Kisaragi Akira honestly had no idea how many small-fry Hollows he could actually take down.
Aizen, however, knew very well that if even one more bottom-tier Hollow appeared — the kind any ordinary student could swat aside — this guy would immediately flop onto the ground and start shouting, "Sōsuke! Help me!"
Something that would make any normal person die of embarrassment had become so routine for Kisaragi Akira that Aizen couldn't even remember when it started.
Lost in that thought, Aizen glanced across the battlefield.
As the leader of the rescue squad, Hirako Shinji was cutting through the swarm of Gillian-spawned Hollows like a whirlwind. Even without releasing his Zanpakutō, he carved a path of destruction. Corpses were scattered everywhere, and some of the darker, more corrupted Hollows didn't even leave bodies behind — they simply evaporated in the blazing light of Kidō, reduced to spirit particles and absorbed back into Soul Society.
In terms of sheer efficiency, Hirako Shinji was leagues ahead of Kisaragi Akira.
It didn't take long before ninety-nine percent of the invading Hollow swarm had been slaughtered.
Perhaps remembering someone's earlier request, Shinji specifically bound two "lucky survivors" using Bakudō so they could be sent to the Twelfth Division for research.
Once the threat was dealt with, Shinji stationed two members of the rescue squad to keep watch over Kisaragi Akira's group, while he led the remaining squad members to investigate the source of the Hollow outbreak.
Such a massive Hollow emergence inside Rukongai needed immediate investigation. If left unchecked, it could lead to long-term disaster.
Meanwhile, Kisaragi Akira — having burned himself out using his ritual-enhanced techniques — was now collapsed on the ground, pale as a salted fish left to dry under the sun.
The side effects hit hard.
Blood seeped steadily from his wounds while his spiritual pressure plummeted. He looked like someone with maybe one foot left in the living world.
"Just a scratch…" Akira hissed through his teeth, glancing at Aizen beside him."Sōsuke… I think I can still be saved… Help me out here… maybe?"
Aizen sighed, suddenly realizing he had still been overestimating this man.
Even with no enemies in sight, Akira would still cry for help.
Truly… utterly shameless.
A soft glow of Kaidō blossomed in Aizen's palm as a gentle flow of spiritual energy wrapped around Akira's wounds, accelerating their healing.
As one of the top students in the Shin'ō Academy, Aizen rarely flaunted his abilities. But in terms of practical skill, he was undoubtedly among the best. Even using only squad-level spiritual pressure, he was able to stabilize Akira's dangerously severe injuries.
One of the stationed Shinigami also rushed forward with emergency medical supplies, beginning to roughly bandage the wounds.
Before long, color returned to Akira's cheeks, and spirit returned to his eyes.What remained of the healing, however, he handled himself.
Under the astonished gazes of the two Shinigami, Akira released his own imperfect Kaidō technique — and his gruesome injuries began closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The effect was several times stronger than theirs.
Both Shinigami stared down at their hands, their entire worldview shaken.
Same technique.So why was the difference so absurd?!
"No energy left…" Akira muttered halfway through the process, looking miserable. "Guess I'll go back to Captain Unohana. Her fees are outrageous, but her service is top-tier…"
The two Shinigami froze.
Captain Unohana? Personally healing injuries like this?Fees? Service?Since when was this something we get to hear for free?!
Why did it feel like the Fourth Division was playing favorites?!
Did the gap between people really have to be this unfair?!
Just as Akira finished replenishing a bit of spiritual pressure, Hirako Shinji returned with his squad.
"We've got a rough idea," he said seriously. "The exact details need specialists to confirm. But it looks like spatial instability inside the mountain. Combine that with a strong unknown blast of destructive Kidō, and it created a garganta-like tear."
"In short — that's how the Hollows invaded."
The moment those words left Shinji's mouth, Kisaragi Akira broke out in cold sweat, not daring to breathe.
Aizen glanced at him subtly but said nothing.
As Shinji explained, this was only a preliminary theory. More investigation was required.
Because if Kisaragi Akira's Red Smoke Escape technique alone was enough to destabilize space and create a tear stable enough for a Gillian-class Hollow to emerge —Aizen would question reality itself.
Not that it was impossible… just about as likely as Akira punching Yamamoto Genryūsai into retirement and becoming the new Captain-Commander.
In other words — basically zero.
Soul Society's spatial structure was overwhelmingly stable. Only certain weak nodes were fragile. Those nodes appeared mostly in the lower-rank Rukongai districts.
A place like Zendeiji shouldn't logically have any such node at all.
"You, you, and you," Shinji pointed at three of his squad members. "Stay here and secure the area until the Second Division and the Research Institute arrive."
"The rest, return to Seireitei with me."
Before leaving, Shinji checked Akira's condition again. Seeing there was no immediate danger, he was reassured.
Oddly enough, Akira's abnormal behavior didn't bother him much.
Instead, it was Aizen — who had barely done anything — that kept prickling the back of Shinji's mind. Something about him felt… unreal. Hazy. Like mist obscuring the figure within.
Meanwhile, Akira was the complete opposite — every thought written plainly across his face.
Am I imagining things…?Shinji frowned, glancing away.
How could two people with such opposite personalities get along so well?
Strange.
Leaving behind the wrecked outskirts, the group headed toward Seireitei.
They had barely gone, however, when two faint flickers of Kidō shimmered in the empty landscape — completely unnoticed by the three stationed Shinigami, who continued their bored patrol.
…
With the rescue squad escorting them, everyone returned to Seireitei without issue.
Hirako Shinji immediately reported the incident to the First Division — Hollow appearances inside Soul Society were no trivial matter. If not for Kisaragi Akira's intervention, Zendeiji might have been devoured entirely by that black-armored Gillian.
Aizen returned to the Academy to file their mission report. After such a major incident, the Academy would need to give an official explanation.
Kisaragi Akira, meanwhile, headed straight for the Fourth Division's medical ward like he was walking into his own home.
Call out to the receptionist.Pay the fee.Collapse onto a bed.
Smooth, practiced, heartbreakingly natural movements.
But when Akira came to his senses, he suddenly noticed the person on the bed next to him.
"Well, well — isn't this my favorite victim?""Long time no see!"
Kuchiki Sōjun lay there in silence.
"…"