No Cheat in Bleach ? Watch me help Aizen then.-Chapter 68: All for Her Sake

After a quick wash, she chose a loose inner robe and was just about to head out to report to the Tenth Division when—

Knock knock.

"Huh?"

Rangiku tilted her head, confused.

As far as she knew, hardly anyone ever visited Shuuichi-sama's home in the 2nd District. Besides Soi Fon, who had dropped by a few times, the only other "regular" was a certain black cat that came to play.

She'd even joked with Shuuichi once—"Why not build a little cat bed here? Let the kitty stay, sleep with you at night~"

But he had refused instantly, not even amused. He even warned her, quite seriously, not to entertain such thoughts again.

A black cat was just a cat, right? Yet he acted like it was taboo.

She didn't get it, but if Shuuichi-sama said so, she'd comply.

Still thinking, she headed downstairs.

"Who is it~?"

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She opened the door—and froze.

"Rangiku."

The silver-haired young man standing at the threshold had countless things he wanted to say. But in the end, it all came down to two simple words.

"A... Gin."

In an instant, tears welled in Rangiku's eyes.

Ten years apart. Childhood friends. Standing in silence at Higashi Shuuichi's doorstep.

So much remained unsaid.

It was a long while before Rangiku, blinking the tears away, remembered to let him inside.

"Gin, where have you been all these years? Ever since I joined the Tenth Division, I kept searching near our old home in North Rukongai's 62nd District—but I never found even a trace of you!"

She looked at him—more handsome than she remembered, still warm in that familiar way—but Gin... felt distance. Something intangible hung between them. Like the small table between their seats, dividing them in more ways than one.

"Back then, after you were hurt so badly..."

Gin began to speak the truth of that day—but hesitated.

Looking at Rangiku's bright, innocent eyes... he couldn't do it. He couldn't drag her into the blood-soaked future he was walking toward.

He didn't even know who the bespectacled Shinigami that nearly killed her was. He didn't know if he'd succeed in killing him for revenge. And he definitely didn't know what would happen to him afterward.

Execution at Sōkyoku Hill?

Very likely.

But Gin could flee. Rukongai. The World of the Living. Even Hueco Mundo.

Rangiku, though...

He couldn't bear to see her return to a life of hunger and fear.

Maybe... if things stayed like this, if she stayed at Shuuichi-sama's side... maybe Rangiku could live happily.

Revenge, its consequences—he'd carry that alone.

"What's wrong, Gin?"

Rangiku noticed him zoning out. She waved a hand in front of him, concerned.

"...It's nothing," Gin smiled. A rare, genuine smile. "Back then, it was Shuuichi-sama who found you unconscious. He said he was going to bring you to Seireitei for treatment. He asked if I wanted to come too. I said no—that I'd make it there on my own."

He placed his Zanpakutō—now in the form of a wakizashi—on the table.

"See? This is what all those years of effort earned me~"

"Whoa~ You've achieved Shikai already? Gin, that's amazing! I studied for six years at the Academy, then had Shuuichi-sama personally tutor me for almost two more, and only just managed to unlock my Shikai!"

Rangiku picked up his Zanpakutō with wonder.

"Shuuichi-sama's such a kind Soul Reaper..."

Watching her so happy, Gin's heart relaxed.

"Oh, that's not all. This house? It belongs to Shuuichi-sama! Heh, what can I say—I spend all my pay on sake. I can't afford rent~"

She stuck her tongue out, teasingly. To Gin, it felt like she was more honest now than she'd ever been with Shuuichi-sama.

Whether that honesty had a bit of a motive behind it... only Rangiku knew.

Gin had already heard the story from Shuuichi last night. But still—it surprised him. Even after ten years, Higashi Shuuichi remembered him. Not only that, Shuuichi had kept his word, looking after Rangiku, a girl with no background, plain talent, and humble origins, all this time.

For that alone, Gin felt immense gratitude.

"Well then, Rangiku, I actually only came today to see you. To see for myself how you were doing. Now that I have, I'm really happy... but I should return to the Shin'ō Academy. Things are hectic for both of us, right?"

Gin still wanted to sit with her a little longer. But he hadn't forgotten why he came, nor the storm looming over Soul Society.

"You're at Shin'ō Academy? Wait—you said I'll be busy too?"

Rangiku looked confused and intrigued.

Gin chuckled, walking to the window, opening it wide, pointing toward Seireitei.

"You haven't heard yet, have you? Last night, the upper noble clan Kasawagi rebelled. Blood ran like rivers in Seireitei..."

At that moment, Higashi Shuuichi was kneeling in the 4th Division's Vice-Captain's quarters.

Opposite him, seated in his old position, was none other than his Captain: Unohana Retsu.

And Higashi Shuuichi... was sweating buckets.