2-1 Bitter Enemies in the Same Boat

I see. I understand. I understand, but...

Why did you all gather at my place?! Isn't that strange?!

Ow!

Stop screaming, Ganju! We have guests!

Good grief. They still use firefly vines for lighting.

For descendants of the Shiba Clan, you live very humbly.

If you scrimp and save to this extent, it'll make your guests uncomfortable.

Can I kick him out now?

I know how you feel, but please try to bear it for a short while.

I'm sorry. I dragged you into another troublesome situation.

Don't worry about it. Like I told you before, I love trouble.

Anyway, what happened to Soi Fon? Wasn't she with you?

Oh, she's the type who can't think kindly of bitter enemies, even if we're all in the same boat.

I ordered her to search for abnormalities in the Seireitei instead.

I see. Well, I don't have any problem with bitter enemies being in the same boat.

What kind of gathering is this?

Hey, it looks like everyone is here. I'm happy to see so many cute ladies.

Let's get started right away, then.

We're here to discuss overthrowing the senior members in the Four Great Noble Clans.

That sounds serious.

Oh, it's just a figure of speech. I'm not proposing a revolt in the Soul Society or claiming I should rise to a higher rank or anything.

I'm merely suggesting that before anything about Tokinada Tsunayashiro is announced in the extra edition of the Seireitei Bulletin, we force him to resign from his current seat.

But of course, we can't do this publicly.

The 13 Court Guard Squads can't boldly take aim at a member of the Four Great Noble Clans, no matter how likely it is that they are a sinner.

You say that, but I feel like I was treated harshly when I went to save Rukia.

Well, that was quite the open rebellion. In comparison, we only have suspicions when it comes to Tokinada.

Furthermore, if he plays dumb and says that he is only doing what is best for the Soul Society, people may see his logic, whether they want to or not.

In other words, Soul Reapers can't openly make a move.

So you want to use us as pawns because it's no skin off your backs if we die.

I wouldn't say that. We've been in a substantial ceasefire, after all.

I want to protect the bond we forged when we brought you to the Royal Palace as much as possible.

That makes it sound like you still regard me as your enemy.

Right now, I'm tolerating your existence. I won't make any moves.

That's what I'd like to say anyway. But looking at the situation, it seems we've done something rude.

It was hardly rude. All I tried to do was give them a chance to redeem themselves.

They simply needed to get carved up a bit by me and carry out the proposals of the head of the Department of Research & Development. It sounds like a way to seize an easy profit, if you ask me.

It's hard to believe those words are coming from someone who tried to use brute force to kidnap us from the very start.

............

Are you waiting for an opportunity to insert yourself into my past? Why don't you go ahead and try?

There's no point inserting a bookmark into a book that's only made up of a front cover and a back cover.

What do you mean, Tsukishima?

He doesn't have a past that I can insert myself into. It's like he was only born minutes ago.

What?

I see. Even before you thrust your blade into someone, you can see the thickness of their past. I'm even more intrigued now.

Ah. That isn't your real body, is it, Captain Kurotsuchi?

Should I be honored that the head of the Department of Research & Development is on his guard around me?

What a strange thing to say. Isn't it common sense to prepare a vaccine for a virus?