"We think the flowers on the rock wall are beautiful because we are standing on the rock wall. There's no need to be afraid, because like the flowers, our steps don't reach outside."
The moon in the water, the flower in the mirror, who can truly distinguish between real and fake? Why persist in making things clear?
Like humans, merely apes covered in a glamorous exterior. Gods, merely humans adept at disguise.
Soul Court.
Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy.
A certain calligraphy teacher, who "moonlights" as the captain of the Fifth Division in the Gotei Thirteen, rushes during yet another graduation season for the new students, thoughtfully showcases his Soul Cutting Blade to everyone, silently conducting a "Hypnosis test"... then smilingly bids farewell to everyone and steps back to the Fifth Division's quarters.
He searches for his desk, spreads a blank sheet of paper, dips his pen into ink, and inscribes a large "静" character.
The "静" character isn't as ironclad or silver-hooked as imagined, rather it leans towards elegance and beauty, just like the man himself... beloved and praised by the students.
"Captain Aizen is so good, so handsome, and very gentle and caring, understands everyone's emotions, truly a perfect man...."
A female student, infatuated more than once, unreservedly makes some "deranged claims" behind the scenes and dares to boldly stare with "starry eyes" at Aizen in his presence. To this,
Aizen always responds warmly,
as though he forever wears the same face, never revealing any negative emotions that would undermine his image, such as "anger," "mockery," "jealousy," or even... the slightest "sorrow"....
But today, upon entering, coming to Aizen's side, and seeing him continually writing the "静" character on the blank sheets, Ichimaru Gin, once a vice-captain of the Fifth Division under Aizen and now officially the captain of the Third Division,
with hands tucked into his wide sleeves, squints at Aizen and says, "How peculiar, haven't seen you write '静' in a hundred years, let me guess...."
"Your heart,"
"is at unrest...."
The man likened to "a cold-blooded snake, seeking prey to swallow whole," speaking in a Kyoto dialect, asserts.
Aizen's long brown hair is tied back, slightly more menacing compared to Ichimaru's smooth lilac short hair. He remains silent, continuing to write the "静" character, occasionally adjusting the black-framed glasses on his nose to prevent them from slipping down, his earlobe moves, letting Ichimaru ponder freely and say, "Hmm... not many things can cause our Captain Aizen's heart to be unsettled...."
"Let me think,"
At one point, Ichimaru pauses abruptly and asks, "Is it related to the Head Captain?"
His words fall, and Aizen's pen halts, immediately making Ichimaru's slender eyes narrow knowingly, "Everyone says the Head Captain's state has been very odd lately, it seems... he truly has issues...."
"Gin," Aizen's pen trails the long final stroke of the "静" character, disrupting the overall beauty.
The captain of the Fifth Division, always presenting "a gentle good guy" facade, adjusts the black-framed glasses on his nose, suddenly lifts his head, looks at Ichimaru, and says, "Do not speculate about the Head Captain."
Ichimaru's lilac short hair slightly sways, his right hand returns to his sleeve, seemingly carelessly says, "I'm just curious, aren't you curious?"
Aizen remains silent for a while, replacing the sheet, continues writing "静," without lifting his head says, "You know the Third Division quarters better than I do,"
"The door is behind you,"
"I won't see you out...."
Ichimaru: "...."
His slender eyes squint,
pauses for a moment, slowly turns around, and leaves.
The office door creaks open then shuts, outside can faintly hear a greeting, followed by... hair tied in a bun, wearing a standard Death God outfit, with the Fifth Division Vice-Captain insignia on the left shoulder... the current Fifth Division Vice-Captain Hinamori Momo, carrying a basket of peaches, quietly places them in a corner of the desk,
"Captain, have some peaches."
"Peaches are sweet." Her big brown eyes blink, petite figure entirely like a little girl, cutely says.
Just because of Ichimaru's "probing," Aizen, whose handsome face fell into displeasure, finally shows a smile, smilingly says to Hinamori Momo, "Leave them there, I will eat them."
Hinamori Momo nods, then peeks over the edge of the table, seeing Aizen writing "静" numerous times on the blank sheets, blurts: "Eh, Captain, you haven't written this character for a long time~"
"A long time?" Aizen pauses.
"A long time, let me count...." Hinamori Momo starts counting on her fingers,
Beside her, Aizen smiles watching her, after a moment, hears her say, "It's been a hundred years~"
Aizen calmly places the pen on the holder, gazes through the window frame, looking outside, Soul Court is bathed in the evening glow as usual, his gaze ripples with memories, recalling today a hundred years ago, it was also...
The day he used the souls possessing Death God powers to create the incomplete Hōgyoku,
The day he targeted the young Matsumoto Rangiku to introduce the predator within, forming association with Ichimaru Gin,
Moreover, the day he... desires beyond the limits of Death Gods, firmly believing... he can achieve.
Aizen, lost in thought gazing out the window, momentarily still....
Hinamori Momo takes a bite of peach, extends her fair palm, waving in front of him, curiously asks: "Hey~ Captain, what are you thinking about? You seem so lost...."