The sheer amount of information was overwhelming.
Seiya Arima fell silent, a strange expression settling on his face.
"Uh… what did you just say?"
Yoruichi leaned back, a playful smirk dancing across her lips.
"What? You hard of hearing already, kid? I said, do you want to do something big with us?"
Her tone was teasing, but her demeanor shifted.
For the first time, Yoruichi set her cup down, her gaze deepening as she glanced toward the window beside her.
Gone was the carefree grin. Her face softened into something more solemn, more real.
Perhaps this was her true self.
"Hey, kid. What do you think of the current state of the Soul Society?"
It took Seiya a moment to realize that the question was directed at him.
Such a profound inquiry left him unsure how to respond.
"Whatever your answer is," Yoruichi continued, "I doubt you'd say it's perfect."
Seiya let out a quiet sigh. "So… you're asking just to make a point?"
Yoruichi gave a soft chuckle. She leaned back on her cushion, propping her elbow on her knee.
"Let me give you a bit of a history lesson. Do you know how long the Seireitei has existed?"
Seiya tilted his head slightly. "No idea."
"Roughly three thousand years."
"That's based on the age of the current Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni," Yoruichi explained, her tone calm and measured.
"For ordinary humans, that's an eternity. Even for souls, living that long is no small feat."
Seiya nodded slightly. Yamamoto's age was no secret to him, though he wasn't sure why Yoruichi brought it up.
"And what about the history of the Soul Society itself? How far back do you think it goes?"
Without waiting for an answer, Yoruichi pressed on.
"Far longer than three thousand years. Maybe tens of thousands. Maybe more. It's beyond comprehension."
She traced the rim of her cup with her finger, her voice lowering.
"It's a place that's been shaped by the void. Formless chaos slowly gave way to structure. But it wasn't until the last few thousand years that real order was established. And with that order came division."
Her gaze turned distant, as though peering into the past.
"The lines between people, the walls separating noble and common, appeared. And despite the Soul Society's ancient history, these distinctions are relatively new."
Her fingers drummed lightly against her cup.
"Doesn't that strike you as absurd?"
Seiya remained quiet, unsure how to respond.
The sheer weight of what Yoruichi was saying made it hard to know where to begin.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts, trying to piece together his impression of her.
The black-clad, confident Yoruichi he knew was carefree and playful — the type who enjoyed giving out "fan service" while remaining fiercely reliable.
But he had never thought much about what drove her actions.
Now, however, it was becoming clear.
'She's a reformist,' Seiya realized.
Unlike Aizen, Yoruichi didn't seem interested in radical upheaval. She wasn't out to shatter the system overnight.
Her approach was subtler. Gentler.
Seiya recalled the way she treated her subordinates, particularly Soi Fon — emphasizing that titles and ranks shouldn't get in the way of genuine camaraderie.
Her relationship with Kisuke Urahara, too, spoke volumes.
She wasn't someone who thrived on chaos.
'She wants change,' Seiya mused, 'but without bloodshed.'
With that in mind, Seiya took a deep breath and offered a measured response.
"While I believe things exist for a reason, I don't mind seeing them change."
A diplomatic answer, to say the least.
He wasn't exactly a passionate revolutionary. His loyalty to Aizen stemmed more from gratitude than ideology.
Still, he couldn't help but add a bit of his own humor to the conversation.
"If I had to complain about anything regarding the nobility…"
Seiya crossed his arms, nodding to himself.
"I guess it's that I'm not one of them."
Yoruichi blinked, then let out a loud laugh.
"Pfft! That's your takeaway?!"
With a grin, she shook her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulders.
"Well, I can't say I hate that answer. It's honest, at least."
She twirled her cup between her fingers, her expression lightening.
"Let's be real — I'm a beneficiary of that system too. It'd be pretty hypocritical to talk big about change when I've had it good all my life."
Yoruichi straightened, her amber eyes locking onto Seiya's.
"Still, I want to change a few things. We're gathering people, forming alliances."
She paused for emphasis.
"Interested in joining us?"
Seiya kept his expression neutral, but his mind raced.
She's recruiting me…
Yoruichi chuckled, reading his thoughts.
"Relax. No one's asking you to take any dangerous risks. This is just a verbal agreement — nothing binding."
She traced patterns on the table with her finger.
"Think of it as a promise. Once you become a captain, we hope you'll lend your voice to our cause."
Her words confirmed Seiya's suspicions.
Just as he thought, Yoruichi wasn't pushing for a violent coup.
Unlike Aizen's revolutionary ambitions, her vision involved gradual, bloodless reform.
She swirled her cup once more, her voice softening.
"Even small steps can make a difference. Bit by bit, we'll shift the balance."
"For souls, time isn't an issue. We have centuries to figure things out."
"And someday, when the time is right… the world will be different."
Seiya sat in silence, absorbing her words.
So that's her plan.
Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihoin — they're aiming for a peaceful revolution.
In contrast, Aizen's method would tear everything down.
Seiya couldn't help but compare the two approaches.
And yet…
Everyone's looking to change things.
So why does it feel like I'm the only one doing undercover work here?
Yoruichi's voice broke his thoughts.
"Alright. I've said my piece. Now, what's your answer?"
There was only one answer Seiya could give.
If he was going to play his role right, there was no point in hesitating.
Besides…
This is the perfect chance to go full-on undercover.
"I'm honored, Captain Yoruichi," Seiya said with a respectful nod.
"Please take care of me from now on."
Yoruichi grinned from ear to ear.
"Good! I'll make sure you get the training of a lifetime, kid!"