The 10th Division – Captain Installation Ceremony.
Today, many had come to offer their congratulations. Most squads sent their Captains personally, while others sent representatives. As expected, the Head-Captain himself wouldn't come in person—Sasakibe Chōjirō attended on behalf of the 1st Division.
The 4th Division was represented only by Iemura and Aoga. Neither Unohana nor Isane appeared.
The 2nd Division sent no one at all.
Shin didn't mind.
He spent the entire morning exchanging pleasantries, shaking hands, and feigning polite smiles. Finally, during a rare lull, he made his way toward Shuhei, Kanisawa, and Aoga.
"Small talk's exhausting," Shin muttered casually.
"That sounds suspiciously like bragging," Shuhei grumbled.
When he'd first heard Shin was to be appointed as Captain of the 10th Division, Shuhei had been stunned. He himself was just now on the verge of being promoted to a seated officer in the 9th Division. Shin had essentially skipped half the ladder and landed at the top.
Becoming a Captain two years after graduating—no one in Soul Society's history had done that.
Shin looked at Shuhei again. "Still not planning to transfer to my division?"
He'd already extended the offer during their drinking night.
"Nope," Shuhei said without hesitation.
Beyond his own ideals and loyalty to the 9th, transferring to the 10th would be a dead-end. With a seasoned Lieutenant and a prodigious child already in place, at best, he could hope to reach 4th Seat.
While a Captain could appoint anyone as their Lieutenant, complete unilateral decision-making wasn't practical.
"I see how it is," Aoga chimed in with a pout. "Why didn't you invite me, then?"
Shin gave her a look. "Would you have come if I had?"
"No," she admitted flatly. "But not asking means you're playing favorites."
Shin rolled his eyes hard enough to sprain something. Then he turned to Kanisawa.
She merely blinked at him, calm and silent.
"Ahem—" Shin coughed awkwardly and fled the conversation. "Someone's calling me."
Aoga laughed, only to be silenced by a cold glance from Kanisawa.
The one who'd called out was Aizen Sōsuke. He stood beside Ukitake and a few others.
"Shin-kun."
Aizen's eyes, behind his glasses, held a deep, gentle glow. Polite, but warm.
"We were just talking about when we first met you. I believe I was the first among us, wasn't I?"
"Yes," Shin said, smiling. "You visited the Shinō Academy. I was on reception duty."
"Hard to believe it's only been five years," Aizen mused. "And now, here you are, one of us."
Shin bowed his head modestly. "I'm still a junior compared to you all. There's much I need to learn."
Kyōraku Shunsui gave him an odd look, remembering that duel with Unohana. That "humble junior" remark felt more than a little absurd.
In terms of strength… Shin might already surpass most of them.
Aizen chuckled. "Too modest. Your talent is remarkable. I'd say unparalleled."
Shin maintained his modest smile, though something about Aizen's praise made him uncomfortable.
Shiba Kaien suddenly clapped him on the shoulder. "Right you are. Don't worry—I'll whip this junior into shape."
Shin replied without missing a beat, "Just so we're clear, I wasn't including you in the 'senior' part."
"You little—!" Kaien growled.
The others laughed, sensing the camaraderie between the two.
By midday, the ceremony wrapped up. After bidding farewell to the last of the guests, Shin finally sat down in his new office for the first time.
Matsumoto Rangiku walked in, arms full of paperwork, and dumped it all on his desk.
"These are the documents you need to process."
Shin twitched. "That many?"
"You're the Captain now. The 10th Division still had to function even before your arrival."
He narrowed his eyes. "So why didn't you process them?"
"I'm the Lieutenant. Don't even think about shirking."
Shin shot back, "In a Captain's absence, a Lieutenant can act with full authority, right?"
Rangiku's eyes narrowed. "Are you implying I wasn't doing my job properly?"
Shin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "This is my first day. I've never even been a Lieutenant, let alone a Captain. I don't know how to do this job."
Rangiku stared at him.
He spread his hands. "Dumping this pile of bureaucracy on me on day one is a recipe for disaster. Let's not rush things."
Rangiku suddenly realized: their new Captain might not be all that different from Shiba Isshin after all.
"…So what do you want? Me to do it for you?"
Shin smiled lazily. "Not at all. I didn't say I wasn't going to do it. I just spent the whole morning dealing with the guests. I'm exhausted. How about getting me a glass of water?"
"…"
She didn't answer. Shin raised a brow. "Something wrong?"
Rangiku clenched her fists. Tired, my ass. She'd been the one running the whole ceremony. But she still walked over and poured him water, setting it down with a heavy thud.
Shin beamed at her. "You don't like me, do you, dear big sister?"
Rangiku visibly shuddered. "Don't call me that."
"You didn't mind it before."
She glared at him. The thought that this brat would be her boss from now on made her feel all kinds of weird.
Smug bastard.
Still, she chose diplomacy. "Captain, now that you lead the 10th Division, I hope you'll take your duties seriously—and maintain proper boundaries with your subordinates."
Shin smirked. "What exactly counts as 'proper boundaries'?"
"During work hours, only talk about work," she said firmly.
He nodded. "Then let me ask, are you willing to follow all my orders?"
That question had too many traps. Rangiku immediately grew wary. She paused, then said carefully, "Depends on the order. If it's work-related, of course."
Shin pointed to the mound of paperwork. "Then that's all yours."
"…"
Rangiku stared at the documents. Then at the glass of water.
She had the sudden, powerful urge to throw it in his face.
She also had the sinking feeling that her easy days were officially over.