Seeing Aizen greeting him, Hasumi Ren felt a bit numb.
He couldn't even tell if this was a simple coincidence or a carefully orchestrated encounter.
It was a bit chilling.
Ren stopped in his tracks, his face showing no emotion as he met Aizen's gentle gaze and gave a slight nod.
"It has indeed been a long time, Lieutenant Aizen."
Aizen adjusted his glasses, his gaze falling upon Ren with concern.
"I heard you just finished your Konso field trip in the World of the Living. Did everything go smoothly?"
Looking at Aizen's seemingly heartfelt concern, he found it difficult to tell if the man was genuinely worried about him.
Ren marveled inwardly at the sheer perfection of Aizen's acting.
'If I had that kind of acting skill, maybe he wouldn't have noticed anything unusual back then.'
'I still have a long way to go.'
"I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant."
Ren lowered his head slightly, his tone steady but carrying a hint of appropriate heaviness.
"The internship... didn't go well. We encountered some unexpected trouble, which is why I'm here."
"I've just reported the specific details to the Captains."
Ren left it at that, not going into detail as he subtly deflected the conversation.
"Unexpected trouble..."
Aizen's brow furrowed slightly, displaying a perfect amount of worry.
"I hope the students didn't suffer too many losses. Missions in the World of the Living can be unpredictable. It's good that you returned safely."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Aizen."
"Hey, that's enough. The Captains are still waiting inside."
Omaeda Marenoshin spoke up at the right moment, breaking off their conversation.
"Let's go, Lieutenant Aizen."
"You're right. We shouldn't keep the Captains waiting."
Aizen complied readily, giving Ren an apologetic nod.
"Then, Student Hasumi, let's catch up later."
"After you, Lieutenants."
Ren stepped aside to clear the path.
"Hmm, what a polite kid."
Omaeda patted Ren on the shoulder and led Aizen away, the groups passing each other.
But Ren could feel Aizen's gaze linger on him for a split second as they passed.
Keeping his eyes straight ahead, he continued walking out under Soi Fon's guidance.
It wasn't until he had walked quite a distance that the tangible sensation of being watched finally faded.
At the other end of the corridor, Aizen followed behind Omaeda and asked with some confusion.
"Lieutenant Omaeda, I just returned from the World of the Living when Captain Hirako hurriedly called me over to the Second Division barracks. Did something happen?"
Omaeda looked toward the meeting room door not far away and didn't respond.
"We'll talk inside. You'll find out soon enough."
Inside, the slightly lively atmosphere brought about by the earlier decision regarding Ren's placement had died down.
Hirako Shinji leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
His long blonde hair covered his eyes, leaving his expression obscured in the shadows.
Kyoraku Shunsui gazed out the window, his eyes no longer holding their previous playfulness.
Yoruichi sat in the main seat, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest as if she were deep in thought.
"Captain Hirako, Captain Kyoraku, Captain Shihoin."
Aizen stepped into the room, his demeanor as humble and composed as ever.
"Regarding the rescue mission I led after receiving the distress signal from the Thirteenth Division members in the World of the Living, it has been handled properly. I wonder why you called me here, Captain Hirako?"
Only then did Hirako Shinji slowly lift his head, his gaze piercing Aizen like nails. His voice was somewhat raspy.
"The rescue work was handled well. However, Aizen... there is something you might not know yet."
Hirako paused, every word sounding as if it were squeezed through his teeth.
"Hasegawa Shinjiro has defected."
"He attacked the Academy students during the Konso field trip, then fled into the Dangai and took his own life."
"What?!"
The expression on Aizen's face froze instantly, replaced by a look of disbelief and shock.
His eyes widened slightly as he unconsciously repeated the words in a murmur.
"Hasegawa... defected? Attacked students? How... how is that possible?"
Hirako stared intently at Aizen's face, trying to find even the slightest trace of a facade behind those plain lenses.
His voice turned a few degrees colder.
"Indeed, how could that be... I remember back then, you were the one who recommended him to me. You said that although he came from the Rukongai, he had great potential and was a steady man worth grooming."
"I followed your suggestion and promoted him from an ordinary soldier all the way to Sixth Seat. I always believed he was a subordinate I could trust."
Hirako's gaze, filled with suppressed fury, scraped over Aizen like a blade.
"Aizen, tell me..."
"Why would a seated officer recommended by you and promoted by me—someone who should have been fiercely loyal—suddenly become a traitor colluding with Hueco Mundo and attacking students?!"
The accusation in those words was blatant, practically an interrogation.
Facing Hirako's direct questioning, a look of heaviness mixed with self-reproach appeared on Aizen's face, along with a hint of sorrow from being misunderstood.
He remained silent for a moment, as if absorbing the sharpness of Hirako's words, before slowly speaking.
"Captain Hirako, I understand your anger and disappointment right now."
"I recommended him based on my recognition of his abilities and character at the time."
"If he truly harbored ill intentions long ago, it only proves that he hid them far too well. This was my oversight, and I am willing to take full responsibility."
He looked up, his eyes meeting Hirako's scrutiny with apparent sincerity.
"As for why he chose this path, I truly have no clue."
"Regardless, he committed such a grave crime and betrayed the Soul Society; his death was deserved. Perhaps he chose to take his own life because he couldn't bear to face you."
Hirako Shinji stared at Aizen for a long time, the air in the meeting room seemingly frozen.
Yoruichi stopped tapping the armrest and watched this invisible confrontation in silence.
Kyoraku Shunsui lifted the edge of his straw hat slightly, his gaze moving between Hirako and Aizen before he spoke to intervene.
"All right, Captain Hirako. What's done is done. There's no point in blaming your Lieutenant like this."
"We should focus on the aftermath. It wouldn't be good if this causes unrest within the Gotei 13 due to poor management of the fallout."
Finally, the light in Hirako Shinji's eyes dimmed bit by bit, like a candle burning out.
He said nothing more and didn't even look at Aizen again. He simply stood up straight and walked directly toward the exit.
"Captain Hirako..."
Aizen called out softly from behind him, his voice tinged with concern.
Hirako didn't stop, vanishing through the door as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Aizen watched Hirako leave, a look of apology appearing on his heavy, sorrowful face as he bowed slightly to Yoruichi and Kyoraku.
"Captain Shihoin, Captain Kyoraku, if there are no other orders, I shall take my leave as well."
"Go ahead. Hirako is just blinded by rage. Don't take it to heart."
Yoruichi waved her hand, appearing indifferent to the tense atmosphere.
Kyoraku Shunsui also nodded.
Aizen bowed once more and then left the room.
Inside the room, Yoruichi stretched and looked at Kyoraku.
"What do you think?"
Kyoraku Shunsui lowered his hat again and gave a meaningful smile.
"Who knows."