Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

"This curry block is made from a base of grasshoppers and earthworms, mixed with animal fat and seasonings before processing."

"You dissolve it in hot water at a 1:3 ratio, heat it up, and voilà! That's the ideal consistency."

"As for the flavor, the captain has already tested it. He says it's close to pork curry. Once we confirm there are no side effects, we might even consider releasing it to the market."

"This one here is made with…"

As Akon enthusiastically described Squad Twelve's exclusive culinary creations, Seiya could barely hold his tray steady, his hands trembling.

"Wait, wait, wait… You're saying it hasn't been confirmed safe yet?!"

Akon chuckled, seemingly unfazed, and ladled a generous helping of the curry onto Seiya's plate.

"Relax—it's not lethal."

That's not comforting at all!

Seiya grimaced but mustered his resolve, pinching his nose as he ate just enough to feel semi-full.

Akon, on the other hand, appeared to have no qualms, happily devouring his food with gusto.

"Seiya-kun, have you decided where you'll go after graduation?"

The sudden question caught Seiya off guard. He paused briefly before responding.

"Not yet… Why do you ask?"

"Oh, it's nothing major. I just thought, if possible, you might consider joining Squad Twelve."

Seiya forced an awkward smile, letting out a dry laugh.

Why does this topic haunt me everywhere I go?

Noticing his discomfort, Akon hesitated, then offered an apologetic expression.

"My apologies if I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean to make you feel pressured, Seiya-kun."

"It's fine. Honestly, I appreciate the candid conversation. It's meaningful."

Seiya took a sip of the specialty red tea they had served and couldn't help but let curiosity creep into his voice.

"Still… Akon-san, why would you want me to join Squad Twelve?"

"Ah, drop the 'san.' Just Akon is fine," he said with a smile before continuing, "I've heard the captain mention you a few times. Probably because of your connection to Lady Yoruichi."

"Captain Urahara often complains that the squad is full of dull, old-fashioned folks…"

Akon's expression softened with a touch of regret.

"But honestly, that can't be helped. Many of us come from the Maggot's Nest. There are plenty of people here who aren't great with words or have physical impairments."

"Even so, the captain vouched for us. He understood us and gave us a chance."

Akon's voice carried an undertone of gratitude.

"Frankly, I owe the captain a lot. So, when I see him struggling with the squad's morale, I feel like it's my duty to do something to help."

He then offered Seiya a sheepish grin.

"I figured if someone like you, Seiya-kun, joined us, it'd bring the captain some joy."

Seiya nodded, his expression thoughtful.

"That's a very straightforward reason."

"That's all it is, so please don't take it too seriously."

Seiya could see the sincerity in Akon's words. Urahara had clearly done a lot for him and others in Squad Twelve, fostering loyalty in even the most unlikely of individuals.

"Still, it's quite the compliment to be considered. But I'll need to discuss it with Aizen-sensei before making any decisions."

"That's more than enough, Seiya-kun. Thank you for considering it. And for today, lunch is on me!"

"Well, thanks, then!"

Akon chuckled and pointed toward another serving station.

"They've also got artificial meatballs and drinkable plant extracts—brand-new additions. Want to give them a shot?"

The names alone sound incredibly dubious…

"No, I think I'm good," Seiya replied quickly.

As their conversation progressed, Seiya found himself warming up to Akon.

While they weren't close enough to call each other friends, the man's straightforwardness and sincerity left a positive impression.

The original story barely scratched the surface with characters like him, huh?

For all his future accomplishments, Akon's portrayal had been relatively one-dimensional. Meeting him in person painted a far richer picture.

"Seiya-kun, you seem pretty close to Aizen-sensei. Is that by his choice?"

"No, it's mine," Seiya said confidently. "He's my mentor, after all. I rely on him for guidance."

"Is that so… The captain has mentioned that Aizen-san is quite remarkable. But he always seems… distant, like he's keeping himself apart from others."

Urahara really shared that much with his subordinates?

Seiya raised a brow at the revelation, guessing it reflected Urahara's deep trust in Akon.

"It's good that you're with him now, though. I'm sure Aizen-san appreciates your companionship. Finding like-minded individuals is rare—meeting one is already a stroke of luck."

Seiya felt a shiver run down his spine.

Why do these compliments feel so intense?

He chuckled nervously. "But I don't have much aptitude for research…"

"That's fine. You can learn as you go—it's not that difficult."

Is research really that easy?

"For example, our squad's vice-captain doesn't even…" Akon began but abruptly stopped, his gaze shifting toward the entrance.

"Oh, speak of the devil."

Seiya followed his line of sight and saw a fiery figure storm into the cafeteria.

"Where's that Urahara idiot hiding?!"

The shout rang out, sharp and furious.

The speaker was a petite woman, no taller than 1.4 meters, with golden hair tied into a high ponytail and freckled cheeks. Her sharp grin revealed a pair of prominent canines.

She wore the standard Shinigami uniform, her left shoulder adorned with Squad Twelve's insignia.

Without hesitation, she grabbed a nearby researcher by the collar and lifted him clean off his chair.

"Hey! Tell me where that baldy is!"

"I—I don't know! I'm just here to eat!"

Even without an introduction, Seiya immediately recognized her.

Hiyori Sarugaki.

She was brash, loud, and confrontational—completely at odds with the composed demeanor of most others in the room.

Watching her antics, Seiya sighed inwardly. Why am I not surprised?

Akon stood, visibly irritated, and approached her.

"Hiyori, what are you doing now?"

"I'm looking for that idiot Urahara! Where is he?"

"We're in public. Show some respect and address him as 'Captain.'"

"Ha?! I haven't acknowledged him as my captain yet! And I'm the vice-captain! Vice. Captain! You should be addressing me properly, too!"

"If you dislike it so much, then quit your position."

"No way!"

Seiya winced at their argument.

Loud. So loud.

Hiyori's explosive personality was grating, to say the least. She was the complete opposite of Isane—calm and caring.

Seiya decided it might be best to leave the cafeteria before things got worse.

But as he turned, he felt a sudden tug on his sleeve.

Huh?

Looking down, he saw a small figure peering up at him from beneath the table.

"…"

"…"

For a moment, the two simply stared at each other.

Then Seiya's mind raced. Wait… Why is this kid here?

The child in question was unmistakable: short, round-faced, with wide eyes and dressed in a white swaddling outfit.

She looked barely strong enough to stand but was gripping Seiya's sleeve with surprising tenacity.

Her appearance was undeniably familiar.

This has to be… Nemu?!

The artificial Shinigami created through Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Nemuri Project—but this couldn't be right. The timeline didn't add up.

Had the project already advanced this far under Urahara's leadership?

Before Seiya could process his thoughts, the child wobbled forward, tottering closer to his side.

Standing on tiptoes, she clutched the table's edge, lifting her small head just enough to peek at the remaining curry on his plate.

Her large, dark eyes sparkled with a clear intent.

Then she dropped back down, turning to Seiya with an expectant expression.

She pointed to her open mouth with one hand.

"Ah~"

…Seriously?