Looking Back, That Person Was...

At last, it was not until Chiba Makoto and Yamada Seinosuke had retreated all the way beyond the courtyard that they felt the faint pressure shrouding them disappear.

"Captain... why did she suddenly become so terrifying?" Yamada Seinosuke muttered in confusion, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Chiba Makoto, who was equally unsure of what had happened, instead felt a growing unease. He frowned and fell into deep thought.

Did I overdo it and end up shooting myself in the foot? Did Teacher Unohana grow disgusted with me because I acted too much?

Still, although I did want to rely on Teacher Unohana to avoid certain troubles, my gratitude toward her was genuine. Even if she saw through my intentions, she shouldn't have reacted this strongly, right?

Women... sigh, they're just impossible to figure out!

Chiba Makoto smacked his lips helplessly, then turned to Yamada Seinosuke beside him and asked, "Vice-Captain Yamada, do you have any spare rooms over there?"

"Huh?" Yamada Seinosuke froze, not quite following.

Chiba Makoto said helplessly, "Teacher has already kicked me out. I probably can't go back into the courtyard to sleep tonight, so do you have a spare room I could borrow for the night? Or perhaps..."

Chiba Makoto raised his brows and said somewhat awkwardly, "We could squeeze in together."

Yamada Seinosuke shrugged and replied with his usual sharp tongue, "That wouldn't be appropriate. Even if I were willing, my wife wouldn't be."

???

Chiba Makoto.

No, why? A sharp-tongued, mean guy like you has a wife, while I'm still single?

This made no sense!!!

Wait, it wasn't like I was planning to do anything to you. Why would your wife be unwilling?

How about asking her? Maybe she'd agree.

Unfortunately, Chiba Makoto ultimately did not voice that suggestion as he watched Yamada Seinosuke leave.

Of course, it was not because he was unsure whether he could beat Yamada Seinosuke.

It was purely because Chiba Makoto had a feeling that if he said that aloud, that scheming bastard Yamada Seinosuke would absolutely report it to Unohana Retsu.

Yet as Yamada Seinosuke departed, Chiba Makoto stood alone in the broad open space before the central courtyard of the Fourth Division Barracks, feeling strangely lonely and miserable.

I was clearly still single, yet I was already getting a taste of being kicked out of my own home?

Should I... stay at Aoki Risa's place for the night? Her family is an Intermediate Noble, after all...

However, Chiba Makoto quickly dismissed that seemingly dangerous thought. Instead, he headed toward the Gynecology Department, intending to spend the night cultivating in his office.

However, just as Chiba Makoto stepped through the doors of the Gynecology Department, a rare gentle male voice sounded beside him in the Seireitei.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, but are you Makoto?"

Chiba Makoto abruptly froze. The gentle, innocent expression that was usually fixed on his face stiffened slightly. As his eyes shifted, he saw a male Soul Reaper standing beside him—someone rather ordinary-looking, yet possessing such a warm and gentle aura that one instinctively felt inclined to trust and draw close to him.

Brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, and the Fifth Division Vice-Captain armband...

Chiba Makoto's breathing almost uncontrollably quickened for an instant as a name sprang directly into his mind.

Aizen Sōsuke!

A terrifying man Chiba Makoto had desperately wanted to avoid ever since entering Shin'ō Academy. At the same time, he was a monster who had pushed all Soul Reaper combat skills—Zankensoki—to their limits, manipulating both the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo by himself!

Although Chiba Makoto had imagined countless times what it would be like to face Aizen Sōsuke, he had never expected this moment to come so suddenly—and so early!

At a stage when Chiba Makoto was not truly prepared at all!

Almost instinctively, Chiba Makoto slightly raised his right hand, intending to grasp the Zanpakuto at his waist. But in the next moment, he forcibly calmed himself and controlled his expression, showing caution without outright hostility.

Losing my composure... is already unavoidable. Stupidly trying to cover it up will only invite greater suspicion! I can only follow through on that reaction...

In that split second, Chiba Makoto made his judgment of the situation he was in.

Aizen Sōsuke had seemingly taken in every one of Chiba Makoto's reactions. As if casually, he asked, "Makoto, you seem rather nervous?"

"Heh heh..."

Chiba Makoto gave a cold chuckle and said, "Don't you think that question is rather arrogant, coming from an unidentified male Soul Reaper appearing in the Gynecology Department in the middle of the night? State your identity and purpose, or don't blame me for treating you as a pervert intending to do something improper."

Even Aizen Sōsuke was taken aback for a moment, then realized that his appearance was indeed highly suspicious.

At once, Aizen Sōsuke scratched the back of his head with one hand and waved the other repeatedly, explaining in a gentle tone, "Sorry, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Aizen Sōsuke, Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division—not some unidentified person."

Chiba Makoto visibly relaxed a little, though the vigilance in his heart did not lessen in the slightest as he asked, "Your purpose?"

Aizen Sōsuke answered gently, "Two female members of the Fifth Division, Takamoto Natsuki and Miyami Yuki, took leave from the division and were hospitalized these past two days. As their vice-captain, it is naturally my duty to come and check on them."

Takamoto Natsuki? Miyami Yuki?

Although Chiba Makoto could not confirm whether those two truly existed, Aizen Sōsuke clearly would not lie about something so easily exposed.

A coincidence?

Or a long-planned encounter?

However, Chiba Makoto's presence in the Gynecology Department tonight had been entirely coincidental, completely at odds with his usual routine.

So... was it really a coincidence?

If that was the case, then this was truly... too unlucky. He would have been better off spending the night at Aoki Risa's house than returning to the department!

As Chiba Makoto's thoughts raced through his judgment, his outward demeanor completely relaxed instead. With a hint of apology, he said, "My apologies, Vice-Captain Aizen. Male Soul Reapers rarely appear in the Gynecology Department at night, so I may have been overly concerned. Please forgive my rudeness."

Behind his black-rimmed glasses, Aizen Sōsuke's eyes remained gentle as he spoke in an approving tone.

"It's nothing. On the contrary, Makoto, your reaction and conduct were quite commendable. The Seireitei has grown far too lax these days. Prolonged peace has numbed many colleagues' sense of vigilance."

Hearing those faintly suggestive words, Chiba Makoto's heart practically skipped a beat on instinct.

Aizen, bro, you know how to talk—could you maybe talk a little less?

I can't quite tell whether you're probing me. I'm just a rookie Soul Reaper from the Fourth Division who joined the Seireitei two months ago. Other than healing people and clinging to powerful backers, I really can't do anything.

Teacher Unohana, are you asleep?

Your gentle and innocent disciple is being tested right now. Seeking help online. It's pretty urgent...