Bleach: I'm picking up attributes in Seireitei

Wang Xun felt a little numb when he saw Aizen greeting him.

He couldn't even tell whether it was a simple coincidence or a carefully planned encounter.

That's a bit scary.

Wang Xun stopped, his face calm, and nodded slightly as he met Aizen's gentle gaze.

"It has indeed been a long time, Vice-Captain Aizen."

Aizen adjusted his glasses, his gaze falling on Wang Xun with concern.

"I heard you just finished your soul burial internship in the real world. Did everything go smoothly?"

Looking at Aizen's genuine concern, he even had some difficulty discerning whether Aizen was truly concerned about him.

Wang Xun secretly marveled at Aizen's unparalleled acting skills.

If I had that kind of acting skill, maybe he wouldn't have noticed anything amiss back then.

We still need to practice.

"Thank you for your concern, Vice Captain."

Wang Xun lowered his head slightly, his tone steady yet carrying a just-right weight.

"The internship... didn't go very smoothly. We encountered some unexpected troubles, which is why I came here."

"I have already reported the specific details to the team leaders."

Wang Xun left it at that, not going into details, and gently steered the conversation back on track.

"An unexpected problem...?"

Aizen frowned slightly, revealing just the right amount of worry.

"I hope there wasn't too much damage done to the students. Missions in the real world can sometimes be unpredictable, and it's good that they returned safely."

"Thank you, Vice Captain Aizen."

"Hey, that's about it. The captains are still waiting inside."

At that moment, Kinoshita Ōmaeda spoke up, breaking the conversation between the two.

"Let's go, Lieutenant Aizen."

"That's right, we can't keep the captains waiting."

Aizen readily agreed and nodded apologetically to Wang Xun.

"Well then, Wang Xun, let's talk again later."

"Please, both vice-captains."

Wang Xun stepped aside to make way.

"Hmm~ a polite young man."

Ōmaeda patted Wang Xun on the shoulder and left with Aizen, the group passing each other by.

But Wang Xun could sense that when Aizen passed by, his gaze lingered on him for a brief moment.

He kept his eyes straight ahead and walked out, guided by Soi Fon.

The feeling of being watched, which seemed almost tangible, only gradually disappeared after they had walked quite a distance.

At the other end of the corridor, Aizen followed behind Ōmaeda, asking a question with some confusion.

"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, I just returned from the human world, and Captain Hirako urgently summoned me here, even to meet at the Second Division. Has something happened?"

Ōmaeda looked at the conference room door not far away and did not respond.

"Go inside and talk, you'll find out soon enough."

Inside, the lively atmosphere that had just arisen from the discussion of Wang Xun's affiliation and decision had subsided.

Hirako Shinji leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

Her long golden hair obscured her eyebrows and eyes, and her complexion appeared obscure and indistinct in the shadows.

Kyoraku Shunsui gazed at the scenery outside the window, his eyes no longer filled with the playfulness they once had.

Yoruichi sat in the main seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, seemingly deep in thought.

"Captain Hirako, Captain Kyoraku, Captain Yoruichi."

Aizen stepped inside, his demeanor as humble and composed as ever.

"Regarding the rescue mission I led after receiving the distress signal from the 13th Division members in the human world, it has been handled properly. I wonder what Captain Hirako wanted to do with me?"

Hirako Shinji slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing Aizen like a nail, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"The rescue operation was handled well. However, Aizen... there's something you might not know."

Hirako Shinji paused, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Shinjiro Hasegawa has defected."

"He attacked students from the Spirit Arts Academy during a Soul Burial internship in the mortal realm, then fled into the Broken Realm and committed suicide."

"What?!"

Aizen's expression froze instantly, then was replaced by incredulous astonishment.

He slightly widened his eyes, and muttered to himself, subconsciously repeating it.

"Hasegawa...defected? Attacked students? How...how is this possible?"

Shinji Hirako stared intently at Aizen's face, trying to find even the slightest trace of disguise behind those non-prescription glasses.

His voice grew even colder.

"Yes, how could that be... I remember you recommended him to me, saying that although he came from Rukongai, he was quite capable, down-to-earth, and worth training."

"I did follow your advice and promoted him, from a regular soldier all the way to the sixth seat. I always thought he was a trustworthy subordinate."

Hirako's gaze, filled with suppressed rage, swept over Aizen like a knife.

"Aizen, tell me..."

"Why would a loyal and devoted official, recommended by you and promoted by me, suddenly become a traitor who colluded with Hueco Mundo and attacked students?!"

The implication in these words is quite clear; they are almost a direct question to Aizen.

Faced with Hirako's almost direct questioning, Aizen's face showed a mixture of heaviness and self-reproach, as well as a hint of sadness at being misunderstood.

He remained silent for a moment, as if processing the sharpness in Hirako's words, before slowly speaking.

"Captain Hirako, I understand your anger and disappointment at this moment."

"I recommended him based on my recognition of his abilities and character at the time."

"If he truly harbored ill intentions all along, it only proves that he hid them very well. This was my oversight, and I am willing to take the corresponding responsibility."

He raised his head, his eyes meeting Hirako's scrutiny with an open and honest gaze.

"I really have no idea why he got to this point."

"But regardless, he committed such a grave crime, betraying Soul Society, and deserves to die. Perhaps his choice to commit suicide was because he was ashamed to face you."

Shinji Hirako stared at Aizen for a long time, and the air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

Yoruichi stopped tapping the armrest and quietly watched this invisible confrontation.

Kyoraku Shunsui also slightly raised one corner of his straw hat, his gaze shifting between Hirako and Aizen, before speaking up to offer advice.

"Alright, Captain Hirako, what's done is done, there's no point in blaming your vice-captain like this."

"Let's think about how to handle this. If we don't control the public opinion, it could have a bad impact on the team."

In the end, the light in Hirako Shinji's eyes dimmed little by little, like a candle that had burned out.

He didn't say anything more, nor did he even glance at Aizen again. He simply straightened up slowly and walked straight towards the conference room door.

"Captain Hirako..."

Aizen called softly from behind him, his voice filled with worry.

Hirako didn't stop walking, as if he hadn't heard anything, and his figure disappeared outside the door.

Aizen watched Hirako's departing figure, a hint of apology appearing on his heavy and sorrowful face. He bowed slightly to Yoruichi and Kyoraku.

"Captain Yoruichi, Captain Kyoraku, if there's nothing else to say, I'll take my leave now."

"Go on, go on, Pingzi is so angry, don't take it to heart."

Yoruichi waved her hand, seemingly unconcerned about the subtle atmosphere.

Kyoraku Shunsui nodded as well.

Aizen bowed again and then left the meeting room.

Inside the meeting room, Yoruichi stretched and looked at Kyoraku.

What do you think?

Kyoraku Shunsui lowered his straw hat again and smiled meaningfully.

"Who knows?"