After the Captains' Meeting concluded, Shin was soon surrounded by several familiar Captains who offered him casual congratulations and light banter. Today marked the official public announcement of his appointment. In the coming days, a formal investiture ceremony would be held.
Once he left the 1st Division barracks, Shin didn't return to the 4th Division, nor did he follow Matsumoto Rangiku to the 10th. Instead, he went straight home.
He tossed his Captain's haori aside without a second thought and collapsed onto his sofa.
A lot had happened over the past few days—but most of it had unfolded just as he anticipated. He'd taken a risk engaging Unohana in battle, but emerged victorious and, surprisingly, had come away with little to no punishment.
Still, not everything had gone as expected.
[Unohana Retsu – Affection: 10]
Shin had assumed that after such a fight, he might gain something more from Unohana—a reward, perhaps an acknowledgment—but instead, her affection rating had dropped.
It puzzled him. Had he misjudged her?
He hadn't yet found a moment to see Unohana alone since the battle, though he sensed now probably wasn't the time anyway.
He'd thought he understood her: someone who lived for the thrill of combat, whose yearning for the edge of life and death surpassed all else. Pure. Singular. Like Zaraki.
But maybe that was the mistake.
During their fight, she'd clearly taken pleasure in the exchange. So… what had gone wrong?
He pressed a finger to his brow, frustration swirling inside him.
He'd accused the Captain-Commander of treating Unohana like a tool, yet hadn't he done the same?
After lying on the couch motionless for nearly half an hour, the front door creaked open.
There was only one person who would come in unannounced.
"Shin…"
He sat up at the sound, smiling softly at the girl in the doorway—Kotetsu Isane.
"Isane."
Her lips pressed together, eyes instantly reddening before she rushed forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, refusing to let go.
Shin stilled, then gently rubbed her back. "I'm sorry. I made you worry."
She clung to him for a long time before finally releasing him. Her eyes were filled with hurt and sorrow, lips trembling with words she couldn't say, as if holding back more than just tears.
Shin sighed. "I'll explain everything, Isane. Let me tell you why I did what I did."
And so, he did. Slowly. Patiently.
"Our Captain… hasn't been happy for a very long time."
Isane finally snapped. "And did all of this make her happy?"
He had no answer.
A glance at the system interface confirmed it: Unohana's affection hadn't risen at all. "I don't know," he said, voice lower than before.
Words he would never have admitted to Yamamoto.
Isane sat beside him, and the tears she'd held back began to fall freely. "You two… you're both so cruel. Maybe it's selfish, but I don't care. You and the Captain—you're both important to me. Don't you get that?"
Shin offered quiet apologies, again and again. "I was arrogant. I thought I could control everything."
Isane inhaled sharply, wanting to blurt out, You were! You never once thought about how I felt! But the words caught in her throat.
She wasn't good with confrontation. Kind, reserved—too used to swallowing pain.
She had never once raised her voice at Shin. Even now, she couldn't do it.
Their bond had grown steadily. And she'd always hoped one day they could walk together, openly, without hiding. She'd told herself things like "he's not ready" or "it's not the right time," not just to Shin or her sister—but to herself.
She didn't want to pressure him. Didn't want to burden him.
The fragile look in her eyes pierced him. He held her again, and they sat there in silence.
Eventually, Isane spoke of Unohana's punishment. Shin listened, thoughtful.
As he processed her words, Isane lowered her gaze and murmured, "Shin."
"Yeah?"
"Congratulations… on becoming the Captain of the 10th."
"…"
There was no joy in her voice—only quiet resignation.
She glanced toward the discarded haori, her hands clenching and then falling limp.
"I've thought a lot. I'm not a great person. I won't be much help to you. I have selfish thoughts…"
Shin cut in, alarmed. "What are you talking about?"
She wiped her eyes and forced herself to speak steadily. "I want you to stay in the 4th. I want you to get along with the Captain. I want other women to stay away from you. But like she said… I've been trying to change you. I'm selfish. I don't understand what you're going through. I'm not the right person for you…"
His chest ached. If Isane was selfish, what was anyone else?
He softened his tone. "Don't say that. Everything's over now. We'll be alright. Even if I'm in the 10th, I'll come home at night. We'll still see each other every day."
She nodded quietly against him, seeming to accept it.
But after a while, she pulled back, looking him directly in the eyes.
Then, with forced calm: "Shin… I need some time to think. You're a Captain now. You've got a lot to deal with. I… I'm not going to come by for a while."
She stood abruptly, as if to flee before she could regret it, and walked out without a word.
The door closed behind her.
And silence filled the apartment.
Shin could feel her spiritual pressure lingering outside… hovering for a while… before it faded.
She must have seen what happened to Unohana.
She must have seen the wound.
Shin laid back on the couch and stared at the ceiling, eyes slowly closing.
That night, a loud knock roused him from uneasy rest.
Opening the door, he was greeted by a chorus:
"Congratulations, Captain Tachikawa!"
Standing at the entrance, Shiba Kaien grinned, flanked by several familiar faces: Hisagi, Aoga, Kanisawa, Ikkaku, Ginjō, Kiyone, Sentarō.
Each of them held bags, faces lit with mischief.
"Your two subordinates are organizing your official ceremony," Kaien explained, "but they couldn't make it today."
"So," he smirked, "tonight, we celebrate."
Shin gave a wordless, crooked smile.
"Got sake?"
Kaien lifted his bags. "Plenty."