Chapter 30 - A Show of Goodwill

Kyōraku Shunsui held down his straw hat, hiding his expression below his hat while murmuring: “Ouch, the young man completely snapped for sure.” His tone, however, was vague whether he was troubled or enjoying this situation.

“Captain Watanabe is really…” Even the kind-hearted Ukitake Jūshirō was exasperated by Watanabe Keiryū’s behavior.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was staring at Watanabe Keiryū disdainfully at first, but then he slightly smiled as he saw Kimura Muyang’s guts.

Nobody even blinked when Kimura Muyang was about to draw his Zanpakuto. Everyone just gasped as they were convinced that things were about to get out of hand.

The situation escalated so quickly. Watanabe Keiryū remained unmoved while giving Kimura Muyang a cold look.

Suddely, a different kind of Reiatsu seeped out of Kimura Muyang. As it intensified, a chilling sound was heard from his Zanpakuto even though he hasn’t drawn it yet, but that alone already sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

“Is this…?” Kyōraku Shunsui suddenly raised his face excitedly, “This level of Kendo is unbelievable!”

The look on Ukitake Jūshirō’s face also drastically changed as he and Kyōraku Shunsui looked at each other. They had a hard time hiding their excitement as it was clear in their eyes.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi seemed a little surprised when Kimura Muyang let out the current Reiatsu, and his eyes flashed as he looked towards Kimura Muyang as if he just found something interesting.

Hearing the odd sound alerted Watanabe Keiryū for a moment as his complexion slightly changed. Although he didn’t know what sound it was, he was on guard for a moment. However, the disdainful look on his face was back as soon as he realized that there was no way a mere Lieutenant posed a threat to himself, a Captan.

As Kimura Muyang was about to draw his Zanpakuto, a soft and fair-skinned hand completely stopped him. Even though the hand seemed feeble at first glance, he couldn’t move at all. From the looks of it, this might be a Bakudō at work, but Kimura Muyang wasn’t sure because he hasn’t learned Kidō.

However, the most surprising thing was it was Hikifune Kirio, who stopped Kimura Muyang and effortlessly too at that, as expected of the woman who would later be recruited to Zero Division.

“That is enough, Captain Watanabe! Since when did you get the right to lecture my Lieutenant?”

Hikifune Kirio was already right beside Kimura Muyang before anyone realized it and stopped him from drawing his Zanpakuto. She then took a step forward and warned Watanabe Keiryū.

Her tone was neither high nor low but it sure was impactful that even Watanabe Keiryū subconsciously took a step back.

The other 3 Captains were shocked by what they just saw. They didn’t realize how strong Hikifune Kirio had become. Be it her exquisite Shunpo, the way she stopped Kimura Muyang’s hand with Bakudō, or her intimidating aura that left Watanabe Keiryū speechless, all of them made people wonder just how strong she actually was.

Realizing he just took a step back due to the sheer pressure from Hikifune Kirio, Watanabe Keiryū was mad at himself. Even though most people didn’t notice it, he couldn’t bear the thought of cracking under the pressure of a fellow Captain.

Watanabe Keiryū grunted but tried his best to keep his poker face. He then immediately turned around, fluttering his Haori, and used Shunpo to return to the 5th Division.

Seeing Watanabe Keiryū disappeared from her sight without saying a word, Hikifune Kirio turned around and smiled. At the same time, the force that restricted Kimura Muyang’s movement suddenly disappeared.

Kimura Muyang was grateful to Hikifune Kirio. Hadn’t it for intervention, the fight between him and Watanabe Keiryū would’ve been inevitable. Despite saying that he was confident in his own strength and his opponent was just a minor character who didn’t appear in the anime, he was a Captain nonetheless. Setting Zaraki Kenpachi aside, all Captain could use Bankai, while he hasn’t even mastered Shikai.

“Thank you, Captain.” Kimura Muyang said sincerely.

“Don’t mention it. That’s what I’m supposed to do as a Captain, after all.” Slightly smiled, Hikifune Kirio continued, “Why did you stop calling me Kirio-san like you used to? I’d prefer that over Captain, actually.” Hikifune said teasingly.

Kimura Muyang blushed and laughed it off, “ahahaha, I see what you did there, Kirio-san.”

Everyone around them was dumbfounded. To think that Kimura Muyang could still show such an embarrassed and innocent face After challenging a Captain…

“Ahem Ahem~~”

Hikifune Kirio was slightly startled by Kimura Muyang’s response, so he cleared his throat and tried changing the subject: “There’s nothing left to see here, guys. Get back to your post! We still have a lot of things to do.”

Only then did everyone snap back to their senses and resumed their delayed activity, and the admission procedure for the new recruit returned to its track.

It was clear that what just happened would leave an impression among them. The name Kimura Muyang would probably become even more well-known throughout Soul Society from now on. However, it wouldn’t be as Shin’ō Academy’s genius anymore, but as the 12th Division’s Lieutenant.

“You are now the Lieutenant of the 12th Division. I will brief you about specific things once we’re in the Headquarter. For now, follow me. I will introduce you to some people.”

“Kirio-san.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“The 5th Division Captain just now, why did he…”

“Ah, It can’t be helped if you don’t know.” After a brief pause, Hikifune Kirio continued, “Before you came to, There was a well-known prodigy in Shin’ō Academy before you came here, and his name is Watanabe Ichiro. He excelled at everything, Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, or Shunpo, just name it. Everyone says that he is a genius who will be born once every ten years, but after you come ······.”

Hikifune Kirio then looked at Kimura Muyang at the end of her explanation, and Kimura Muyang nodded in understanding: “I’ve heard that name, but I don’t know him, I mean even if he is Captain Watanabe’s nephew, I don’t understand why Captain Watanabe treat me like that.” Kimura Muyang seemed puzzled. Is there the need to go that far just because of such a trivial thing? If that was the case, he couldn’t help but think that Captain Watanabe was such a petty guy.

“Not only that, Watanabe Clan was once a High-Ranking Noble House, but it has been in decline, and lately, they were almost unheard of. That was still the case even after Watanabe Keiryū became the 5th Division’s Captain recently. Moreover, Watanabe Clan only had two of them left as successor, meaning Watanabe Ichiro is the last pillar of Watanabe Clan.”

“It makes sense, but why would he go that far just because of this…” Kimura Muyang just couldn’t accept that excuse. “Kirio-san, how strong is Captain Watanabe?”

“Hm??” Hikifune Kirio had this surprised look on his face ad said, “I don’t recommend fighting him. He is Captain, after all. If you insist on doing so, you must learn Bankai first. After all, there is a huge difference between being able to use it and not being able to use it.”

“Hehe!” Kimura Muyang scratched his head shyly. Hikifune Kirio herself wasn’t exactly against the idea of him fighting Watanabe Keiryū. She was just worried that he would lose, that’s all. Apparently, Watanabe Keiryū was famous for being a good-for-nothing Captain.

“Forget it. You will understand eventually. Now, I’ll take you to see the three Captains first.”

“Well, don’t trouble yourself, Hikifune. We’re already here.” Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi were already in front of them.

Kyōraku Shunsui then looked at Kimura Muyang and said with a smile: “Good grief, we meet again, Kimura. You’ve become so strong that I barely recognize you since the last time we met.”

“You’re exaggerating, Captain Kyōraku.”

“Ah, are you using honorifics now? Last time we met, you just called me Shunsui.”

Kimura Muyang’s face flushed, and he didn’t know what to say because Kyōraku Shunsui was not entirely wrong.

“Well, that should be enough teasing you. Let me introduce you first. This is Captain Ukitake, 13th Division Captain, and here is Captain Kuruyashiki, 11th Division Captain.”

“Pleased to meet you, Captain Ukitake and Captain Kuruyashiki.”

“I have heard the rumors about you, Kimura.” Ukitake Jūshirō said while waving his hand.

“Lieutenant Kimura, please come to the 11th Division if you have spare time. I’m sure you’ll like the atmosphere there.”

“Huh?” Kimura Muyang was stunned when he heard Kuruyashiki Kenpachi invited him out of nowhere.

to read chapters ahead public release and support me 😉

Chapter 55 available on Patreon!