"Captain Ukitake, if I'm not mistaken, the main reason Rukia cannot challenge other Seat Officers is not because of you, is it?" Amamiya Miyako asked.
Everyone was looking at Ukitake now, and Ukitake was also a bit surprised, remaining silent.
Ukitake's silence also greatly surprised Rukia. Could Amamiya Miyako really have guessed correctly?
"If possible, can you tell me why you guessed that?" Ukitake asked.
"Just now, Rukia-senpai told me about her life before joining the Thirteenth Division," Amamiya Miyako said. "Indeed, Rukia-senpai might not have shown astonishing talent when she entered the academy."
"But over the past six months, Rukia-senpai and I have sparred countless times. In battle, I can feel Rukia-senpai's will and the effort she puts in. As a Shinigami, Rukia has already surpassed most of the Gotei 13 members. If a Shinigami like Rukia-senpai, as a lower-ranked Seat Officer, is still not allowed to rise, then that would be too unreasonable."
"I believe Captain Ukitake can also feel Rukia-senpai's growth, and Captain Ukitake is not the kind of superior who would suppress his subordinates."
"Then, the problem can only lie elsewhere," Amamiya Miyako told Ukitake his conjecture.
Rukia also looked at Ukitake expectantly, hoping for an answer.
"Rukia." Ukitake waited for a moment before looking at Rukia Kuchiki. "As your Captain, personally, you are already a very outstanding Shinigami."
Ukitake said with a smile at this moment. "Your ability, as Miyako Amemiya said, is completely sufficient to serve as an Upper Seat Officer. This is my personal opinion."
"Then why, Captain Ukitake! Why have you been so reluctant to let me challenge…" Rukia was a bit anxious at this moment.
Ukitake hesitated at this moment. He had witnessed Rukia Kuchiki's growth, and she was already fully capable of taking on more important work. Originally, accepting Kuchiki Byakuya's request to keep Rukia as a lower-ranked Seat Officer was because Ukitake agreed with Kuchiki Byakuya's view that Rukia needed to be properly honed.
However, staying in a lower seat for so many years not only prevented Rukia from honing herself, but also caused her to have mental issues. So, at this moment, perhaps Kuchiki Byakuya's request should be reconsidered.
"I understand, Rukia. I will no longer restrict you from challenging other seat officers," Ukitake said with a gentle smile. "This is my decision as Captain." Ukitake also made up his mind at this moment. While the request of Kuchiki Byakuya, a fellow Captain, could not be taken lightly, it was more important to see his own team members grow.
"As for what Miyako Amemiya said, Rukia," Ukitake hesitated, unsure whether he should reveal the matter concerning Kuchiki Byakuya.
"Actually, your elder brother came to ask me about you," Ukitake decided to tell her. "Originally, I just wanted to lift your restrictions once you had grown a bit. But you were depressed because of Kaien's incident, so it was left unsettled."
"But now, I believe you can do it," Ukitake said with a smile.
"The Sixth Division Captain's request? Why would that be?"
"I don't know, it's probably because of his noble status," Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentaro Kotsubaki whispered to each other.
Rukia was a little lost in thought at this moment. 'Brother, was it Brother who has been restricting me from challenging other seat officers all this time?'
Miyako Amemiya looked at her, estimating that only Kuchiki Byakuya himself could answer and resolve Rukia Kuchiki's doubts. However, for now, most of the problems bothering Rukia Kuchiki should be resolved.
"Excuse me, Captain, thank you for clarifying our doubts," Miyako Amemiya saluted Ukitake.
"You're welcome, Miyako Amemiya. This is what a Captain should do. Being exposed by you makes me feel a bit ashamed," Ukitake said with a wry smile. As one of the few noble individuals in Soul Society, Ukitake not only did not blame Miyako Amemiya, but instead began to reflect on his own issues.
"Well then, we shall take our leave first," Miyako Amemiya looked at Rukia, finding her still lost in thought.
After bidding farewell to Ukitake, Miyako Amemiya forcefully pulled Rukia's hand and dragged her out of the Captain's office.
"Hey, wait…" Rukia came to her senses just as she had already left the Captain's office.
"Rukia-senpai, no, Lower Seat Rukia, congratulations," Miyako Amemiya said with a smile.
"What?" Rukia asked, surprised by the unusual address.
"As Lower Seat Rukia, you have regained the right to challenge seat officers and have a chance to catch up with me. Isn't that worth celebrating?" Miyako Amemiya teased.
"But before that, call me 'senpai' first. There's nothing wrong with calling me 'senpai' since I hold a higher seat, right?"
"You really dare to say that. You, who just successfully challenged the Fifth Seat, are already calling yourself 'senpai'," Rukia was a bit unconvinced, because she believed that with her own skill, she could quickly become an Upper Seat once unrestricted.
"Rukia. Captain Kuchiki Byakuya and Captain Ukitake are both Captains of the Gotei 13. However, Captain Ukitake is one of the oldest Captains in Soul Society," Miyako Amemiya changed the subject and told her.
"You're saying this? Of course I know. Both Brother and Captain Ukitake are very powerful," Rukia was puzzled.
"You still don't understand what I mean. Since even Captain Ukitake, one of the oldest Captains, has acknowledged you, then your ability is beyond doubt."
"As for Captain Kuchiki. I don't know why he restricted you, but since even Captain Ukitake acknowledges you, I suppose he has nothing to say either."
"You just need to prove it to him. Captain Ukitake's judgment was not wrong; you are already an excellent Shinigami," Miyako Amemiya told her.
Upon hearing this, Rukia Kuchiki's heart began to stir. Kuchiki Byakuya's coldness left Rukia completely unaware of her elder brother's thoughts, and his specific request to Captain Ukitake to restrict her made her even more confused. In her heart, Rukia Kuchiki had always wanted to prove to Kuchiki Byakuya that as his adopted sister, she had not disgraced him.
Rukia Kuchiki lowered her head and remained silent, recalling her past. Whether it was being adopted by her noble elder brother, parting ways with her childhood companions, or the respected senpai who died by her sword, all of these had weighed heavily on Rukia's heart. However, recalling the various events that had happened recently, Rukia Kuchiki seemed to feel as if the dark clouds in her heart had dispersed.
Miyako Amemiya's words finally brought back Rukia's confidence. Whether it was the Captain's acknowledgment, Kaien Vice-Captain's entrustment, or Miyako Amemiya's companionship and guidance, all of these gave Rukia Kuchiki strength.
The inner storm gradually began to dissipate. Then, she looked up at Miyako Amemiya, the gloom on her face gone, and a slight upward curve at the corner of her lips, revealing a genuine smile for the first time in a long while.
"Thank you, Miyako Amemiya," The smile Rukia Kuchiki showed at this moment, looking up, was serene and elegant. From her smile, Miyako Amemiya felt Rukia Kuchiki's delicate feminine side, yet within that delicacy, he could also feel her strong will.
This smile made Miyako Amemiya a little stunned, and his heart rate quickened.
To cover his momentary lapse, Miyako Amemiya playfully said, "Then work hard, junior."