260 Awkward dinner

(3rd's pov)

In the Yuuki household, there was an unwritten rule that the family should eat together as often as possible. It didn't mean, however, that everyone should drop what they were doing and rush home for dinner.

There were times when Ryoto, Isane, Yoruichi, or Rin couldn't make it because of work or missions. Thankfully, it wasn't a common occurrence, and today, just as it usually is, everyone was present except for Yoruichi for obvious reasons.

Although usually, it's a happy time, today, the atmosphere was tense and heavy. Even the person with the thickest skull in the room (Yukima) could see that something was wrong.

The reason for it was a duo of father and son, Ryoto and Akio. While Akio was most often seen with a frown, he enjoyed his time at the daily dinners. He will miss them when he moves out, but if it helps him reach his goal, it will be worth it.

He looked at his mother with an affectionate gaze. He loved his mother, and he hated that she needed to keep being with his father... but he'll save her... soon. It was amazing how she could still smile at him while in the presence of this monster, but it only made his conviction even stronger. What made him sad was that he would have never noticed this if not for his mentor and friend.

Then he shifted his eyes to his father, and he met with the blue, alien, and mechanical-like eyes of his other parent. He didn't know why his father had unusual eyes. Are they artificial or not? It wasn't that important, but his scientific mind couldn't help but try to solve this mystery.

Ryoto looked back at his son, but because of his worries and anger at himself, it was an intense stare that didn't help with Akio's image of his dad.

Even the fantastic food prepared by Rin herself couldn't salvage this mood in the room, so Rangiku, being the social butterfly that she is, tried to help with the tension.

"So, Akio-nii, did you do something interesting recently?"

Akio, without looking away from his dad, started speaking.

"Now that you mentioned it, I have something to share with everyone. I plan to join Gotei 13 tomorrow, in fact, and I already got a recommendation to become a vice-captain. I also decided to move out. I apologize for the late notice, but it's not like I won't be seeing you anymore."

The whole time, Akio's tone was nonchalant, but he could feel the increasing pressure of his father. It wasn't like Ryoto was releasing his Spiritual pressure. He was too trained to make an amateur mistake like this. This mainly was Akio's imagination. Sitting at the same table as his father, his very powerful father, doing something against him and at the same time staring at each other with aggression (according to him). It wasn't that strange that he was feeling tense.

That didn't mean, though, that Ryoto didn't care. He was boiling inside, and if he was 150 years younger, he would've raged out, but he learned in his life that it's better to focus your anger on using it at a better time, and he couldn't wait for it to unleash it.

As the staredown continued, Akio could feel the warmth on top of his hand. He turned his head to see the source of this feeling, and it was his mother with a concerned expression. He hated seeing her like that.

"Akio, dear, are you sure about that? You don't need to hurry to move out or even join the ranks of Sereitei."

Akio's decision wasn't so easily swayed, and he stuck with his choice.

"Sorry, Mom, but that's what I want to do. I'll visit as often as I can." It was the first time during the dinner that Akio sounded affectionately, but it was cut short.

"Akio, can you tell me which Squad you are planning to join?" Ryoto asked calmly, hoping that maybe somehow, he was mistaken, and his worries were just that, worries.

His question was met with another angry glare.

"And why do you want to know that?"

"Because, as a father, I worry about you. You may be an adult who is capable of making his own decisions, but it doesn't mean that you are not my child anymore." Again, calm, Ryoto answered, making Akio even angrier.

(E/D: Ok let's just kill this guy and then keep the rest, that sounds like a fair deal.)

"If you want to know that much, why won't you use your little spying squad to get that information." The son hissed back, but the father didn't back down.

"You know that as soon as you become a lieutenant, it becomes public knowledge. If you wanted to hide which Division you are joining, you should, at the very least, stay a seated officer. If you don't want to share this information, then so be it. I can't force you."

Seeing his father calm made Akio even angrier, but he didn't start screaming at his parent but dismissively answered anyway, as even if he despised him, Akio could see the truth in his words.

"I'll be in Squad 5 under Captain Aizen. Now if you excuse me." Akio got up and left.

Silence stayed in the room for a while, no one knowing how to get rid of this awkward atmosphere.

"I'll also be going. I have some work left to do." Ryoto stood up and gave goodbye kisses to Isane and Rin.

"Don't do anything stupid." Rin said as Ryoto was leaving the house. She knows him too well because what he's planning to do is pretty stupid, but if that increases Akio's safety, he'll live with being stupid without any shame.

---

The evening at the Squad's 5 barracks was quiet, and not many were still working at this hour. The exception was the very hard-working and kind Captain Aizen. He was in his room doing the last check-ups on the rapports until he heard a knock on his door.

Not expecting any guests, Aizen wasn't sure who that may be, but he welcomed the freshly arrived individual, nonetheless. If he could help, he would. That's what kind of captain he wants to become.

After all, that's part of his character.

---

END

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