In fact, the outside world doesn't even know that a person named Iori exists. The publisher directly gets the manuscripts from the Kyoraku family, so Iori's pen name, "Miyamoto Kitahara," has always been believed to be Kyoraku Shunsui's alt account… Thanks to this, Iori is able to get the highest revenue share.
The relationship between the two is quite good. Still, Iori knows that although Kyoraku Shunsui looks unreliable on the surface, in reality he's the type who plays through life. He's lecherous but not obscene, and deep down he has moral boundaries and firm beliefs.
A person like that can perhaps be approached through shared interests, letting him help you out or give you some convenience. When he runs into something he can't stand, he'll step in even if it means offending that old mountain guy, showing a very traditional "chivalrous" style.
But if you touch on fundamental matters of principle, he absolutely will not be won over or shaken, let alone accept corruption or threats.
In short, don't think that just because he messes around all day that he's easy to deal with.
Within the Seireitei, the person Iori rates the highest in his heart is Kyoraku Shunsui, far above the other captains.
Of course, the current Iori doesn't need to fear anyone. As an outstanding candidate Shinigami in both conduct and academics, he has always dealt with Shunsui sincerely. There's no falseness in their friendship, nor does it involve any exchange of利益; they genuinely appreciate each other.
In addition, every time he meets Shunsui, he brings along a few unique snacks. It's not to curry favor, rather, there's a hard-to-handle little girl by Shunsui's side, and sweets are needed to seal that girl's poisonous tongue~
The snacks were bought quickly, but Iori couldn't return right away, because the four main gates of the Seireitei aren't open all the time. To prevent random people from Rukongai from entering, these gates are extremely heavy and kept closed.
Anyone who wants to enter or leave needs to wait here for the gate guards to use brute force to lift the gates, roughly once every two hours, and identity verification is required in advance.
Iori had calculated the timing. Aside from buying things, he wandered around a bit, and arrived at the gate about ten minutes early.
But today was a bit strange. The gate guard's expression wasn't very natural. When the people ahead passed by, it was fine, but when he saw Iori wearing a trainee uniform, he hesitated as if wanting to say something.
Iori's heart stirred. He pretended to look for something on the ground and fell behind, only getting up and moving forward after everyone had left. As he passed the gate guard, he quietly asked, "Did something happen today?"
"You…"
The gate guard remembered Iori. It wasn't that Iori was especially famous now, but because Iori had once passed through the Hakudo Gate together with the Eighth Division captain Kyoraku Shunsui. So in the gate guard's eyes, Iori should have some status.
Then this matter probably wouldn't involve him, right?
"Earlier today, there was also a trainee who passed through. But he ran into some people here, got into a conflict… and was arrested."
The gate guard didn't want to say it too clearly. He was a strongman from Rukongai, responsible for guarding the Seireitei gates, but he wasn't actually a Shinigami and didn't have his own Zanpakuto. Being called a "hero" was just a title, he was still just a gatekeeper, and some things weren't his place to interfere in.
So even though, in his view, that trainee had been framed, he couldn't step in to help.
…To be honest, he felt a bit uneasy inside. Perhaps that was why he mentioned this to Iori.
"A trainee was arrested?" Iori frowned. "That's not common… Any distinguishing features?"
"He's pretty dark-skinned."
The gate guard answered without hesitation, because the feature was indeed obvious.
"He's blind."
"Oh~ then he's probably my friend. Thanks."
With those features, you probably couldn't find a second person in the entire Seireitei. There was no need to work hard to narrow it down.
"By the way, what exactly did the conflict start over?"
"That… I'm not too sure either, but I heard them talking about something like graves… Maybe it's related to fighting over an inheritance?"
"…I see. I think I can roughly guess what it was about."
After sorting things out in his head, Iori looked up at the gate guard again, as if seeing through his thoughts, and said in a reassuring tone, "Don't worry. It's just a small matter. There won't be any problems."
"A small matter?" The gate guard let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good."
"Yeah, it's just offending the Five Great Noble Houses, that's all."
"Huh?!"
The gate guard almost lost his grip and slammed the gate onto the ground.
———
Inside a certain prison within the Seireitei, Tosen Kaname sat imprisoned there with his eyes tightly closed. Because the case involved nobles, he was held alone. The walls and cell door were even cast with seastone mixed with killing intent. A mere candidate Shinigami had absolutely no ability to escape.
Dressed in white, Tosen Kaname was trapped behind bars. His hands were bound with spell-imbued ropes, sealing his ability to use Kido, and his Zanpakuto, which was always by his side, was nowhere to be seen.
He still appeared very calm… or rather, he was forcing himself to stay calm.
For a man who lives in darkness, suffering in the usual sense was nothing worth mentioning. Even being retaliated against, tortured, or interrogated was just an everyday affair. Like an ascetic, he endured all physical pain.
But there was one thing that made him deeply uneasy, his Zanpakuto had been taken away.
As a prisoner, having one's Zanpakuto confiscated was only natural. But to Tosen Kaname, that blade was far more than a weapon. It was a spiritual anchor, his most treasured "relic".
…But what use was saying any of that now?
As a "violent attacker of nobles," he had been imprisoned. In a few days, he would likely be brought to trial. In the worst case, he might even be executed. If he couldn't even keep his own life, how could he protect that relic?
At this point, his fate was no longer in his own hands. The only thing a prisoner could do was quietly wait in the dark cage.
Fortunately, he had long since grown accustomed to darkness… Come to think of it, he had never imagined there would be a day when he'd be glad he was blind, because only this way did he not have to see how ugly this world was.
"In the end… was I still unable to do anything? Heh heh…"
Just as Tosen let out a self-mocking cold laugh, a calm and unhurried set of footsteps came from outside. He immediately shut his mouth tightly, unwilling to reveal his true emotions in front of others.
He had thought the visitor would be a jailer or some noble's lackey, but as the footsteps drew closer, a familiar yet unexpected voice sounded, "Looks like you've suffered quite a bit, Tosen-senpai."
"…Iori? Aizen Iori?" Tosen Kaname turned his head, angling his ear toward the outside, his face full of shock. "Why is it you?!"
"Why can't it be me?"
Iori smiled and casually sat down in front of the iron bars. "Don't stay so far back. Come a bit closer, let's talk."
Tosen Kaname temporarily suppressed his doubts, stood up, and moved to the bars. He really did sit down as told. Then his hands felt something soft and warm, and an enticing fragrance spread through the air, making his stomach instinctively growl.
"This is?"
"I figured the food in prison wouldn't be very good, so I specially brought you some red bean buns. Don't get too happy though, I just took them from the cafeteria."
"…Thank you."
Tosen Kaname pursed his lips and expressed his thanks with restraint, but didn't start eating right away, instead continuing to question Iori.
"Why are you in the prison too? And by yourself…"
"Relax, I'm not like someone who got dragged in here." Iori still had the mood to tease Tosen in a place like this.
Then he turned slightly serious. "I heard you caused trouble and got locked up, so after asking around from multiple sources, I finally found this place. I pulled some strings to get in and see you."
"Don't worry. It's not a big deal, and I've already asked some acquaintances to keep an eye on it. It probably won't be long before there's a result."
Iori said it lightly, but Tosen knew how much effort it would take to do all this. It wasn't something that could be achieved by having connections alone.
"…Why are you going to such lengths?"
Tosen believed that his relationship with the Aizen siblings could only be considered "friends," not close enough for them to risk offending nobles to help him so generously.
And having seen the coldness and warmth of the world, although he held fast to the "justice" in his heart, he didn't really trust so called 'human nature'.
But to say that Iori had ulterior motives… there didn't seem to be anything about him worth coveting.
That was what made it so puzzling.
"Because you're a good person."
After thinking for a moment, Iori smiled and added, "A good person to use."
"…" Tosen was stunned for a moment. Even though he had prepared himself for many possibilities, Iori's answer still caught him off guard.
"Simply put, I think you'll accomplish something in the future, and you have a high level of loyalty. You're very suitable to invest in early and pull in as a subordinate, does that reason sound sufficient?"
Iori spoke very seriously, not like he was joking at all. Tosen, with his eyes closed, raised his head in confusion, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
"Iori, you…"
"Or should I switch to a warmer, more touching explanation?"
"Like saying I can't stand nobles being arrogant and bullying the good, so I spoke up for justice and drew my blade to help?"
Iori stroked his chin. "Which one do you like?"
"…"
After a long silence, Tosen Kaname suddenly asked, "Why me, of all people? There are plenty with better talent than me. And I'm just a blind man. There has never been a case in the Gotei Thirteen of a blind person becoming a vice-captain or captain."
"Even whether I'll be able to enter the Thirteen as an ordinary seated officer after graduation isn't guaranteed."
"Even if you're looking for someone to use, why choose me?"
"If 'future prospects' in the conventional sense were the standard, then I should be trying to win over noble heirs, not offending them."
Iori let out a cold laugh. "Do you think I'm some junk collector who takes anyone who comes along? To catch my eye, having a shiny resume and family background isn't enough."
"Why you? Because I admire you, and I believe you're someone who can agree with my ideals and walk to the very end without wavering."
"…Ideals?" Tosen grew cautious. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's just a very simple thought."
Iori paused, then asked leisurely, "Tosen, don't you think this world is far too unfair?"
"!!" Tosen's body trembled slightly.
"This society doesn't determine status by a person's character or ability. Nobles live generation after generation in the prosperous Seireitei. Even without talent, they stand above commoners."
"In the end, the Seireitei is ruled by Central 46 and the nobles. Among commoners, there are also powerful people who can achieve Bankai, but that only allows them to transcend individually, it can't change the overall order."
"So nobles high above can casually humiliate commoners. Even if they commit crimes, they can receive pardons, while ordinary people who are harmed have nowhere to appeal, and no one to uphold justice for them!"
"Even when there is occasionally a fair ruling, it's often because some big figure steps in. In essence, it's a just lord… that is, power crushing power, rather than a normal process."
"…Breaking this injustice, is that your ideal?"
Tosen Kaname's voice trembled slightly. Every word Iori said resonated deeply with him. It was exactly what he had never been able to let go of… Of course, compared to Iori, he also had one more reason, avenging his close friend.
"No. Simple confrontation and destruction will only bring chaos. What I seek is power that stands above everything, and then using it to establish a new order from the top down!"
Iori spoke sincerely about nonsense he didn't believe in at all. "When that time comes, what happened to you and your close friend will never happen again."
"…So you already know." Hearing the words "close friend," Tosen's expression darkened. "About her…"
"I asked around. Although it was just the nobles' side of the story, what actually happened can be imagined… You must be very unwilling to accept it, right?"
"I… If that's how you see it, then even if I'm being used, I'm willing!"
After saying this, Tosen Kaname couldn't help but laugh. "But clearly it's you helping me unilaterally, giving me a chance to achieve my revenge. How can that be called being used?"
"Aizen Iori, you're really bad at lying…"
"You're worried that if I accept your help for nothing, I'll feel too much gratitude and guilt, and you don't want me to bear that psychological burden, so you used words like that to comfort me, right?"
"But if that's the case, you're really underestimating me."
"Emotional bonds are never a burden, they're the driving force that supports me as I move forward in this dark world!"
"…Sorry. Looks like I overthought it."
Iori smiled slightly. "After all, what I need are like-minded companions, not subordinates who obey orders like puppets."
"On this path of justice, I will never betray you!"
Feeling the warmth of the red bean bun in his hands, Tosen Kaname knew that although Iori said it came from the cafeteria, the distance from the Spiritual Arts Academy to here was not short. To keep it warm, he must have used Shunpo the whole way.
Ever since his close friend passed away, he had never experienced such warmth again. His eye sockets, long since dried up, seemed to be brewing with a warm current.
If it's this person… perhaps he's worth following for a lifetime.
Ding!
Hearing the notification sound, Iori narrowed his eyes.
Watching Tosen Kaname wolf down the buns, he shook his head ever so slightly.
'I won't be as ruthless as the Aizen from the original story, and what I said to you isn't all lies. As long as you follow me to the very top, revenge will naturally be easy, and you'll be able to pursue the justice you want.'
'However, I have never been a seeker who can sacrifice himself for ideals. I only judge gains and losses from my own perspective.'
'So don't place expectations on me beyond a certain limit, or you'll only end up more disappointed, because...'
[CG collected]
[Admiration is the emotion farthest from understanding]
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