Chapter 244 244 Exaggerated Acting
At the same time, everyone within the entire Seireitei heard the alarms.
The long-peaceful Seireitei inevitably experienced some panic.
The Captain's Meeting was also interrupted by this sudden turn of events.
Tap, tap, tap...
Zaraki suddenly turned and ran out of the Captain's Meeting Room.
"Hey! Wait, Zaraki, it's not—"
Seeing Zaraki run out, Toshiro instinctively tried to stop him, but before Toshiro could finish, Zaraki had already vanished.
After running out of the meeting room, a figure suddenly lunged at Zaraki.
"Ken-chan!"
A voice followed.
"Yachiru!"
Hearing the voice, Zaraki looked up to see Kusajishi Yachiru.
Swish!
Yachiru landed precisely on Zaraki's shoulder.
"Enemies! Gonna go kill them?"
Yachiru laughed happily, as if talking about going to play rather than kill.
"Yeah! That's right. The intruders this time are Ryoka. Although I don't know the reason, they're probably the guys who survived after facing Ichimaru!"
"So, I want to go see for myself..."
As he spoke, Zaraki excitedly stuck out his crimson tongue to lick his lips.
…
Captain's Meeting Room.
"No helping it. The Captain's Meeting can only end here!"
Yamamoto said helplessly.
"As for the disciplinary action against Ichimaru Gin, everyone will be notified later. All divisions, immediately return to your positions and defend the Seireitei!"
"Meeting adjourned!!"
Then, the Captains all turned to leave.
While leaving, Aizen seemed to unintentionally walk beside Toshiro.
As the two passed by Gin, Aizen suddenly spoke. "The alarm sounded quite timely, didn't it?"
"Ara, what are you talking about? I don't understand, Captain Aizen."
Gin said, his eyes narrowed.
"Do you think you can get away with this?"
"You must not underestimate me!"
Aizen said righteously with his back to Gin.
Looking at Aizen's demeanor at this moment, anyone unaware would think he was a hero determined to fight evil forces to the end.
Watching the two of them acting so earnestly beside him, Toshiro really wanted to say: Your acting is so exaggerated!
Deliberately saying these things next to Toshiro was clearly to arouse his suspicion.
And in the original work, Toshiro did indeed fall for it, believing there was something wrong with Gin.
However, in reality, there was something wrong with Gin, but the biggest problem was Aizen, the mastermind.
Now, knowing the truth, watching the two of them act, Toshiro felt completely unmoved and even somewhat amused.
But seeing them putting so much effort into their performance, Toshiro decided to play along.
So, after hearing Aizen's words, Toshiro immediately pretended to look at Gin with a suspicious and doubtful expression.
Seeing Toshiro's expression, Aizen and Gin ended their performance satisfactorily and then left separately.
'Hmm, since the play is over, I should head back too.'
Toshiro thought to himself.
Afterwards, Toshiro also walked out, preparing to return to the 10th Division and lead his members to guard against the 'intruders'.
Just as Toshiro stepped out of the Captain's Meeting Room, he saw Rangiku waiting for him outside.
"Ah, Captain, you're finally out. The Captains and Lieutenants from the other divisions have already left."
Rangiku said, sounding a bit impatient from waiting.
"Oh, that? I was watching a play just now, so I came out a bit late."
Toshiro said somewhat casually.
"A play?"
Rangiku asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing. Let's go back, Rangiku."
Toshiro didn't mention Aizen's matter to Rangiku.
"Um... Captain, I heard you had a conflict with Gin during the Captain's Meeting just now?"
On the way back to the 10th Division, Rangiku suddenly asked hesitantly.
Earlier, while waiting for Toshiro, Rangiku overheard a few Captains who had left the meeting saying Toshiro and Gin had clashed.
Rangiku originally wanted to ask Gin personally if he was hurt or anything, but when Gin saw Rangiku approaching, he turned and left immediately, giving her no chance.
"Hmm, Ichimaru Gin injured Jidanbo and also provoked me during the Captain's Meeting. So I gave him a little taste of my power."
Toshiro explained.
"Then... is Gin... is he alright?"
Rangiku immediately asked with concern.
"What? Worried about your sweetheart? Don't you know how to worry about me a bit?"
Toshiro said somewhat unhappily.
Although he knew Rangiku and Gin liked each other, and Rangiku worrying about Gin was normal, Toshiro still felt inexplicably displeased.
It wasn't that Toshiro had any particular feelings for Rangiku. But as her Captain, after clashing with the person she liked, hearing her express concern for Gin's safety right in front of him naturally made Toshiro somewhat dissatisfied.
"Ah, Captain, it's not that I'm not concerned about you. But your strength… I know it well. In the entire Soul Society, aside from the Captain-Commander, who could possibly be your match? Gin is a Captain too, but how could he possibly be your opponent?"
Rangiku quickly shook Toshiro's arm, 'acting cute'.
"Well, that's true. That guy Gin is definitely no match for me."
Toshiro said somewhat proudly.
"So, what happened to Gin exactly?"
Rangiku continued asking.
"Don't worry. Your sweetheart is fine. I just intimidated him with my Reiatsu earlier. I didn't actually attack."
Toshiro said.
"Thank you, Captain!"
Rangiku said sincerely.
Rangiku understood very well that her Captain was someone who highly valued his friends. This time, Gin had injured Jidanbo, and the fact that Toshiro could restrain himself from directly attacking was probably partly due to consideration for her, not wanting to put her in a difficult position.
In fact, Rangiku wasn't wrong. The reason Toshiro didn't directly attack at the time wasn't just because he couldn't act recklessly during a Captain's Meeting… part of it was indeed to avoid making Rangiku feel torn.
"Alright, Rangiku, no need for thanks. I'll let it go this time. Next time he provokes someone close to me, I won't let it slide so easily."
Toshiro said with a serious expression.
"Hmm, I understand, Captain."
Rangiku nodded.
"Hey... Rangiku."
Toshiro suddenly said.
"What is it, Captain? Whenever you call me by my name directly, it's never good news."
Rangiku said with a wary expression.
"If... if one day Gin were to stand against the Soul Society... what would you choose?"
Toshiro looked at Rangiku and asked.
Hearing this, Rangiku's body stiffened. Then, with a solemn expression, she said, "Captain, I am the Lieutenant of the 10th Division. I am now, and will be in the future. As long as you don't remove me, I will always be your Lieutenant."
"Is that so?"
Toshiro couldn't help but smile.
"Let's go, Rangiku. Let's return to the 10th Division."