Chapter Text
“If you find all changes satisfactory, may I humbly ask that you please sign the form here, here, and on the last page, Captain Hirako, sir?”
Once Fifth Seat Kagami had finished bowing, Shinji gave him a look that conveyed all the enthusiasm he felt for paperwork (none) and also his frustration at being treated by his squad as someone to be feared.
He sighed inwardly. He was not certain what he had been expecting when he had accepted old man Yamamoto’s offer (or had that been an order?) to take back his Captain position, but this had not been it, for sure. Four weeks in already, and he had not encountered a single Fifth division member who interacted with him normally. Granted, the division was in disarray, and given Aizen’s actions, everybody was bound to have trust issues. But as it was, they all acted like they were expecting Aizen to come back and kill them all any minute. Worse, most shinigami actively avoided being too close to the captain’s office, like the room was cursed.
Shinji was not sure how to uplift the mood of the squad and “foster a healthy work climate” (as Ukitake had phrased it) when every single member of the division avoided him. Why were they acting like he was the bad guy in this?
“Just look at that mug of yours, baldy, ya’ll have your answer,” Hiyori had quipped, ever so unhelpful.
Shinji doubted that his face was the core issue at the moment, though. The fact was that they were all wary because they had all been traumatized… and some days, Shinji doubted that he was the man of the situation, after all. One thing at least was for sure: he would not be able to achieve this on his own.
“ Damn you, Aizen ”, he cursed softly.
"Sir?"
Kagami's voice broke through his thoughts, causing Shinji to startle. To be honest, he had completely forgotten that the guy had been here in the first place.
Offering his subordinate an apologetic smile, he said, "Ah, sorry, sorry! What is it, Kagami?"
Kagami cleared his throat. "I wanted to inform you, Sir, that we've just received communication from the Twelfth Division. They have now approved a limited list of visitors for Lieutenant Hinamori. Details are provided in the following document," He paused briefly, handing him a note, before continuing, "Naturally, as her Captain, you are included in that list. That is, if you wish to vis-"
"Of course I'll visit her," Shinji interjected. Did they even need to question that? He shook his head in disbelief. What kind of man - what kind of Captain - did they think he was?
Kagami felt the need to bow again. “N-naturally, Sir. I apolog-”
“Stop this apologizing thing, will ya. ‘s fine. Now, if that’s all, you are dismissed, Kagami. Have a good day,” Shinji said with a sigh.
“Thank you Captain Hirako! And a pleasant day to you as well, Sir!” Kagami exclaimed, sounding relieved. He bowed yet again and left hurriedly, making Shinji wonder, once again, what they were all so terrified about.
He watched the man leave and read the message again pensively.
Hinamori remained a puzzle to Shinji. Upon his reinstatement as Captain, a select group of his colleagues - Ukitake, Kyouraku, Komamura, and Unohana - had volunteered to privately brief him about her. This informal debrief had been, emotionally, one of the most challenging experiences Shinji had faced, leaving an indelible mark that still sent a shiver down his spine. So yes, he was well aware that Hinamori, one of the most skilled shinigami of her generation, had served as the Fifth's lieutenant under Aizen. And he had a general understanding of the manipulation that wretched man had inflicted upon her for years, culminating in his attempt to kill her before he left Soul Society. Naturally, Shinji also vividly recalled his sole encounter with her, on that fateful day when Aizen's deceit had driven him, along with half of Soul Society’s captains, to mercilessly assault her.
While they were confident about her physical recovery, the damage to her soul remained uncertain. Few people, after all, have the ability to fully bounce back from this level of trauma. Many in Soul Society had openly questioned whether Shinji should retain her as his lieutenant. This skepticism hadn't done anything to dissuade Shinji - when were these guys ever right, anyway? After all she had been through, he felt that she deserved at least to be given the chance to decide that for herself. Shinji was here to erase the damage Aizen had done, so it was not like he was going to give up on her so quickly. The squad needed her… and so did he.