Restricted Death

Chapter 190 Transfer Application
Rangiku Matsumoto was absent from the monthly deputy captain's performance review meeting.

When Chojiro Sasakibara saw that only Hitsugaya was representing the 10th Division, he asked, "Where is Lieutenant-Captain Matsumoto?"

A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across Hitsugaya's face as he bowed slightly. "Reporting to the vice-captain of the Sparrow Division, our captain has granted Vice-Captain Matsumoto a long leave of absence, and she has not yet returned to the team."

Chojiro Sasaki frowned upon hearing this, but he didn't say anything on the spot and proceeded with the meeting as usual.

It was just missing a vice-captain's performance review meeting, nothing serious. Besides, Sasakibe no Nakajiro and Matsumoto Rangiku were nominally equal in rank. Although everyone present treated him with respect as a superior and the captains all treated him with courtesy, he couldn't possibly reprimand Matsumoto Rangiku for something like that.

There wasn't anything particularly important at the meeting. These meetings are held monthly and are just for summarizing the work of each squad and identifying any shortcomings. If there are any major issues, they will only be announced and discussed at a higher-level captain's meeting.

After the meeting ended, Chojiro Sasaki was the first to leave.

Second Division Vice-Captain Ōmaeda Kichiyo teased Hitsugaya, "Poor little Hitsugaya, he's being exploited by his own vice-captain again."

Matsumoto Rangiku has been the vice-captain for quite some time, and everyone present is familiar with her and knows very well what kind of person this vice-captain of the 10th Division is.

While they may not make mistakes in important matters, labels like alcoholic and lazy are their preconceived notions about Matsumoto Rangiku.

Madarame Ikkaku, the third seat of the 11th Division, also said to Hitsugaya, "Your captain is too carefree, indulging her so casually."

Having served as the third seat for so long, Hitsugaya was quite familiar with them, even though they weren't close. Many people present started to tease him.

Hitsugaya felt helpless and didn't say much. After all, Matsumoto Rangiku was his boss, and he wouldn't speak ill of his own people in front of outsiders like she did.

Even though he cursed the other person quite a bit in his heart.

Omaeda Kichiyo, resting her chin on her hand, suddenly said mysteriously, "Do you think it's possible that Captain Tachikawa is infatuated with Vice-Captain Matsumoto? Even though he's the captain, he's still so young, and Vice-Captain Matsumoto is so..."

Before she could finish speaking, a voice interrupted her: "Vice Captain Ōmaeda."

It was the vice-captain of the Third Division, Shiba Miyako, who spoke up. Her expression was gentle as she said, "It's not a good thing to casually tease a captain like that, especially in front of the Third Seat."

Ōmaeda paused, glancing at everyone present. None of them seemed inclined to join in his banter, and Ise Nanao even frowned at him with displeasure. Only then did he realize his slip of the tongue and gave an awkward smile.

"I'm talking nonsense, I'm talking nonsense..."

Although Shiba Miyako has only been promoted to vice-captain for a short time, everyone knew her when she was the third seat. No one disrespects such a gentle and capable woman.

What's more, her husband is now the captain of the Third Division.

After being humiliated, Ōmaeda Maichiyo discovered that someone was snickering at her. It was Iba Tessaemon, the vice-captain of the 7th Division. The two had a fairly good relationship, and when he saw her gloating, he glared at her.

He added, "I have great respect for Captain Tachikawa."

"Is that disrespectful to Vice-Captain Matsumoto?" said Tetsuomon Ikusa.

"You guy!"

Before Ōmaeda Kichiyo could retort, Ise Nanao suddenly said with an unfriendly expression, "Can we leave this topic here?"

The two immediately fell silent, trembling with fear.

Although both are vice-captains, they are both quite intimidated by Ise Nanao.

This vice-captain of the 8th Division also serves as the vice-president of the Women's Shinigami Association. Iba Tetsuzaemon founded the Men's Shinigami Association a few years ago, and Ōmaeda was one of its members. Tragically, their association exists in name only and is completely exploited by the Women's Shinigami Association.

Initially, they were tolerant of women because they believed "a good man doesn't fight with a woman." But over time, they unconsciously developed a slight fear of Ise Nanao, who was decisive and efficient in her actions.

Ise Nanao then approached Hitsugaya and asked, "Have you visited Rangiku recently?"

Hitsugaya shook his head. Of course, he also hoped that his vice-captain would return soon so that he wouldn't be so busy. However, since Matsumoto Rangiku had a normal vacation approved by the captain, he really didn't need to spoil her mood.

If I went, I'd probably just get yelled at by Matsumoto Rangiku.

Upon hearing this, Ise Nanao seemed to be deep in thought. She glanced at the Fifth Division Lieutenant, Ichimaru Gin, and met his gaze.

Gin Ichimaru's signature smile remained unchanged. Their eyes met briefly, and the next second, he turned around nonchalantly and left the conference room first, his steps light and quick, leaving no trace for interpretation.

Nanao withdrew her gaze, said a brief goodbye to Hitsugaya, and left the conference room.

On the way back to the Eighth Division, Ninth Seat Kani-zawa, who had been quietly following along, suddenly spoke up: "What's wrong with that Vice-Captain Matsumoto...?"

"Why do you think that?" Qi Xu glanced at her sideways.

"I just felt that you cared a lot about this."

"..."

Ise Nanao gently pushed up her glasses and said, "It's nothing. I was just afraid she'd have too much fun at home and forget to come back to the team, and then her captain would punish her and she'd come to me to complain."

She hadn't visited Matsumoto Rangiku these past two days because of work with the team, so she just asked Hitsugaya about it.

However, in the past few days, she has been making time to visit Matsumoto Rangiku's house every day to take care of her emotional state.

However, Matsumoto Rangiku recovered quickly. After drinking heavily for a few days, she started chatting and laughing with her as if nothing had happened.

However, he made no mention of returning to the team.

But this is not a solution. Ise Nanao knows that Rangiku must still have some unresolved issues in her heart. She is still the vice-captain of the 10th Division, holding an important position. If she is away from the team for a long time, the 1st Division will definitely inquire about it, and there is a high probability that she will be punished.

Even if Matsumoto Rangiku really wanted to leave the 10th Division, doing so would be far from a wise move.

Ise Nanao felt that her emotions were now relatively normal, and perhaps it was time to talk to her in detail about her future plans.

If he misses another vice-captain's performance review meeting, Chojiro Sasakibe will probably head straight for the 10th Division.

After leaving the First Division barracks, Ise Nanao stopped at a fork in the road and said to Kanazawa, "You go back first, I have other things to do."

"Yes." Kani Ze did not ask any further questions, but simply replied calmly, "I will handle the part of the work I can manage this afternoon."

Nanao's lips curled slightly. Her ninth seatmate's intelligence and thoughtfulness were indeed worthy of her reliance. Just as she was about to turn around, she stopped in her tracks, her gaze falling on Kani Sawa with a hint of inquiry.

"You...and Captain Tachikawa are on good terms, right?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Kani Sawa's eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "We're just in the same cohort, so it's not particularly good."

Ise Nanao asked, "So what kind of person do you think he is?"

"..."

Kanazawa seemed surprised that she would suddenly ask such a question, and remained silent for a while. Just when Ise Nanao thought she was about to speak, she heard her say, "Don't we all already know what kind of person he is?"

Ise Nanao asked, "Are you saying that the real Captain Tachikawa is the same as what the outside world knows?"

"Isn't that right? Or do you have some other opinion about him?" Kani Sawa countered. Now it was Ise Nanao's turn to be speechless.

Do you have any other opinions about Shin Tachikawa?

She wasn't sure herself, and before figuring out what had happened between Matsumoto Rangiku and Tachikawa Shin, she couldn't draw any conclusions.

"It's nothing, I was just asking casually."

Ise Nanao replied, and then took the initiative to walk away in another direction.

She pushed open the door to Matsumoto Rangiku's house with practiced ease, and the scene that greeted her was quite different from what she had seen a few days ago.

The room was clean and bright, with the windows wide open, letting in gentle sunlight. Matsumoto Rangiku herself was lounging on the floor, propping her head up with one hand and reading a book in the other. On the small table next to her were washed grapes and sliced ​​melon, the aroma of fruit filling the air.

It was unusually quiet and peaceful.

When Matsumoto Rangiku heard someone push the door open and enter, she knew who it was. She lay there without getting up, but glanced around, picked up a grape and put it in her mouth, feeling the sweet and sour flesh burst with juice in her mouth.

"I've noticed you're quite free; you even have time to come over to my place at this hour."

Matsumoto Rangiku spoke up, her expression calm and serene, and her demeanor showed no sign of distress.

"Today is the vice-captain's performance review meeting," Ise Nanao said. "Have you forgotten?"

"I haven't forgotten, I remember it," Matsumoto Rangiku replied casually.

Ise Nanao added, "Hitsugaya said you were on leave at home, and the vice-captain of the sagabe club is a little unhappy about your absence."

"Oh."

It was another monosyllabic word, completely flat.

Ise Nanao walked over to her and sat down in a slightly casual manner.

After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "You're not planning to go back?"

"Why go back?" Matsumoto Rangiku asked briefly, her gaze still fixed on the pages of the book, as if she were savoring the words.

Ise Nanao glanced at the book's cover; it was just a popular book.

She asked, "Aren't you going to tell me now what happened between you and Captain Tachikawa?"

"Prefer not to say."

"..."

"Then what are you going to do next?"

"I'm requesting a transfer to your unit."

Ise Nanao suppressed her emotions and said, "This matter is not so simple. First, your captain has to agree, then our captain has to approve, and then it has to go through the First Division... And then, as I told you, our division currently does not have a suitable seat officer position for you. Even if you could accept a lower-ranking seat officer position, our captain would not agree."

Matsumoto Rangiku knew, of course, that things wouldn't be that simple, but she was clearly prepared, and said, "Then let's have a co-attendance officer, I don't mind."

Ise Nanao let out a heavy sigh and said, "Haven't you considered the consequences of this? You make it sound so easy, do you think the First Division would agree?"

Matsumoto Rangiku remained calm and said, "At worst, I can become a teacher at the Spirit Arts Academy, right?"

Ise Nanao was infuriated by her unyielding attitude and snatched the book from her hand: "Look at me when you talk!"

Rangiku, however, slowly pulled another book from the pile of books next to her, and even turned over so that the back of her head was facing Nanao.

This infuriated Ise Nanao, who couldn't help but slap her shoulder hard with the book in her hand.

"Do you still consider me a friend?!"

Matsumoto Rangiku, who had her back to her, closed the book in her hand, slowly sat up, and looked languid with a hint of helplessness.

"Nanao, I know you're worried about me. I've made up my mind to leave the 10th Division. As for what happened between me and that guy, I really don't want to talk about it, and I don't want to talk about it with anyone. Don't ask."

"..."

Ise Nanao stared intently at her, while Matsumoto Rangiku seemed to avoid her gaze.

After a moment of silence, Ise Nanao said, "I understand. You should prepare your transfer application. I'll go talk to our captain about it."

Matsumoto Rangiku chuckled upon hearing this, then pounced on Nanao and hugged her tightly, rubbing her face against hers like a spoiled big cat, even tilting her glasses askew.

Ise Nanao pushed her away forcefully with a look of disgust, adjusted her glasses, and said fiercely, "The thing I regret most in my life is meeting you."

Matsumoto Rangiku smiled and said, "My luckiest thing is having you as a friend!"

However, looking at Matsumoto Rangiku's sincere smile, Ise Nanao's gloom did not dissipate at all. This matter was easy to say, but it was not so simple to do.

She said, "The transfer application has to be submitted to your captain first... so you have to see him again, and you have to get past him first before anything else can happen."

The captains of the 13th Division wield absolute power within their respective divisions, even the power of life and death.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the captain of the 12th Division, often used his subordinates to conduct all sorts of bizarre experiments, resulting in the deaths of many people. But was Mayuri Kurotsuchi punished for this?
No!

The words Ise Nanao said earlier about going to the First Division and the Central 46 to "report" Tachikawa Shin were spoken in a fit of anger and impulsiveness. If she were to actually do such a thing, there would only be one outcome.

She would be detained by the First Division, which would then alert the Captain-Commander, who would summon the Captain of the Tenth Division and his captain to inquire about the situation.

Ultimately, the Captain-Commander will be more inclined to believe Captain Tachikawa's explanation.

She herself might be protected by the head of her own Peking Opera band.

As for Matsumoto Rangiku, she was most likely just interrogated and then sent to the maggot's nest to spend the rest of her life.

After hearing what Ise Nanao said, Matsumoto Rangiku's smile faded, and she slowly returned to calm. She placed her hands on the floor beside her and leaned back slightly.

"Ah, I know."

Ise Nanao added, "I can put in a good word with our captain first, see if he can intervene... I can only do my best, I can't guarantee the outcome, Rangiku, what if in the end..."

She hesitated, looking at Matsumoto Rangiku.

Matsumoto Rangiku, however, gave a nonchalant smile: "In the end, I'll accept whatever the outcome."

(End of this chapter)