Sakuya clung to the prison warden's back like a sloth.
The Shinigami uniform was quite thick and generous.
Considering that these things were made by the famous members of Squad Zero, there were probably some magical effects like "warm in winter, cool in summer."
How nice, when will I get one too!
"Sakuya, do you feel any discomfort in your body?"
You beat me until my hand became a claw and I'm bleeding from the nose, and now you're asking if I feel anything wrong?
Although there were many things to complain about.
Sakuya still spoke with a hoarse throat, using a slightly sobbing tone.
"No..."
Still quite pitiful...
After all, these were indeed minor injuries.
According to the current understanding between the Aizen father and son, so-called "injuries" usually referred to wounds that couldn't heal on their own within three days and needed Kido healing assistance to recover.
Even if you didn't describe it as "seriously wounded and fallen," you'd basically have to walk with trembling legs.
The nosebleed had quickly stopped.
Sakuya tried lowering his head, confirming that no more crimson liquid was seeping out.
After slightly regaining his senses, he found that the two of them were swaying as they walked through an empty corridor.
This was also a scene he had witnessed countless times.
After all, Squad 5 itself wasn't a combat-specialized division. The facilities within focused more on emergency response and support...
Places like this specifically used for training rarely saw even regular squad members during normal times, so the Aizen father and son had, in a certain sense, "contracted" this area during this period.
So this was traditional warm parent-child time?
Not at all!
"Sakuya, the formation rules of Kido are..."
"Regarding the sorting patterns of numbers, and the content of their abilities are..."
"Finally, regarding the various papers on Kido currently known..."
It wasn't an exaggeration to say this was literally cramming education.
But Sakuya seemed to have no angle or room to refuse.
He could only maintain that bitter smile, occasionally responding to the prison warden's words, like a perfect audience victim.
"So, that's all the content regarding Kido. Sakuya, you heard everything, right?"
"Yes."
"Then summarize it, condensing it to about 200 words for a simple overview."
Bro seems to think I'm a genius.
But obviously, the prison warden wasn't doing this to make things difficult for the first time.
Sakuya was constantly thinking about word order arrangement and content distribution, but just then, Aizen suddenly stopped.
He stood still, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly crouched down.
"Sakuya, get down."
"...? Okay."
The prison warden never acted without purpose.
Sudden changes in behavior usually meant things were exceeding the prison warden's expectations.
So what could it be?
Sakuya quickly saw the reason.
A guy with long blonde hair and a lazy expression was leaning his back against the wall, looking over at them with a helpless expression.
Such a wild appearance, such a memorable world-weary face - almost at the moment of eye contact, Sakuya already knew the other's identity.
Current Captain of Squad 5: Hirako Shinji.
"Sorry to interrupt your parent-child time, but Aizen..."
He paused for a moment.
Hirako's gaze fell on the child beside them.
—Now there were two Aizens, so he couldn't just use the surname as a shorthand like usual...
"Vice-Captain Aizen! Next time you leave your post without permission, please finish the work at hand first!"
Stern tone, but it seemed completely unable to "move" the prison warden in front of him.
"Captain Hirako, please don't misunderstand. The parts I left behind are all sections that the vice-captain cannot approve... the content belonging to me was already submitted long ago."
That's exactly the problem!
"I already left the captain's seal with you, didn't I?"
"Hoh..."
Aizen's glasses were reflecting light...
"Captain Hirako, so you mean... when you're not present, I, as vice-captain, can completely exercise your authority using the seal?"
Irregular, unreasonable.
This was supposed to be something the two of them tacitly understood, could mutually conceal from each other, and just muddle through.
But if it was brought out in the open, it would be different.
Yamamoto would bring it up as a case study for criticism at the meeting.
"...Hah?!"
Hirako showed a quite disgusted expression.
"You usually never bring this thing up, but today..."
He couldn't finish his words.
Because Hirako realized there really was an "outsider" present.
He looked toward the side, and correspondingly, Sakuya awkwardly turned his head toward the wall.
—Please don't drag me into the dispute between your captain and vice-captain...
"Vice-Captain... Aizen, let him go back first. I have something to discuss with you in detail."
"Sakuya, did you hear Captain Hirako's instruction?"
Sakuya felt as if he'd been granted amnesty.
"Then, then I'll take my leave first!"
Watching him run away and disappear around the corner, Hirako's tone became somewhat subtle.
"Although I've been concerned about this for a long time... Aizen, what exactly are you thinking?"
He looked up and down at the vice-captain standing beside him, inevitably adding some disdain to his gaze.
"Bringing a baby back to the barracks without a word, saying it's your child or something..."
"Do you know how much trouble this has caused our Squad 5? This matter even gets mentioned by Head Captain Yamamoto from time to time."
"Saying you're not what you appear to be, and the things you do are really surprising and outrageous."
It had to be said, this matter's impact was indeed significant.
But more of it was gossip directed at the "person involved."
After all, Aizen had no so-called spouse, so according to worldly behavior standards, this was another form of "irresponsibility."
After rambling on for a while.
Hirako just looked sideways at the person beside him.
"So, who exactly is the child's mother? Our Squad 5 isn't that heartless. It would be better for everyone if you confessed earlier."
"After all, the woman must be under no less pressure than you... It's fine if you don't want to expose her. I'll find a way to help you continue hiding it. I'll also personally cover some expenses as compensation for the woman."
"This small matter definitely isn't a problem for me."
Very tactfully said, and the proposed solution was commendable.
But Aizen just sighed lightly and then said.
"Captain Hirako, I cannot fabricate something that doesn't exist."
Hirako's brow unconsciously furrowed.
"Don't you think what you're saying is a bit excessive?"
"Regardless of what you think about this matter, for that child..."
"A life without a mother - do you really think he'll be happy?"
Achoo!
Standing at his room door, Sakuya couldn't help but sneeze.
Carefully rubbing his still slightly sore nose, he reached out and pushed the door open.
Sakuya finally showed a happy smile.
Woohoo~ Escaped from the demon's lair!