Two Similar People

At that, Ayasegawa Yumichika could not help but press a hand to his forehead again. "Be serious. That's the Gynecology Department. Even if we count the ones who clean and cook, our entire division can't scrape together five women."

"Who says male Shinigami can't visit the Gynecology Department for treatment?" Madarame Ikkaku retorted righteously. "What, sex reassignment isn't allowed?"

"O... okay..."

Ayasegawa Yumichika answered weakly, feeling utterly unable to refute Madarame Ikkaku's logic. He even vaguely suspected that this guy simply wanted to go watch Chiba Makoto make a fool of himself.

But Madarame Ikkaku did not care in the slightest what Ayasegawa Yumichika thought. He directly dragged him toward the nearby training grounds, putting on their seated officer armbands as they went.

Madarame Ikkaku, Nineteenth Seat of the Eleventh Division!

Ayasegawa Yumichika, Twentieth Seat of the Eleventh Division!

Unlike the standards for appointing seated officers in other divisions, Zaraki Kenpachi had only one standard in the Eleventh Division: battle!

As long as someone was strong enough, not only seated officer positions, but even the captain's seat could be yielded to them!

Thus, after Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika joined the Eleventh Division, they had almost immediately claimed the Nineteenth and Twentieth Seats.

"ASSEMBLE!!!"

As soon as Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika arrived at the training grounds, Ikkaku raised his voice and bellowed for his subordinates, who were still training late into the night.

Before long, nearly fifty imposing men appeared before Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika. Quite a few of them were bare-chested, displaying great slabs of muscle.

"Listen up, everyone! Chiba Makoto of the Fourth Division is my brother in arms, my beloved friend and family—"

"Ahem, ahem..." Ayasegawa Yumichika coughed softly, reminding Madarame Ikkaku that his wording was inappropriate.

What did he mean, beloved?

That could easily give people the wrong idea!

Madarame Ikkaku gave Ayasegawa Yumichika a puzzled look, then patted his chest and continued. "Now, Chiba's been assigned to the Gynecology Department. How can we allow that? So..."

At that point, Madarame Ikkaku noticeably raised his voice. "Tomorrow, we're all going out to back Chiba up! We'll take turns letting Chiba treat us, understand?"

"Yes!"

The burly men did not quite understand what was going on, but it sounded like a matter of loyalty. They agreed without hesitation, their sweat-slicked muscles seeming to radiate a different kind of youth and charm beneath the night sky.

Watching Madarame Ikkaku and his subordinates grow increasingly fired up, Ayasegawa Yumichika only felt a headache coming on. This all seemed rather unreliable.

"Still, perhaps this is a good opportunity. Why would Chiba enjoy staying in the Gynecology Department? If we make enough of a fuss, maybe we can have the captain step in and transfer Chiba from the Fourth Division to the Eleventh Division?"

Ayasegawa Yumichika's eyes lit up, and he immediately hurried toward Zaraki Kenpachi's residence in the Eleventh Division.

A night passed.

In the Fourth Division's department building, Chiba Makoto emerged from his battle with All Things in Nature in his mental space. As a sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon, he stood and stretched his somewhat numb body before hurrying back toward the courtyard.

As Chiba Makoto cautiously returned to the courtyard, he found Unohana Retsu eating breakfast with her usual elegance. A meal had also been prepared across from her.

Chiba Makoto let out a slight sigh of relief. After greeting her, he sat down opposite Unohana Retsu.

Unohana Retsu seemed no different from usual as she gently asked, "Makoto, you're a little later than usual. Where did you go last night?"

Chiba Makoto then skipped over a tiny bit of his inner thoughts and recounted how he had run into Aizen Sōsuke the previous night and spent the entire night training in the Gynecology Department.

Yet Unohana Retsu did not seem surprised in the slightest. "A technique for separating Shinigami powers? Vice-Captain Aizen actually came to ask you for help?"

"Yes, Teacher. I find it strange as well. I clearly don't understand anything," Chiba Makoto replied, his tone carrying some confusion.

Though he had expected as much and knew that a man like Aizen Sōsuke would not easily reveal a flaw, seeing Unohana Retsu's reaction made Chiba Makoto realize that Aizen Sōsuke had long since made airtight preparations. He was practically conducting his research openly, yet no one suspected his true purpose.

He really is... terrifying!

Chiba Makoto inwardly sighed again.

Unohana Retsu pondered for a moment, then looked at Chiba Makoto and said, "Makoto, Vice-Captain Aizen's assessment was not wrong. You are a person of talent, and your aptitude in Kaido and Medical Skills is exceptionally outstanding. So there is no need for you to belittle yourself. On the contrary, what you lack most right now is confidence. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Teacher," Chiba Makoto answered readily.

Unohana Retsu continued, "That is why I deliberately spread word of your reputation. It was also to prepare for you to conveniently come into contact with patients from here on. I believe that starting today, patients should gradually begin seeking you out for treatment. Then you can truly verify your own abilities. Do you understand?"

Chiba Makoto was slightly taken aback. Looking up into Unohana Retsu's gentle eyes, he inexplicably felt warmth rise in his chest.

So... Teacher had bragged about him at the captain-level gathering not for the sake of face, but to prepare for this moment?

"Yes, Teacher." Chiba Makoto nodded heavily.

Finally, Unohana Retsu hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Oh, Makoto, if possible, try to keep a certain distance from Vice-Captain Aizen."

Chiba Makoto's heart skipped a beat. With a hint of confusion in his eyes, he looked at Unohana Retsu and cautiously probed, "Why, Teacher? Vice-Captain Aizen seems to have a very good personality and character."

"Mm, Vice-Captain Aizen's personality is indeed quite admirable—gentle and dependable, considerate toward his subordinates, steady and decisive. The strength and abilities he displays are also exceptionally impressive..." Unohana Retsu first affirmed Aizen Sōsuke, then changed the direction of her words.

"But sometimes, he gave me a dangerous feeling, and there were things about him I couldn't see through. So, Makoto, it would be best if you kept a certain distance from him."

"Yes, I understand," Chiba Makoto said seriously.

Teacher, this is the one thing I'll absolutely carry out to the letter. Please rest assured, Chiba Makoto couldn't help inwardly quipping.

However, at that moment, a trace of confusion flashed through Unohana Retsu's gaze as she looked at Chiba Makoto. Her crescent eyes opened slightly as she murmured.

"Come to think of it, Makoto gives me a somewhat similar feeling to Vice-Captain Aizen. Aside from that fleeting sense of danger I once felt instinctively, there are times when I can't quite see through Makoto either. And Makoto is just as gentle..."

??

Chiba Makoto.

At that moment, Chiba Makoto couldn't help but panic a little.