After Kyoya's explanation, Rangiku accepted the suggestion that they would only approach Gin after Kyoya had trained for a few more years and gained sufficient strength.
With that, Kyoya let out a sigh of relief.
In Rangiku's original fate, she had already deduced from certain clues that contacting Gin might bring him trouble and danger, so she endured her longing for him and avoided meeting him.
Though Rangiku was still young now, she was sensible enough. Knowing these things, she naturally wouldn't cause any unnecessary trouble for Kyoya or Gin.
Suddenly, Kyoya frowned slightly.
He sensed Gin's Reiatsu!
Activating his Observation Haki, Kyoya quickly detected two Reiatsus approaching in Gin's direction.
One of them belonged to Gin.
Compared to the last time they met, Gin's aura hadn't changed much.
What made Kyoya tense was the other Reiatsu accompanying Gin.
This spiritual pressure felt strange… both as heavy as a mountain and as elusive as a cloud, impossible to grasp.
Aizen Sosuke!
Based on their respective speeds, unless something unexpected happened, they would meet at the entrance of the third alleyway.
Glancing at Rangiku, Kyoya subtly quickened his pace without showing any signs of concern.
However, to his disappointment, Aizen Sosuke and Gin Ichimaru also increased their speed, ensuring the encounter would still happen at the alleyway.
Next, Kyoya tried changing direction, leading Rangiku on a detour.
Yet no matter how Kyoya adjusted his path, Aizen Sosuke would alter his own pace, ensuring they would meet at some intersection.
'That Aizen… What exactly is he trying to do by deliberately forcing a meeting with me?'
'Is he planning to hit me with Kyoka Suigetsu right away?'
At this point, Kyoya realized he had been targeted by Aizen.
Unless he suddenly burst into action and used Shunpo to carry Rangiku away at high speed, they would inevitably cross paths soon.
Otherwise, they would inevitably meet somewhere soon.
Since Kyoya couldn't figure out why Aizen wanted to see him, he stopped overthinking it.
If Aizen wanted to meet him, then so be it!
After all, given the current circumstances, Kyoya was confident he could escape if things turned dangerous.
What intrigued him more was, how sharp was Aizen's Reikaku?
Though Kyoya had never chosen to train his Haki through the One Piece Achievement System's options, his Observation Haki had still improved significantly over time.
Currently, the maximum range of his Observation Haki was five kilometers.
As for its advanced applications, it allowed him to predict an opponent's movements based on their actions.
While it wasn't at the level of [Future Sight], it gave him a considerable advantage in battle.
Right now, the straight-line distance between Aizen and himself was roughly a kilometer. Kyoya had only sensed Gin's Reiatsu before expanding his Observation Haki to investigate.
Yet Aizen Sosuke, while casually adjusting his speed alongside Gin, was clearly tracking Kyoya's Reiatsu to ensure they would intercept him at a specific intersection. This meant Aizen could detect Kyoya's Reiatsu from this distance and gauge his movement speed.
Having made his decision, Kyoya stopped deliberately altering his pace and leisurely walked with Rangiku toward the 11th Division's barracks.
Of course, he didn't retract his Observation Haki.
So far, Kyoya hadn't encountered any Shinigami capable of detecting his Observation Haki's presence.
With his Observation Haki sensing Aizen's movements, Kyoya could prevent himself from unknowingly witnessing the release of Aizen's Zanpakuto!
'They're here!'
As the thought crossed Kyoya's mind, two figures emerged from the alleyway ahead… Aizen Sosuke, followed closely by Ichimaru Gin.
Standing behind Aizen, Gin slightly bowed his head, blending into the shadows. If one weren't paying attention, they might overlook him entirely.
But neither Kyoya nor Rangiku could possibly miss Gin.
Had Kyoya not warned her beforehand, Rangiku might have happily called out Gin's name right then and there.
However, she kept her emotions perfectly in check, avoiding any unnecessary reactions that might betray her feelings.
That said, while Kyoya and Rangiku remained composed, Gin's reaction was different.
The moment he saw them, his pupils involuntarily constricted.
Fortunately, at this time, Aizen had his back turned to Gin, completely missing the subtle change in his expression.
Soon, Gin noticed something else… Kyoya was wearing a Captain's haori, the symbol of a Gotei 13's Captain.
'The same trainee who could barely hold his own against me just ten days ago… is now a Captain?'
This development was so absurd that even Gin, usually unflappable, nearly lost his composure.
'Is this for real?'
Before Gin could fully process the situation, Aizen's actions confirmed that what he was seeing was indeed reality.
Aizen politely stepped aside and bowed slightly, "Fifth Division's Lieutenant, Aizen Sosuke, greets Captain Kyoya."
Following suit, Gin also bowed, "Fifth Division's fifth seat, Ichimaru Gin, greets Captain Kyoya."
"You're the Fifth Division's Lieutenant?"
Seeing that Aizen took the initiative to greet him, Kyoya pretended that he didn't know him, "If I recall correctly, half a month ago, you sent Gin to the Shin'o Academy to test me and invite me to join the Fifth Division?"
Rangiku blinked in surprise.
She hadn't known that Kyoya had already met Gin before this.
Moreover, judging from Kyoya's tone, it seemed that they had fought.
'Is Gin okay?'
Even though she could see Gin standing there unharmed, she couldn't help but worry.
Gin was indeed a genius who had graduated from the Shin'o Academy in just one year, but Rangiku didn't believe he could match Kyoya, who already possessed Captain-level strength.
She didn't know that just ten days ago, Kyoya had been completely suppressed by Gin.
"Indeed. Back then, I already recognized that Captain Kyoya was no ordinary talent, which is why I sent Gin to extend an invitation on my behalf."
"But now, it seems my judgment was too presumptuous."
As he spoke, Aizen's gaze lingered on Kyoya with a hint of curiosity.
Gin had described Kyoya as 'a greater genius than me'.
Aizen knew Gin well.
'If Gin called someone a 'genius', it meant they had the flaws of a genius… they hadn't yet fully matured.'
'At that time, Kyoya's strength had likely been comparable to Gin's!'
'But in just over ten days, Kyoya had reached a level where he could defeat Kiganjo Kenpachi.'
Such a rapid leap in power was something even Aizen couldn't achieve.
This was precisely why Aizen found Kyoya so intriguing.
'Could it be… that Kyoya possesses something similar to the Hogyoku?'
However, after facing Kyoya directly, Aizen dismissed that speculation.
Kyoya's Reiatsu was pure… completely untainted, as if refined through decades of rigorous training, with no signs of external influence.
Moreover, based on Aizen's observations, Kyoya's control over his Reiatsu was remarkably refined, rivaling that of veteran Captains.
This indicated that Kyoya's foundation was exceptionally solid!
"Captain Kyoya, it seems my guidance was unnecessary. You already stand at the pinnacle of the Gotei 13."
Aizen bowed slightly again, his tone humble, "That is why I've come today… to formally apologize for my presumptuousness."
Hearing this, Kyoya waved a hand dismissively, "Lieutenant Aizen, you're overstating things."
"Back then, I was just an ordinary student at the Shin'o Academy."
"The fact that you saw potential in me was an honor."
Kyoya wasn't entirely joking when he said this.
Because Aizen had acknowledged him, he had unlocked a mid-tier blue achievement, [Recognition of an Admiral Candidate].
For Kyoya at that time, every small boost was crucial.
Without those incremental achievements, he wouldn't have been able to build up his strength and ultimately defeat Kiganjo, securing his position as Captain of the 11th Division.
That said, he wasn't exactly grateful.
After all, that blue-tier achievement had only rewarded him with " Iron Body, one of the Rokushiki, which is hardly a game-changer!
"However, compared to the 5th Division, the 11th Division simply suited me better. Hence, I declined your invitation."
Then, Kyoya's expression hardened.
A faint pulse of Reiatsu rippled from him as he stared at Aizen.
"But…"
"You went to great lengths to engineer this 'chance encounter'. Surely, an apology isn't your only goal?"
Kyoya had no patience for Aizen's subtlety.
In fact, if he had played along, Aizen would have grown even more suspicious.
From a hierarchical standpoint, Kyoya was a Captain, while Aizen was merely a Lieutenant.
From a power perspective, Kyoya's public strength also surpassed Aizen's.
Since when did the strong need to coddle the weak?
Besides, Kyoya was certain that Aizen wouldn't dare reveal his true power here!
In that case, what is there to hesitate about?
Just cut straight to the point!
Aizen's body swayed slightly, as if affected by Kyoya's Reiatsu.
Behind him, Gin took half a step back, his hand resting on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"Captain Kyoya… what do you mean by this?"
"Lieutenant Aizen, are you really going to keep pretending?"
Seeing that Aizen was still playing dumb, Kyoya frowned and said, "Perhaps you don't know this, but my Reikaku has always been… unusual."
"As early as when I left Shin'o Academy's grounds, I had already sensed your Reiatsu."