The arrangement Aizen made for Arima Shinya wasn't anything complicated.
After all, to sum it up in one sentence:
"Overcome your own fears and move toward the mighty ones of the past…"
"Challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi once again, Shinya-kun."
Huh? I'm going to fight Kiganjo Kenpachi again?
Honestly, even though I've improved a little, I'm still far from being able to compare myself to someone on a captain's level.
If I face him head-on, the result won't be anything good.
So what exactly is the "warden" thinking?
Judging from the situation, this feels more like a way of sending me to my death.
Even though I was utterly confused, no matter how much I thought about it — just from the letter, it was impossible to understand Aizen's true intentions.
In the end, it was best to go there personally and find out.
"Ah? You're ending your training ahead of schedule?"
"Yes, that's right. It might seem sudden, but there are other things I want to learn and experience. So continuing in the Second Division doesn't make much sense anymore."
Unlike the grand banquet that had been held when he first arrived, tonight's dinner was much smaller — yet it still carried a certain ceremonial air.
All the notable members of the Second Division were present.
After hearing what Arima Shinya had just said, Ōmaeda Nizō instinctively stood up.
He made a simple hand gesture toward the other officers in attendance.
As expected of someone from the Stealth Force — his ability to communicate through signals was on a level the other divisions could never hope to reach.
Everyone remained silent and withdrew one by one, leaving only Yoruichi Shihōin, seated in the main position.
Yushirō looked clearly puzzled. Sitting formally on the tatami, he placed his hands on the table and leaned forward slightly.
"But there are still four days left. Why not stay in the Second Division a little longer?"
Though it sounded like a request for him to stay, his words felt more like the melancholy complaint of a lonely young noble.
It was no surprise.
After all, as one of the oldest noble families, the Shihōin clan had always carried a heavy familial burden.
Since birth, Yushirō had been molded to fulfill that destiny.
In such a rigid and hierarchical environment, it was natural that he had few people he could open up to — Urahara Kisuke was one of them, but now, as captain of the Twelfth Division, he hardly had the time.
And among those who had learned the Shihōin family's secret techniques and could still stand toe-to-toe with Yushirō, only Arima Shinya remained.
As a friend, a training partner, and one of the few people he could speak with freely… it was only natural that Yushirō didn't want to see him leave.
"Arima-kun, why not officially join the Second Division? That way, when you're not on duty, you can stay here on the mountain."
Facing Yushirō's almost tearful gaze, Arima Shinya looked somewhat embarrassed — it was clear that the young noble lacked people he could connect with.
Fortunately, before the situation could drag on, Yoruichi, with her relaxed yet confident posture, spoke up and interrupted:
"That's enough, Yushirō. Arima Shinya has his own matters to attend to, and it's not like you'll never see each other again."
The boy looked frustrated, but arguing with his own sister — the head of the Shihōin clan — would be crossing an unacceptable line.
With a hesitant expression, he stood up and left the hall.
Only Yoruichi and Arima Shinya remained.
"Sorry about him. Yushirō's still young… and I never really taught him how to treat a friend properly."
Friends should be people you can talk to as equals, someone you can admire — not someone you beg to stay.
Arima Shinya shook his head calmly.
"It's fine. Nobles have their own struggles too, I understand that perfectly."
"Ah~ talking with you is always so easy."
Straightforward and without pretenses — everything handled efficiently, without any unnecessary detours.
It was almost like talking to that Kisuke fellow…
"As captain of the Second Division, I approve your request. Arima Shinya, you may pack your things and leave through the Shihōin clan's gates."
With permission granted, Arima sighed in relief — until Yoruichi continued:
"But before you head back, stop by the Twelfth Division."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know. I just got a message from Kisuke yesterday, saying he wanted to see you personally."
Yoruichi shifted her posture, thought for a moment, and explained:
"It shouldn't be anything urgent. He said you could go whenever you have time."
What does that "shopkeeper" want with me now? Another secret plan involving the warden, perhaps?
Even though it was already night, given the little time left before meeting his master, Arima decided to leave immediately.
Within the Seireitei, some areas had curfews, but anyone with a travel pass could move freely.
And with personal authorization from the Shihōin family, his path was completely clear.
The power of nobility really makes things easy…
Thinking that, Arima focused his reiryoku and sped through the Seireitei — technically, he wasn't supposed to move like that.
But what could he do?
After all, the "old man of Seireitei" was always the ultimate authority.
Arriving near dawn, Arima Shinya reached the entrance of the Research and Development Institute.
Unlike his previous visit, which had been open to the public, the place was now in full work mode — staff members rushed about, far too busy to notice him.
After asking someone to announce his arrival, Akon appeared at the door.
"Long time no see, Arima-kun."
"Yeah. You seem to be doing well too, Akon-san."
So… what's this visit about?
Akon looked slightly uncomfortable, forcing a smile.
"Actually, Captain Mayuri is in a special situation. He asked Captain Urahara to inform you."
Huh?! What does that mad scientist want with me?
Curious and confused, Arima followed Akon to Kurotsuchi Mayuri's office.
The atmosphere was strangely dark, with walls treated to absorb light.
A faint stench of decay lingered in the air, as though something was rotting and no one had bothered to clean it up.
"Captain Mayuri, I brought the visitor."
A metallic sound echoed.
Mayuri emerged from an inner room.
His appearance was as eccentric as ever — and his cold eyes swept over the visitor from head to toe, pausing only for a moment.
The kind of gaze one gives to a monkey.
"Nemuroku is dead."
"I don't know when, but the cells stopped dividing. By the time I noticed, she had already stopped breathing."
"There wasn't even time to attempt resuscitation. It was a clean, quick death."
"But still, she served her purpose. The next experiment will focus on controlling the rate of cell division."
"To gaze at the horizon over the shoulders of a corpse — it's quite an enlightening experience, worth pondering."
He raised his left hand and calmly pointed to the side.
"She placed your hair at the head of her bed, inside a vase."
"Even after countless explanations, she never managed to tell the difference between hair and flowers… irritating. As a test specimen, she truly was troublesome."
"So, clean it up and throw it away. It's your hair, after all. Do it yourself — don't trouble others with it."
"Really… the smell of decaying protein is unbearable."
His tone was indifferent, his demeanor cold.
As if he were merely stating a trivial fact. Once finished, he turned around, ready to go back into the room.
Arima Shinya couldn't hold back.
What do you mean "Nemuroku is dead"?
She was a living person… how…?
No, wait.
The memories crawled back, writhing like worms over the cortex of his brain.
"Mayuri spent years on Project Nemuri, creating the failed specimens Nemuroku 1 through 6…"
So I was wrong from the very beginning.
The little girl I saw before wasn't Nemuri 7, Nemu, but Nemuroku 6 — one of the failures.
That was it.
But… why does it sound so empty? Why is his tone so light?
Confused, Arima shouted:
"Wait!"
"What is it now?"
Mayuri stopped and half-turned his face.
"I'm busy. If you're going to dump your nonsense, do it with Urahara. I'm not your emotional landfill."
"I have no interest in fools, much less in conversing with monkeys like you."
"Just breathing the same air and touching the carbon dioxide you exhale makes me nauseous."
"So vanish. Disappear. Or die."
"Don't ever appear before me again, monkey."
Mayuri's gaze was empty, devoid of emotion.
After that venomous barrage, he stayed silent for a moment — and returned to his room.
"…"
Arima Shinya stood frozen in place, stunned.
"I'm sorry, Arima-kun. Please try to understand Captain Mayuri… Nemuroku was the focus of his research. A life he invested a lot of time and care into."
Akon spoke with a sincere tone.
"The captain is usually sarcastic, but I've never seen him say something so cruel."
Even without fully understanding, Arima began to accept the truth.
"Nemu…roku…"
"Her body was cremated two days ago."
Akon's voice was tinged with sorrow.
"It might sound repetitive, but please don't misunderstand Captain Mayuri's intentions."
"He's the one most affected by this. After all, he was the project's creator."
"And to Nemuroku, he was like a father."
Arima nodded slightly.
It wasn't hard to understand.
It was just hard to accept.
Considering Mayuri's usual temperament, he would never have said that much.
The fact that he was "not acting normal" said everything.
Akon turned on the light in the room.
Against the wall was a small bed, and on it — a transparent vase.
Nothing of value. The glass was full of scratches and cracks.
Probably something salvaged from the trash.
Inside, there was a bit of water.
Arima's strands of hair were submerged, already beginning to decay.
That was where the smell came from.
Arima's gaze settled on the side of the vase, where crooked letters were scrawled.
はな (hana) — "Flower"
きれい (kirei) — "Pretty"
Unable to write kanji, she had used only hiragana — typical of a child.
As Mayuri said, there was no beauty there. No profound meaning.
Just something simple, pure — the "treasure" of a curious little girl.
Arima's mind went blank. His chest tightened, his throat locked.
Was it regret? Sadness? Perhaps both.
But why… why did he feel this way?
He soon found the answer.
— That day… I should have given her a spoonful of insect curry.
(End of Chapter)
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