Restricted Death

Chapter 192 Seven Heart-Pounding Thoughts

Shin personally greeted Kyoraku Shunsui.

In terms of friendship, the two were not very close. Although they were not as close as Shiba Kaien, they were still better than captains like Kurotsuchi Mayuri and Komamura Sajin, whom they were basically just nodding acquaintances with.

Furthermore, because Shin had cured Ukitake's long-standing ailment, Kyoraku Shunsui had always held a certain degree of goodwill towards Shin.

"Captain Kyōra."

Xin warmly welcomed the other party into a reception room.

He didn't let anyone else serve him; Shin personally poured Kyoraku a cup of tea, showing considerable respect, considering Kyoraku was a senior figure in the industry.

"I hope I didn't disturb Captain Tachikawa?" Kyoraku said with a smile.

“The captain does the same things every day, it’s hardly a bother,” Xin said. “Is there something wrong, Captain Jing?”

The aroma of tea filled the air, and a wisp of steam rose from the teacup, slowly spreading across the low table between the two people.

Kyoraku picked up his teacup and took a small sip, saying, "There is indeed something, though it can't really be called official business."

Xin sat opposite him, looking all ears.

Occasionally, a breeze would rustle through the leaves of the trees in front of the courtyard, the sound coming through the paper door and then quietly dissolving into the warm, tranquil tea.

Kyoraku asked, "Is Vice-Captain Matsumoto in the unit right now?"

Matsumoto?

Xin narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, "The band leader's arrival is quite timely. She just returned to the band today and is currently in her office. I'll go and ask someone to call her over."

Kyoraku gently shook his head: "I didn't come to see her, but I did come because of her."

Xin remained expressionless, only saying, "Oh?"

Kyoraku slowly said, "Our team's Nanao suddenly came to me and said that your squad's vice-captain Matsumoto wants to come to our Eighth Squad. I wonder if Captain Tachikawa is aware of this?"

Xin smiled calmly and said, "I just found out. She submitted a transfer application to me this morning, and I've been hesitating about it too."

He tapped his knee lightly with his fingertips and smiled at Kyoraku, saying, "I was wondering why she suddenly did this. It turns out she prefers the Eighth Division. If Captain Kyoraku thinks my adjutant is alright, it would be perfectly acceptable to bring her to your division."

Kyoraku smiled helplessly: "Captain Tachikawa has misunderstood. I only found out about this myself. I never thought that Vice-Captain Matsumoto would suddenly want to change squads. I know nothing about her reasons. This matter must have been planned privately by Nanao and Vice-Captain Matsumoto."

"What is the meaning of the band leader's visit here?" Xin asked again.

Kyoraku pondered for a moment and said, "I think this is inappropriate. After all, Vice Captain Matsumoto holds an important position, and it is not wise to change his position so easily. Moreover, the Eighth Division and the Tenth Division have different functions. It would be unwise to cause trouble for the work of both divisions due to personal reasons."

Xin's eyes flickered upon hearing this, but he remained silent.

Kyoraku Shunsui continued, "I have already reprimanded Nanao of our squad for this. Although she and Vice-Captain Matsumoto are good friends, she acted impulsively and did something that did not think things through. Fortunately, this matter has not yet come to fruition. I also hope that Captain Tachikawa can understand and consider the overall situation of both squads."

After a moment of silence, Xin suddenly laughed and said, "The band leader of the Beijing Opera really went to great lengths."

Kyoraku also laughed and said, "Isn't the role of a captain supposed to be to consider the needs of his subordinates? Captain Tachikawa should agree with that, right? But why did Vice Captain Matsumoto suddenly have the idea of ​​switching squads? I was quite surprised when I first found out."

Xin said casually, "It's nothing. I'm not afraid of making the band leader laugh at me, but my adjutant is lazy by nature and has repeatedly violated the rules. I gave her a lecture a while ago, but I was probably a bit too harsh, which made her feel wronged."

Kyoraku's mind raced, and he said with a smile, "I heard that it was Vice Captain Matsumoto who met Captain Tachikawa in the Zaraki Ward of Rukongai and recommended you to the Shinigami Academy. That can be considered a great favor. Captain Tachikawa, you became a captain at such a young age and were her superior. Such a contrast in status must have made her very uncomfortable."

He replied, "Perhaps."

Kyoraku Shunsui sighed, "These kinds of matters that involve personal relationships are indeed difficult to handle. As the team leader, there are many difficulties. Vice Captain Matsumoto should be more understanding. When necessary, Captain Tachikawa cannot back down."

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Captain Kyoraku." As Kyoraku Shunsui left, he glanced intentionally or unintentionally in the direction of the vice-captain's office in the corridor.

Through the window, it seemed as if another gaze was watching him.

Kyoraku lowered his straw hat, pulled off the flashy kimono he was wearing, and left the place.

#
Squad 8.

When Ise Nanao saw her captain return, she immediately went to greet him with a look of eager anticipation.

"How about it?"

Kyoraku Shunsui said, "I chatted with Captain Tachikawa for a while."

Ise Nanao quickly asked, "And then, did Captain Tachikawa agree to release them?"

Kyoraku Shunsui gave her a deep look, then walked into the office and lay down against the low table.

Ise Nanao followed her in, pursing her lips and saying, "Captain, say something."

Kyoraku Shunsui covered his disguised face with a straw hat and said calmly, "What Captain Tachikawa said is a little different from what you said. Regarding his affair with Matsumoto Rangiku, it was Vice-Captain Matsumoto who was in the wrong first. Captain Tachikawa reprimanded her, and Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't stand it, which led to the conflict between them."

Ise Nanao was astonished: "That's what he said?"

"Ah."

Ise Nanao's expression shifted, her bright eyes flickering uncertainly.

"You don't find it very believable, do you?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked.

"..."

Ise Nanao remained silent.

Kyoraku pressed further, "Then how can you be sure that what Matsumoto Rangiku said is true?"

Ise Nanao remained silent. Rangiku was her friend, and in her heart, she was more willing to believe Rangiku, thinking that she couldn't possibly lie to her. Besides, Matsumoto's appearance at the time couldn't possibly be fake, could it?

However, such statements are not very convincing.

“I’m curious about something.” Kyoraku slightly raised his straw hat and glanced at Ise Nanao.

"Nanao-chan, you've been running around doing everything for Matsumoto, didn't she consider that this might cause you trouble? You two are very good friends, right?"

Upon hearing this, Ise Nanao lowered her head and said, "It was I who wanted to help her..."

"Really? Did she try to stop you? She probably didn't want you to get involved in this mess, right?"

"..."

Ise Nanao gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, remaining silent, but a strange sense of panic welled up inside her.

Seeing her like this, Kyoraku Shunsui understood completely. He sighed silently and continued, "As a friend, she should be happy if you stop asking about this, right? Just like your concern for her, she will also worry about you."

Ise Nanao lowered her head even further.

"Captain... please stop talking."

(End of this chapter)