Chapter 174 173: Evidence of Character

It was more than an hour after I left the Kuchiki family mansion.

Considering that he had indeed solved a troublesome matter today, Arima Shizuya's expression was quite relaxed.

This feeling even infected the two people around him.

Kyoraku Shunsui stared at Arima Shizuya's side face and said with a smile at this moment.

"It looks like it was successful, right?"

Without waiting for the other party to respond, Ukitake Jushiro took advantage of the situation and spoke.

"Even if it's not, there should be some progress."

——How did you two know?

"After all, Arima, your mood is written on your face~ It's so clear at a glance."

"Well... Mr. Yamamoto also said this once."

Arima Shizuya touched his cheek thoughtfully, and finally showed a helpless expression.

Is it because of this 'boring' reason?

"Is it that obvious?"

Faced with the self-doubt of the captain of the fifth division, the two people beside him laughed.

"Well~ there's nothing wrong with it, right? After all, everyone doesn't hate it."

"I think this is Arima-kun's characteristic, and the fifth team has also been very popular recently."

Forty years in business.

It was Shizuya Arima's friendly image that made him famous among the Mao Spiritual Arts Academy.

Nowadays, there are quite a lot of people applying for the exam every year, and it can even be said to be the most popular team in the second tier.

Of course - several veteran teams with high status and few affairs are naturally unbeatable.

The three of them left the Kuchiki family's mansion together. At the fork in the road, Kyoraku Shunsui stopped Arima Shizuya who was about to say goodbye.

"Now that things are over, do you want to go have a drink or two?"

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and made a simple gesture in front of his mouth.

"Tomorrow is a day off anyway, so it doesn't matter even if you drink till you break. In addition, there is a new show by a popular actress... Arima-kun, it's better not to miss it."

As in literally instigating.

This made Ukitake Jushiro look a little unhappy.

"Chun Shui, it's better to say less if you're so careless."

The latter waved his hand without looking back, and the expression on his face was even more relaxed.

"Don't worry~ Arima-kun's vice-captain is a very capable newcomer. And the person on my side is not an ordinary person, after all..."

"Captain Jingraku!"

Literally every word.

With an indescribable resentment and serious attitude, Kyōraku Shunsui, who was originally full of frivolity, showed an embarrassed expression at this moment.

This voice is...

The three captains turned their heads and saw someone slowly emerging from the shadows in the corner.

Black hair, glasses.

He has a dignified appearance and a slender figure.

At this moment, he raised his right hand and used his fingertips to straighten the frame on his cheek.

Ise Nanao.

Compared with forty years ago, the other party's appearance seemed more intellectual and generous.

Just like the feeling of being a lady in the literal sense, it is the intuitive feeling given by the other party at this moment.

It's just that the other person's expression is too deep.

It was as exaggerated as the executioner on the execution ground - the current momentum was so strong that the three people present were unable to say a word.

"Captain Kyōband! Please repeat what you just said!"

"...Ah, haha! Why is Nanao-chan in a place like this? Girls can't run around outside in the evening~"

"Are you going to put down all the work in the team again and just enjoy yourself and drink flower wine?!"

"No, that..."

"As the captain of the eighth division, where is your sense of confidentiality?"

"Well……"

"Or do you actually despise this job at all?"

"Feel sorry……"

Like an eggplant beaten by frost.

Kyoraku Shunsui took two steps forward, until he stood behind Ise Nanao.

You are obviously the vice-captain, but your temperament at this time has completely suppressed your own captain-Ise Nanao. Now you...

So powerful!

The compromise made by the Captain of the Eighth Division also seemed to improve Ise Nanao's mood.

Her expression visibly relaxed, and when she turned her head again and looked at Ukitake Jushiro, she looked apologetic.

Put your hands together in front of you and keep your back straight.

Ise Nanao made a slight forward movement.

"I'm sorry, Captain Kyōband said something that bothered you."

Ukitake is not a serious character, let alone such playful behavior?

"No, no, I don't take it to heart at all... Quite the opposite, actually. Miss Ise, you did a great job!"

It can be seen that the two of them have some resonance...

As for Arima Shizuya.

However, Ise Nanao did not turn her head to look this way. She just kept her sideways movements and said in a calm tone.

"Captain Arima, you too... I made you laugh."

……Um?

Why are you treating me differently?

This strange feeling is too prominent and obvious. So much so that the Captain of Division 13, who looked stunned, was aware of it.

Arima Shizuya and Ukitake looked around with wide eyes. Before the person involved could say anything, Kyoraku Shunsui's laughter arrived.

"Oh, I'm really ashamed. I was scolded by the deputy captain in the street... I almost had to wipe my tears under the quilt when I went to bed at night."

"So, it would be outrageous to continue like this. It's better to go back to work earlier."

"Ukitake, Arima. I'm sorry, it seems we can only make an appointment next time~"

He lowered his straw hat and patted Ise Nanao's shoulder with his big, generous hand.

"Nanao-chan, say hello to the two captains, it's time for us to leave."

The intellectual-looking woman came back to her senses slightly and lowered her head at this moment.

"Captain Ukitake, Captain Arima... let's take our leave now!"

The figures of the two people, one behind the other, quickly disappeared.

Ukitake Jūshirō and Arima Shizuo also had bad luck, and the two also said goodbye at this moment.

When parting, Ukitake's eyes were quite playful... At this moment, he also glanced up and down at Shizuya Arima.

The person involved felt a little nervous after staring at him.

"Um...Captain Ukitake? What are you looking at?"

"Haha, it's nothing. Arima-kun, do you remember what Mr. Yamamoto told you before?"

The old man said a lot, and at this time, it was naturally impossible to say whether he had forgotten it or not.

"You boy, you are a woman in trouble."

…

Walking on the way back to the team.

Ise Nanao's expression always felt a little tense.

Although due to personal characteristics, she did not carry a sword...

But with his own level of Kidō, his current position as vice-captain has also been recognized by many team members.

Intellectual and decisive.

This is how many people evaluate her.

——As a leader, being able to work under Ise-senpai makes people feel at ease.

After all, the other captain of Division 8 seems to be very unreliable...

It's just that at this moment, this woman who is quite prestigious in the team looks very worried.

Jingraku Shunsui stared at the opponent's back, with a rather emotional expression on his stubbled face.

"Nanao-chan?"

"..."

"You look very lethargic. Is it because you're hungry?"

"..."

"I know an eel shop near here. Although the consumption level is not low, it's okay to spend money once in a while..."

I couldn't finish my words.

Because Ise Nanao suddenly stopped.

"Captain Kyōband! What do you want to say!"

Seeing the angry expression on the other side's face, Kyoryu Shunsui smiled helplessly.

Hmm...how to describe it.

The momentum is very strong and the tone is very aggressive.

But it's more like a self-defense behavior, like a hedgehog that has balled up its body.

There was no aggression at all, just a knee-jerk reaction out of self-defense.

"Well, Nanao-chan~ don't be so nervous at times like this. After all, our relationship shouldn't be so stiff, right?"

Ise Nanao's complexion improved a little, but her brows were still furrowed.

"What exactly do you want to say."

How to answer?

Adults will always launch a series of roundabout tactics on the premise of not losing face.

But if the target is one of your own, it's a good choice to be more willful occasionally and get straight to the point.

The corners of Jingraku Shunsui's mouth turned up.

"You still have a good impression of Captain Arima, right?"

"...?!!!"

Ise Nanao's breathing was obviously stagnant.

The whole person was so nervous that he unconsciously took more than half a step back.

While making fists with both hands, they subconsciously moved them to the chest and clenched them tightly.

The panic was visible to the naked eye - but it didn't last long.

Because Ise Nanao replied sharply as if she had come to her senses.

"Nonsense!"

"Yeah?"

Kyoraku Shunsui looked away, rubbed his chin with his free right hand, and said thoughtfully.

"Although I don't think that's the case, but... this wavering in itself is enough to explain the problem, right?"

They are all adults.

Just talking is of no use.

"We had some contact experiences in the academy. Later, because of the relationship between ghosts, we also had a lot of contact with each other, right?"

"Speaking of which, Nanao-chan can be regarded as the other party's Kidou senior, right? Then if we contact the other party for this reason, the reason will appear to be very legitimate."

"So maybe it's a good choice to be a little more cheerful sometimes?"

Nonsense!

Despite this in her heart, Ise Nanao was speechless.

Talking back is useless, and as for the rebuttal, the other party can't even listen to it.

So the best option is to shut up and act like you don't care...

She just frowned, closed her eyes, and shook her head gently.

"Please just treat this kind of thing as a joke after dinner."

Can't get it on the countertop.

Not even worth talking about.

Yes, my feelings are so meaningless.

"Ah~ This can't be done, Nanao-chan."

Giving up on yourself is not a good thing.

What's more.

"In order to make Nanao-chan happy, there are other people in this world who have made a lot of efforts that you can't see."

Visible and invisible.

Like a glacier, what floats on the surface is a thin illusion.

It is the deep entity that sinks in the shadows.

It's just a pity that Ise Nanao doesn't seem to be able to understand this feeling at this moment.

She gritted her teeth and subconsciously tried to break away... At the same time, she said rather stubbornly.

"This kind of..."

Unfortunately... the words have not yet finished.

Because at the same time, Ise Nanao saw the man in front of her.

At this moment, he showed a very rare expression.

Sad? Feeling uncomfortable?

have no choice? mercy?

Indescribable appearance...

Kyoraku Shunsui had maintained that cynical expression until now, but now he suddenly showed such a deep look.

Even Ise Nanao felt a little overwhelmed.

No matter how hard she spoke the words stuck in her throat, her intuition told her that they might hurt the man in front of her.

Don't want the other person to get hurt.

That’s all…

Ise Nanao took half a step back, looked away, and her tone became much gentler.

"I-I understand...I'm sorry, Captain Kyōband."

"Oh~ You're very obedient, very good, very good. This is the vice-captain of our eighth team. He can bend and stretch."

Seeing Kyōraku Shunsui changing back to his playful look, Ise Nanao couldn't help but feel dazed for a moment.

It's hard to imagine.

This man looks frivolous and wanton.

He actually showed that sad and delicate expression.

So which one is the real Kyoraku Shunsui?

Or is it like two swords of different lengths... the so-called two sides of one body, is the truth?

Not sure.

But there is no need to pursue it further.

The work experience of the Eighth Division, as well as what he saw and heard, gave Ise Nanao a kind of rational thinking instinct.

Just don’t know what you don’t know.

Just wait for time to weather the vines. When the brittle material slowly falls off, it will only be a matter of time before you can see the full picture.

Secrecy and seeking knowledge are not mutually exclusive. At this moment, Ise Nanao doesn't mind waiting patiently.

"Let's go, Captain Kyōband."

Seeing Ise Nanao return to her previous appearance, Kyoraku Shunsui's expression changed slightly.

--a little.

Just a little bit.

Compared to before, there has been some progress.

It's really touching. It turns out that watching the younger generation you watch grow up is such a heart-warming thing.

Although compared to the more dazzling guy, this flicker can't even be called 'dazzling'.

But it's enough.

Because the purpose is different, compared to strength, the secret buried deep under the flowers and trees is the most important thing.

Just...then again.

Big brother, big sister...

I……

Is it really the right thing to do?

However, this doubt cannot be answered after all. After all, the so-called adult is such a helpless title.

Self-dissolution, self-hypnosis.

Now that we are on this road, we can only believe that we are right.

There is no other way to find your own answer between confusion and stumbling.

While thinking, Jingraku Shunsui heard a familiar voice coming from in front of him.

"Have a meal……"

The decadent uncle came back to his senses slightly.

"Um?"

Ise Nanao stopped and turned her head half-way, with an indescribable awkwardness on her expression.

"That eel shop, is it delicious..."

Need to ask?

Kyoraku Shunsui smiled happily.

"As my character proves, I will definitely satisfy Nanao-chan~"

"That's really worrying, Captain Kyōband."