"A man's pride? What does not helping have to do with a man's pride?"
Keigo was very confused.
"Of course it does. Ashido wants to defeat his opponent by himself, not with our help. So if we go to help, we wouldn't be assisting him... we'd be humiliating him."
Sojiro said solemnly.
"Sorry... I still don't understand. Because he wants to win by himself, you won't help? Do you think he can win?"
Keigo looked at Sojiro and asked.
"No... Anyway, given the current situation, I don't think Ashido has much chance of winning..."
Sojiro said flatly.
"What?! And you just stand there watching him fight alone without helping?!"
Keigo said incredulously.
Sojiro glanced expressionlessly at Keigo beside him, then spoke quietly, "You simply don't understand what Ashido is thinking."
Keigo didn't understand Ashido, but Sojiro, who had been the Third Seat of the 10th Division and had spent decades with Ashido, knew him very well.
Sojiro especially remembered the first time he met Ashido. Back then, Sojiro had just graduated from the Shin'o Academy a year prior.
Upon graduating, to serve Soul Society faithfully and repay Toshiro for his kindness, Sojiro unhesitatingly joined Toshiro's 10th Division.
Just one year after joining the 10th Division, Sojiro was promoted from an unseated officer to the 12th Seat. Then Toshiro, who had led troops to fight in Hueco Mundo, returned to Soul Society, to the 10th Division.
Sojiro, who had longed to see Toshiro again, finally had his wish fulfilled. But when Toshiro returned to the 10th Division, he brought a new member: Ashido.
Back then, Ashido was already Captain-class, while Sojiro only had seated-officer level strength. Sojiro had worked hard for a year to rise from unseated to the 12th Seat, but Ashido became the Fourth Seat immediately upon joining, while Toshiro was only the Third Seat at the time.
So in every respect, Ashido was better than Sojiro.
But Sojiro was, after all, a genius, while Ashido's talent was merely average... he had only barely reached Captain-class after centuries of fighting in the Forest of Menos. So Sojiro quickly caught up to Ashido.
When Toshiro became Captain, Ashido and Sojiro naturally became Third Seats, both equivalent to early Captain-class.
Then, over time, Ashido, relying on years of accumulated experience, finally reached mid-Captain-class, while Sojiro, with his exceptional talent, naturally reached mid-Captain-class as well, keeping pace with Ashido. The two always seemed evenly matched.
However, for Ashido, being 'evenly matched' meant, in a way, that he had lost to Sojiro. After all, initially, Ashido had been superior in both strength and status.
Not to mention that during the previous Bakkoto incident, Sojiro had broken through again during his fight with Nukui, reaching late Captain-class and completely pulling away from Ashido. Ashido couldn't help but feel some regret, training even harder to close the gap between them.
Of course, this isn't to say their relationship was bad. In fact, as fellow Third Seats of the 10th Division who spent most of their time together, they were very close comrades.
But this didn't affect the competition between them. For these two, each was both a friend and a rival, competing over who was stronger, who could better assist Toshiro.
Because of this unique relationship, Sojiro understood very well the regret Ashido felt at being left behind.
He also understood Ashido's desire to use the pressure of this fight to force out his potential and break through to late Captain-class.
Understanding Ashido's goal, Sojiro didn't interfere in the fight between Ashido and Edrad. Interfering would not only humiliate Ashido but also hinder his breakthrough and damage their friendship.
So, no matter what, even if Ashido died, Sojiro wouldn't intervene in Ashido's fight. Because whatever the outcome, it was Ashido's choice, and Sojiro respected that choice, even if it led to his death.
All Sojiro could do was watch Ashido fight his enemy without emotion, and at most, avenge him after he fell.
'Ashido, hold on! As a rival I acknowledge, you can't fall here. Otherwise, not just me, but Captain would laugh at you too.' Though outwardly unmoved, Sojiro was inwardly more worried about Ashido than anyone else present.
'Rangiku is about to reach her limit... Is it really too difficult to defeat a Lieutenant-class Arrancar with only one-5th of her power?'
Toshiro watched the fight between Rangiku and Nakeem, frowning. From the beginning, Rangiku had been at a disadvantage, suppressed by Nakeem throughout.
As the fight continued, Rangiku's position worsened, her injuries accumulated, and she was about to collapse.
"Well, well, looks like this fight has to end here."
Toshiro said helplessly. Even though he wanted to train Rangiku, he couldn't just let her be killed by the enemy.
"Moshi moshi! Are you guys over there ready yet?"
Toshiro took out a communicator and shouted at the Soul Society's Technology Development Bureau's personnel.
"Yes! Captain Hitsugaya! We are ready over here!!"
The Technology Development Bureau's personnel shouted back.
"Is that so?"
Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief, then shouted to Rangiku, who was barely holding on in the battle, "Rangiku! I authorize Restriction Removal!"
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the large, burly Nakeem was about to stomp on Rangiku, who had been knocked to the ground, intending to crush her into paste.
Thud!
A dull sound rang out as Nakeem's powerful stomp was easily blocked by Rangiku's left arm. The sight of a foot larger than half of Rangiku's body being stopped by a slender arm was visually striking. Even Nakeem himself was stunned, frozen for a moment.
"Thanks, Captain. You finally gave the permission for the Restriction Removal. Another moment later and I would've died."
Rangiku, her face covered in blood and grime, said calmly to Toshiro.
Although Lieutenant-class and above Shinigami are implanted with the Spirit Restriction Seal when coming to the Living World, they can actually release this seal themselves.
However, without permission, releasing it without authorization violates Soul Society's regulations. So, despite her dire situation, Rangiku hadn't released it on her own.
"Well then, now that I can use my full power... let's have some real fun!"
Rangiku stared coldly at her opponent, Nakeem.