"Captain! Captain!!!"
A clear, urgent voice rang through the 5th Division barracks.
It was 5th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki. Gone was her usual composure. She looked extremely flustered, hurrying toward the captain's office.
Patrolling squad members watched in surprise.
In the two years since becoming lieutenant, Rukia had received frequent guidance from Captain Segawa. Her entire demeanor had become much calmer.
They couldn't understand why she'd react so abnormally now.
"C-Captain!!"
Rukia called out as she ran to the office door.
But the instant she arrived, the door swung open with a whoosh.
Rukia immediately stopped. Realizing her discourtesy, she quickly bowed her head.
"Ah, s-sorry!"
"...It's fine."
A clear, gentle voice came from within.
A tall, upright figure slowly emerged.
He wore a flowing white haori. On his left shoulder, a pale purple floral ribbon swayed gently.
Seeing Rukia bow before him, a faint smile crossed his face.
Segawa Shigure.
Two years had passed. His black hair had grown longer. Though his features remained virtually unchanged—
His entire presence felt completely different from two years ago.
"What's wrong, Rukia? Why so panicked?" he asked softly.
Hearing this, Rukia slowly raised her head, expression somewhat grave:
"I apologize, Captain... I just received an emergency assembly order..."
"One hour from now, there will be... a captain's funeral."
"?!"
A captain's funeral...?
Shigure's expression remained unchanged, but his heart stirred. He'd already sensed something.
Just then, Rukia continued:
"Since you told me you'd be in deep meditation recently, I thought... you probably hadn't received the news, so I came to inform you..."
She bit her lip lightly:
"1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe has... apparently died."
As her words fell, cool wind blew past.
Hearing this, Shigure's eyes flickered slightly. Then he slowly lowered them.
After a long silence, he finally spoke quietly:
"...I understand."
Seeing her captain's reaction, Rukia's heart trembled. She too lowered her eyes.
After a moment, she spoke softly:
"Captain, I remember you once told us to be careful of 'suddenly appearing' enemies..."
"Were you referring to... the enemies who killed Lieutenant Sasakibe...?"
Hearing this, Shigure raised his eyes slightly and nodded:
"...Correct."
"However, this time, because I was in deep meditation... I failed to detect their appearance immediately..."
"No, Captain."
At Shigure's words, Rukia suddenly raised her head, tone becoming resolute. After gazing at him for a moment, she said earnestly:
"I remember—you already mentioned this to all captains and lieutenants long ago..."
"So Lieutenant Sasakibe's death... is not your responsibility. Please don't blame yourself."
Hearing this, Shigure fell silent, then nodded.
"Let's go. To the funeral."
His expression returned to calm. He stepped forward.
Though spring had arrived in Soul Society, everything looked filled with killing intent to his eyes.
Because through Chōjirō Sasakibe's death, he knew.
This 'war' had finally begun.
In truth, during his two or three years with the Gotei, he'd become well acquainted with Chōjirō Sasakibe.
So he'd wanted to prevent this tragedy.
But because his fusion with Candle Dragon had entered its final stage, he'd been forced to spend vast amounts of time in deep meditation.
He hadn't expected today's meditation to 'coincidentally' cause him to miss this moment.
Perhaps to Rukia, this seemed like coincidence.
But Shigure understood—this might all be within that man's foresight.
Walking toward the 1st Division, Shigure recalled that prophecy:
"The Quincy ancestor—after nine hundred years, his heartbeat returns. After ninety years, his consciousness returns. After nine years, his power returns..."
"Then—"
"In nine days, he seizes the world."
Shigure narrowed his eyes slightly. Light flickered in his pupils.
Yhwach had revived.
This Quincy ancestor who'd slept for a thousand years had finally appeared as an enemy—bringing his supposedly "omniscient and omnipotent" great power.
And his "Sternritter" would soon officially unveil this thousand-year destined battle.
At this thought, Shigure's lips curved slightly. In an extremely quiet voice, he murmured:
"I've been waiting for you... for a long time."
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