"Oh, right, Captain. Don't forget to attend the celebration party tonight."
Just as Rangiku was about to leave, she suddenly thought of something and turned back to say to Toshiro.
"A celebration party? Got it."
Toshiro replied without looking up, carefully examining the documents in his hand.
The matter of the Sword Beasts could be considered concluded now. Although a few scattered ones remained unresolved, they could no longer affect the overall situation. So the main force of the Gotei 13 had been withdrawn again.
Even if those remaining scattered Sword Beasts caused trouble again, the daily patrol and security maintenance forces of the Gotei 13 would be enough to handle them.
Therefore, everyone in the Gotei 13 considered the Sword Beast problem resolved. So they prepared to hold another grand celebration party to relax their bodies, which had been somewhat tired from the intense operations of the past few days.
…
At night.
The vast outdoor training ground of the 10th Division, which could normally accommodate hundreds of people simultaneously, was now almost full.
Bonfires burned, tables were set up. Shinigami were either gathered around the bonfires laughing and chatting, or sitting at the tables drinking freely.
And these Shinigami weren't just from the 10th Division, but from the other twelve divisions as well.
Captains, Lieutenants, and even some elite seated officers, rarely seen all together, were all gathered. The number of Captains present was even greater than at a usual Captain's meeting.
And besides the Shinigami, most of the materialized Zanpakuto had also followed their masters to the party.
"Why did the celebration party have to be held at our 10th Division?"
Toshiro glanced at the crowd that was almost filling the training ground and couldn't help but frown.
The lively atmosphere was one thing. Although Toshiro didn't really like noisy scenes, after all, a party was supposed to be lively…
But what bothered Toshiro most was that with the party held at the 10th Division, cleaning up afterwards would definitely fall to the 10th Division.
The 10th Division running around before and after was bad enough, but then everyone would eat and drink their fill, pat their butts, and leave, leaving the mess for the 10th Division to clean up.
Thinking about this made Toshiro even more annoyed.
"Come on, Toshiro. Old Man Yama isn't coming to the celebration party and ended up putting you in charge of hosting it, right? Since you're responsible for the party, it's only natural to hold it at your 10th Division."
"And I heard that last time, to lure out the Sword Beasts, your 10th Division specifically used holding a party as an operation plan. That means your 10th Division has richer experience in hosting parties, right?"
Kyoraku said with a playful expression.
"I..."
Toshiro's mouth twitched, his face covered with lines.
Rangiku's so-called 'operation plan' had spread throughout the Seireitei, meaning the 10th Division had lost their reputation across the entire Seireitei.
Thinking about this, Toshiro wanted to strangle Rangiku.
"Hmm?"
Rangiku suddenly felt a chill, turned her head, and saw her captain glaring at her fiercely.
So Rangiku shuddered, then quickly moved next to 4th Division's Lieutenant, Isane, using her tall figure to block Toshiro's gaze, and quietly started drinking with her.
"Hmm, just drinking is too boring. Katen-chan, why don't you play a tune for everyone to liven things up?"
Kyoraku took a drink from his cup and suddenly said to 'Katen' of the Katen Kyokotsu pair.
"Hmph, Sakuranosuke, you're always ordering me around."
Katen gave Kyoraku a charming look.
But she still reached out and summoned a Kokyu, preparing to play.
Don't be fooled by how hateful Katen Kyokotsu seemed towards Kyoraku when they were bewitched by Muramasa, wanting to kill him.
In fact, Kyoraku and his Zanpakuto, Katen Kyokotsu, had a very intimate relationship. Yes, that's right, intimate.
Especially 'Katen' of the pair. Since materializing, she had basically stuck close to Kyoraku.
And their forms of address were also very intimate. Katen affectionately called Kyoraku 'Sakuranosuke' (part of his full name, Kyoraku Jiro Sakuranosuke Shunsui), while Kyoraku affectionately called her 'Katen-chan'.
Even just now while drinking, Katen had been very intimately leaning on Kyoraku.
And Katen, who seemed somewhat gloomy, behaved very dignified and virtuous, occasionally refilling Kyoraku's sake.
All these intimate behaviors made one suspect there was a 'special relationship' between Kyoraku and Katen beyond that of Shinigami and Zanpakuto.
Honestly, Toshiro was even a little jealous of Kyoraku. Not only did he have such a mature and alluring Zanpakuto, but she was also very gentle and virtuous, doing whatever he asked.
Unlike his Hyorinmaru, who, although beautiful, was always cold.
"Sakuranosuke, I can play a tune for everyone to liven things up, but the surrounding environment is too noisy."
Katen had originally intended to follow Kyoraku's request and play a tune for everyone, but the noisy sounds coming from her ears made her frown.
"My, my, indeed."
Kyoraku also remembered this point.
"No problem, this is easily solved."
Toshiro, who didn't like the noisy atmosphere anyway, took the opportunity to cast a barrier, enclosing himself and the group of Captains and Lieutenants.
Instantly, the surrounding noise disappeared, becoming quiet.
"Oh my, oh my, Toshiro, it seems you planned this. You instantly cast a soundproof barrier."
Kyoraku teased.
Toshiro ignored Kyoraku's teasing and looked at Hyorinmaru beside him. "Hyorinmaru, I remember you're quite skilled at playing the koto. Why don't you play a duet with Katen?"
"Hmph."
Hyorinmaru snorted disdainfully as her answer.
Seeing Hyorinmaru flatly refuse, Toshiro kept blinking at her, conveying his meaning.
'Hey, Hyorinmaru, do me a favor and play a duet with Katen.'
Hyorinmaru similarly communicated with her eyes.
'Hmph, you want me, the honorable Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, to play for you? You're dreaming.'
With Hyorinmaru's proud personality, getting her to play the koto for everyone was extremely difficult. If it were specifically for Toshiro, that would be one thing. As for others... forget it.
Seeing Hyorinmaru still disagreeing, Toshiro started to get anxious.
'Hey, Hyorinmaru, in front of so many people, I've already said it. If you don't agree, others will think I can't even control my own Zanpakuto. What will happen to my reputation? You know, even some henpecked husbands who kneel on washboards at home will act like the head of the household, full of authority, outside. And their wives will actively cooperate, acting obedient. Can't you compromise for the sake of your master's reputation?'
Well, Toshiro's analogy was a bit strange, but unexpectedly, Hyorinmaru actually began to seriously consider his request.
'Agreeing is not impossible, but you have to agree to one condition.'
'What condition?'
'I haven't thought of it yet, but once I do, you must not refuse.'
'Alright.'
After hesitating for a moment, Toshiro agreed to Hyorinmaru's condition. In Toshiro's view, Hyorinmaru couldn't possibly propose anything too excessive.
Well, at most, she'd just tease him a bit, right?
After agreeing to Toshiro's request, Hyorinmaru didn't go back on her word. She immediately played a duet on the koto with Katen's Kokyu.
Finally, everyone was intoxicated in the fine wine, and even more intoxicated in the melodious sound of the instruments.
When the music ended and the people dispersed, Toshiro had actually gotten drunk, which was rare for him.
Of course, it wasn't just Toshiro. Most of the others were also drunk, and in the end, people from each division had to be called to come and collect their own.
At this moment, a strange light suddenly flashed in Hyorinmaru's eyes. Then, unnoticed by others, she picked up the drunk Toshiro and walked towards the barracks rooms nearby.