Chapter 70: Kido
Ugendo at dusk held a distinctive beauty.
Stepping onto the walkway leading to the main building, the first thing Suoh Tsukasa noticed was the faint medicinal herb fragrance drifting through the air.
"Captain, I've arrived."
Suoh approached with light steps, stopped before the door, and lightly tapped the doorframe with his fingertips.
His knuckles touched wood, producing three soft sounds—unhurried and measured, matching his calm mood at this moment.
He walked the righteous path and conducted himself properly. Though many squad members had suffered under his command, his conscience was clear.
The Gotei 13 was ultimately a combat force. The Thirteenth Division's atmosphere was too tepid. Some squad members' performance didn't even match third or fourth-year Shinoreijutsuin students' level. They needed proper drilling.
"Come in."
Ukitake Jushiro's gentle response came accompanied by several low coughs.
Suoh slid open the paper door and stepped inside.
The hall's lighting was soft. Ukitake Jushiro sat in the main position, his pale face carrying some fatigue.
Two layers of documents piled on either side of his desk—reviewed and pending, each occupying one side.
Meeting his gaze, Suoh bowed respectfully. "Good evening, Captain."
"No need for formality. Please sit."
Ukitake Jushiro gathered the documents before him, nodded, and gestured toward a cushion beside the table.
"My apologies, Suoh. Calling you here right after you returned—I hope I didn't disrupt your rest."
"Not at all."
Suoh sat as instructed, gently shaking his head.
His tone was respectful without being stiff, nor overly familiar.
He hadn't been with the Thirteenth Division long. He was closest with Shiba Kaien and a few others, and had only briefly met Captain Ukitake a few times.
With no deep friendship, he naturally treated him with standard courtesy.
"Are you settling in well with the division?"
Ukitake Jushiro inquired gently with concern.
He simultaneously took a plate of delicate hagi mochi from the sweets box beside him and placed it before Suoh, gesturing.
"You probably haven't eaten since returning. Try some—these hagi mochi just arrived today."
His tone held none of a captain's authority, more like a kind elder caring for a junior.
Hearing this, Suoh didn't feel particularly uncomfortable. Ukitake Jushiro had become a student under Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni before the Thousand-Year Blood War.
Calculating roughly, he was over a thousand years older. Treating him as a child wasn't excessive at all.
Consider it having tea and chatting with an elder—he excelled at this.
"Everything is fine. Thanks to Kaien-niisan and the others looking after me daily, I'm doing very well in the division."
"Thank you for your concern, Captain."
Suoh obligingly picked up a piece of hagi mochi, bit into it, chewed carefully, swallowed, and replied earnestly.
Ukitake Jushiro was a nice guy in the original story. He was also a seated officer under his command—nothing to be guarded about.
Since this wasn't a reprimand, he had nothing to worry about. He actually hadn't eaten anything since returning.
The hagi mochi's main ingredients were rice and glutinous rice, making it quite soft and chewy.
The red bean paste filling tasted mildly sweet. Not much sugar added—the flavor wasn't too sweet, quite suitable for pairing with tea.
This was Suoh's first time eating this old-fashioned Japanese confection. He found it quite novel. After finishing his response, he polished off the remaining treat in two bites.
"That's good to hear."
"I've carefully reviewed all the reports you've submitted during this period. Your performance has been excellent."
Seeing him eat so readily, Ukitake Jushiro smiled with satisfaction, his expression growing even gentler as he praised him.
His pale complexion also gained some vitality from this smile.
"Hollow threat missions are the most arduous. If you encounter any difficulties, report to the division promptly. Don't try to be tough."
"You're still young. Remember that nothing should be rushed. Take care to protect yourself."
His tone paused briefly before he added in a soft voice, gently instructing.
"I will."
Suoh nodded, his response crisp and decisive without the slightest hesitation.
He held no stubborn youthful emotions. When he truly needed to request support, he wouldn't stubbornly push through.
With his current strength, independently handling ordinary Hollow threat missions was more than sufficient. What truly consumed effort was leading squad members in coordinated combat.
However, there were benefits. This period's experiences had also indirectly trained his personal ability to control the overall situation.
"Good, good!"
Ukitake Jushiro repeatedly praised his response, his eyes revealing sincere gratification.
Just then, a white-robed attendant entered through the side door carrying tea implements, approached the two, set them down gently, and bowed before withdrawing.
Ukitake Jushiro rolled up his sleeves, raised his hand to lift the teapot, and personally poured Suoh a cup of clear tea.
"If you don't mind, perhaps stay a while longer."
"Of course."
As tea fragrance permeated the air, the sweets on the table disappeared piece by piece.
Their conversation gradually shifted from initial polite courtesy to more casual everyday chat.
Light laughter occasionally rang through Ugendo. The distance between them quietly closed during this idle conversation.
The sun set, the sky outside darkened, and another cup of tea emptied.
Suoh noticed Ukitake Jushiro's fingertips trembled slightly while holding his teacup as he spoke. Understanding dawned.
Remembering his physical condition, he raised his hand.
"Captain, I've imposed on you long enough today."
"I should take my leave."
"Thank you for your time."
Hearing this, Ukitake Jushiro's expression froze momentarily, then revealed a smile tinged with apology.
Just as Suoh prepared to stand, Ukitake Jushiro suddenly called out to stop him, retrieving a substantial book from beneath the table and passing it before Suoh.
"Tsukasa, wait a moment."
"I know you're exceptionally skilled in Kido. I've wanted to give you this book for some time."
"However, some of my insight annotations were written too slowly, so it was delayed until today."
"High-numbered Kido is extremely profound. You must be careful during training."
Slowly withdrawing his hand, Ukitake Jushiro gazed at him earnestly with instruction.
He'd committed the information in Suoh's file to memory. He'd wanted to give him this book much earlier.
However, due to his physical condition, he could only occasionally add annotations between reviewing documents, only just completing it recently.
Suoh calmly accepted it with both hands. When the title "Complete Guide to Advanced Kido" on the cover entered his view, his face showed slight surprise and delight.
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Captain."
Through their earlier conversation, Ukitake Jushiro had gained a deeper understanding of Suoh's character. He didn't continue with further instructions.
After coughing lightly a few times, his physical state easing slightly, he continued.
"There's one more matter. A new recruit will be joining the division in a few days."
"Her status is rather complicated. The squad members may have some opinions about her."
"You command considerable respect among the squad members. I hope you can look after her when the time comes."
"What's her name?"
This wasn't the Shinoreijutsuin graduation period, nor the final assessment time.
A new recruit joining at this awkward timing was most likely Rukia, who'd already become the Kuchiki family's adopted daughter.
Though Suoh had the answer in his heart, he still asked aloud.
"Kuchiki Rukia."
"She was previously a Shinoreijutsuin student. Her current status is the Kuchiki family's newly adopted daughter."
Ukitake Jushiro replied with a somewhat helpless expression.
Ordinary squad members already tended to harbor reservations about noble offspring.
Cases like Kuchiki Rukia joining the division exceptionally as a noble family's newly adopted daughter made her even more susceptible to criticism.
Without special circumstances, even after ten or twenty years she'd struggle to truly integrate into the Thirteenth Division. This was precisely what troubled him.
He'd mentioned this to Shiba Kaien today as well. But thinking of Suoh's character and age, he felt Suoh might find it easier to help her, so he'd specifically asked him as well.
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