Restricted Death

Chapter 146 Haiyan's Matchmaking

The members of the 10th Division were also puzzled by Shiba Isshin's sudden leave of absence, and Matsumoto Rangiku had to come and find him.

"You just suddenly abandoned the entire squad and stopped caring about them?" Matsumoto Rangiku questioned angrily. It was one thing to slack off on ordinary days, but now you've even gone so far as to take the squad off duty!

"Don't say that. The Tenth Division still has you, so I'm at ease. Oh, and there's Toshiro too."

Seeing that her captain seemed completely unaware of how absurd her actions were, Matsumoto Rangiku became furious: "Do you even know what you're doing?!"

"I understand, it's just a break from the team, right?"

"Captain!" Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly raised her voice. Seeing that Shiba Isshin looked completely indifferent, she slowly calmed down.

"Did something happen?"

"What can happen?"

"Captain, I'm still your adjutant, you have to tell me what's going on!" Matsumoto Rangiku softened her voice. "What are we in the squad supposed to think of you suddenly doing this?"

The entire 10th Division is currently discussing Shiba Isshin's sudden leave of absence. Although Shiba Isshin was very lax in managing the division in the past, it doesn't mean that he is unimportant to the 10th Division.

His easygoing personality made him very popular among the members of the 10th Division.

Shiba Isshin waved his hand lazily: "No need to think too much. The 10th Division will still function normally even without me. All team affairs are in your hands. I'll have to trouble you to take care of things from now on."

Rangiku Matsumoto was furious.

"Then you'd better never come back and just die out there!"

Seeing Matsumoto Rangiku leave, Shiba Isshin gave a helpless, bitter laugh.

Shortly after Rangiku returned to the 10th Division, she briefly explained the situation to Hitsugaya and then went to the 3rd Division to meet with Shiba Kaien, hoping to persuade her captain through Kaien.

However, after listening to her request and complaints, Shiba Kaien remained silent, only saying, "I will talk to him."

"That's good, thank you." Matsumoto Rangiku breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you free tonight?" Shiba Kaien suddenly asked. "Let's have dinner together."

Matsumoto Rangiku immediately became wary: "What are you doing? You have a wife!"

Shiba Kaien looked exasperated: "It's not just the two of us."

"Then just say it clearly, who else is there?"

"Let's invite some friends. It's been a while since we sat together. Let's go to Xin's place. He lives alone anyway."

That evening, a large group of people gathered at Xin's house, and Xin only found out at the last minute, looking helplessly at the crowd standing at his door.

"You should at least have told me beforehand."

"It's not like I'm eating your food for free." Haiyan, carrying two large bags, beckoned everyone to come in.

Besides Kaien and Rangiku, Hitsugaya, Seion, Kotsubaki Sentaro, Ikkaku, Yuichika, and Ise Nanao also arrived.

When everyone entered the living room, they found that Kotetsu Isane was also there.

"Hello, everyone." Yongyin greeted them awkwardly, standing there stiffly, feeling somewhat at a loss.

"You're here so early?" Haiyan was slightly surprised, but the others didn't seem to notice anything unusual.

"Eh?"

Kotetsu Isane was stunned for a moment, wondering why no one seemed surprised. Did everyone already know about her relationship with Shin?
Qingyin then said, "When I told my sister, she said she had to take care of some team affairs first and would come directly later. I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Yongyin: "..."

She had no idea about this; her sister hadn't told her any of this. But when she saw Qingyin trying to suppress her laughter, she felt embarrassed and annoyed.

Fortunately, everyone assumed it was Qingyin who notified them and didn't think much of it.

Yongyin was secretly relieved; if Haiyan and the others had arrived any later, who knows what she and Xin might have been doing...

The group started taking out the food and drinks they had brought with them in the living room. Yongyin took the opportunity to pull Qingyin into the bathroom.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What?" Qingyin feigned ignorance.

"Why didn't you tell me about the party tonight?!" Yongyin questioned.

Qingyin shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter whether you tell me or not, you'll be here anyway, won't you?"

"you……"

Qingyin chuckled and said, "What, did I interrupt your time together? What are you two planning to do?"

Looking at her younger sister's sly expression, Yongyin said helplessly, "I haven't decided to go public with our relationship yet, so don't do this kind of thing again."

"Sis, what are you thinking? You two are in a normal relationship, what's wrong with making it public?"

"Don't worry!"

When the two came out of the bathroom, everyone was already sitting around the table in the living room, and the food and drinks were all laid out.

"Come and sit down," Ise Nanao invited.

The girls sat together, and Xin felt helpless seeing this scene; how had his home become somewhat like a vegetable market?

However, he didn't dislike the lively atmosphere.

After having a few drinks, Matsumoto Rangiku began to complain bitterly, blaming her captain for being irresponsible and for suddenly taking the team off without prior notice, showing a complete lack of accountability.

The group then started talking about Shiba Isshin, and naturally asked about Kaien.

"Captain Haiyan, what's the reason for Captain Shiba's sudden leave of absence?"

“I don’t know either.” Haiyan shook her head. “He’s always been a lazy person, he probably just wanted to take a break.”

Xin and Yongyin, who knew the inside story, remained silent.

Although it was a private gathering and everyone was a friend, there were still some things that were not appropriate to say.

Shiba Kaien drank his wine by himself. Although he was the one who invited everyone here, he was the one who spoke the least.

"He's so carefree, dumping everything on me. What vice-captain is as tired as me!" Matsumoto Rangiku continued to complain.

Ise Nanao gently comforted Rangiku, who was in a similar situation, also having a lazy captain.

Rangiku talked badly about her captain for a long time, venting her dissatisfaction. Then she started to invite everyone to drink together. After clinking glasses one after another, her face quickly turned red, and her tone of voice became erratic.

"Why can't I have a handsome, kind, and responsible captain?!" Rangiku couldn't help but sigh and say.

“I want one too.” Ise Nanao nodded.

Qingyin then raised her hand: "That's exactly the kind of person my captain is!"

Rangiku shook her head: "No, I'm too old."

Hitsugaya quipped, "Are you looking for the captain or a boyfriend?"

However, after he said that, Rangiku ruffled his hair and said, "You brat, can't you show some respect to your boss?!"

It was just an ordinary gathering.

It wasn't until it was quite dark outside that everyone left.

On the way back, Hitsugaya took the initiative to follow Shiba Kaien.

"Captain Kaien, do you know something about our captain?" Hitsugaya asked. Shiba Kaien was taken aback. "Why do you ask?"

"It's just a gut feeling."

Hitsugaya noticed that Haiyan's mood at the dinner table seemed a bit off.

Shiba Kaien pondered for a moment and said, "It's nothing, Uncle just wants to rest."

He didn't tell the truth. After sending Hitsugaya away, Kaien asked his wife, "What do you think of the letter?"

Zhibo laughed and said, "Isn't he your friend? You should know him better than I do."

Shiba Kaien nodded: "I was asking about your impression of him."

After a moment's consideration, Shiba said, "He's a good person, with a good personality. As a Shinigami, he has a bright future."

Shiba Kaien pondered, "If it weren't for me, would you have feelings for him?"

Shiba's smile froze instantly, and he frowned, asking, "What do you mean?"

Shiba Kaien quickly said, "You misunderstood. I didn't express myself clearly. I was asking you, if someone like Xin is someone that girls would all have a crush on, right?"

Shiba's expression softened slightly, and he said, "Probably. He's good-looking and very strong. There must be quite a few girls who like him."

Shiba Kaien seemed to be deep in thought.

"Why are you suddenly saying all this?" Zhibo asked again.

Facing his wife, Haiyan didn't hide anything and asked directly, "Do you think there's any possibility between Kukaku and Shin?"

Zhibo was immediately taken aback, his expression quite surprised.

"You want to set them up?"

"I have this idea."

After a long pause, Zhibo finally said, "It depends on Konghe's own wishes. Although you are her older brother, you can't force her. You know her personality."

"I know I won't do anything stupid. If they really get together, it would be a good thing, wouldn't it?"

Shiba thought about it carefully again. She felt that if Shin was a good match for Kukaku, he would be more than enough. However, she wondered if any boys would like Kukaku because of her personality.

In the following days, Xin frequently received invitations from Haiyan to visit Zhibo's home.

Each time, only Haiyan, Du, and Konghe were at home.

At first, Shin didn't think much of it, but he gradually noticed that Haiyan and his wife were always creating opportunities for him and Konghe to be alone, which made him realize that something was wrong.

Could it be that Haiyan wants to become her brother-in-law?
Konghe didn't think too much about it. She no longer rejected Shin and often talked to him about the fireworks she had recently developed, saying that she would use them at the next Spirit Arts Academy Cultural Festival.

Shiba found an opportunity to talk to Kukaku about this.

What do you think of Xin Jun?

"Nobu-kun? Nobu-kun Tachikawa?" Kukaku asked.

"Ah."

“He’s alright, why are you asking?” Sora said casually.

Shiba chuckled: "Your assessment is a bit low. Shin-kun is a famous genius Shinigami in the current Thirteenth Division. He has only been a Shinigami for a little over two years, but he already has the strength of a captain. His appearance, personality, and strength are all extremely outstanding."

"Maybe it's as you say, but what does that have to do with me?" Kukaku asked, puzzled.

Zhibo patiently persuaded him: "This is a rare find, and he's a good friend of your brother. Haven't you thought about it...?"

"have not thought."

Konghe immediately said, realizing what her sister-in-law meant. Then, thinking about how Xin had been visiting their home frequently these past few days, she frowned and asked, "Was it my elder brother who instigated this?"

"That's not entirely true. Your older brother and I both hope you can find a suitable partner..."

Before Shiba could finish speaking, Kukaku suddenly left the room expressionlessly and rushed into the study. A moment later, Kaien's scream rang out from inside.

"Kuukaku? Kuukaku, what are you doing... Ah! Let go, you madman! I'm your older brother! Ah—"

The heart-wrenching screams of Shiba Kaien echoed from the study, while Shiba remained unmoved in the living room, merely sighing before sitting down on the sofa.

She felt that Haiyan's attempt to facilitate this was tantamount to pushing her good friend into a fire pit.

The matter between Shin and Sora seemed to have ended there, and Kaien never invited Shin to his home again.

The originally set one-month deadline soon came to an end.

The First Division issued a statement announcing that the captain of the Tenth Division, Shiba Isshin, was unable to rejoin the team due to personal reasons and was expelled from the Gotei 13.

This news caused an immediate uproar within Seireitei.

As the captain of the 10th Division, Shiba Isshin was not particularly outstanding among the thirteen captains, but he had never made any mistakes. His approachable personality meant that none of the Shinigami in the thirteen divisions had any ill feelings towards him.

This happened suddenly and without warning. Apart from a limited number of people who knew the inside story, the vast majority of people were very surprised when they heard the news.

A small number of people began to speculate about the reasons behind this.

Is it possible that Shiba's desire to be expelled from the organization was not solely due to his own actions?

After all, Shiba Isshin had never done anything wrong, and who would give up a perfectly good captain's position and voluntarily leave Team Thirteen?

However, some ideas can only be thought about by themselves. They don't even discuss them. When talking about Shiba Isshin, they will say things like they don't understand.

The day after learning that Shiba Isshin had been expelled from the Gotei 13, and before the First Division announced the new captain of the Tenth Division.

At Xin's house.

"I thought you wouldn't come anymore after that."

Xin leaned back on the sofa, watching the cat eating fish on the table in front of him.

The last time I saw it was a month ago.

The black cat, chewing on fish, glanced at the letter and said, "I'm leaving."

"Where are we going?" Xin asked again, while in his heart he wondered, could it be the present world?

He wasn't quite sure whether the black cat had stayed in Soul Society the whole time since he met it, or whether it had been constantly traveling between Soul Society and the human world.

“Where I go is none of your business,” the black cat said.

Xin pouted: "That's really heartless of you to say. You've been eating my fish for so long, after all."

The black cat said, "It's not like I asked for food on my own initiative. Every time, it's you who insists on feeding me."

"You're so thick-skinned."

The black cat seemed to give Xin a disapproving look before continuing to eat its fish.

After a long silence, Xin suddenly spoke, "Could you do me a favor?"

"what?"

The black cat looked puzzled. This was the first time Xin had made a request of it, and it was without knowing anything about Xin's background.

What can a cat do? Has this guy lost his mind?
He then slowly said, "Find me a place where no one can find me."

(End of this chapter)