Bleach: I Can't Get an Amen
Episode 4 - Utsumi Sora
The reason my heart is transparent
Is because I swallowed every scream of that day.
When your trembling knocks on my heart
And your pain tears through my silence,
I will gladly erase every sound in the world
And gift you a single shroud.
"Shohei... Shohei..."
A woman’s figure appeared before his eyes.
She was collapsing, her chest pierced through by a Zanpakuto.
Blood flowing from her heart soaked her clothes, and a crimson trail leaked from between her lips.
"Shohei... really... Sho..."
She reached out a trembling hand toward him.
It was the moment her fingertips almost brushed Shohei’s face.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
When he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar ceiling.
A familiar building, a familiar scent.
He was lying on a bed.
He could feel the intense sunlight prickling his skin.
His breathing gradually slowed.
Azuma stared at the ceiling in silence.
Only quietude filled the room.
He couldn't even think of what to say.
After a few minutes had passed, he heard the sound of a door opening.
A Soul Reaper who looked like a boy with navy-blue hair and a somewhat timid impression entered.
It was Hanataro Yamada, the 3rd seat of the 4th Division.
"Y-You're awake!"
"...3rd Seat..."
Hanataro approached Azuma, letting out a small sigh of relief.
"How... many days was I out?"
"...It wasn't that long. About... fifteen hours..."
"Ah..."
Fifteen hours. It was a relief, in a way.
He had been terrified that staying away any longer might cause some kind of trouble for Soi Fon.
That thought alone brought Azuma enough peace of mind.
"Fortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your body. Though... I was a bit surprised since you fainted so suddenly..."
"Then, I'll be discharged now..."
"Uh... will you be alright? You should still get some more rest..."
Azuma stood up before Hanataro could even finish his sentence.
He wanted to minimize the nuisance he caused as much as possible.
"I'm fine. If I feel tired later, I'll be sure to come back."
"...Yes, please do."
He bid Hanataro farewell and gathered his things.
After changing back into his usual uniform, he left the 4th Division barracks and began walking toward the 2nd Division.
The evening glow brushed softly against his skin.
It wasn't something he particularly cared about, but at least it wasn't a hindrance.
"..."
After walking for about ten minutes, he arrived at the 2nd Division barracks.
It was the headquarters of the 2nd Division and the base of operations for the Stealth Force.
He slowly stepped inside.
He felt the gazes of the surrounding Soul Reapers, but Azuma didn't pay them any mind.
Where should he go?
The Captain's office. It would be a lie to say he didn't want to go there desperately. However, the thought of whether Soi Fon knew he had been injured made him quickly abandon the idea.
The Lieutenant's office. Yes, that might be okay. He could at least report his return to duty.
He stood before the Lieutenant's office.
He knocked lightly on the door.
"..."
There was no answer, even after knocking a few more times.
It seemed he had either gone home for the day or was away elsewhere.
"..."
He turned away.
The thought of stopping by Soi Fon's office crossed his mind for a moment before vanishing just as quickly.
"..."
He walked slowly down the hallway without any real purpose.
Just as he was thinking he should simply return to his quarters—
"Azuma..."
He heard a voice from behind him.
It was a familiar voice.
Azuma slowly turned around.
The 10th, 11th, and 12th seats. He saw the faces of the three men.
It seemed they had received treatment on-site and had recovered to some extent.
"...10th Seat."
"...15th Seat Azuma. No, Shohei."
Tetsuo, the 10th seat, spoke with a trembling voice.
"We thought of you as nothing more than a disgrace to the Stealth Force, a mere nepotism hire. We believed it was our duty to harass you and drive you out. But... seeing you come to save us inside that hellish barrier set by the traitor made me realize something. The truly disgraceful ones were us—the ones who mocked you while knowing how hard you trained, only thinking of ways to run away..."
Azuma simply took in those words, feeling flustered.
Once Tetsuo finished, Hyuga, the 11th seat, spoke up.
"Riku... Thank you for cutting down that traitor. If it weren't for you, we would have been turned into machine parts by now. I'm sorry. Truly... I'm sorry. We'll help you from now on. If anyone tries to bully you, just watch. We'll be there to help."
The 10th, 11th, and 12th seats bowed their heads simultaneously.
It was a sincere apology.
"..."
Azuma couldn't say anything.
He felt grateful toward them, yet he still felt a lingering resentment.
Nevertheless, something began to well up from deep within him.
It was the desire to trust them one more time.
"Th-Thank you. If people like you are on my side..."
Azuma turned around.
As he walked, he glanced back at them over his shoulder.
"Later... come to that old building. You know... where I took down the Hollow last time. I'll treat you to some tea."
Then, he looked forward and continued on his way.
The 10th, 11th, and 12th seats could only watch his retreating back in silence.
He didn't know what to do.
His mind felt empty after receiving the apology.
Without sorting through his thoughts, he simply walked wherever his feet led him.
After wandering aimlessly, he stopped in front of a patch of tall grass.
The building visible on the other side caught his eye.
It was the old building, looking exactly as it did the day he first met those three.
"...Azuma-dono."
Along with the rustling of grass, someone stood beside him.
When he turned his head, clear, transparent, yet unfathomably deep mint-colored eyes were looking at him.
It was Utsumi Sora.
"Sora..."
The two of them looked at the building across the way, side by side.
He felt the wind gradually growing stronger.
"Do you come here often?"
After a brief silence, Azuma spoke first, wanting to keep the conversation going.
"...Yes, we always gather here. Along with those other two."
"I guess you guys talk quite a bit?"
"About this and that. As our ranks get higher, it feels like there's more to talk about..."
"I see... That's not a bad thing."
Azuma thought that Sora's life was much better than his own, where he spent every day talking to a photograph that never moved.
Azuma pulled his earphones out of his pocket.
They were broken. They must have been damaged during the fight with Riku.
"...Azuma-dono, those earphones..."
Sora spoke as he looked at them.
"Ah, yeah... They're quite old. A precious person gave them to me. I've received a few music boxes, but these are the only earphones I've ever been given."
Azuma's expression wavered for a moment before settling into a bitter smile.
"When I put these in, how should I put it... it felt like I could hear the other music boxes better."
"...Perhaps those music boxes..."
"..."
The words wouldn't come out.
He didn't want to admit that they were his escape.
He couldn't think of what to say to Sora, even though it seemed he had already noticed.
"...I understand."
Sora's response was different from what he expected.
His tone and aura were different from usual.
Though Azuma had spent a fair amount of time with Sora, this was the first time he had seen him try to speak so seriously.
Azuma decided to listen to his story.
"My family... was an ordinary family in Rukongai that served as bell-ringers. We didn't make much money, but the future looked bright. But... when a Hollow attacked our village when I was a child, my parents hid me in the smallest underground cellar. They told me that no matter what happened, I must not make a sound. Not even the sound of my own breathing."
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