Bleach: I Love Making Friends

Today, he had arranged to have drinks with Rangiku, Shūhei, and Tetsuzaemon.

"Haruki, where have you been for the past month?"

At the table, Rangiku gulped down a large mouthful of alcohol and immediately asked curiously.

"Don't even mention it. I just became a vice-captain and was immediately assigned a mission," Haruki sighed, taking a sip of his drink as well.

"By the way, I heard Shūhei is going to become a vice-captain?"

He turned to Shūhei.

Shūhei was of the same rank as him, and everyone had expected him to become a vice-captain first. No one had anticipated that Haruki, who had always been unremarkable, would beat him to it.

Shūhei quickly waved his hand. "Not yet. Captain Tōsen just has that idea for now, but I'm not as capable as you, Haruki. I'm not qualified yet."

Tetsuzaemon said in a deep voice, "Haruki, because of you, the Soul Society has set a precedent. That's why Captain Tōsen wants Shūhei to take on the role of vice-captain."

"Captain Aizen is too good to you," Rangiku laughed heartily. "But there's no helping it. That bastard Gin went to the Third Division as captain, so someone had to fill the vice-captain position in the Fifth Division."

"By the way, let's not talk about Haruki and Shūhei for now. What about you..."

Rangiku turned to Tetsuzaemon. "I heard you're also going to become a vice-captain?"

"Huh?" Shūhei was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "But isn't Senior Tetsuzaemon in the Eleventh Division? The Eleventh Division already has Vice-Captain Yachiru."

"Not the Eleventh Division, but the Seventh Division," Tetsuzaemon said, his face betraying no emotion. He simply took a swig of his drink.

"The Seventh Division is short a vice-captain. The higher-ups say I'm an all-rounder and want to transfer me to the Seventh Division as vice-captain."

"Congratulations, Tetsuzaemon," Rangiku raised her glass. "I heard your family has always wanted you to become a vice-captain."

The four of them had already formed a tight-knit group, often going out for drinks together.

This time, when Haruki saw Rangiku again, he noticed that her favorability toward him had reached 81. He had permanently obtained the Great Tonic ability.

As for Tetsuzaemon's All-Rounder ability, it was only a matter of time.

It was predictable that they would continue drinking together for the next few decades. Raising their favorability to 80 would be a breeze.

After drinking enough, Haruki stumbled home, slightly tipsy.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he froze.

Inside his house were Shūhei, Rangiku, and Tetsuzaemon, who had just left the bar.

Also present were Renji, Momo, Kira, and Tōshirō.

"What are you all..."

Haruki scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. "Why are you all at my place?"

"You really don't remember?" Rangiku widened her eyes in surprise.

"Remember what?" Haruki had drunk a bit too much earlier, but hearing Rangiku's tone, he thought he might have forgotten something important and quickly tried to recall.

"Haruki-kun, today is your birthday."

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.

Haruki quickly turned around and, upon seeing the person, exclaimed, "Ca-Ca-Captain Aizen?!"

That's right, it was Aizen!

Aizen was holding a huge cake in his hands. He carried it in and placed it on the table.

Wait, today's my birthday?!

Hold on, today is December 25th. Oh, it really is my birthday!

Haruki was stunned.

"No way, Senior Haruki forgot his own birthday?!"

Renji also said in surprise, "I thought only wandering souls like us forgot our birthdays. I didn't expect nobles to forget too."

"Alright, alright, don't just stand outside. Come in and cut the cake. Haruki-kun, you're the birthday boy today. You get to blow out the candles first."

Haruki looked at everyone, feeling a warmth in his heart.

Although he had befriended them with ulterior motives, now it seemed...

The feeling of having friends...

was actually quite nice.

A smile spread across Haruki's lips, but this time it wasn't his usual fake smile.

"Really now."

Haruki said softly, "If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten so much earlier."

"You have no shame," Shūhei said with a pained expression. "When you heard I was paying, you didn't hold back at all, did you?"

"Haha, when Shūhei finally treats us, of course we have to take full advantage!"

"What?! Rangiku has no right to say that! You're always the one dodging the bill!"

"Huh? You expect a beauty like me to pay?"

"This is just life in the Gotei 13," Momo said, watching the two bicker.

"What a hassle," Tōshirō crossed his arms, looking at everyone with an exasperated expression.

"Stop acting so mature," Haruki walked over to him and roughly ruffled his hair.

Tōshirō quickly struggled free.

"Stop messing with my hair!"

Haruki chuckled and walked over to the cake.

The cake was huge, with a full 33 candles on it.

This didn't mean Haruki was 33 years old. In the human world, one candle represents one year, but that wouldn't work in the Soul Society.

After all, the Soul Society is full of people who have lived for hundreds of years. Would they have to put hundreds of candles on their birthday cakes?

Here, one candle represented the time since Haruki had become truly independent.

Haruki's parents had passed away 33 years ago. While they were alive, Haruki had always followed the path they had laid out for him.

It wasn't until after their deaths that Haruki gained his own will.

It seems...

Aizen had done his homework on him.

Well, if he couldn't figure this out, he wouldn't be Aizen.

Haruki blew out all the candles.

Even though he was already stuffed from eating and drinking earlier, at this moment, he still cut a large slice of cake for everyone, including himself.

"Thank you, thank you all."

Haruki said sincerely, "I hope we can always stay together like this in the future, and that no one will ever leave."

Although his words were heartfelt, he knew this was an impossible wish.

Everyone...

would eventually go their separate ways.

Like a ripple in the river of fate, spreading farther and farther, moving away from the center...

until it fades.

The others were one thing, but everything about Aizen now was a facade. And what about him?

Was he genuinely moved right now, or was he, like Aizen, just subconsciously putting on an act?

To be honest, even Haruki himself wasn't sure anymore.

Haruki glanced at Aizen, who seemed oblivious to his gaze, still chatting and laughing with the others as they ate cake.

For a captain to go this far, it was indeed very "down-to-earth."

Whatever. Future problems can be dealt with in the future!