Everyone has a secret or two they'd rather not have brought to light.
Especially so if that secret happens to be a dangerous one.
But when it inevitably gets found out, what is the best course of action?
The answer to that question is surprisingly simple.
"—And that's the gist of it."
Rather than piling up lies by trying to hide it, it's better to explain everything clearly so there's no misunderstanding.
Of course, I take full responsibility for any fallout, but I simply judged that since it would come out eventually, it was better to give up on the secrecy and explain from the moment the veil was lifted.
Why assume it would be found out? Because this was the kind of thing that couldn't remain hidden forever.
To use an analogy: if you were planning to overthrow the regime, would it be better to get caught and end up on a 'Wanted' poster at the very end, or to have it come to light while you were still in the planning stages?
'Usually, people say it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission... but this is on a different level.'
Forgiveness has its limits. That's why I chose persuasion over a simple apology.
Of course... whether Unohana could actually accept this plan or not remained an unknown.
"...So, you intend to kill God for the sake of humanity, and turn the entire world into your enemy for the sake of the world?"
"Correct."
I nodded calmly, but Unohana seemed to find it difficult to process. She sat in silence for a long time before closing her eyes tight and letting out a long sigh.
It didn't take a genius to see her reaction wasn't positive, and my heart sank.
We had only just reconciled a few days ago after that massive fight and the separate rooms situation. Thinking we might go back to that...
The situation made a sigh escape my own lips, but I steeled my resolve.
I knew it would come to this, and I had proceeded anyway.
'I hope this ends well.'
It would be ideal if Unohana accepted it, but I knew it would be difficult.
If even Urahara and Aizen had misunderstood me to the point of trying to join forces against me, could Unohana possibly accept it?
...It wasn't that I looked down on her, but I couldn't help being skeptical.
I remained silent until Unohana spoke, and she seemed to have much to contemplate as she sat speechless for a while.
Just as an awkward silence began to settle between us, the pitter-patter of rain began to mask the quiet.
The sudden downpour didn't look like it would let up anytime soon.
The atmosphere is getting worse...
I'm not exactly the superstitious type, but given the circumstances, I couldn't help but feel even more tense.
Preparation is one thing; nerves are another.
"Thank you for telling me."
Her answer caught me so off guard I almost asked 'Huh?'
I had expected her to be angry, annoyed, or even grief-stricken. Perhaps she would burst into hollow laughter or try to seriously talk me out of it. But gratitude?
Blinking as I tried to process this wildly unexpected reaction, Unohana gently reached out and covered my hand with hers.
As the warmth of her palm seeped into my hand, chilled by the late-night rain, the tension I didn't even realize I was holding in my shoulders melted away.
"I'm surprised. I thought you'd be furious."
"If it were the old me, yes, I suppose I would have been. 'Why would you do such a thing?' 'Why didn't you tell me first?' 'How long were you planning to keep this hidden?'... I would have said all those things."
Those were all things I'd heard before, leaving me with nothing but an awkward smile.
Seeing my sheepish expression, Unohana shook her head slightly.
"At least it's a relief that you know how you appear to others."
"Well, I suppose it looks that way. Actually, it's only normal to see it like that."
"You stay silent until you suddenly set off an explosion. Just as we're scrambling to clean up after you, you've already finished it all on your own. It's not just once or twice either; it happens so often. And since things usually end up in a positive direction, we can't even truly scold you... Do you know there's a rumor in the Seireitei that if a major incident happens, you can usually just bet it was you and be right?"
"Hey now, that's a misunderstanding. I've never done anything shady in my life."
"You may not have lied, but you certainly withheld the truth."
"Ugh..."
That one sentence pierced right through my conscience. Talk about cutting to the bone.
Unable to form a proper rebuttal, I let out a groan and scratched my cheek, sighing deeply.
"But I told you everything this time, didn't I?"
"That's why I said thank you. It feels like you finally trust me."
Seeing the faint smile on her face as she spoke left me speechless.
Or rather, my conscience was stinging too much for me to speak.
'I'm a terrible husband, I'm sorry!'
"Still... you wouldn't have told me if I hadn't asked, right?"
That certainty stabbed my conscience once more, but this time, I had something to say in return.
"No, I would have told you before actually putting the plan into motion. Otherwise, a husband and wife might end up genuinely trying to kill each other."
A husband pointing a blade at his wife, and the wife pointing one back.
What kind of Hell would that be? No matter what happens, I couldn't let it come to that.
"Even knowing how dangerous this plan is, do you really have to do it?"
At those words, I looked at Unohana and exhaled a heavy breath. Her expression was thick with worry and sadness.
However, because I knew those feelings stemmed from her love for me, I felt both apologetic and profoundly grateful.
"I must. It's something that should have been done long ago. I kept pushing it back because I was content with reality, and now here we are."
"Just what kind of being is the Soul King to you, that you would make the world your enemy to liberate him?"
"A younger brother, a friend, a comrade, and a teacher. He taught me much, and I taught him just as much in return."
He was a frustrating fellow, but a magnificent one nonetheless. As I delved into my memories of our conversations and the horizon we saw that day, Unohana's Spiritual Power flickered violently.
Wondering what was wrong, I opened my eyes to see her expression was quite dark. She was trying her best to hide it, but I could see right through it.
"...He's a man. Didn't you see him once when we went to the Soul King Palace?"
"I have been to the Royal Guard, but I was never allowed near the Great Inner Sanctum where the Soul King resides."
Ah, I guess I'm the only one who wanders in and out of there like it's my own house. I've gone so often I forgot.
Scratching my head, I nodded.
"Anyway, that's how it is. No matter what anyone says—even if you, Yachiru, try to stop me—I don't intend to quit."
He is a man who sacrificed himself for the world.
He gave everything from head to toe, yet he remains a living corpse, staring at a world he can no longer touch.
It's long overdue, but he deserves to be set free.
No one told me to do it, and he never asked me to, but I'm going to do it anyway.
"This is also my atonement."
"I have no intention of stopping you. I will stand with you."
I looked at Unohana in shock.
Though her expression seemed calm, her eyes were burning with an unshakable resolve.
"You won't listen even if I try to talk you out of it, will you?"
"They say a married couple eventually grows to resemble one another, don't they?"
So that's a no.
I gave a bittersweet smile and nodded.
"When do you plan to execute the plan? And what is your relationship with Aizen and Urahara?"
"There's a lot to prepare, so it'll take a long time. At least a hundred years. Aizen will be the strategist, and Urahara will be the research director."
"Since he was the former Captain of the Department of Research and Development, he will be a great help. Then, what should I do?"
"Just keep living as you usually do. The time hasn't come yet."
"Understood. Then... how will you tell Haruno? I may have grown used to your antics, but this is far too heavy a burden for that child. If things go wrong..."
"I know."
I have to tell her someday. But not now. This is too much for Haruno to carry.
It would be better if she found out later by accident, but if she learns everything now, she'll undoubtedly fall into confusion.
"I'll tell her once she steps down from being a Seated Officer and becomes a Captain."
Learning Bankai means finding one's true self and firmly deciding upon one's own path.
Until then, I cannot tell her.
"Very well. We shall keep it a secret until then."
With a nod, our conversation concluded.
I was relieved that things had ended much more peacefully than I had expected, but a chill ran down my spine at the thought that we could have truly drifted apart if things had gone sideways.
We spent the rest of the night without incident, and the following morning, I recounted exactly what I had told Unohana to Urahara and Aizen.
What kind of being the Soul King was, the life he led, and the fate he met.
And exactly why I intended to carry out this plan.
"If that is the case, I have no choice but to put aside my stubbornness."
"To think that even a God possesses a human heart. Or perhaps, it is because he bestows love without asking for anything in return that he is called a God..."
The suspicions and misunderstandings between us were cleared. As a result, the four of us—myself, Unohana, Aizen, and Urahara—had completely joined forces.
...This lineup is truly terrifying.