Compared to her older sister, Kotetsu Kiyone's temperament was far more lively and outgoing, always with that big, careless air about her.
And because the Fourth Division's vice-captain was her sister, she came here often enough, coming and going without much restriction.
Like Isane, she didn't live in the division barracks, but had her own home in Seireitei. Today, with the exchange meet leaving her with no extra work, she'd left the Thirteenth Division early and come here planning to go home with her sister.
She hadn't expected that the moment she opened the door, she would see something utterly unbelievable.
Her sister—locked in a tight embrace with Tachikawa Nobu.
"You… you two—"
She was so stunned she could hardly speak, then suddenly realized and quickly backed out of the office, shutting the door behind her.
"Sorry!"
Isane, still reeling from the thundering confusion in her chest after Nobu's confession, froze completely when their "moment" was interrupted.
She pushed Nobu away at once, standing there awkwardly, hands clenched tight, her face red as blood—radiant and wet as if it would drip.
Nobu could only sigh inwardly. A glance at the system interface showed her favorability score flickering wildly. Shame.
He'd been about to strike while the iron was hot—now, clearly, the heat was gone.
"Then, Yonee-san, I'll head off."
Isane was so embarrassed she wanted to find the nearest hole and vanish into it.
She didn't answer him, only kept her head bowed low.
Nobu turned and left the office. Outside, he found Kiyone standing there, her bright eyes blinking up at him, her face carrying a peculiar, knowing smile.
Kiyone's frame was even slighter than Rukia's, though she dressed in a tomboyish style—short, neat hair, full of spirited energy.
She might look like a petite loli, but in truth she was much older than Nobu.
From her perspective, if Tachikawa Nobu and her sister got together, it would be a good thing—first, because Nobu was more than good enough; second, because her sister had always been single, and having a partner would be nice.
Once Nobu had gone, Kiyone quietly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Isane's blush hadn't faded, though she had mostly gotten her composure back. She was sitting at her desk.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looks like I came at the wrong time," Kiyone said with a teasing grin. "Interrupting your big moment, sis."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Isane snapped, flustered. "We're not like that."
But her burning face made the denial utterly unconvincing.
Kiyone plopped into the seat across from her, eyes sparkling with interest. "Sis, when did it start? How far have you gotten? Kissed yet? 'That' yet? Are you planning to live together?"
The barrage of questions left Isane dizzy. She quickly cut her off: "I told you, we're not like that. Don't go imagining things!"
Kiyone only looked at her with deep suspicion.
Isane pressed her lips together, then said quietly, "Not yet…"
After all, the other person was her own sister—there were almost no secrets between them.
And she was grateful that the one who had walked in today was her sister.
Kiyone's smile returned. "So that was a confession just now? Who started it?"
Isane fell silent again.
Kiyone leaned forward. "Sis!"
"…He… did."
"So you said yes?"
"…No."
"Sis!" Kiyone blurted again—then realization struck.
"So I really came at the wrong time—I just interrupted you two! Ah, my bad, my bad!"
Isane shook her head. "I… I haven't decided yet."
"Haven't decided?" Kiyone tilted her head. "You don't like him?"
"…"
Knowing her sister's temperament, Kiyone read her blushing, speechless face and said, "Then you do like him!"
Isane murmured, "It's not that simple… I just… always thought of him as a younger brother. As my junior."
Kiyone thought this over. "True enough… he only just graduated from the Academy, so he can't be that old. Hm…"
"Sis, exactly how old is he?"
Isane thought a moment. "I think… not even twenty."
She had seen Nobu's personnel file—his age was listed there.
Kiyone's eyes went round. "That young?!"
In Soul Society, Shinigami were long-lived, with ages measured in decades or centuries. Under twenty was, to the two of them, practically a child.
"So, you're saying he's too young?" Kiyone asked.
Isane hesitated, then shook her head.
"In that case," Kiyone said, "he doesn't act like a young man at all—and his strength is incredible…"
Her eyes gleamed. "Sis, my advice? Don't overthink it. Just say yes already. Whichever way you look at it, you're the one getting the better deal."
Isane felt a twinge of sourness at that, murmuring, "Am I really that lacking?"
"Of course not," Kiyone said with a grin. "It's just that Tachikawa is that exceptional—anyone can see it. And I think he's very likely to become a captain one day. Then I'll have a captain for a brother-in-law."
Because Nobu had healed Ukitake, Kiyone's own feelings toward him were already warm—rooted in genuine gratitude.
Isane's heart was in disarray. Her feelings for Nobu had always wavered—but the tilt was toward acceptance. Still, this was the first time she had faced something like this; she wasn't ready.
"I… I'll think about it," she said, uncertain.
"What's there to think about?" Kiyone's eyes were bright. "You should realize—someone like Tachikawa probably has plenty of girls in your division thinking about him already!"
That struck right at Isane's heart.
It was true—someone as outstanding as Nobu would naturally draw many who wanted to get close to him.
If she kept hesitating, and someone else snatched him away…
No, surely not—he had already confessed to her, hadn't he?
Her thoughts spun. So what should I do…? Should I wait for him to confess again?
She remembered their embrace earlier. If Kiyone hadn't walked in—what would have happened next? Would Nobu have kissed her?
The thought alone brought the flush back to her cheeks.
Kiyone seemed to be thinking on her behalf. "Didn't you just say he confessed today? And it failed because I interrupted? Then of course he'll try again. Maybe as soon as tomorrow. Just say yes then."
"…"
Isane's face was burning. She touched her cheeks—her fingertips felt cool.