He'd been at the ceremony, as was his own duty as a Colonel himself, but as called for there hadn't been much more than a dutiful twitch of a smile that had followed Rukia's ascension into the highest rank that a Hero of Light could attain. It easily drew his memories back to his own promotion and how flush with pride he'd felt back then as well. He hoped Rukia were ready for all the paperwork extra responsibility that came with her new role, and was somewhat pleased that she hadn't opted to also specialize with ground forces.

Sometime after the ceremony, as Rukia were settling into her new quarters at the barracks, there came a firm double-knock on the closed door.