Your Emotional Intelligence Is Beyond Saving

Retsu Unohana, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Sajin Komamura, the three captains participating in the evaluation, exchanged glances. In the end, they nodded, agreeing with Tōshirō.

Despite his young age, both his strength and temperament were outstanding. He might still have many shortcomings, but becoming a captain would not be much of a problem. Especially his temperament—he would not retreat even in the face of death. Tōshirō’s resolve moved them greatly.

The Gotei 13 could tolerate captains with distinctive personalities, but it would never permit the disgrace of a captain fleeing in battle. Captains were the face of the Bleach. Even in death, they had to fall while charging forward. Otherwise, where would the Soul Society’s dignity go?

Tōshirō had done very well in that regard. It did not matter if his strength was a little lacking, as long as he met the captain-level standard. There would be plenty of opportunities for him to train in the future.

With the three evaluating captains nodding their approval, and Tōshirō having been personally nominated by the Captain Commander, his appointment as Squad 10’s new captain was only natural.

When the Captain Commander announced it, Rangiku and Tōshirō, who had still been hanging their heads in dejection, were visibly stunned. Rangiku immediately jumped up. "Hooray! Hooray for no more official duties!"

"Why? I passed… but didn’t I lose?" Tōshirō asked blankly, deeply confused.

"A captain’s evaluation is partly about strength, but what matters most is conviction. In that respect, you are undoubtedly exceptional." Sajin Komamura watched the Captain Commander leave and patiently explained.

With the evaluation over, the Captain Commander and Kuchiki Byakuya went together to Central 46 to submit the results of Squad 10’s new captain evaluation. Next would come approval of his appointment date.

"But I lost terribly. I did not have any room to fight back at all. Squad 4’s vice-captain is clearly more suitable than me. Why not let him become captain?" Tōshirō looked toward Duke, who was huddled together with Rangiku, arms around each other’s shoulders as they chatted about something.

"Vice-Captain Duke is a genius like you. Right after he graduated, he defeated the previous ‘Kenpachi’ during the enlistment ceremony. He is one of Seireitei’s foremost swordsmanship experts." Sajin Komamura said solemnly, "Before I became captain of the 7th Division, he was already Squad 4’s vice-captain. In terms of seniority, he has been around longer than many captains… Perhaps everyone has their own ambitions. He has repeatedly turned down the Captain Commander and has never been promoted to captain."

"Then his strength…" Tōshirō trailed off. It was too abrupt to casually inquire into someone else’s information.

"Vice-Captain Duke’s strength is among the very best even compared to captains. And let me add this: his Zanpakuto can only use Shikai. The Captain Commander once said that if he could achieve Bankai, he would undoubtedly become the strongest Bleach." Sajin Komamura said in a grave voice, "So from the very beginning, we never expected you to win."

"So he’s that strong…" The shock in Tōshirō’s eyes quickly turned into blazing fighting spirit. Being utterly defeated had not discouraged him. Instead, it stirred his competitive nature.

"Work hard. The Captain Commander thinks highly of your Zanpakuto. Perhaps one day, you really will catch up to him." Sajin Komamura encouraged the newbie. Tōshirō’s determination to fight to the death was very much to his liking.

"But my Zanpakuto was ineffective against him… He isn’t afraid of the cold." Tōshirō immediately deflated like a punctured ball, his spirits low.

"Hahaha!" Sajin Komamura laughed heartily, his voice muffled through his mask. "How could anyone not be afraid of the cold? That was just something he said to crush your will. I do the same when training my subordinates, belittling them until they are worthless. His Reiatsu is stronger than yours, which is why your techniques were ineffective. Work hard. You still have a long road ahead of you!"

After offering Tōshirō some encouragement, Sajin Komamura patted him on the shoulder and left.

"I knew it. How could anyone not be afraid of the cold?" Tōshirō regained his confidence and respectfully saw off the kind-hearted senior.

Meanwhile, once the evaluation ended, Rangiku pulled Duke aside and muttered, "You bastard, couldn’t you have gone a little easier on him? Do you know you nearly got me killed?"

"Huh? What does that have to do with you?"

"Do you know how long I’ve been acting captain of Squad 10? Do you know how long it’s been since I went out drinking? Beauty treatments, shopping, getting my hair done… My membership cards are about to expire! I even noticed forehead lines when I looked in the mirror recently. If this keeps up, beautiful Rangiku will become a middle-aged woman!" Rangiku babbled on, unleashing a torrent of complaints. "I finally got little Tōshirō as a laborer, and you almost ruined it."

"No wonder I haven’t seen you lately. I thought you’d turned over a new leaf." Duke suddenly understood, then beat his chest in regret. "Had I known, I should have crushed that brat instantly and let you continue turning into an old lady amid pain and suffering."

Rangiku gritted her teeth in anger and clamped Duke’s head under her arm. "You bastard, I knew you’d say that."

With soft warmth beside his ear, and a deep cleavage visible whenever he lifted his eyes, Duke was secretly enjoying himself when he suddenly sensed killing intent behind him. He quickly broke free and turned around, only to find that the killing intent had vanished completely. Behind him, Retsu Unohana was discussing a captain’s daily duties with Tōshirō. Mostly, Unohana spoke while Tōshirō listened.

"Strange!" Duke tilted his head and shot Tōshirō a malicious glance. Could this brat be harboring ill intentions and planning to ambush me? No, that didn’t sound right. The original story never said he was petty!

"What is it?" Rangiku asked, joining in out of curiosity.

"There was killing intent behind me just now," Duke said with certainty.

A gleam flashed in Rangiku’s eyes. Smiling like a flower, she teased, "Maybe Captain Unohana saw how intimate we were, so… she got jealous!"

Duke’s neck stiffened. He slowly turned toward her, his face blank. "Don’t talk nonsense. If my captain hears that, she’ll definitely butcher you."

Rangiku’s gossiping instincts ignited. She probed, "Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to? Captain Unohana is gentle, virtuous, and beautiful. You’ve been her vice-captain for so many years and see each other day and night. Don’t you have any thoughts about her?"

Duke raised one hand toward the heavens and swore, "Heaven and earth bear witness, I respect Captain Unohana as if she were my mother!"

Rangiku looked at him with disgust. "Pervert. Your tastes are really heavy!"

Duke looked equally disgusted. "Your mind is too filthy!"

"Hmph, hmph!" Rangiku snorted disdainfully. "Don’t say that so absolutely. My instincts are never wrong. There must be something going on between you two."

Rangiku’s inexplicable confidence left Duke speechless. Thinking back on his relationship with his captain, there truly had been no excessive interactions beyond those of superior and subordinate. He became even more certain that she was merely teasing him. "That is all in your imagination. I’m an upright man, so don’t slander me recklessly. Be careful, or I’ll sue you for defamation."

"If someone hadn’t groped my butt while I was drunk, I might believe you." Rangiku spat lightly, looking at him with contempt.

"Well, you were heartbroken at the time. I only wanted to comfort you," Duke stubbornly argued.

"How could I possibly be heartbroken? The people pursuing me could line up from Rukongai all the way to the Chamber of Penance…" Rangiku’s gaze drifted as she raised a hand in front of her face and waved it dismissively.

"Really? Last time you drank too much, you even called out a certain captain’s name." Duke narrowed his eyes, leaned close, and whispered.

Rangiku jolted and stared at Duke in disbelief. Although she liked drowning her sorrows in alcohol, her mind had always remained clear even at the end of a drinking session. She was absolutely certain that she had never mentioned Gin Ichimaru at the table.

"How do you know?"

"You said it yourself!"

"Impossible! I’ve never mentioned his name!"

"Then that’s strange. I clearly heard you crying out while you were drunk…"

"Don’t say it!"

"…Captain Zaraki’s name!"

Veins bulged on Rangiku’s forehead as she roared furiously, "Bastard, are you messing with me?"

"Same to you! Weren’t you messing with me just now?"

"Idiot, I wasn’t messing with you. You’re just too deeply involved to see it clearly yourself." Rangiku rolled her eyes, then asked with a serious face, "How did you know about me? Don’t tell me I let something slip while drunk. I’ve never actually gotten drunk."

"Then you’re impressive. In all of Seireitei, you have the best acting skills."

"Stop talking nonsense and answer my question."

"The eyes! The way lovers look at each other is always different. That squinty-eyed guy looks at you the same way; he just hides it well."

Rangiku froze, then sneered after a long while. "What a joke. If you could recognize the look between lovers, you would not still be treating your captain like your mother."

"That proves you’re slandering me. My captain is not someone who gets caught up in romantic feelings."

"Ah…" Rangiku patted Duke’s shoulder and said pityingly, "Your emotional intelligence is beyond saving. Really! Tell me honestly, do you usually only interact with a bunch of rough old men?"

Duke thought back through the many worlds he had visited. "They weren’t all grown men. There were also male beasts, dragons, insects, and the like."

Rangiku sighed quietly. "They must all be single, right?"

Thanks to readers ‘Elegant Cabbage,’ ‘Song Wenci,’ ‘Qitian Realm,’ ‘Jiang Che,’ ‘Reader 20170317205823663,’ ‘I Laugh, I Rejoice,’ and ‘Collecting 16 to 25 Year Old Beautiful Girls’ for their donations!