Bleach—I can't get an amen
Episode 18—2nd Division 9th Seat
The sunlight filtering through the bandages is so warm,
Yet the voice heard over the receiver is chillingly clear.
Harboring a longing that could be called cowardly,
I chase the trajectory of the back you left behind.
When the sound of gears I thought had stopped
Throbs loudly once more within the black screen,
I hide my burning cheeks
And for the sake of a single victory report to offer you,
I throw myself once more into the shadow of the lightning.
"..."
I carefully opened my eyes.
Bright sunlight was illuminating the room.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up.
I could feel the pressure of the bandages wrapped around my shoulder.
The ring was still on my finger.
Fortunately, moving didn't feel like a burden.
I changed back into my original clothes and opened the door.
Suddenly, Kon appeared right in front of me.
"...Sword... Mr. Sword?"
Startled by Kon's sudden appearance, Azuma fell backward.
"It's not Sword, it's Kon! You brat!"
Kon launched a kick at the fallen Azuma.
"Do you have any idea how hard I worked as a search doll while you were just sleeping!?"
"Huh? A search doll?"
Azuma just stared at Kon, looking puzzled.
"Yeah! Because of that Soya bastard, I went through so much trouble..."
"Ah..."
It seemed that measures were still being taken regarding the failure to capture Soya.
While he had passed out from exhaustion after returning to the shop, it appeared Kisuke had been busy with something in the meantime.
"Anyway, I was told to bring you to the living room, so let's go!"
"Ah, right..."
Azuma followed Kon down the stairs to the first-floor living room.
Ren, Sora, and Mia were sitting there.
Ren's mask had been replaced with a different one at some point.
The corners of Azuma's mouth lifted naturally at the sight, feeling relieved.
"Ms. Mia!! I'm so glad you're safe!!"
As soon as Kon saw Mia, he lunged toward her.
Mia lightly snatched Kon out of the air and held him up.
Azuma looked at Ren and Sora.
"Lord Azuma..."
Ren whispered cautiously.
However, both Ren and Sora were unable to look Azuma properly in the eye.
Ren rubbed a grazed wound on his hand.
"..."
Watching them, Azuma felt a bittersweet emotion but managed a small smile.
Just the fact that they had returned was a relief.
"...Thank you, Lord Azuma..."
Ren spoke softly again.
Azuma waved his hands dismissively.
"No, it's fine... Saving people who are like family isn't something I need to be thanked for."
The thought that he should comfort them first crossed his mind.
"I'm just glad you're all safe... So... uh..."
He tried to follow up with something encouraging, but the words wouldn't come, leaving him stammering.
Mia saw this and let out a small laugh.
Ren might have done the same.
"...Oh, right."
As he lowered his head while stuttering, the Soul Pager in his pocket caught his eye.
The late realization that he should probably give an interim report dawned on him.
.
"Wait here for a bit. Just rest."
He slowly went back up to the second floor and re-entered the room where he had woken up.
He carefully took out the Soul Pager and connected to the 2nd Division barracks.
He hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was okay to call... but decided it was fine since it was official business.
"...Is that the 9th seat?"
The voice that suddenly came through was none other than Soi Fon's.
Azuma's cheeks instantly flushed a deep red.
"Ah, yes... C-Captain, it's me. Azuma... I mean..."
"..."
Soi Fon said nothing.
Azuma's mind descended into chaos.
"Uh..."
"Hurry up and say what you have to say. Do I look like I have a lot of time?"
As Azuma continued to stammer in a panic, Soi Fon spoke up first, sounding frustrated.
In that moment, Azuma snapped to his senses.
"Ah, no! I mean..."
Spurred by Soi Fon's prodding, he gathered his thoughts and reported the necessary details in order.
The cause of the phenomenon, Soya's identity, the rescue of 50 Soul Reapers and the liberation of 100 souls, and finally... the fact that he had lost Soya and that the man had fled somewhere. His voice lost its strength as he reached the final part.
As expected, this was the part that weighed on him.
"...I see..."
Soi Fon let out a brief sigh.
"I'm sorry. No matter how I look at it, I should have caught him... Even though Captain Yoruichi said it was fine..."
"Yo-Yoruichi-sama!?"
Soi Fon's tone changed instantly.
Azuma was slightly taken aback by the shift and lowered his head, his mind racing.
He could feel her showing a reaction to a single name that she never showed to him.
"...In any case."
Soi Fon's tone finally returned to normal.
Azuma just listened in silence.
"Losing Soya is a clear blunder. However... rescuing 50 Soul Reapers is a job well done, and wasn't the primary goal of the investigation successful regardless?"
At those words, Azuma's cheeks flushed again.
It wasn't just a blush from being flustered.
He thought it was strange of himself to still like Soi Fon even while feeling a hint of resentment toward her just moments ago.
"...Finish Soya with your own hands, Azuma."
"I will finish it even if it kills me."
"...Report back alive."
The Soul Pager disconnected.
Azuma's cheeks remained red.
There was no way to know if her words about returning alive were sincere or not.
Still, that one sentence was enough to make his heart flutter.
"...Phew..."
Somehow calming his racing heart, he went back down to the first floor.
He saw Kisuke in the living room.
"You're awake, Mr. Azuma."
"Ah, Mr. Kisuke..."
Azuma gave a light greeting.
"That's a relief. Your companions are all safe as well. So... are you heading back?"
Azuma shook his head.
"No... I think I need to deal with Soya before I go."
"The Stealth Force isn't exactly a place with enough leisure for those above the 8th seat to get involved in every little thing, after all."
Kisuke nodded as if he understood.
"Still, it doesn't seem like there's much you can do right this second, Mr. Azuma. We need to track down Mr. Soya's location first."
Kisuke glanced briefly at Azuma's ring before shifting his gaze away.
"For today... why don't you take some rest?"
Maybe take a walk outside...
Azuma rolled the thought around in his head for a moment.
"...Yes..."
"Ah, and if you notice any strange phenomena, please be sure to tell me. Also, don't go to crowded places. You're someone who could shake the spirits of quite a few people right now."
After finishing his sentence, Kisuke turned around and disappeared elsewhere.
Once the conversation ended, Azuma looked around the living room.
For some reason, he didn't feel like going out.
Ren, Sora, and Mia were nowhere to be seen.
"..."
He cautiously looked at the TV in front of him.
It was an object he had rarely seen but had heard of.
Only a black screen faced him.
"..."
From that black screen, a very faint, strange noise could be heard.
A sound like gears turning brushed past his ear very softly.
"...What is that?"
Just as he frowned and focused on the sound,
He was grabbed by the scruff of his neck.
He turned around to see Yoruichi.
"Azuma."
Yoruichi smiled slightly as she looked down at him.
"C-Captain?"
Azuma forced a smile as he looked at her.
"...That desire to receive training... I assume it hasn't changed?"
"Of course not."
He answered with a serious expression.
Yoruichi wore an expression that said, 'That's what I thought.'
"Good. Then get ready to die. Those three are already at the place we're going."
Yoruichi began dragging Azuma away by the scruff of his neck.
"Gah!! Aack!!"
He had expected it, but the sensation of being moved was worse than he thought, causing Azuma to be startled once again.
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