Disciple

At once, a cold sweat broke out across Chiba Makoto's back.

If he really said that to Captain Unohana, his fate... probably would not be pleasant, right?

Captain Unohana might look like a gentle, refined mature older woman, but she was also famously devious. Not to mention that she was now Chiba Makoto's superior.

As a man who had been taught since his previous life that "the mighty cannot make one yield, wealth cannot make one corrupt, poverty cannot make one waver," Chiba Makoto... revealed a perfectly timed expression of shyness, along with pride that seemed impossible to conceal, and said,

"Captain Unohana, you flatter me. Compared to the other students, I merely happened to have a little more interest in Kaido and Medical Skills."

"Interest?"

Unohana Retsu seemed to mull over that answer for a moment before smiling. "What an unexpected answer, Makoto. Perhaps you may truly achieve something in both Kaido and Medical Skills."

"Yes!"

As though greatly encouraged, Chiba Makoto's eyes faintly gleamed as he declared firmly, "I will definitely work hard and never disappoint Captain Unohana's expectations!"

Of course, Chiba Makoto was actually completely unmoved inside, and even let out a slight sigh of relief.

It seemed Captain Unohana had specifically arranged to meet him purely because of his relatively outstanding performance in Kaido and Medical Skills at Shin'ō Academy, not because she had developed any suspicions.

After being subtly flattered by Chiba Makoto, Unohana Retsu's eyes curved into crescents, and she seemed pleased by his reaction as well.

However, just as Chiba Makoto unconsciously relaxed slightly, Unohana Retsu changed the subject. Her crescent-shaped eyes opened a narrow sliver as she asked,

"Then, Makoto, why are you concealing your spiritual pressure? Your true spiritual pressure is far beyond what you are showing on the surface, isn't it?"

In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard froze, and Chiba Makoto's slightly youthful smile stiffened somewhat.

Unohana Retsu, as if she had not noticed Chiba Makoto's reaction, continued,

"Makoto, your spiritual pressure should be the strongest among this year's graduates, shouldn't it? Even Madarame Ikkaku, who just joined the Eleventh Division, is inferior to you. Why deliberately hide your own excellence?"

Unohana Retsu's tone remained as gentle as ever, yet Chiba Makoto's body involuntarily tensed.

The gaze cast from those crescent-shaped eyes seemed to see straight through him.

Yet the next moment, Chiba Makoto completely relaxed. With the characteristic bashfulness of a young man, he scratched his head and said embarrassedly,

"As expected of Captain Unohana, the captain I admire. You saw through me completely at a glance."

Hearing that, Unohana Retsu lightly covered her mouth and laughed. "Makoto, even if you flatter me like that, I will still get to the bottom of this. After all, understanding every subordinate's thoughts is also a captain's responsibility."

Chiba Makoto nodded and spoke with almost no pause.

"Because I truly dislike fighting. Fighting only leads to the loss of life..."

After a pause, Chiba Makoto spoke with a little more melancholy and wistfulness. "Even if one is a Soul Reaper, once they die, everything they cherish, everything they hope for, everything they desire will cease to exist!"

Unohana Retsu seemed to nod in considerable agreement before saying, "Makoto, you heard that last sentence from Kiyosuke, didn't you?"

Having temporarily borrowed the line, Chiba Makoto's expression could not help stiffening as he asked, "Hm? How did Captain Unohana know?"

"Because Kiyosuke learned that sentence from me," Unohana Retsu said with a smile.

It had to be said that, at that moment, even with Chiba Makoto's thick skin, his cheeks grew a little hot!

Who would have thought that the words the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division used to fool new recruits were stitched together from someone else's words? Did he have no integrity or restraint at all?

Where was your dignity and pride as a Vice-Captain?! Huh?!

Still, while Chiba Makoto grumbled inwardly, he outwardly revealed a look of sudden realization and said,

"So that's how it is. I was wondering why Vice-Captain Yamada's words resonated with me so deeply. So they actually came from Captain Unohana. No wonder their profundity, lofty intent, and deep meaning left me in such admiration and taught me so much."

At that moment, Chiba Makoto looked almost like an innocent young man who had encountered someone he admired. His gaze was sincere, his tone excited, and even his cheeks had flushed slightly.

It was an almost flawless reaction, so much so that even Unohana Retsu's thoughts wavered somewhat.

Could it be... Chiba Makoto truly was merely an innocent and harmless young man?

Had he deliberately concealed his spiritual pressure simply to avoid fighting?

Yet just as Unohana Retsu intended to carefully observe Chiba Makoto's microexpressions, she felt his nearly undisguised sincerity and gaze filled with admiration. Unohana Retsu unconsciously shifted her eyes away slightly.

Honestly, do boys these days have no idea what restraint is?

While muttering to herself inwardly, Unohana Retsu asked to confirm, "Makoto, so you deliberately hid your true spiritual pressure in order to avoid battle and killing?"

"Not entirely, I suppose?"

Chiba Makoto scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly,

"My dream is to join the Fourth Division and serve under Captain Unohana. To avoid the trouble of being asked to join other divisions or something, there was naturally no need to display my spiritual pressure."

Hearing that, Unohana Retsu's smile unknowingly deepened as she asked, "Do you truly wish so badly to join the Fourth Division and become my subordinate?"

"Of course!"

Chiba Makoto nodded heavily and answered without hesitation.

"Everyone knows that Captain Unohana's Kaido and Medical Skills are unmatched in the Soul Society. Studying Kaido and Medical Skills under you is what I have always dreamed of."

"Mm..."

Hearing this, Unohana Retsu pondered for a moment, her long, scallion-white fingers casually moving the flowers in the vase as though she were considering something.

After a while, Unohana Retsu shifted her gaze and asked, "Makoto, then how about becoming my disciple?"

"Ah?!"

Chiba Makoto was genuinely stunned at that moment.

Although Chiba Makoto had secretly anticipated several possible reactions based on Unohana Retsu's personality, he had never imagined that Unohana Retsu would intend to take him as her disciple.

After all, Chiba Makoto was merely an ordinary graduate. Aside from his looks and temperament, there was almost nothing particularly outstanding about him.