Part 8: The Past, 1-1

Captain?

Are you ready yet?

Huh? You're still dressed in your usual garb!

It's festival time. I told you to dress to the nines, Sosuke!

Captain Hirako, you're dressed as usual as well, sir.

I don't have to dress up. I'm a captain.

You're trying to make me be the only one who dresses up funny, but it won't work. In the first place, it's not a festival, it's a ceremony.

I think any auspicious occasion is like a festival.

You would be wrong.

You are so picky.

There's nothing I hate more than having to visit the Squad 1 barracks. They're always trying to intimidate.

The whole squad makes me so nervous.

Funny. You certainly don't look like you're feeling nervous. Just because these ceremonies are a bore to you, please don't make such a fuss.

Oh, shut up. You can't even see-

Good to see you again, Shinji! Nice to see that face of yours is as flat as ever.

What's wrong with you, Hiyori?!

I'm not apologizing!

Say you're sorry, idiot!

Oww!

You are hopeless.

What's the big idea, Love?! You can't just go pounding the head of a lieutenant from another squad!

Your captain's not here. Someone has to make sure you're behaving.

Don't talk to me like I'm a kid!

I'm under no obligation to apologize to a guy like that! Just look at that flat face! Man, he annoys me!

How unbecoming for a captain.

Sir, I really don't think you should be making faces at other squad members.

Is everyone here?

Squad 11 isn't here yet.

They left. Their captain does whatever he wants.

Geez, he may be a tenth-generation Kenpachi, but what an irritating guy.

They had no choice. For decades, whoever becomes captain of Squad 11 becomes a Kenpachi. That's just their custom, I guess.

If anyone's to blame for that, it's the previous "Kenpachi" who lost to him.

Now, now. I don't approve of this criticism.

Hello. You're early today, Shunsui.

What are you talking about? I'm usually the first one to arrive.

He sleeps late, but I kicked him out of his bed this morning.

I wish you wouldn't speak so casually to the other captains like that.

But man, there's been such a turnover of captains lately, I mean, seriously...

Rose just joined Squad 3 two years ago, and now Squad 12.

Which makes me wonder if everything's gonna be alright.

Don't worry about it. Change is inevitable in everything, you know? We just have to deal with it.

When you think about it, the only ones who've been captains for over a hundred years are myself, Jushiro, and Old Man Yamamoto, right?

I believe you're forgetting about Captain Unohana.

Oh yeah! That's right! I might get scolded for forgetting my great senior! Now I'm scared.

Squad 3 had a retirement, Squad 12 had a promotion...

Unlike Squad 10, they didn't have a death within the ranks. In that sense, I'd say Squad 12 has been lucky.

Promotion?

Sorry to interrupt, but we lieutenants haven't been told anything. Was the captain of Squad 12 promoted? Because I was under the assumption she had retired.

Yes.

Then was she promoted from captain to Central 46?

That would be quite an accomplishment. In fact, I've never heard of it happening before.

Not Central 46. Instead, she went to...

...the Royal Guard. Squad 0.

Th-The Royal Guard?

The newbie is here. Line up.

The old man says to wait for him.

Huh?

Uhh... Please don't tell me that I'm the last one to get here.

I'm truly sorry I'm late. Let me just say...

...it's nice to meet you all.

That's the guy? They chose him? He looks too easy going to be a captain.

It's not like you've got room to talk.

Uhh, so...

Don't be a wimp!

You are now a captain of a squad. Stand tall and enter, Kisuke!

Right...

It appears everyone is present.

The installation ceremony shall now proceed.

I'm sure that the rest of you captains have heard by now what has occurred. Seven days ago, Squad 12 Captain, Kirio Hikifune, relinquished her position as captain because she was promoted to the Royal Special Task Force.

So as a result of this, a search began for a new squad captain to fill her vacant position. The following day, I received a recommendation from Squad 2 Captain, Yoruichi Shihoin, and subsequently the third seat from her squad was summoned.

And so yesterday, I, Genryusai Yamamoto, along with the three captains who were present, conducted an examination to thoroughly evaluate this man's qualifications to become captain.

And after a complete inquiry, we found no shortcomings in his abilities or his character.

Therefore, I announce that the former third seat of Squad 2, Kisuke Urahara, is hereby promoted to the rank of Captain of Court Guard Squad 12.