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"But only on this basis do I dare to ask you, her best friend, a question."

"...?"

Although Tosen's heart was consumed by endless anger, she seemed to be overwhelmed by the pressure of the man's serious tone, and she closed her open mouth to listen to his words.

"If I or you possessed sufficient power for revenge, should we then put it into action?"

"this……"

"This is also a question of how we should confront her wishes and dignity. Ultimately, she... Lord Dongxian, does she yearn for your revenge?"

Although Tosen couldn't see the other person's face or expression, he sensed something akin to murderous intent in the subtle nuances of the Grim Reaper's words.

This, in turn, allowed him to regain his composure. Tosen suppressed his anger and began to weave words in his mind, recalling his best friend's words.

The murderous aura emanating from her colleagues was a far cry from the world that person aspired to.

Desperately making concessions in his heart, Tosen answered the Grim Reaper's question.

"...I think that person doesn't desire revenge. If that's what that person desires...then I will too..."

But the conversation ended there.

—"I do not expect revenge."

He couldn't quite manage to say those words.

She would never want someone else's hands to be stained with revenge just for her own sake. He knew that very well.

However, the emotions that pulsate continuously deep within the body cannot accept such a thing.

—It has nothing to do with her wishes.

—Go and seek revenge for yourself.

Although the dark emotions surging from within him were telling this story, Tosen could not obey that voice.

Because he knew. If he or someone else succumbed to that hatred—that would be the moment she faced her second death.

That was an act that trampled all the proof that she was alive underfoot and strangled her wishes with her own hands.

Unable to do this, Tosen stifled his emotions and wove replacement words.

"I also...want to value...her wishes, and the justice and peace she longed for."

"I see... That's true. She truly loved peace. And that's why she lost her life... But I don't think that was her weakness."

The Grim Reaper dispelled his murderous aura and continued speaking to Tosen in a calm tone.

"If there's anything that proves what she prayed for wasn't weak but strong, it's how people like you will survive from now on."

"..."

"You must live on, carrying on her wish. So that this world will no longer be stained with needless blood."

"..."

He had not fully accepted Death's words.

However, Tosen realized that the man before her shared the same understanding of matters concerning family and friends, and she was grateful that he had stopped her heart from being tainted by hatred.

"...Thank you very much."

"No, it is I who should be thanking her. It is because someone like you has carried on her legacy."

"No, I don't deserve that..."

"I'm desperately suppressing the rising anger and hatred within myself; I'm not worthy to protect her will." The Grim Reaper spoke these words with a gentle smile to Tosen, who held this view.

"There's no need for any qualifications to inherit someone else's wishes, is there? She once said that. Your own wishes aren't anything special; it's just a small hope to protect something that shines brightly simply because it exists, like the stars in the sky."

"..."

The fact that she said those words was proof that she truly had hope for her fellow Grim Reapers, including the man in front of her.

Tosen made this judgment, and felt reassured that there were also people among the Shinigami who respected her.

"Um... if it's alright, could you please tell me your name?"

So he asked the man his name.

Because he saw that there were indeed other people in her heart besides himself, because he had engraved in his heart the kindness that the world, though cruel, was not heartless.

Then, the man said his name in a steady tone without pausing.

"Ah, my name is Tokina. Tsunayoshi Tokina."

"Yes, Lady Tsunayoshi is... is that right...?..."

At that moment, Tosen's thoughts instantly ceased.

A strong sense of incongruity.

That was a familiar name, because I had just heard it from the man in front of me.

—No, but. How could that be?

—I must be mistaken.

Seeing Tosen's expression, as if he were about to ask again, the man gently shook his head.

"It's neither a misunderstanding nor a mishearing, Tosen Kaname."

"Huh...?"

"Because of my face, needless to say, you don't even know my voice. Oh dear, was it lucky that you didn't ask my name at the beginning? I don't really like having a pseudonym."

"Um, what exactly are you saying...?"

Although Tosen was confused, his internal organs began to cry out, instinctively arranging two opposite words together.

Kill him

"Run away quickly!"

Thus, feelings of hatred and fear, mixed together, began to coursing through the veins of the entire body.

However, crucial reason failed to catch up, and thus neither side could take any action. Addressing Tosen in this state, the man calmly declared his stance.

"I'll say it again. I am Tsunayoshi Tokinada... the man who was once your best friend's husband. No, now, I'd say the man who killed your best friend."

"..."

"Oh dear, it's so good that you don't crave revenge. After all, being hated by the poor of Rukongai who have nothing to lose is far more terrifying than being hated by those cowardly nobles who only think about self-preservation."

The man, speaking casually, maintained the same smile as he reached out to Tosen's cheek.

At the same time, a chill that had never been experienced before swept towards Dongxian.

Unlike what he felt from his best friend, this time it was a chilling, heavy spiritual pressure that permeated his entire body, forcing him to suppress the intense impulses within him.

The fear was so intense that it even silenced the instinctive cry of "Run!"

"If you had answered the question like, 'Utagawa is hoping for revenge, isn't she?' I was prepared to kill you. Talking to someone who doesn't understand her at all is just unpleasant. Putting aside fellow Shinigami, I could kill as many of the residents of Rukongai as I wanted."

Although he only then realized that the murderous aura he had sensed from the man's words was directed at him, it was already a good thing no matter what.

I completely fail to understand the meaning behind the other person's words. And I don't want to understand them.

However, it was enough to let Tosen's emotions erupt and free his body from the heavy fear.

Before me stood a man who claimed to be both my best friend and my enemy.

Whether it's true or false is irrelevant now.

However, he would not allow a man who exuded such an ominous aura to talk about his close friend in front of him.

The negative emotions that had been suppressed deep within him until now erupted, attacking the Grim Reaper before him, and Tsunayoshiro Tokinada.

"——————————————————————Guaaah"

A sound that doesn't even qualify as a sound.

With a roar that sounded almost like that of a wild beast, Tosen forcefully twisted the man in front of him.

however--

"My wife's good friend, why are you so angry?"

The world of Tosen began to spin wildly.

He slammed violently into the ground from behind, losing his balance.

The taste of blood spread through his mouth, and his hands and feet trembled with intense pain.

Above Tosen, who was still trying to get up despite all this, a calm voice continued to echo.

"My wife... Ge Kuang, is capable of forgiving me, isn't she?"

"You...you bastard...!"

Although Tosen roared toward the direction from which the sound came, the blood spilling from his throat prevented him from forming words properly.

"You've answered my question, haven't you? We must value her wishes. If you truly care about my wife, you should forgive me, forget your hatred, and live each day peacefully under the protection of death, shouldn't you?"

"...Gurgle!"

"My wife is hoping you'll do the same, isn't she? Try to understand, even if it's just for her sake."

Then, Tokina pressed the Zanpakuto, along with its scabbard, against Tosen's throat as he tried to get up, rendering him unable to speak and pinning him to the ground.

"In the end, since you can't use any of the techniques in the 'Slaying Fist and Walking Ghost' martial arts, you never had the power to take revenge from the very beginning."

Then, he addressed the guards who had gathered after hearing Tosen's shout.

"Hey, you guys. This is work! A resident of Rukongai attacked me. Could you please kick him out as soon as possible?"

"Yes, yes!"

The guards, facing the smiling relatives of the five noble families, obeyed orders with a strange sense of dread.

As the man switched places with them and left Dongxian, he spoke as if recalling something.

"Ah, to avoid any misunderstanding, I'll just mention it. I've never told you a single lie. It's truly a strange world that a man like me doesn't receive the punishment he deserves. And I do regret not being able to protect Gekuang from the irrationality of this world, and I genuinely understand that her wish was precious."

"—"

Even with his voice hoarse, Dongxian still roared something while staring intently at Shitan.