"She was my younger sister. Unfortunately, she passed away several years ago due to a hereditary family illness."
"I see…" Arata fell silent and gently took Yakumo Kadori's lightly trembling hands.
"Captain Yakumo, you have my condolences."
The tips of her fingers were cold and slightly curled within the warm grasp of his hand.
The sound of falling leaves outside the window became crystal‑clear in that moment.
"Actually… Yayoi passed away peacefully." Yakumo smiled faintly, her eyes shining gently behind her glasses.
"But ever since then, no one in the Eighth Division has been able to fill that position."
Arata noticed she said "no one was qualified," not "no one wanted to take that position." It seemed Vice‑Captain Yayoi Kadori had enjoyed a very high reputation within the division.
"Your sister must have been an exceptional person," he said quietly, his thumb unconsciously brushing over the back of her hand.
That subtle, comforting gesture momentarily startled Yakumo Kadori, then a sincere smile, the most genuine one he had seen from her blossomed on her face.
"Yes, that child was far stronger than me from a young age." She lowered her eyes to their intertwined hands, her voice soft as if recounting a distant dream.
"Kendō, Kidō, Shunpo… she excelled at them all. Even Genryusai‑sama praised her as a rare talent seen once in a hundred years."
She suddenly looked up and stared straight into Arata's eyes. "Arata‑kun, do you know? You're very similar to her."
"Huh?" Arata's heart skipped a beat. Had he revealed something without noticing?
"Not in appearance or personality." Yakumo seemed to notice his tension and shook her head with a smile. "But that composure… that ability to remain calm no matter what misfortune stands in your way."
She withdrew her hand and slowly fastened the collar of her shihakushō, her movements refined and steady.
"That's why, when I first saw you, I immediately felt a sense of closeness."
Arata quietly breathed out, yet a faint sense of guilt stirred within him.
This gentle girl with glasses trusted him so deeply, while he hid the truth about being a traveler from another time.
"It is an honor to be held in such high regard by Captain Yakumo." He formally accepted the lieutenant's badge, brushing his fingers across the engraved strelitzia flower.
"I promise to give everything I have to be your right hand."
Yakumo Kadori nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly remembered something and softly exclaimed, "Ah."
"I almost forgot to tell you the duties of a lieutenant." She pulled a thick booklet from the bedside drawer. "This is the Eighth Division manual. All responsibilities are written in detail inside."
Arata accepted the manual. The gilded symbol for "eight" glimmered on the cover beneath the candlelight. When he opened the first page, he saw the division motto written in elegant script:
[The Eighth Division is responsible for intelligence work and reconnaissance, and must therefore remain sharp and vigilant at all times]
"The intelligence division…" Arata muttered thoughtfully.
In later generations, the function of the Eighth Division became rather ambiguous.
In fact, aside from the 2nd, 4th, 11th, and 12th Divisions, which had clear specialties, most divisions lacked defined identities.
"What's wrong?" Yakumo immediately noticed his slight change in expression.
"Nothing, I just feel the weight of responsibility," Arata quickly adjusted his expression. "Especially now, in this critical stage of the war with Wandenreich, intelligence work is of utmost importance."
At the mention of war, Yakumo Kadori's expression darkened again.
She looked out the window at the sky growing darker and murmured softly, "According to frontline reports, the main forces of Wandenreich have already gathered at the edge of the Dangai world… They will launch a full‑scale assault in at most three days."
Her fingertips brushed unconsciously over the freshly healed wound on her ribs. "In the battle on the northern front, we lost more than thirty soldiers. If reinforcements hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid…"
Arata noticed her body lightly trembling as she spoke.
Even the first generation of captains, who had climbed to the top through seas of blood, still faced fear when it came to war and death.
"Arata‑kun, do you think we can win this war?"
"Of course. Shinigami will never lose to Quincy."
"Why?"
With Yakumo's question, the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavier.
A bead of sweat appeared on Arata's forehead. He couldn't exactly say, "Because that's what the history books say," could he?
After a brief pause, he replied calmly, "During my travels in the human world, I once encountered a group of Quincy."
"Although their fighting styles vary from person to person, the essence of their tactics always relies on manipulating spiritual particles. Overall, their approach is fairly simple. As long as we establish a systematic model of analysis, we can quickly decipher the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents."
This explanation was reasonable. A thousand years ago, the conflict between Quincy and Shinigami had not yet fully escalated, so occasional encounters in the human world were not strange.
"I see." Yakumo mused. "No wonder your Kaidō is so unique… Did you learn it from Quincy?"
Arata subtly sighed in relief and nodded. "More or less. Quincy control spiritual particles with extraordinary precision. I borrowed some of their techniques for healing."
He deliberately shifted the subject back to professional matters, successfully diverting Yakumo's attention.
"That's truly admirable," she sighed sincerely. "To turn the enemy's techniques into one's own advantage… Arata‑kun's insight is truly impressive."
As Arata walked down the steps, he once again began comparing the combat power between the two sides in his mind.
"Unlike the Quincy, who almost exclusively rely on manipulating spiritual particles, we Shinigami possess a far broader range of combat methods, such as Kidō and Zanpakutō techniques."
"Especially the various strange and rare powers of Shikai and Bankai, they far surpass anything Quincy have at their disposal." Arata lightly tapped the sheath of the division manual.
"That is why I believe we will ultimately win this war."
After hearing this analysis, a faint glimmer of hope slowly returned to Yakumo Kadori's eyes behind the lenses. "Arata‑kun is right. It seems I was too pessimistic."
She gathered her tousled hair and suddenly offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry for keeping you so long. You've just joined the Eighth Division, and I'm already making you listen to my worries."
"That is a lieutenant's duty." Arata stood and bowed formally. "Captain Yakumo, please rest. If you need anything, just tell me."
After leaving the captain's room, he returned to his own room next door.
He took off the top of his shihakushō and hung it on the stand, then lay down on the bed in only his inner clothing, hands folded behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling in deep thought.
"The decisive battle will be in at most three days…" Arata murmured softly.
In the original history, this war between the Quincy and Shinigami ended with Yamamoto Genryusai defeating Yhwach.
However, the records of the battle itself were extremely sparse.
What worried him even more was, would his appearance as a "variable" change the course of history itself?
Now that he had become the lieutenant of the Eighth Division, he not only bore greater responsibility but also had countless more opportunities to influence the fate of the characters in this story. If he could secure victory in this war…
At that thought, he unconsciously touched Meigetsu at his side, and his Zanpakutō responded with a warm tremor, as if reassuring its master.
"Arata, what are you thinking about?"
After the battle in Hueco Mundo, Meigetsu's voice echoed in his mind for the first time in a long while, filling him with a sense of security.
"I'm thinking that this war may be the key to my return." Arata gently stroked the sheath, his eyes filled with determination. "Starting tomorrow, we need to prepare fully."
He reopened the system panel, and his gaze fell upon an item in the shop.
[A‑Rank Item: Anywhere Door Enchanter]
[Effect: Can enhance and enchant the A‑Rank item, the Anywhere Door lost by a certain cat. You may select one of the following three enchantments.]
[Enchantment 1: Daily usage limit increases from five to ten.]
[Enchantment 2: Teleportation destination is no longer restricted you can teleport even to places you've never been before.]
[Enchantment 3: Grants targeted time‑travel capability, with a ten‑year cooldown.]
[Note: Cannot be gifted or upgraded.]
[Cost: 9999 Fate Points]
As the system shop gradually unlocked, this was easily the most expensive item Arata had ever seen. Even more expensive than the Spirit King's Heart, which cost 8848 points, but its effects were undeniably top‑tier.
As long as he obtained it, the portal he won in a lottery could be further enhanced and returning to his original world would no longer be an unattainable dream.