Restricted Death

Chapter 157 Cooling-off Period

After the captains' meeting, Xin was surrounded by several familiar captains who chatted casually, and everyone congratulated him.

Today marks the official appointment and announcement, and a captain inauguration ceremony will be held in the coming days.

After leaving the First Division barracks, Shin didn't go back to the Fourth Division first, nor did he go to the Tenth Division with Matsumoto Rangiku. Instead, he went straight home.

Shin took off his captain's haori and casually tossed it aside before lying down on the sofa.

A lot has happened these past few days, but most of it was within expectations.

He risked his life to fight Retsu Unohana and won without being punished.

However, there were also unexpected events.

【Unohana Retsu】

【Favourability: 10】

Shin thought he would get a substantial reward from Retsu Unohana after this battle, but to his surprise, her favorability towards him decreased instead of increasing.

This left Shin somewhat puzzled about Unohana Retsu's thoughts.

What went wrong?

He didn't have time to meet with Retsu Unohana alone, thinking that it might not be the right time yet.

It seems I underestimated this person who has lived for a thousand years, thinking she was too pure and someone who valued the desire for battle and slaughter above all else.

It seems that only Zaraki is like that.

However, Retsu Unohana clearly enjoyed the fight between the two...

Is something still missing?

Xin gently pressed his fingers against his brow, his mind in turmoil.

Shin verbally questioned Captain-Commander Yamamoto about whether he had used Unohana Retsu as a tool, but in reality, it seemed that he was the one who had used Unohana Retsu as a tool.

After lying motionless on the sofa for almost half an hour, the entryway door was suddenly pushed open.

Only one person would enter without knocking.

"letter……"

Shin heard what was happening, looked at Kotetsu Isane standing there, and smiled.

"Yongyin."

Yongyin pursed her lips, her eyes instantly reddening. She then rushed towards him, tightly hugging Xin's neck and refusing to let go.

Xin's expression shifted slightly. He gently patted her back and said, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

Yongyin held Xin for a while before letting go of him. Her eyes were full of sadness and grievance, and although her lips moved slightly, she didn't say a word, as if she was holding back a lot of things.

Xin sighed softly, "I'm sorry, Yongyin, I'll tell you everything now."

He then spoke at length with Yongyin, explaining why he did what he did.

"Our captain hasn't actually been happy all this time."

Yongyin finally couldn't help but speak up: "So, after you did all that, was she happy?"

Xin was speechless for a moment. He glanced at the system interface again and could only say, "I don't know."

He would never say that to the captain.

Yongyin sat there, tears suddenly falling down her face: "You guys... you've really gone too far... I might be being selfish by saying this, but I just feel that you've gone too far. Shin, do you know that you and the captain are both important people to me?"

The letter could only comfort her and continue to apologize: "I was too presumptuous."

Upon hearing this, Yongyin took a breath and thought of saying to Xin, "You are indeed too self-righteous" and "You don't care about my feelings at all," but then she felt that she shouldn't say such things.

She wasn't very good at expressing herself, and she was very gentle, so for a while she could only swallow all her grievances.

She has never said a harsh word to Xin, and she still can't. Now that their relationship has developed to this point, she naturally hopes to be together openly and honestly. As for saying things like "I'm not ready yet," that was deceiving Xin and her sister, and also deceiving herself.

She didn't want to bother or embarrass Xin.

Yongyin's appearance was truly heartbreaking. Xin hugged her and comforted her for a while before Yongyin's emotions gradually calmed down.

She then told Shin about the punishment that Unohana Retsu had been given.

Xin seemed to be deep in thought after hearing this.

As he pondered the matter of Unohana Retsu, Kotetsu Isane lowered her eyes and suddenly called out softly.

"letter."

"Ok?"

"Congratulations on becoming the captain of the 10th Division."

"..."

Yongyin's voice was devoid of any joy, filled only with a sense of desolation.

She slightly raised her eyes and looked at the captain's haori placed not far away. Her hands unconsciously clenched, then slumped open.

"I've thought about it a lot. I'm not a very good person, and I won't be able to help you much in the future. I have a lot of selfish thoughts..."

The letter interrupted her: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

As she spoke, she suddenly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice trembling involuntarily: "I wanted you to stay in the Fourth Division, I wanted the three of us—you, the Captain, and I—to get along well, I wanted you to not be liked by other girls, but just like the Captain said, I've always been trying to change you. I'm too self-centered and selfish. I can't understand your hardships and feelings. I'm not a qualified partner at all..."

Shin suddenly felt a pang of anxiety in his heart. If Yongyin was a selfish person, was there anyone in this world who would think of others?
He softened his tone and said, "Yane, don't overthink it. Everything is in the past. We'll just be fine from now on. Even if I go to the 10th Division, I'll still be back at night, and we can still see each other every day."

Shin pulled Yongyin into his arms, and Yongyin was very compliant. The two leaned against the sofa and remained silent for a long time.

Yongyin suddenly looked up, stared at Xin for a few seconds, then broke free from his embrace and sat up.

She first sniffed, then her voice carried a forced calmness.

"Shin, I need to calm down for a while. You're the captain of the 10th Division now, and you have a lot to do... I won't be coming over for the time being."

After saying that, Yongyin stood up and turned away without any hesitation.

As the door opened and closed, the living room suddenly fell into an empty silence.

"..."

Shin sensed Yuune's spiritual pressure lingering outside the door for a while before leaving.

He guessed some of Isane's thoughts. In her heart, he and Unohana Retsu seemed to be two people who were opposites and incompatible. His battle with Unohana Retsu seemed to have had a huge impact on Kotetsu Isane.

Did Isane see what Unohana Retsu looked like when she was injured...?

Xin lay back down, stared at the ceiling for a while, and then slowly closed his eyes.

That evening, Xin was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

As soon as they reached the entrance and opened the door, a chorus of "Congratulations, Captain Tachikawa!" rang out. Led by Shiba Kaien, several figures gathered outside the door with smiles on their faces. A quick glance revealed Shuhei, Aoshika, Kani Sawa, Ikkaku, Yuichika, Seion, and Sentarō.

Each person was carrying a bag.

"Your two subordinates who were arranging your inauguration ceremony can't come today," Shiba Kaien said directly.

"Shouldn't we celebrate properly today?"

Xin chuckled silently.

"Where's the wine?"

Shiba Kaien shook the bags he was carrying in his hands, indicating, "That's enough!"

(End of this chapter)