Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

Watching the child in front of him open her mouth wide, Seiya couldn't help but feel a wave of awkwardness wash over him.

What is this? Are you the mouse from Tom and Jerry, Jerry's little nephew Tuffy?

And it's clear she doesn't understand a word I'm saying!

While Seiya was still puzzling over what to do, an unfamiliar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Ah, I see. Her favorite insect curry must have sold out, so now she's attempting to procure it from someone else."

The calm yet slightly unsettling tone sent a chill down Seiya's spine. He turned his gaze toward the source of the voice.

Standing nearby was a man holding a tray, wearing a white coat.

His skin was deathly pale, his features devoid of warmth. His short blue hair was slicked back like a meticulously groomed lawn.

At the sides of his head were strange conical devices, and a streak of black makeup stretched from his temple across his eyes.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Mayuri's gaze never fell on Seiya. Instead, it remained fixed on the child struggling to balance herself nearby.

"Fascinating," Mayuri muttered, his lips curling into a grotesque grin.

"She hasn't been formally trained to interact with others, yet her instinctive desires are compelling her to take action, seeking her goal through contact with others."

"Very good. Humans often resort to any means necessary for survival. Even this slight proactive behavior is a promising sign."

"Perhaps it's time to move to the next phase of her development."

Seiya watched as Mayuri made a dramatic gesture with his right hand, extending it toward the little girl.

"Come now. As a reward, I'll have the kitchen prepare a special batch of insect curry for you."

The girl's eyes lit up with unmistakable delight.

Yep, she's exactly like Tuffy…

She hesitated for a moment, clearly tempted to move toward Mayuri. But instead, she took a few steps back and gestured at Seiya with her small hand.

…What does that mean? Waving goodbye? Is she that polite?

"She's telling you to lower your head, idiot," Mayuri interjected without a shred of patience.

Huh? Really?

Still confused, Seiya obediently bent down, lowering his head toward the child.

In an instant, he felt a sharp tug on his scalp.

"Ow…"

Rubbing his head as he straightened back up, Seiya saw the girl holding one of his long hairs. Her face radiated childlike joy, as though she had just discovered a dandelion.

Hair, huh?

Seiya glanced at the strand she had taken. He had been taking good care of his hair lately, washing it thoroughly during baths and eating well, so it did seem healthy and shiny.

Mayuri, however, looked less than impressed. His initial enthusiasm vanished, replaced by a scornful sneer.

"Seriously? She's only interested in that idiot's hair? My opinion of you just plummeted, you useless brat."

With his interest extinguished, Mayuri turned to leave.

"Uh… Excuse me," Seiya called out tentatively.

Mayuri stopped but didn't fully turn around, his tone flat and dismissive.

"What? Are you curious about my brilliant plans? If it's not about that, don't bother—I'm not interested in idle chatter, Seiya Arima."

Wow, way to shut down a conversation.

Still, that wasn't what bothered Seiya.

Raising his hand, he pointed at his own face, curiosity evident in his voice.

"How do you know my name?"

"There's been a lot of talk about you in Squad Twelve. After all, it's not every day a student defeats a lieutenant in direct combat."

Was that… a compliment? Seiya raised an eyebrow. Before he could respond, Mayuri's lips curled into another disdainful smirk.

"Then again…"

"I'm not interested in people like you. A muscle-brained gorilla with no sense of aesthetics or understanding of research. People like you wouldn't grasp anything truly fascinating in this lifetime—or the next."

"I am Mayuri Kurotsuchi. I'm sure you'll hear my name plenty once you join the Gotei 13… Don't pretend you don't know me when the time comes, mortal."

Wow, this guy's even more arrogant than I thought.

Seiya wasn't surprised by Mayuri's sharp tongue—it was exactly as he expected. Still, hearing it firsthand was another matter.

No wonder his reputation in the original story was so awful. Compared to Aizen-sensei, this guy is night and day.

But Seiya wasn't overly concerned about Mayuri's opinion.

After some curt remarks, Mayuri escorted the child to the kitchen, likely to arrange for her special curry.

Around them, Squad Twelve's members seemed entirely unbothered by the scene, as though this sort of thing happened often.

Seiya sighed, watching as the little girl glanced back at him one last time. He gave her a warm smile, thinking to himself.

She's far easier to deal with than her "father." Leaving a good impression can't hurt.

"I'm sorry, Seiya-kun…"

Akon approached him, looking apologetic.

"Having a guest see all this chaos—truly, I must apologize."

Seiya waved him off with a smile.

"It's fine. I'm sure it's more of a headache for you than for me."

He glanced toward the distant ruckus.

Hiyori really is more short-tempered than I thought.

The vice-captain was busy snapping at her subordinates, her sharp words cutting through the air. She was loud, impulsive, and utterly unrestrained.

No wonder the researchers are terrified of her.

After finishing his meal, Seiya spent the afternoon trying his hand at some simple lab work. With Akon's guidance, he sorted materials and observed basic processes, which proved to be an intriguing experience.

By late afternoon, around four o'clock, Aizen and Urahara emerged from their private discussion.

The two rejoined Seiya and exchanged polite farewells with the Squad Twelve staff before heading back.

As they walked, Aizen led the way while Seiya followed close behind.

After about thirty minutes of silence, Aizen spoke without turning around.

"So, Seiya-kun. How was today's experience?"

Seiya thought for a moment before scratching his cheek and replying.

"To be honest, I don't have much aptitude for research, so a lot of it went over my head…"

From a beginner's perspective, claiming the day had been "enlightening" would be a stretch.

"But I did feel that most people were pretty welcoming."

Well, aside from a few extreme cases…

"Is that so? That's more than enough."

Aizen slowed his pace, falling into step beside Seiya. His usual calm smile hadn't wavered.

"After all, even the Gotei 13, despite its duty-driven façade, cannot escape the web of personal relationships and organizational dynamics. Building connections with people like those in Squad Twelve will undoubtedly benefit you in the future."

Seiya nodded, his heart warming slightly.

Aizen-sensei really does care about my growth, doesn't he?

But then Aizen's next question caught him off guard.

"Seiya-kun, what do you think of Captain Urahara?"

"Huh?"

The question was abrupt, but Seiya quickly collected his thoughts.

"Well… Captain Urahara seems kind and approachable. He strikes me as a bit of a people-pleaser, the type who's good at connecting with others. As far as captains go, he's probably seen as a nice guy…"

Midway through his response, Seiya paused.

Wait. That sounds just like Aizen-sensei!

His eyes widened slightly as he looked up at Aizen, who was now smiling knowingly.

"Realizing something, Seiya-kun?"

"Uh… maybe a little…"

"Do I remind you of Captain Urahara?"

"W-Well… a bit, yeah."

Aizen chuckled softly.

"But the world doesn't produce identical personalities, Seiya-kun. Just as no two fingerprints are the same, people's natures are unique. So tell me…"

"Do you think the problem lies with me or with Captain Urahara?"

"Or…"

Aizen stopped walking, his smile still in place, though the air around him grew subtly heavier.

"Is it possible that both Urahara and I are simply pretending to be this way?"

Seiya froze, staring at Aizen in confusion.

Aizen's eyes, hidden behind his glasses, glinted with an unfamiliar intensity.

"Seiya-kun, have you ever considered the possibility that my kindness, my approachable demeanor, and my eagerness to teach… are all just a façade?"

"And what if…"

"…I'm actually someone with a terrible personality, difficult to deal with, and utterly insincere?"