Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 91, Section 90: An Unresponsive Burning Emotion

Soul Society, the barracks of the First Division of Seireitei, have returned here once again.

Along the way, Higashino Shuichi couldn't help but admire Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's resilience.

After he simply used his Zanpakuto to reply, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's left ankle, which had been burned by the flames of his Zanpakuto, was already able to walk normally.

That's really inhuman.

Higashino was so envious of this talent that he was practically drooling.

Immediately afterwards, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni lifted his guard against Higashino Shuichi.

At least based on his performance just now, Higashino Shuichi doesn't seem to be unable to control that power like Maki Kurato.

If the idea of ​​the Kabuto family could be realized, it might not be such a bad thing.

However, after Higashino Shuichi left, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni pondered for a long time alone in the captain's lounge, and finally sighed and sent away a Hell Butterfly.

On the other side, when he came out of the First Division, it was already late. Higashino originally wanted to go to the Fourth Division to report and see if his gentle older sister captain was thinking of him, but he could not give up and went back to his home first.

Tonight, for Matsumoto Rangiku, should have been just another ordinary night. After finishing her work for the day, she went to her usual izakaya in the first ward of West Rukongai, bought a few jugs of sake, and then returned home.

This house is, of course, the same one that Higashino Shuichi bought in the second ward of West Rukongai.

Since Higashino Shuichi's disappearance was confirmed, the house has been implicitly considered to belong to Matsumoto Rangiku.

As everyone knows, after Matsumoto Rangiku was rescued from Rukongai by Higashino Shuichi, the two lived together. Although Higashino Shuichi never publicly revealed the nature of his relationship with Matsumoto Rangiku, everyone understood the unspoken agreement.

"Lord Shuichi, you certainly didn't die in Hueco Mundo like they said, right? How could a Shinigami as excellent as you die in a place like that? I don't believe it."

It was another solitary drinking session. Matsumoto Rangiku sat alone on the second floor, opposite the seat that Higashino Shuichi used to sit in, and got quite drunk.

She has always stubbornly believed that the day Higashino Shuichi pulled her, Gin Ichimaru, Shusuke Kisaragi, and others together, saying "Soul Society is so big, I want to go and see it," was just an excuse.

In fact, Higashino Shuichi knew all along that he might not return, so he didn't want his people to worry and be sad for him.

but
"You bastard! Don't you know that this only makes things more painful!"

"I haven't even repaid the debt of saving my life yet."

"You promised you'd drink with me forever! You liar!"

After getting drunk, Matsumoto Rangiku became somewhat incoherent, and her eyes were glazed over.

Suddenly, she felt as if a familiar figure had appeared opposite her.

"Lord Xiuyi? Heh. I've had too much to drink again."

Matsumoto Rangiku reached out and swept her hand forward.

This wasn't the first time she'd had this hallucination. After countless disappointments, she had come to terms with reality: her beloved Xiuichi would never return.

However, this time was a little different; her left hand, which she wanted to sweep away the illusion, suddenly had a real tactile sensation.

"This is."

This sudden feeling instantly jolted Matsumoto Rangiku awake from her drunken stupor.

Immediately following was my heart pounding.

"I'm sorry, Rangiku. I didn't expect my disappearance to cause you so much trouble."

The phantom opposite me—no, the one I've been longing for day and night—has actually spoken!

It was the same familiar voice, the same familiar tone.

She remains as gentle and captivating as ever.

"Show a great person"

Matsumoto Rangiku propped herself up with her other hand, the two majestic mountains hanging upside down uncontrollably. She still found it hard to believe this reality; she had only ever seen such a scene in her dreams before.

"Um"

Higashino Shuichi gently grasped Matsumoto Rangiku's outstretched left hand and softly responded.

But this sound seemed to open a valve in Matsumoto Rangiku's heart.

"Sir Xiuichi!"

Higashino felt a soft jade enter his arms, and the huge, soft thing pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"I knew you'd be alright, sir! I knew it!"

For the first time, Matsumoto Rangiku, who was always strong, shed tears in front of Higashino Shuichi.

This was also the first time that Higashino Shuichi had felt the intense feelings this girl had for him.

He let Matsumoto Rangiku weep in his arms, and let her lean down and tell him about her experiences over the past few years.

Higashino Shuichi slowly closed his outstretched arms until he completely embraced the girl.

As if sensing the sense of security brought by that familiar embrace, Matsumoto Rangiku, who had been rambling on about everything, gradually fell asleep in Higashino Shuichi's arms, reeking of alcohol.

However, she still held onto Higashino Shuichi tightly with both hands, as if she was afraid that this was just a dream and that Higashino Shuichi would leave when she woke up.

"But I'm really sorry."

Feeling the even breathing of the girl in his arms, Higashino looked at Matsumoto Rangiku with a complicated expression and said softly.

He could understand Matsumoto Rangiku's feelings for him.

Romantic love may exist, gratitude certainly exists, and familial love may also exist.

As for the proportions, who has more and who has less, Higashino Shuichi couldn't say for sure or guess; only Matsumoto Rangiku himself would know.

But Higashino Shuichi knew that he was incapable of reciprocating Matsumoto Rangiku's feelings in his current state.

Just like Gin Ichimaru, who knew what he had to do, he always tried to avoid his feelings for Rangiku Matsumoto.

They are all people who don't know what the future holds, especially Shuichi Higashino. Now, he has countless deaths on his hands, and he has changed the plot too much.

Unknown enemies and unknown plots bring unknown risks.

If it were just Higashino Shuichi alone, he would be fearless, but if he were to bring Matsumoto Rangiku along, he might face obstacles at every turn.

Although it's a bit unfair to say this, Matsumoto Rangiku has indeed found it difficult to keep up with me after I took away the Soul King's nail fragment.

The path that Shuichi Higashino will take in the future is destined to be extremely arduous and fraught with difficulties.

He doesn't yet have the strength or the resources to confidently guarantee that he can protect someone's safety.

Maintaining a certain distance from Matsumoto Rangiku, allowing her to remain in Soul Society, would at least guarantee her safety for the remaining hundred years or so.

This is the best way to protect Matsumoto Rangiku.

Therefore, even though he was already moved by Matsumoto Rangiku tonight, Higashino Shuichi ultimately only chose to give Matsumoto Rangiku a light kiss on the forehead, and then, as usual, carried her back to the bedroom, gently placed her on the bed, and then covered her with a blanket.

After finishing all this, Higashino Shuichi returned to the living room and cleaned up the floor that Matsumoto Rangiku had messed up.

It wasn't until the moon climbed above the treetops and a black cat landed on the living room windowsill that Higashino Shuichi's tidying of the house came to an abrupt halt.

"Is Captain Shihouin's information network this efficient?"

Higashino Shuichi was somewhat surprised by the appearance of the black cat, but his long-standing habits allowed him to maintain a facade of composure and not show any emotional fluctuations.

(End of this chapter)