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Nobility Street, Omaeda Residence.
After arriving at the Omaeda Residence using the transfer pile, Ishikawa and Ōmaeda headed straight for the dining room.
"Who exactly is the person you said wanted to see me?"
"You'll know when you see him."
Ōmaeda shook his head, not elaborating.
Upon hearing this, Ishikawa didn't press further. Since he was already here, he would naturally see who wanted to meet him later.
However...
Ishikawa's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the 'extremely luxurious' courtyard around him.
The layout of this courtyard had changed again!
Although Ōmaeda often invited him here for meals, Ishikawa always felt unfamiliar each time he came.
Almost every so often, the Omaeda Residence would undergo renovations, with the style completely arranged according to the taste of the person who proposed the renovation.
Sometimes it was Ōmaeda's parents, sometimes Ōmaeda's younger brother and sister, and sometimes Ōmaeda himself...
These wicked nouveau riche!!
"How is it? My newly decorated courtyard isn't bad, right?"
Ōmaeda, who had been observing Ishikawa's reaction, grinned proudly: "You should be grateful to have a friend like me. Otherwise, with your poor shop, you wouldn't even be worthy of seeing my luxurious and noble courtyard even if you worked yourself to death."
Ishikawa ignored him.
This guy was already full of bad taste. As far as Ishikawa knew, besides constantly inviting him to see the courtyard and then observing his reaction, this guy also enjoyed having Hisagi Shuuhei come to his place to eat leftovers, then observing Hisagi Shuuhei's reaction to satisfy his own desire to show off.
As they chatted, the two arrived at the entrance of the dining room.
But before they could enter, two little girls ran out, laughing. The little girl chasing behind them saw Ishikawa and Ōmaeda and her eyes lit up: "Ishikawa-nii, Maremi-nii."
"Hey, Maremi, why is his name before mine?" Ōmaeda said, displeased.
"Blehh—"
Maremi made a face at Ōmaeda, then came to Ishikawa's side, hugging a ball: "Ishikawa-nii, when I knew you were coming, I personally went to buy you dori monaka."
Ishikawa smiled, reaching out to rub Maremi's head, making little Maremi squint her eyes like a kitten. Then he said gently: "Our Maremi really understands Ishikawa-nii. The dori monaka bought personally by Maremi must be absolutely delicious."
"...Take your hand off my sister's head."
Ōmaeda's face was as dark as could be as he watched Ishikawa flirt with his sister right in front of him.
He didn't know when it started...
The women in his family had all become extremely close to Ishikawa. Whether it was his mother, his elder sister, or Maremi in front of him, they all had a great fondness for Ishikawa.
Recently, whenever his father saw Ishikawa, his face would turn dark, just like his own.
"Oh, right."
Maremi looked back at the dining room: "The guest is still waiting inside, so I won't bother Ishikawa-nii. Next time you have time, you should come play ball with Maremi."
With that, she walked straight towards the little girl who was waiting not far away.
Seeing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Ōmaeda's eyes. He had never seen that little girl around ten years old before. But then he retracted his gaze. She was probably just a child from a nearby family. It was a good thing for Maremi to have someone her age to play with.
Ishikawa, on the other hand, was also looking at the little girl, but a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
Because with Maremi's personality, if the other party was her new friend, she would definitely introduce her to him and Ōmaeda immediately, but Maremi hadn't even mentioned the other party just now.
Moreover...
This little girl was a bit too calm. Although she initially ran out as if playing, when Maremi stopped beside him, she didn't rush her, but rather stood quietly not far away, observing him.
"What are you still standing there for?" Ōmaeda said to Ishikawa, who was standing still.
"Nothing."
Ishikawa retracted his gaze and smiled: "I just think Maremi is getting cuter and cuter."
Ōmaeda's gaze towards Ishikawa immediately became extremely wary upon hearing this.
"...I'm telling you, our Omaeda Residence will absolutely, absolutely never accept you as a son-in-law."
"What are you talking about? I just treat Maremi like a younger sister."
Hmph~
Ōmaeda snorted and led the way into the dining room, with Ishikawa following.
After the two entered the dining room, the little girl who was playing a passing game with Maremi in the distance slowly turned her head and looked towards the dining room.
"Nayura-oneechan?"
"Maremi, how about we go back to the dining room to play?"
"Huh? Didn't you just say you wanted to play in the courtyard? But that's fine, I wanted to see Ishikawa-nii anyway."
...
"Have they arrived?"
As the servant pulled open the door, a gentle voice came from inside the dining room.
Following the sound, Ishikawa was slightly startled when he saw the person who spoke.
This was a middle-aged man with white hair, dressed in clean white clothes. His complexion, like his hair color, was very pale, giving off a very weak feeling.
"Captain Ukitake."
Ōmaeda secretly bumped Ishikawa with his shoulder, then revealed the person's identity.
This person was the Captain of the Thirteenth Division—Ukitake.
Although he often heard the other party's name, this was the first time they had met face-to-face.
After all...
This person basically spent 300 out of 365 days a year recuperating in bed.
"Captain Ukitake."
Ishikawa smiled upon hearing this, and nodded slightly: "Hello, I am Ishikawa, who runs the Everything Store on Commercial Street. Please take care of me."
Although the other party must have known his identity by inviting him through Ōmaeda, it was their first meeting. To show respect, Ishikawa still introduced himself.
"No need... cough cough... No need to be so formal."
Ukitake covered his mouth and coughed, then made a gesture to invite them in, saying gently: "I am not here today as the Captain of the Thirteenth Division, but as the head of the lower-ranking noble Ukitake family. So just treat me as an ordinary guest."
Ōmaeda hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, but ultimately stepped forward and sat down at the dining table.
Ishikawa, on the other hand, sat directly opposite Ukitake and said to him: "May I ask why the Ukitake family head has invited me here?"
Since the other party said he was here as the head of the Ukitake family, Ishikawa no longer addressed him as Captain, but directly asked the purpose of his invitation.
Ukitake did not reply, but after carefully observing Ishikawa, he said gently: "As Miss Kukaku said, you are indeed a very interesting child." With that, he paused, and continued: "I asked Vice-Captain Ōmaeda to invite you here simply to express my gratitude."
"Whether it's that child Hiro, or Rukia, or even... Kaien, what you've done for them makes me feel ashamed. In fact, I've wanted to thank you in person for a long time, but my health has not been very good, which is why it has been delayed until now."
By the end, Ukitake's expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying: "Thank you, Ishikawa-sama. You saved my family's child, enlightened my Squad Member, and upheld... the dignity of our Vice-Captain. Please accept my belated gratitude."
Seeing this, Ishikawa quickly waved his hand: "Ukitake family head, you are too kind."
If he had only addressed Ukitake as family head earlier to cooperate with him, now he could only truly treat him as the head of the Ukitake family.
Because the hierarchy within the Gotei 13 was strict. Not to mention a Rukongai resident like himself, even if a Vice-Captain offended a Captain, the Captain could directly execute them if they wanted to pursue the matter!
That's why Ukitake immediately stated his identity after seeing the two of them.
If he were acting as a Captain, it would be absolutely impermissible for him to show such a humble attitude in front of Ishikawa, according to the rules.
"I just did what I was supposed to do, and it was compensated, besides."
With that, Ishikawa smiled slightly and said: "As for Rukia, she is my friend, so there's no need for thanks for enlightening a friend. And Big Brother Kaien is someone I consider family, so there's no need to say anything about thanks either."
Ukitake observed Ishikawa carefully, then smiled: "That was indeed my slip of the tongue."
From the moment Ishikawa appeared, he had been observing this young man. Although he had never had contact with Ishikawa before, among all the Captains, he was the first to know about Ishikawa after Soi Fon.
When he first entered the Seireitei, Miss Kukaku had Jidanbō send him a letter, hoping that he could look after Ishikawa in the Seireitei.
Since then, he had actually been paying attention to Ishikawa, to help him if necessary.
The result was...
Ishikawa, after entering the Seireitei, was thriving like a fish in water and didn't need his care at all.
And besides his social interactions, his growth rate in strength after entering the Seireitei was even more incredible. Even he was greatly surprised by those achievements.
As for Ishikawa's personality, Miss Kukaku often mentioned it in her letters to him, and repeatedly vouched for him with the Shiba family's guarantee, stating that Ishikawa would absolutely not do anything harmful to the Seireitei.
Initially, Ukitake had some doubts about this.
But as his understanding of Ishikawa gradually deepened, these doubts gradually dissipated. When he heard the news that Ishikawa had fought a Captain-level Arrancar in Hueco Mundo to protect the Shiba family's reputation, his doubts completely vanished, and he decided to meet Ishikawa in person.
Picking up his cup and taking a small sip, Ukitake shook his head: "Indeed, in your opinion, you just did what you were supposed to do. But in my opinion, you also did many things that are worth my gratitude, so please do not refuse my thanks."
With that, he sighed before Ishikawa could reply: "That child Rukia... after Kaien left, she pessimistically believed that Kaien's death was all her responsibility, so she had always been very self-reproachful and unwilling to actively communicate with her teammates. And her status as one of the Four Great Noble Clans also made the Squad Members afraid to associate with her..."
"I saw all of this, but I was powerless. I could only have Kiyone accompany her, hoping that this would help her resolve her inner turmoil."
"It wasn't until she met you, who shared a similar background, that she became more cheerful and smiled more."
Ukitake paused, and continued: "Your background, on the contrary, made her lower her guard. This is something that none of us could ever do, so thank you very much for being willing to be friends with Rukia."
"That's not my credit."
Ishikawa shook his head upon hearing this: "Strictly speaking, I was just a mouthpiece."
Ukitake smiled upon hearing this, clearly understanding the meaning of Ishikawa's 'mouthpiece'.
As they talked, the two gradually let down their initial guard.
Ishikawa finally understood why Ukitake, like Aizen, was so popular with female Squad Members.
Talking to him was indeed very relaxing. He had no airs, his words were humorous, and he was extremely approachable.
Moreover, unlike Aizen, Ishikawa was not overly wary of him.
On one hand, it was because in his memories, the other party was not a dangerous person; on the other hand, it was because Big Sister Kukaku had said more than once that Ukitake was an old friend of hers.
Watching the two converse happily, Ōmaeda always felt a bit superfluous being there, but as the host and introducer, he could only sit there awkwardly.
Fortunately, as time passed, lunch break unknowingly came to an end.
After bidding farewell, Ishikawa and the other left the dining room and walked towards Ōmaeda's bedroom, preparing to use the transfer pile to return directly to Onmitsukidō.
However, after the two left, Ukitake did not leave, as if he was waiting for someone.
After a while.
The dining room door was slowly pulled open, and a small figure walked in. It was the little girl who had been playing with Maremi earlier.
However, unlike before, the expression on the little girl's face now showed a maturity completely inconsistent with her appearance. She bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly to Ukitake, and said softly: "Captain Ukitake, thank you for being willing to cooperate with my personal request. If you need to enter the Great Spirit Book Gallery in the future, you can contact me at any time."
"Miss Amakado is too kind."
Ukitake shook his head slightly: "I was already planning to meet with young friend Ishikawa, so agreeing to your request was just a convenience."
With that, he looked at the little girl with some confusion and asked: "However, could you please tell me why you, as the chief Librarian of the Great Spirit Book Gallery, are secretly observing young friend Ishikawa?"
The Great Spirit Book Gallery, like the Image Hall, is a direct agency of the Central 46. Its duty is to forcibly collect all phenomena and information in the Soul Society, regardless of the Shinigami's will. It is a vast database that 'knows all the history and secrets of the Soul Society from ancient times to the present.'
Ordinary people do not have permission to enter, and even Captains of the Gotei 13 need to apply in advance and receive permission before they can enter to consult documents.
And this cute little girl, who looked like a doll and appeared to be only about 10 years old, was the chief Librarian responsible for managing the Great Spirit Book Gallery—Amakado Nayura.
However, her actual age was actually much older than she appeared.
Getting back to the point, Amakado Nayura's identity was extremely sensitive. In addition to being the chief Librarian of the Great Spirit Book Gallery, she was also the daughter of a Great Sage of the Central 46.
Ukitake's words, rather than asking her why she was observing Ishikawa, were asking her in what capacity she was observing Ishikawa.
"Please rest assured, my observation of him has nothing to do with my father or the Central 46. It is purely my personal action."
Ukitake nodded upon hearing this and did not continue to ask.
What he cared about was not why Amakado Nayura was observing Ishikawa, but whether the Central 46 was targeting Ishikawa.
Since it was not a decision of the Central 46, he did not need to continue to pry.
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