Today, March 25, 2012, is a day to celebrate, doods! Now, I am 20 years and one day old! Sure, it doesn’t sound as impressive as twenty years exactly, but yesterday, I was too busy celebrating with my family to tell anyone online that I was able to survive a whole two decades in this world. Oh, and here’s a completely unrelated fact: I’ve written roughly 13,000 words for this liveblog thus far. I know this because I type out all of my entries on Microsoft Word before I put them up here, so that I can easily identify any errors I make. However, as a few mistakes slip through the gaps, feel free to tell me if something seems wrong. Now, let’s start Chapter 4 of Bleach: The 3rd Phantom!
The chapter opens up with a meeting at the squad station. Kaien tells the twins that there have not been any Hollows for days, which sounds good, but also extremely suspicious. Squad 5 thinks that the absence of Hollows might be because someone’s controlling them, as there’s a rumour that someone could do that a long time ago. A little later, Seigen tries to raise everyone’s morale with a pep talk, saying that even though something similar has indeed happened in the past, they will not be beaten. Seigen wants everyone to prepare for battle, which causes Matsuri to become a tad more concerned.
Later, at the Suzunami manor, Konoka’s worried about the news. Matsuri tells her that Lord Seigen will not be able to come home for a while, which explains why you could only see his scenes in the previous chapter. But Konoka isn’t as worried about Seigen as she is for the twins, and wonders if they could just guard the squad station, but the twins want to do their part in the upcoming battles. Konoka says that they aren’t incompetent, but their kind hearts could lead to them overextending themselves and wind up in danger. Seigen was the same when he first became a Soul Reaper, and the only thing Konoka can now do for any of them is hope and pray for their safety.
The next day, back at the station, there are still no Hollows in sight anywhere around Soul Society. Even the Stealth Force have not been able to locate a clue as of yet. Therefore, Seigen warns everyone to prepare for the worst and be ready to respond to an emergency at any time. The twins are a little scared of this news, but Kaien assures them that they will not be put on the front line, since Seigen always puts himself at the forefront of a battle. The twins admit that they still do not know as much as they would like to about how Seigen fights, since he rarely talks about work when they have the time to listen, so the inevitable battles to come might be a good way to learn more about him. Then, we begin our Free Time!
The Aggressive Guest (2 AP) – 2 away from Exit, 4 away from Discount, 10 away from Goal
At the Suzunami manor, Matsuri thinks that Fujimaru keeps calling her name for some reason, but he has not. After a brief cut to outside the manor, where Kyoraku is calling out to Matsuri, we cut back to the twins. Fujimaru definitely heard someone’s voice that time, but Matsuri recognizes the voice and denies that he heard anything. Kyoraku asks if that’s true, and his sudden appearance startles Matsuri. Apparently, Konoka let him in, since it was the right thing to do for someone taking time out of their busy schedule to visit them. Konoka wants everyone to extend his or her warmest hospitality, and while Matsuri doubts that this is a good thing in this case, Fujimaru finds this whole thing hilarious.
A little later, Matsuri tells Kyoraku that it would have been better if he had given them some kind of warning before showing up on their doorstep. Squad 8’s captain doesn’t like to do that, since he doesn’t like the formal receptions that most people give captains. All he wants is a cool, not-watered-down drink, and while Matsuri’s miffed, Kyoraku tries to encourage her to have a good time. Fujimaru asks his sister where her hospitality is, and she answers by telling the men that they will all be in deep trouble unless Kyoraku scrams before Seigen gets home. Kyoraku gets the point, and promises to leave soon.
Kyoraku, true to his word, leaves a little later without much of a hassle. Matsuri’s tired after trying to make Kyoraku feel comfortable, and says that he needs someone to organize his life for him. Unfortunately, they do not know anyone up to the task of being his babysitter. The scene ends, and we now have a NEW Kyoraku event: Kyoraku’s Invitation (3 AP, Affinity +).
Kyoraku’s Invitation (3 AP, Affinity +) – 1 away from Discount, 4 away from Status Boost
The twins are walking down the street, wondering if anyone is following them. Kyoraku tells them that they’re probably imagining things, since the only ones that can hide their spiritual pressure are Captains. Matsuri agrees with him...and then freaks out because Kyoraku had been hiding his pressure from them until that point. Kyoraku says that he would have started a conversation earlier if he could think of what to say, and a furious Matsuri asks why he couldn’t have used a simple ‘hello’. The drunkard says that if he had used a simple request, like ‘come by the squad station’, they probably wouldn’t refuse, and he didn’t want to take advantage of them like that. Matsuri realises that Kyoraku has his own version of etiquette, and the Captain tells the twins that he would actually like them to stop by the station some time so he can repay them for their earlier hospitality. Fujimaru says that they should not refuse a nice invitation like this, and while Matsuri has some reservations, she agrees to go as well.
At Squad 8’s station, we get to watch Kyoraku in action. He tells a girl to continue training rather than help him serve the guests, tells a guy that a matter from yesterday’s meeting has been taken care of, and promises another girl to contact Old Man Yamamoto (the Captain of Squad 1 and Leader of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads) personally to help her decipher some confusing instructions. After he deals with the problems of the other squad members, the twins comment on how everyone is working so hard and relying on Kyoraku as much as they are. Kyoraku tells them that he can be serious when it comes to his job, and that it can be hard to make friends while still maintaining a proper distance between a captain and his crew. He compares himself to Seigen, and says that work can be tiring without pals to relax with, which is one of the reason he likes both of the Kudos so much. Matsuri’s glad that she’s getting to see this side of Kyoraku, who then asks if she’d like to keep him company until dawn. After a quick refusal, our Affinity with Kyoraku goes up, and we do not get any more Kyoraku scenes. So, time to start talking to the other young souls!
Lunch Box Delivery (1 AP, Affinity +) – Next event costs 2 AP less, 3 away from Status Boost
Apparently, Matsuri made some bento and plans to deliver it to Rangiku and Gin. Fujimaru’s worried, since she did it differently than how Konoka does is, but she assures him that the unique flavours she experimented with will taste good. At the shack, Rangiku finds the meal delicious, and Gin...well, he honestly says that he has never tasted anything like it before, which Fujimaru thinks is a good answer. Rangiku ranks this meal above the one they first gave her, which makes Matsuri elated, and the two girls compliment each other’s tastes. Meanwhile, Gin’s just glad that they at least brought a lot of food. Later, after Fujimaru and Matsuri have left, we witness the following conversation.
Rangiku: “Hey, Gin. Soul Reapers are pretty cool, don’t you think?”
Gin: “Yeah.”
Rangiku: “You can eat as much as you want, you know?”
Gin: “Yeah.”
Rangiku: “Gin, are you even listening to me?”
Gin: “Yeah.”
Rangiku: “You must be light-headed from eating too much! Well, I’m going to bed.”
Gin: “Yeah. Good night.”
Our affinity with Rangiku and Gin goes up, and we can now select another event. In addition, a NEW event has appeared, with Gin’s face instead of Rangiku’s: Gin’s Curiosity (3 AP, Chest).
Aizen’s Private Life (3 minus 2 AP) – 2 away from Status Boost, 5 away from Goal
The twins run into Aizen on the street. They ask if he is heading home, but he says he’s heading to a meeting, and it’ll be a while before he can go home. The twins worry about how hard he works, but Aizen says that he does take the occasional break from work, which he usually spends reading. He’s about to tell the twins what kinds of books he likes the most, but realizes that he’s going to be late at this rate. The twins apologize, and Aizen promises to continue the conversation later. After he leaves, Fujimaru wonders if Aizen only reads books, and Matsuri’s a little disappointed that she did not get to find out what a book lover like Aizen enjoys reading the most. They also pity how hard he works. The scene ends, and we have a NEW Aizen event available: Aizen’s Book (4 AP, Chest). Unless we see any other events worth more or equal to 4 AP, I'll try to rig things so we can see this at the end of this update.
The Shiba Residence (2 AP, Status Boost) – Matsuri’s Attack up by 2, 3 away from Goal
Kaien’s taking the twins somewhere special today: his home in the Rukon District, where his brother and sister are currently staying. He adds that this might be good training for the twins, which causes Fujimaru to wonder what Kaien’s house is like. Kaien sums it up as ‘survival of the fittest’, which causes both of the twins to worry. Unfortunately, when they reach the right location, there’s nothing there except for a Rukon youth and a vacant lot. The youth recognizes Kaien, and tells him that his siblings Kukaku and Ganju moved away some time ago. Kaien’s angry that they moved without telling him...again...and decides to hunt them down without a single lead to go on. He also drags the twins along with him.
Later that day, they still have not found Kukaku and Ganju, and it’s getting too late to keep on searching. Also, the twins are wiped out, and Kaien reminds them that he said this would be good training. Matsuri and Fujimaru’s HP increases, and we have a NEW Kaien scene: Kaien’s Blade (3 AP). Now, I have to choose between Urahara and Ukitake in order to get right next to the goal, and since Ukitake has some major connections to that drunk reaper we investigated at the start of this update...
Ukitake’s Offer (2 AP) – 1 away from Goal
The twins walk in on Kaien and Ukitake having a conversation. Apparently, Ukitake wants Kaien to become the future Lieutenant of Squad 13, as it’s hard to find people as capable as him. Kaien thinks that the white-haired Captain is overestimating him, but Ukitake’s convinced that Kaien’s skills and personality already meet qualifications. All Kaien lacks is experience, which he can get on the job, and the position will allow him to step out of Aizen’s shadow and stand out. Ukitake needs somebody reliable to handle the squad when his illness acts up, and while Kaien doesn’t want to leave Squad 5 until he’s repaid the kindness they’ve shown to him (and he finishes guiding two new recruits that are currently far too dangerous to unleash), Ukitake hopes that he’ll think it over. Later, the twins think about how amazing Kaien is, and a little sad about how they compare. We also have a NEW Ukitake event available: Old Buddies (4 AP, Chest). Looks like we don’t have to see the final Aizen seen quite yet after all!
Old Buddies (4 AP, Chest) – Goal Reached
The twins decide to visit Ukitake and see how he’s feeling. However, once they reach Squad 13’s station, it looks like someone’s already there. To Matsuri’s dismay, it’s Captain Kyoraku, who’s brought Ukitake his best sake (a Japanese alcoholic beverage, I believe). Kyoraku notices the twins, and is touched that they’ve come to see him.
Matsuri: “You’re touched, all right. This is Squad 13.”
Kyoraku: “Never mind that. The fact is, you followed me here, didn’t you?”
Matsuri: “If there was an award of some kind, we might follow you, but..”
Fujimaru: (She’s pushing her luck.)
It’s at this point where Ukitake enters the scene, wondering where the clamour is coming from. Matsuri apologizes, and the scene shifts to inside Ukitake’s place. Kyoraku wants everyone to drink and have a good time, but he’s the only one drinking right now. Matsuri wonders if Ukitake’s bothered by this while he isn’t feeling well, but Ukitake’s been used to this since their days at the academy. Apparently, Ukitake’s the only one in Soul Society that doesn’t mind how Kyoraku tends to randomly pop up and start goofing off, since Ukitake thinks he’s always good for a laugh.
Fujimaru inquires about the Soul Reaper General Academy, and it turns out that Kyoraku and Ukitake were classmates and fast friends. It seems unlikely to the twins that they both became captains, and even more so that the two are such good friends despite having totally different personalities. Ukitake says that those differences are precisely why they get along so well, and Kyoraku says that it’s how he can forgive Ukitake for being a ladies’ man. Matsuri calls him a scoundrel, but Ukitake tells her that at least when it comes to fighting, there’s no one more reliable.
Kyoraku: “Right back at you, buddy. We may seem as different as mud and snow, but our vision is the same. We both strive for personal integrity. We’ve challenged and supported each other over the years so we can achieve this goal.”
Fujimaru: “That’s a pretty impressive explanation.”
Kyoraku: “Oh, and by the way, I’m snow.”
Matsuri: “I’d have to go with Captain Kyoraku as snow!”
Ukitake: “Ha ha! You should have quit while you were ahead. Oh, I have something that may be enlightening for you. I have it on my shelf..Here it is.”
Ukitake then gives the twins a book; specifically, the journal that he and Kyoraku kept when they were in training. Matsuri wonders if they can accept something so valuable, but Kyoraku tells her that it’s not doing anyone any good just sitting on the shelf. We now have JU & SK’s Memo, which increases the amount of experience that everyone earns, and our Free Time ends.
Right on cue, there’s an urgent alert due to a large group of Hollows approaching the Seireitei. Matsuri and Fujimaru hurry to the squad station, where Seigen and Aizen tell their men to take position in front of western Hakuto Gate and wait for Head Captain Yamamoto’s orders. And now, the first battle where you can choose who you wish to deploy! However, there are only as many free spaces as there are party members, five of our currently available party members must be in the battle, and it seems a tad silly not to use all of the resources that are available to us. I think I’m going to go through a Free Battle or two so that the twins are more prepared for the fights ahead, but in case you’re curious who’s available to us right now, here’s the list and everything they’ve learned since their last appearance in the liveblog.
- Seigen, Speed, LV 14, Shiden LV 01, knows Shock 2 (higher chance of paralyzing foes)
- Aizen, Tech, LV 13, Kyokasuigetsu LV 01
- Kaien, Power, LV 09, Nejibana LV 01
- Fujimaru, Speed, LV 04, Asauchi LV 02, knows Gemstone (increased experience and initial pressure)
- Matsuri, Power, LV 05, Asauchi LV 03, can now use Shakkaho
- Kyoraku, Power, LV 13, Katenkyokotsu LV 01, knows Absolute Def (chance of enemy attacks doing 10 HP or less)
- Ukitake, Tech, LV 13, Sogyonokotowari LV 01, knows Dire Focus, Dire Evasion, and Reliable Hit (none of which activate unless Ukitake is below 30% HP)
And that’s all for now, doods! Next time, after a small amount of training, the twins team up with at least three captains and two Lieutenant-level Reapers to kick some Hollow kiester! Doesn’t sound hard at all, right? Well, we’ll know for certain when the battle commences!
