Inside the Technical Development Bureau, at the far corner of the cafeteria.
At this moment, more than 90% of the Twelfth Division's members had gathered.
Perhaps because Kisuke Urahara himself wasn't particularly "good at speeches," the reluctant Akon was forced to take the stage. Nervously gripping a microphone, he stammered through his words.
"Uh… today's gathering is primarily to welcome Seiya Arima's arrival. But for us, it's also an excellent opportunity to recharge."
"After all, while the Twelfth Division often appears aloof and uninvolved, that doesn't mean we're a group of complacent people."
"So, while we have the chance, everyone, please relax and enjoy yourselves."
The speech was simple, but it hit the mark.
Everyone seemed satisfied—especially Kisuke Urahara, whose face was almost split by his grin.
In the Twelfth Division, where interpersonal niceties weren't commonplace, results-oriented work had always been the focus.
So such speeches were just formalities, and the crowd embraced the occasion wholeheartedly.
Down below, the squad members cheered enthusiastically, clearly delighted with the setup.
Seiya Arima, meanwhile, was quietly sitting in the corner, eating curry.
But in a division as lively as the Twelfth, there were bound to be a few mischievous and boisterous members.
A group dragged Seiya out to the center, insisting he drink with them. Among the loudest was Hiyori Sarugaki.
Though petite, her voice could dominate an entire room.
"Haha! Drink more, keep dancing, don't stop!"
Some people were already drunkenly dancing.
With her face flushed and a broad grin, Hiyori hooked her arm around Seiya's neck.
Her usually stern brows were relaxed, and her tone was teasing and jovial.
"Hey, hey! You're the guest of honor today. Show some respect and drink a bit!"
"Sorry, I'm allergic to alcohol…"
"What?! Are you disrespecting me, you little brat?"
Hiyori shoved her face right up to his, her tone threatening.
"I see what's going on! You think I'm an idiot, don't you? Hey! You think I'm a kid, huh?"
"Do you need me to pull out my chest to prove I'm an adult, you bald-headed punk?!"
Where did this over-familiarity come from? We don't even know each other that well…
And honestly, apologies in advance, but Seiya Arima wasn't interested in her type at all.
You can't charm me.
As he thought this, he couldn't help but notice how red Hiyori's face had become—resembling a baboon's backside.
Ah, she's drunk.
Her wine-soaked demeanor indicated poor alcohol tolerance.
When the bottle was inches from his face, Seiya contemplated taking a sip to smooth things over, even if he was reluctant.
Then another voice interrupted.
"Well, Hiyori, Seiya-kun doesn't seem comfortable with this kind of welcome. How about stepping aside and letting me handle it?"
Turning his head, Seiya saw Kisuke Urahara, slightly tipsy but cheerful, standing behind them with a bottle in hand.
Urahara's intention to defuse the situation was clear and appreciated.
But Hiyori Sarugaki was not one to back down easily.
She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly jumped off the table near Seiya.
"Oh, it's rare to see you this obedient…"
Before Urahara could finish his sentence, Hiyori sprinted forward and launched a vicious flying kick aimed directly at his groin!
"Shut up, you bald-headed idiot!"
Thud!
The dull sound of impact was deafening.
Seiya winced, his face contorting. If this were a normal person, wouldn't they be out of commission forever?
Yet Kisuke Urahara merely chuckled.
"Haha, lively as ever, I see."
Hiyori, meanwhile, was on the floor, clutching her leg in pain and rolling around furiously.
"What the hell are you wearing?!"
"A heavy secret only adults can bear."
"You bald idiot!!"
Despite the chaos, Seiya didn't find the raucous atmosphere unpleasant.
After some time, Hiyori shifted her drunken antics to someone else, and Urahara approached Seiya again.
"Seiya-kun, I apologize. Due to time constraints, I couldn't organize a proper welcome. My apologies."
"You're being too formal, Captain Urahara. I don't deserve such treatment…"
"No, no, saying such things makes you seem too distant."
Urahara stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly.
"Miss Yoruichi sent a special letter asking me to ensure you broaden your horizons during your stay."
The warmth in Seiya's chest rose at the thought of Yoruichi's kindness.
"That said, even without her request, I'd still have taken good care of you."
As the two conversed, a food cart slowly made its way over from the side of the hall.
"Pardon me, please make way. I need to replenish the serving table…"
"Oh, sorry!"
"No problem at all."
Seiya glanced toward the cart, only to spot a familiar figure smiling faintly as he refilled the table.
He's really committed to this role, huh…
"What's wrong, Seiya-kun? You look a little off."
"Oh, nothing. I just caught a whiff of alcohol earlier. I might've had a mild allergic reaction, but it's nothing serious."
Now that "Sakaki Hanō" had drawn close, the signal was clear: it was time for their planned conversation.
Grabbing a banana-like fruit from a nearby platter, Seiya inspected the nametag before turning to Urahara.
"Captain Urahara, may I ask you something?"
"Of course, feel free to ask anything."
Whether it was the alcohol talking or genuine openness, Urahara's tone was welcoming, and Seiya followed his plan.
"During my previous visit here, I only scratched the surface of what the Technical Development Bureau does."
"Now that I have this rare chance, I'd like to dive deeper into what I couldn't grasp before."
"So… could you tell me what the bureau is currently researching?"
Urahara nodded, holding his glass and lowering his gaze slightly, thinking for a moment.
"That's quite a broad question. But as the Twelfth Division Captain, it's my duty to provide an answer."
"On a public level, our primary focus is researching reishi and its various applications."
"On a personal level, however, I'm primarily focused on two major projects."
"The first is something called the Gikongan—a research subject of great potential."
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Powerstones?
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