Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

Afterwards, Unohana led Makoto towards the First Division, strolling at an unhurried pace while explaining and reminding him of various key points to note about the upcoming Captain's Meeting.

The Captain's Meeting: without a doubt, this was the highest-level gathering in the Seireitei, second only to the Central 46. On the surface, it was a meeting for all captains and Vice-captains of the Gotei 13 to attend.

In reality, however, the decision-making was solely the responsibility of the captains, while the Vice-captains remained in the Vice-captain waiting room, tasked with providing support or handling sudden assignments if necessary.

In simpler terms, from the perspective of the true upper echelon of the Seireitei, Vice-captains were mostly just "small fry."

Thus, Makoto's only responsibility for now was to stay in the waiting room, drink tea, chat, and avoid conflicts or even battles with the other Vice-captains, which could disrupt the normal proceedings of the Captain's Meeting.

Additionally, Unohana mentioned, almost casually, that Makoto should pay a little attention to the First Division Vice-captain, Sasakibe Chōjirō. If he offered any advice, Makoto might consider listening to it.

Hearing this, Makoto couldn't help but find her words peculiar.

Was Unohana-sensei implying: If you don't want to listen, feel free to ignore it. Don't ever compromise yourself. If anything happens, I'll have your back?

As for the other Vice-captains, Unohana, with her gentle demeanor, didn't even bother to mention them.

Eventually, under the reverent gazes of the First Division members directed at Unohana, Makoto stepped through the grand doors of the highest-ranked division in the Gotei 13.

At the entrance to the meeting room, Unohana turned towards another doorway and gestured gently.

"Makoto, that's the Vice-captain waiting room. Go on, treat it as a place to make friends. Once the meeting is over, I'll come get you."

"Understood, sensei."

Makoto smacked his lips, feeling that Unohana seemed unusually gentle today, as though she had completely forgotten the existence of the hot springs. With these thoughts, he stepped into the waiting room.

Contrary to his expectations of a room bustling with people, the Vice-captain waiting room was nearly empty, making the space feel strangely vacant despite its modest size.

"Makoto-kun, you're here…"

A warm voice sounded. Aizen Sosuke, wearing his signature glasses and a polite smile, approached Makoto.

"Vice-captain Aizen, it's been a while."

Makoto responded with polite small talk, maintaining just the right balance to make their relationship seem neither too distant nor too close.

"Yes, it has. It's been quite some time since we last met. I never expected you to become a Vice-captain so quickly."

Aizen's words carried a subtle implication, yet he swiftly introduced Makoto to the other Vice-captains present.

Evidently, with his gentle and refined demeanor, Aizen had a remarkable reputation among the Gotei 13.

First Division Vice-captain Sasakibe Chōjirō, Second Division Vice-captain Omaeda Marenoshin, Third Division Vice-captain Chikane Iba, Sixth Division Vice-captain Kuchiki Sōjun, and Seventh Division Vice-captain Jinemon Kotsubaki…

With the absence of both the Eleventh Division's Captain and Vice-captain, who had collectively decided to skip the meeting, only five Vice-captains, besides Makoto and Aizen, were present.

"Ah, thinking back to the meeting a month ago, the waiting room was so lively with Mashiro Kuna and Sarugaki Hiyori around. But now…"

Aizen sighed, his tone filled with sorrow.

Makoto couldn't help but glance at Aizen. Where had those Vice-captains gone? Surely, you have some ideas right? Aizen.

Of course, Makoto merely scoffed internally, while outwardly he expressed regret and sadness. His face grew solemn, lips pressed together, as he murmured,

"Those seniors… it's such a shame. What happened in the Fourth Division… was our fault. I… I feel deeply ashamed."

Under the influence of Makoto and Aizen's convincing displays of grief, the atmosphere in the waiting room grew increasingly somber and heavy.

Bang!

Suddenly, Third Division Vice-captain Chikane Iba slammed the table with a fist. Her towering, muscular frame—rivalling even Muguruma Kensei—trembled as she shouted angrily,

"That damn Urahara Kisuke! If I ever find out where he's hiding, I'll tear that bastard to pieces! Sure, Rose always acted like a dandy, but he was still my captain! How dare that jerk make him disappear!"

"Vice-captain Iba, calm down. The Head Captain and the Central 46 are already doing everything they can to track down Urahara Kisuke," Chojiro tried to console her.

But Chikane grew even angrier, saliva flying as she retorted,

"Calm down? How can I calm down? With Rose gone, all the division duties have fallen on me! I'm at my wits' end! Managing the division, handling missions… it's killing me!

And what about you? You don't have children to take care of! How could you possibly understand?!"

For a moment, the sight of Iba's furious rant left Makoto instinctively stepping back, afraid of becoming her next target.

Too… terrifying…

Thinking of Chojiro's usually composed and elegant demeanor, Makoto couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for how he might have fared under Iba's wrath.

Wait…

If Makoto remembered correctly, the next Third Division captain was supposed to be Ichimaru Gin.

His brows furrowed slightly, and unexpectedly, he found himself looking forward to that transition.

---

Maintaining some distance from Aizen, Makoto engaged in brief conversation with Omaeda Marenoshin and Kuchiki Sōjun before the Captain's Meeting was officially concluded.

Naturally, Makoto didn't just stay in the waiting room until Unohana came to fetch him. Instead, he joined the other Vice-captains outside the meeting room's main entrance to await the captains' emergence.

However, the number of captains leaving the room was even more sparse.

Unohana Retsu, Kuchiki Ginrei, Kyoraku Shunsui…

Excluding Kenpachi Zaraki, who skipped the meeting, and Ukitake Jushiro, who was unwell, only three captains appeared.

For a moment, Makoto felt as though the Gotei 13 was on the brink of decline.

But amidst the captains' expressions, he noticed a mix of urgency and concealed joy.

What had happened?

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