Makoto... Is a Woman?!

Under Unohana Retsu's lead, Chiba Makoto, dressed in a Shinigami uniform and wearing an obedient expression, followed her toward the Gynecology Department within the Fourth Division.

Along the way, wherever Unohana Retsu passed, she drew countless admiring and adoring gazes. Whether they were Fourth Division members or other Shinigami who had come to the Fourth Division for treatment, all of them respectfully bowed in greeting.

Although Captain-class Shinigami held exalted status within the Seireitei, the reactions of so many Shinigami were enough to demonstrate Unohana Retsu's popularity and prestige.

In response to all the bows and greetings, Unohana Retsu patiently nodded back with a gentle smile.

Besides that, Chiba Makoto could occasionally sense gazes falling upon him as well—some puzzled, some envious.

Thinking of this, Chiba Makoto looked toward Unohana Retsu's profile. Beneath the sunlight, her refined and elegant temperament made the gentle-faced Unohana Retsu seem like an incomparably beautiful flower.

Yet even though it lasted only an instant, Unohana Retsu noticed Chiba Makoto's gaze and asked, "Makoto, what is it?"

Chiba Makoto hurriedly looked away and answered, "As expected of Teacher. You're so popular. It really makes people envious."

Envious?

Unohana Retsu froze for a moment upon hearing that.

Throughout the Soul Society, there was almost universally an atmosphere of revering the strong. This was not merely because strength existed, but more because nearly everyone's way of thinking tended in similar directions.

However... simple "envy" was not a sign of revering the strong. On the contrary, it was a dangerous way of thinking.

Only when one regarded another as an equal would one feel "envy."

For Chiba Makoto to think this way, either he sees me as an equal rather than an insurmountably powerful figure; or his thinking leans closer to the source of chaos collectively feared by the nobles ruling the Soul Society—the kind of thought that refuses to be bound by class or rules.

With that thought, Unohana Retsu's eyes involuntarily assessed Chiba Makoto. Outwardly, she said nothing, but inwardly, a trace of doubt arose.

Could it be... because I've acted too equally around Makoto, and because he has only just graduated and does not truly understand what a Captain-class Shinigami represents?

Had Chiba Makoto known that Unohana Retsu had inferred so much from just two words, he would have immediately placed her at the top of his list of people to be wary of.

Even if Chiba Makoto had noticed the somewhat inexplicable look in Unohana Retsu's eyes, he would have had no idea that a word he had casually uttered had exposed certain aspects of his nature.

Unlike the ordinary souls of the Soul Society, some ingrained beliefs—including "Are kings and nobles born that way?"—remained etched into Chiba Makoto's soul.

Therefore, revering the strong had never been Chiba Makoto's nature.

If the throne stood empty, then one should contend for it and take its place!

To Chiba Makoto, that was the most natural way of thinking.

In the end, Unohana Retsu could not help glancing at Chiba Makoto again. The pure and kind-hearted boy wore an exceptionally gentle smile, looking utterly harmless.

"Uh, was that an illusion? Have I been overthinking things lately?"

Unohana Retsu raised a hand to rub her temple. Seeing that they had arrived at the Gynecology Department, she did not pursue the matter any further.

Then, Unohana Retsu told Chiba Makoto to wait in the corridor while she went to find the seated officer in charge of the Gynecology Department.

After all, Unohana Retsu's decision to have Chiba Makoto join the Gynecology Department had only been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Naturally, she needed to discuss the arrangements with the seated officer responsible for it first.

As Unohana Retsu left, Chiba Makoto stood alone near the entrance of the Gynecology Department. Watching the many female Shinigami coming and going, along with the strange looks that occasionally landed on him, he could not help feeling a little uncomfortable.

At the thought of having to remain in such an environment in the future, Chiba Makoto's face faintly turned green. Sure enough... he had absolutely been tricked by Unohana-the-black-bellied-Retsu!

Originally, Chiba Makoto had thought there would be plenty of male members in the Gynecology Department as well. Otherwise, Unohana Retsu would not have spoken so naturally and smoothly about it.

But after standing in the corridor and looking around for a while, Chiba Makoto found that even the male cats wandering around outside the Gynecology Department had been neutered.

Just then, Chiba Makoto suddenly heard his own name.

"Chiba Makoto?"

When he turned around, he found that the person beside him was actually Aoki Risa, whom he had met once yesterday at the Mortuary.

"Makoto, what are you doing here?" Aoki Risa asked in confusion.

Running into an acquaintance did not bring Chiba Makoto even the slightest joy. Instead, he felt the social death of being caught red-handed and explained weakly, "I was assigned here for an internship."

Aoki Risa subconsciously cried out in surprise. "An internship? How could that be? This is the Gynecology Department!"

In an instant, Chiba Makoto felt wave after wave of gazes turn toward him. He instinctively grabbed Aoki Risa by the wrist and hurriedly pulled her to a less crowded corner.

"Um... l-let go, Makoto."

Chiba Makoto looked over and realized that Aoki Risa, who looked like the girl next door, had none of the bold, outgoing demeanor she had shown yesterday when she had dragged him off to conduct the work handover. Now, her entire face had turned slightly pink instead.

"S-sorry..."

Chiba Makoto hurriedly released Aoki Risa and apologized.

That made Aoki Risa breathe a sigh of relief. Avoiding his gaze, she hurriedly looked to one side. While fanning her face with her little hand, she asked, "Makoto, was there some kind of mistake? The Gynecology Department has never had male Shinigami interns."

"I wish it were a mistake," Chiba Makoto sighed helplessly.

It seemed almost certain now that this was Unohana-the-black-bellied-Retsu's twisted sense of humor.

"Huh?"

Aoki Risa made a puzzled sound and murmured, "Come to think of it, Makoto, you didn't go to the Mortuary yesterday for the work handover. Instead, you were assigned to intern in the Gynecology Department. Could it be..."

At that point, Aoki Risa seemed to think of something. She turned to stare at Chiba Makoto, her pupils trembling, and said, "Could Makoto possibly be a woman? Or do you have the status of a great noble, so you're receiving special treatment?"

??!!

Chiba Makoto.

At that moment, Chiba Makoto went completely numb.

Teacher Unohana, look...

In this world of the Soul Society, people would rather believe there is something wrong with my gender than believe you would make the absurd decision to assign me to the Gynecology Department!

This is practically as absurd as every generation of Vice-Captains of the Second Division, the Onmitsukidō, being huge fat men. It completely defies common sense!

For a moment, Chiba Makoto could already vaguely see his future of being treated as an "exhibit" in the Gynecology Department. And this matter would surely spread throughout the entire Seireitei as amusing gossip at lightning speed, right?