate this..."
Even so, if he was the only one qualified for the job, he couldn't say no. Shinji Hirako—the fool who was too noble for his own good—slumped his shoulders at the prospect of his troublesome future.
***
"I am Hotaru Kanisawa, the Third Seat and Acting Captain of Squad 5."
The first person to greet Shinji at the barracks was a brown-haired woman with mature eyes and a cute cherry hair clip. She was the kind of girl Shinji would usually immediately label as his "first love," but her professional, cold "customer service" smile shut that down instantly.
They exchanged dry greetings.
"I'm Shinji Hirako. I'll be looking after you lot from now on. Nice to meet ya."
"I will serve as your assistant until former Lieutenant Hinamori returns to duty. I look forward to working with you."
"Tch. You're even more stiff than I heard," Shinji muttered. He tried to act casual, wanting to establish his own style as Captain. However, Kanisawa clearly didn't appreciate his relaxed attitude, and her polite smile vanished. It was a little scary.
Refusing to be intimidated by a pretty face, the new Captain pressed on.
"Hotaru, why don't you take the rest of the day off?"
"I don't understand the meaning of your request."
"I've seen the reports. You've been overworking yourself. If you don't relax when things are tough, you're gonna collapse, and then the whole squad goes down with ya."
Kanisawa had been the one to hold Squad 5 together after both Aizen and Momo vanished. Shinji knew the type—hard workers whose sense of responsibility made them neglect their own health. Feeling a bit of sympathy for his subordinate, he tried to grant her some leave.
"Thank you for your concern," Kanisawa said, her eyes growing even colder.
"Oh?"
"This is Squad 5, the division formerly led by Captain Aizen and Lieutenant Hinamori. We are composed only of the most elite, highly motivated officers—surpassing even those of Squad 1."
"Uh-huh?"
"I am the Third Seat, the highest-ranking officer after the Lieutenant. Captain Aizen would never have appointed someone so incompetent that they couldn't manage their own health to such an honorable position. I ensure I have three square meals, sufficient training, adequate sleep, and social time with friends to manage stress. I am in perfect health."
"I... see."
"Furthermore, the protocols for the long-term absence of senior leadership are detailed and strictly followed. In their absence, we restored order within a week and transitioned to a wartime footing. Even when I left for the battle in Karakura Town, the division functioned perfectly under the command of Genji Isawa, the Fourth Seat."
"..."
Shinji stood in a daze as she rattled off the terrifying efficiency of the "elite" Squad 5. The generation gap was massive.
"The greatest concern we currently face is potential disruption during the transition to a new Captain. Therefore, it is unthinkable that I should take leave. Captain Hirako, I expect you to familiarize yourself with our division's unique culture, document formatting, and the twenty-six essential protocols I have prepared for you as quickly as possible."
"Are we clear?" Kanisawa asked, tilting her head with a fresh, sharp smile.
***
"Man, what a disaster," Shinji grumbled.
It was evening after his first grueling day of "Squad 5 Training." Shinji sat in a Seireitei tavern with his fellow returnees, Rojuro "Rose" Otoribashi of Squad 3 and Kensei Muguruma of Squad 9. He rubbed his sore wrists—the result of a century's worth of paperwork.
"I really shouldn't have been so high-and-mighty with Kisuke back in the day. I'm gonna have to apologize to the guy next time I see him."
"My place is a nightmare too," Kensei growled. "Every time I walk in there, I want to kill Tosen all over again. That traitor... preaching about 'justice' and 'discipline' with a straight face in every manual he left behind!"
"You too, Kensei?" Rose added. "I guess I got lucky. My Lieutenant, Izuru, is a bit shy, but he has a beautiful soul. He's a gentleman."
They traded stories of the difficulties of being "new" Captains. To the public, they were the "Visoreds"—the heroic Hollowfied Soul Reapers who had returned to their posts. But their dinner table told a different story: one of frustration and exhaustion.
"Seriously, why do I have to deal with this—"
"Honestly! Why isn't Lieutenant Hinamori our Captain!?"
CLANG! The sound of a plate hitting a table behind Shinji made his ears ring. A familiar female voice cut through the air. Shinji felt a chill of premonition as he peeked over the partition. He saw a cherry hair clip bouncing with indignation.
"I don't care if he was Captain Aizen's boss a hundred years ago! If he doesn't understand modern office procedures, our ledgers and documents are never going to match. Momo is finally back and the squad is energized, and then he comes in with all this confusion!"
"Hey, Kanisawa, slow down on the drinks. And calling Aizen 'Captain' is a bad idea..."
"Don't start with me, Aoka! To me, that man will always be the Captain of Squad 5, even if he's an enemy of the state."
Shinji, Rose, and Kensei sat in a frozen silence. They were hearing things no superior officer should hear. They tried to move seats, but Kensei stopped them—moving now would reveal their faces to the people behind them.
The table behind them included Shuhei Hisagi, Kensei's own Lieutenant.
"I mean, I get it," Hisagi said. "But Hinamori did turn her blade against the Gotei 13, Kanisawa. She caused a lot of damage."
"Yeah," another voice added—Aoka, a high-ranking officer from Squad 4. "The reports said she almost wiped out the Captain-class forces by herself in Karakura Town."
"I saw the records," Hisagi muttered. "It was insane. She's got that innocent face, but she was hiding that level of power?"
Kanisawa, her ears red from the alcohol, glared at her friends.
"Do you two realize you're only sitting here drinking because she saved your lives?"
"Well..."
"Momo was only caught up in Aizen's plot because we, the upperclassmen, were too weak to handle those Hollows during the field exercise! She had to fight because we failed! We ruined her life with our incompetence, and now you're going to treat her like a villain? Have you no shame!?"
The men fell silent under her scolding.
"Momo only did what she had to do. Her crimes were pardoned because of the value of her 'Internal Kido' technique. There's nothing 'dark' about her! Instead of bringing in these suspicious 'Visored' types, they should have made her the Captain!"
Kanisawa downed her drink and continued her rant. To her, Momo Hinamori was the perfect boss: trained by Aizen himself, efficient, beautiful, and loved by everyone in the squad. And her Bankai was powerful enough to overwhelm the other Captains. To the members of Squad 5, no one else was fit to lead them.
Her evaluation of Shinji, on the other hand, was brutal: "Messy handwriting," "Always trying to slack off," "Clearly hates being Captain," "Suspicious aura," "Creepy eyes," "Captain Aizen was so much more of a gentleman."
Most of it was just disappointment born from a comparison to Aizen, but it was a heavy blow to Shinji's pride.
"Well... hang in there, Shinji," Kensei said.
"My 'strongest landmine' girl hasn't even officially returned to the office yet," Shinji moaned. "If you guys have any magic spells to make me feel better, use 'em now."
His friends looked away in silence. They couldn't help him. The only thing they could do was pay for his tab.
***
The next morning at sunrise.
Refusing to show any sign of a hangover—a disgrace unbecoming of a Third Seat—Hotaru Kanisawa stood restlessly outside the women's dormitory, waiting.
"Morning, Kanisawa. You're up early as usual."
A sleepy voice accompanied by a yawn made Kanisawa turn around. "Oh, Rangiku?"
It wasn't the person she was waiting for, but rather Rangiku Matsumoto, her comrade from the Karakura Town battle. Kanisawa noticed the usual small shadow that followed Rangiku was missing.
"Where is Captain Hitsugaya? That's rare..."
"Oh, him? He's over there. The pervert hiding behind that tree."
"What?"
Kanisawa stared in disbelief at the sight of the white-haired Captain peeking from the woods. When she asked what he was doing, Rangiku offered an exasperated explanation.
"While I was busy dealing with grumpy nobles, those two childhood friends finally had a 'moment.' Now, whenever Momo sees him, she gets so embarrassed she can't even speak properly. So he's keeping his distance to give her space. It's pathetic, right?"
"They had a moment!? Tell me everything! Details, Rangiku!"
"Give me a break! I've been asked that ten times in the last twenty-four hours!"
Rangiku complained, but eventually gave in and shared the details. The story of Toshiro and Momo—a grand romance torn apart by tragedy—sent Kanisawa's inner maiden into a frenzy.
But beneath the gossip, she felt a profound sense of relief for her junior. After all the suffering Momo had endured, she finally had a bit of happiness.
"I'm so glad. Momo is feeling better..."
But Rangiku's expression darkened. "She's only okay when the Captain is around. When she talks to me, I can tell she's forcing it. Even though none of it was her fault, I feel like she's apologizing every time she looks at me."
"I see..."
"Even if the world forgives her, she'll probably carry the guilt forever. And with this 'Valley Faction' mess looming over us... we have to support her."
The two women nodded solemnly. Some things just needed time.
Their heavy silence was broken by a soft, familiar voice.
"G-good morning..."
Kanisawa and Rangiku snapped their heads up. Standing there was their precious junior and idol—Momo Hinamori.
"Momo!"
"Morning! I heard you were returning to duty today, so I came to see you!"
Momo managed a small smile as they ran to her. It was the first time they'd seen her awake, and the dark circles under her eyes and hollow cheeks were heartbreaking.
The three shared a brief conversation before duty called. Rangiku left to check on her "stalker" Captain, leaving Kanisawa and Momo alone for a moment.
"Kanisawa... um... I..."
Momo was struggling to find the words, her voice full of a pained tension. Kanisawa couldn't stand to see her like this. She stepped forward and gently pulled the trembling girl into a hug.
"Kanisawa...?"
"Breathe. Are you okay now?"
"Ah..."
Kanisawa knew she was being a bit forward with someone who had technically been her boss. They weren't quite best friends like Momo and Rangiku. But as she held her, a faint flush returned to Momo's pale cheeks. She's still the same cute girl, Kanisawa thought.
Silencing Momo's attempt to apologize, Kanisawa spoke the words she had been rehearsing for days.
"—Welcome home, Lieutenant Hinamori."
***
Later that day, Kanisawa accompanied Momo as she made the rounds of the other squads, with Shinji trailing behind in his official capacity as Captain.
The poor girl bowed her head over and over like a wind-up toy, apologizing for everything that had happened. Kanisawa's heart ached as Momo's face grew more haggard with every stop.
The only saving grace was the mercy shown by the senior Captains.
Aside from a brief scuffle at Squad 11 and a request for a "dissection" at Squad 12, the visits were peaceful. Ukitake and Komamura welcomed her back with open arms. Shunsui expressed regret for not noticing the conspiracy sooner. Yamamoto and Byakuya treated the matter with their usual detached adherence to the rules. Even the famously cold Soi Fon seemed a bit softer.
Apparently, Momo had suffered more than Kanisawa had ever realized. As her senior, she felt a surge of protectiveness; it was better not to pry.
The longest stops were at Squads 3, 7, and 9—the divisions most affected by the betrayals of Gin and Tosen. Momo spoke at length with them. While she remained silent about the core details out of respect for the dead, the deep respect she showed for Tosen brought tears to the eyes of Komamura and Hisagi.
"Captain Tosen was Captain Aizen's most loyal servant," Momo said.
"Then why did that man kill him...?"
Momo looked as if she were about to cry. "I don't have the right to speak the truth," she whispered. "But... Captain Tosen was always suffering. And Captain Aizen... for a subordinate he acknowledged, he was a man who would shoulder any burden. He was very strong-willed."
"A burden, huh..."
"He was a cruel man. He became an enemy of the Soul Society. But for me... I can never thank Captain Aizen enough."
No one blamed her for her words. Kanisawa, who had also admired Aizen, wept silently. She understood that Aizen's betrayal hadn't been for simple greed, even if she didn't know the specifics. Seeing Momo endure the disgrace of her benefactor made Kanisawa feel a strange sense of closure.
Aizen might have been more evil than the man she knew behind the mask, but within that evil, there had been the image of a noble, superior Soul Reaper—the man they had all admired.
***
"Man, that took forever..."
Three days of visiting every corner of the Seireitei, including the Kido Corps and the Central 46. One whole day had been wasted on the harassment of the nobles. Finally, the three were back in the Squad 5 office, letting the tension drain away.
"Captain Hirako, Kanisawa... thank you so much for—"
"Stop! I'm sick of hearing that every day!" Shinji shouted. "Who are you being so polite for? If you keep worrying like that, you're gonna go bald, Momo."
"Captain Hirako! Show some respect for the Lieutenant's feelings!" Kanisawa barked. "And don't lie down on the sofa in the reception room! This is a sacred office!"
The group had bonded through the "Hell Tour." Shinji was the total opposite of the perfect Aizen—he was a slob—but he had a natural charisma and a habit of showing sudden bursts of sincerity and warmth that won people over.
Kanisawa hoped that, like her, Shinji would become an ally for Momo. She slammed a mountain of paperwork down in front of him.
"Alright, you should have a handle on the procedures by now. Please finish these."
"Whoa! Let me breathe for a second! Look at this stack! I haven't done paperwork in a century, there's no way!"
Shinji scrambled off the sofa and backed away on all fours. Kanisawa and Momo both looked at him as if they were looking at a monkey.
"Captain Aizen, Captain Tosen, and Captain Ichimaru used to finish this much in less than an hour," Momo noted helpfully.
"Have you really not touched a pen for a hundred years?" Kanisawa asked. "Did you live in a jungle?"
"Wait... I remember now," Momo said. "Captain Aizen used to talk about you, Captain Hirako."
"Oh? What did he say?"
"Um... for the sake of your honor, I think it's better if I don't repeat it."
"YOU TWO DEFINITELY HATE ME, DON'T YOU!?"
Sensing his authority slipping, Shinji stood up. If the pen wasn't working, he'd use the sword.
"Fine! Let's talk about combat! A Soul Reaper's job is to protect the Seireitei! Paperwork is for the grunts!"
"Combat? If you want to train, I can process the request for the training grounds..." Momo offered.
"He's just making an excuse to run away," Kanisawa said, ignoring him. "You don't have to be so polite to him, Momo."
Shinji struck a confident pose. "Shut it! You two are good at Kido, but I used to teach that bald-headed Aizen a thing or two back in the day!"
"What!? You were Captain Aizen's Kido teacher!?" Kanisawa shouted.
"I thought you were the one who went bald, Captain?" Momo added.
Shinji ignored the insult. "Yeah, that's right! That 'Captain Aizen' you all worship used to be a cute little rookie under me."
"Captain Aizen... a rookie..."
"What's the matter? Starting to respect me now? Hmm... what should I do? You've been looking down on me all day, after all."
Kanisawa stared at him, trying to see if he was lying. He was suppressing it well, but he did have a massive amount of spiritual pressure. Knowing his past made his lazy attitude look like the composure of a legend.
Was he really fit to be Aizen's boss? The thought horrified her. Determined to protect the honor of her idol, she clenched her fists.
"Fine. I will be your opponent for Kido practice, Captain Hirako."
"Ooh, I like your spirit, Hotaru! Follow me!"
"A game of tag with spells? I won't lose!"
The two used Flash Steps to move to a training ground in the Rukon District.
"Wow, you're all talk for one of Aizen's pets! Here, I'll take that hair clip as a trophy!"
"Hey! Give it back! Are you a child!?"
Shinji toyed with her, evading her every attempt to catch him. Kanisawa gritted her teeth; he was a Captain-level combatant, even if he was a jerk. But her pride was in her Kido.
"I've got you now!"
—Way of Binding 58: Kakushitsuijaku — Seizing-Toe Chase-Sparrow—
It was a unique Kido combo she'd developed after being inspired by Momo. Normally used only to track spiritual signatures, she had learned to use it in rapid succession for combat.
"Target locked! Go!"
—Way of Binding 62: Hyapporankan — Hundred-Step Balustrade—
"Whoa!"
Shinji dodged the rain of light-rods, but they immediately reversed direction and swarmed him again.
"Oh? You're using spiritual pressure lock-on for homing? That's an interesting application!"
"You're too relaxed...!"
"I've got friends who use way crazier stuff than this! In fact—"
—Way of Destruction 57: Daichi Tenyo — Earth-Turning Dance—
A hundred rocks erupted from the ground, intercepting the silver rods with blinding speed.
"I spent my time in the World of the Living swiping at flies, you know."
Shinji flashed a grin at the stunned Kanisawa.
"A lower-level spell... completely neutralized mine!?"
"Is that what you're surprised about? I don't know if 'remixing' spells is the trend now, but if you split your focus between the incantation and the tracking, the potency of the spell drops. You're a hundred years too early to be making your own Kido, kid."
It was a harsh but accurate assessment. Most Captains couldn't even master level-60 Kido with incantation abandonment.
"Tch... then try this!"
Kanisawa drew her Zanpakuto and began a full incantation for her strongest Destruction spell.
"...Madly blooming iron flower. Hooves of the galloping enclosure. The signpost of the gale, the swift lightning, the sudden god. A flash when swung, thunder when cut. Sip the blood of twins with a single blade!"
"Whoa, a Third Seat using a level-70 spell!? That Aizen really was arrogant, leaving such talent behind."
"Shut up! Don't you dare talk about him!"
The incantation wrapped her blade in blue energy. She brought it down with everything she had.
"HAAAAA!!"
—Way of Destruction 78: Zangerin — Piercing Blossom Ring—
It was the move she had used against the Fraccions in Karakura Town. A wave of spiritual energy tore through the earth.
"Tch. I guess I have to."
Shinji stood his ground, raising a single hand. His blonde hair fluttered in the wind as he showed his subordinate the true "Rank" of a Captain.
"Dodge this, Hotaru. It's gonna do more than leave a scratch."
—Way of Destruction 88: Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho — Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon—
Kanisawa didn't even see it. A blinding flash of light erupted, followed by the sensation of being pulled backward. When she came to, the hill behind where she had been standing was gone—replaced by a massive canyon.
"Ah... h..."
"What are you doing, Captain Hirako!? What if you'd hit her!?"
Kanisawa realized she was being held by someone.
"There was no way I was gonna hit her! I just wanted to blow back some of that energy to cool her head down!"
"You could have used a Binding spell! I know you're just being immature!"
"Excuse me? You're just believing all of Aizen's biased stories about me!"
"Biased? He said you were nothing but a toy he got bored with!"
"WHAT!? That bald bastard is still messing with me from beyond the grave!?"
"He isn't dead, and you were the one who went bald!"
"WHY IS HE SPREADING THAT STORY!?"
As the two bickered, Kanisawa felt the Binding spell holding her release. It was Momo's Hainawa—the same spell she had used to save Kanisawa during their first meeting in the World of the Living.
The parallel hit her hard.
She felt a wave of shame and regret. She had always been jealous of Momo. Jealous that she was the one by Aizen's side, the one he acknowledged, the one allowed to join his grand plan. She hadn't wanted to believe the reports of Momo's true power. Even seeing her fight in Karakura Town had felt like a dream.
But the gap was undeniable now. She had tried to prove her loyalty to Aizen by defying Shinji, and this was the result.
She was just a loser who hadn't been chosen.
"Lieutenant Hinamori!"
Kanisawa bowed her head to her rival.
"I have no shame left... please. Protect Captain Aizen's honor!"
"What?"
"Wait, wait! Momo is a cheat code!" Shinji shouted. "She's a monster who can cast triple-incantations inside a barrier! Don't throw a gorilla into a human ring!"
"It's not a cheat! It's about the pride of Squad 5! Momo, as his prized pupil, please...!"
Momo mumbled to herself for a moment. ...Price... points... but still...
Finally, she nodded. She helped Kanisawa up.
"Fine."
"Momo? Tell me what you're gonna do first...?"
Momo looked back at them with a smile that made both of them stiffen.
"It's simple. I'll use the spell that serves as Captain Aizen's signature."
The air turned cold. A massive aura rose from the girl, and pitch-black spiritual pressure began to swirl in her palm.
"That rock over there looks like a good target. Here I go—"
—Way of Destruction 90: Kurohitsugi — Black Coffin—
In an instant, a massive rock fifty feet tall was swallowed by a box of darkness and vanished. The edges of the space were cut perfectly smooth, as if the matter inside had never existed.
"A level-90 spell... with incantation abandonment..."
There were no words left. Level-90 Kido were moves that only a handful of Captains in history could master. Each was a lethal strike, and many were forbidden. Kanisawa wasn't even at the base of the wall that Momo had already climbed.
"Amazing..."
Her inferiority complex was replaced by a single, pure emotion.
Adoration.
In her mind, Momo's smiling face overlapped with the image of Sosuke Aizen.
"MOMO!!"
Kanisawa lunged forward and grabbed Momo's hands.
"I've finally seen the light! You are the only person fit to be my boss!"
"Uh... Kanisawa?"
"Those 'Internal Kido' experiments... only you and Captain Aizen have done them, right? I'll be the third! Use my body for your experiments as much as you want!"
"Wait, what?"
"I've decided! I'm following you for the rest of my life—Lieutenant Hinamori!!"
"EEEEEHHHHHHHHHH!!?"
Kanisawa hugged the stunned girl, her heart racing with excitement. This is the one who will lead me. She is the one who mended my broken heart.
Forgetting her earlier resolve to support her junior, Hotaru Kanisawa looked at Momo with eyes full of a new, fanatical worship.
"Man... give me a break," Shinji muttered from the edge of the field. No one heard him over the sound of Kanisawa's cheers.
***
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