One Year Period

After Muyang left, Aranmaru Shishin turned at Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō and recalled what Muyang said earlier. From his tone, Aranmaru Shishin realized that Muyang didn't seem to be joking, and since Muyang said it himself, this student of his might be truly exceptional. He was excited when knowing that his student might become a Captain one day!

"You heard that, Rose? Work hard and live up to our expectations!"

Aranmaru Shishin patted Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō's shoulders with a solemn expression, which made Rose feel unnecessary pressure. Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō himself wondered whether he really was as talented as the Shinigami earlier said. He didn't know who that Shinigami was at first, but he managed to figure it out during their brief exchange.

Kimura Muyang! A well-known name in Shin'ō Academy. He was the living legend who graduated in less than one year and immediately joined Gotei 13 as the 12th Division's Lieutenant immediately after graduation, a feat that was merely a dream for most people. Some people even considered becoming a Lieutenant was their lifelong goal, yet Muyang achieved that right after graduation. Everyone believed that it was only a matter of time before he became a Captain. And that living legend praised his potential!

Rose clenched his fist and psyched himself up. If such an amazing person said it himself, he must be able to rise to the top as long as he worked hard.

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"bang!"

"Ouch! What the hell, Hiyori!" Muyang held his nose in pain and glared at Hiyori.

"Hmph ~" Hiyori put down the tray in her hand and gave Muyang a disgruntled look. "If you still have the gall to disappear without letting us know and pretend like you're innocent, then you deserve that one!"

"Hey, isn't that going too far? I'm just away for a few days. Besides, I already told Kirio-san, and you were sleeping." Muyang tried to explain after seeing Hiyori was clearly annoyed.

"But you sure have gotten cheeky during the last few days I'm not here, huh, Hiyori?

Hiyori was slightly frightened this time when she noticed Muyang was at his limit, and then she turned her gaze away with folded hands like a typical tsundere and said: "Hmph, it's not just me. Everyone said they would teach you a lesson for not telling us a word."

"Everyone..." Hirako and everyone else's smiling face popped up in his mind.

"Wipe that grin off your face, idiot Kimura! It's disgusting."

Several veins on Muyang's forehead bulged, "why, you little...!"

"Your smile is just so creepy that I can't help myself. Ahhh, don't tell me you're having any indecent thoughts about Lisa!" Hiyori suddenly pointed at Muyang with a disgusted look on her face while taking several steps back.

"bang!"

Muyang immediately smacked Hiyori on the head and then said as he watched Hiyori seemed annoyed while covering her head: "Just what the hell are you thinking in that little head of yours?"

"You little... Why did you hit me on the head? What are you gonna do if I don't get any taller? And don't treat me like a kid!"

Muyang then went straight to the Captain's Office, ignoring Hiyori, who was glaring at him.

"Knock knock knock."

"Come in."

After observing Muyang from top to bottom, Hikifune Kirio nodded in satisfaction

"It seems that everything is sorted out."

"Yeah."

"That's good," seeing the doubt in Muyang's eyes finally cleared up, Hikifune Kirio got a little bit emotional, "It seems that you have matured a lot in the last few days!"

"It can't be helped. Some things just force us to mature as soon as possible." Muyang's tone was also somewhat emotional.

Hiyori looked back and forth between Muyang and Hikifune Kirio without a clue of what they were talking about, which obviously irritated her.

"With this, my Lieutenant can work peacefully."

Hikifune Kirio said teasingly.

Hearing Hikifune Kirio's words, Muyang had this complicated look on his face, as if he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Don't tell me you still have another business!" Hikifune Kirio had a bad feeling when she saw the complicated look on Muyang's face.

"It's more of Captain-Commander rather than me, actually!" Muyang immediately explained when he noticed Hikifune Kirio seemed worried.

"Captain-Commander?" Hikifune Kirio asked with a frown on her face: "Captain-Commander entrusted you with a task? Now, you shouldn't use Captain-Commander's name as an excuse. Even if Captain-Commander does have a particular task to be carried out, he will leave it to the Captains, not a Lieutenant."

"Wha... I'm not stupid enough to use Captain-Commander's name as an excuse, Kirio-san!" Muyang immediately explained, "besides, there's no way I'd lie to you, Kirio-san. Captain-Commander did leave me with a task."

From Muyang's tone, Hikifune Kirio believed that Muyang wasn't lying and reluctantly asked, "do you mind telling me?"

If it was a confidential matter, Hikifune Kirio had no right to ask, even if she was a Captain.

"Of course not." Muyang glanced at Hikifune Kirio, wondering whether she'd be upset if he told her. "Captain-Commander asked me to learn Bankai within a year."

"What!" It was Hiyori who was surprised the most, "Asking you to learn Bankai within a year!? Isn't that too much to ask? It's only been a few years since Kimura join our Division!"

"Bankai?" Hikifune Kirio was also surprised that Captain-Commander actually ordered Muyang to do that. "Within a year?"

"Well... yeah" Muyang was anxious as Hikifune Kirio barely showed any reaction. He was afraid that she was upset.

Isn't Captain-Commander being rash here? Only a year? However, it was also a fact that the 5th Division, 7th Division, and 10th Division had no Captain now. And even though the 11th Division's Lieutenant was promoted to Captain he wasn't really worthy of the name 'Kenpachi'. Soul Society was really vulnerable now, so it couldn't be helped if Captain-Commander was so anxious.

Hikifune Kirio came back to her senses after being so deep in thought. She couldn't help but chuckle when she saw Muyang. Even though he has matured, he hasn't grown up at all!

"What are you so afraid of?" Hikifune Kirio teased, "Don't tell me you're afraid that I'd get upset."

Hikifune Kirio was surprised when she saw the look on Muyang's face. She seemed to hit the mark even though she was just teasing him

"You really are such a... This is a good news, why would I be upset?"

"It's just that I'd feel upset if I put myself in your shoes. I thought you'd be upset since the man you recruited personally may leave after only a few years."

"Good grief." After hearing Muyang's explanation, Hikifune Kirio seemed to have mixed feelings, "You know, seeing your subordinates' growth is the most satisfying thing for a Captain. Instead of getting upset over losing my excellent men, I should be happy for his growth."

Muyang prentended to understand and nodded, but Hikifune Kirio noticed this and said: "You may find this confusing now, but you will eventually understand the responsibility and awareness as a Captain."

"Okay, get going with your training. I'll leave the Division affairs to 3rd Seat Suitaku and it seems that I will have to pick a new Lieutenant."

Hikifune Kirio quickly got up and patted Muyang's shoulder after seeing him felt responsible, "It's okay, 3rd Seat Suitaku will handle the Division affairs just fine. Besides, there's no need to feel responsible for this because your task is more important than some Division affairs."