Who... Was She?

"This is already a very generous price. The two wrapped pairs of glasses come to 500 rings, and the pair you're wearing is especially worth the 1,000 rings. The Silver Spirit Steel used to make them alone is worth 700 rings..."

After a pause, the glasses shop owner seemed to notice Chiba Makoto's embarrassment and said, "How about switching to a more cost-effective pair? I can give you an additional discount."

"No need."

Chiba Makoto glanced at Shaolin Fon beside him, then said, "I rather like this pair. Let's go with it."

Chiba Makoto then counted out 2,000 rings from his pocket and paid the shop owner. Taking the other two wrapped pairs of glasses, he left directly.

At that moment, feeling nearly half his salary vanish from his pocket, Chiba Makoto could not help lamenting the damned Seireitei nobles.

The Seireitei earned the money, the Seireitei spent the money—there was no chance of taking even a single ring home.

Fortunately, Chiba Makoto now lived in Unohana Retsu's captain's residence, with food, lodging, and sleep all included. He had no extra expenses whatsoever. Otherwise, it probably would not take many days before all his salary was handed back to the nobles.

Just as Chiba Makoto once again keenly felt how important Captain Unohana was to him, Shaolin Fon's somewhat embarrassed voice sounded beside him.

"Actually, you didn't have to buy that pair of glasses. I haven't bought many things before, so maybe I don't have very good taste."

Chiba Makoto adjusted the glasses he was still not used to wearing and said, "No, Miss Fon has very good taste. I like this pair a lot. Thank you, Miss Fon."

In truth, when choosing glasses, Chiba Makoto had not paid attention to Shaolin Fon at all. After comparing them several times, he had merely picked the three pairs that best suited his plans.

Yet upon hearing that, a faint flush secretly crossed Shaolin Fon's cheeks. Her steps unconsciously quickened as she moved ahead of Chiba Makoto, while inwardly, she began to panic.

This bastard... d-don't make it sound like it was a gift from me...

Walking behind Shaolin Fon, Chiba Makoto's gaze unconsciously fell on her back.

It had to be said that Shaolin Fon's figure was truly far too girlish right now. Chiba Makoto, who was also still growing, was nearly 1.8 meters tall and had room to grow, while Shaolin Fon only came up to around his chest.

And as Shaolin Fon moved in front of him, Chiba Makoto's attention was inevitably drawn to her truly wasp-like waist.

Slender and graceful, with captivating curves, narrow enough to encircle with one hand...

Can such an incredibly slender waist really generate enough force through Hakuda training to kill someone?

Although Chiba Makoto knew of Shaolin Fon's future captain-class achievements, this question still instinctively arose in his mind.

"We're here. Lord Yoruichi brought me to this barbecue restaurant before, and it's quite delicious. Is it alright?"

When Shaolin Fon turned back, Chiba Makoto's gaze was as gentle and calm as ever. "No problem. Whatever Miss Fon decides is fine."

"Mm."

Then Shaolin Fon, still somewhat immature in both bearing and speech, put on an act of maturity as she began speaking with the owner in front of Chiba Makoto. She then chose a seat by the window and sat down.

Looking at the innocent young man before her, who seemed curiously to be examining their surroundings, Shaolin Fon secretly encouraged herself.

Good, everything is going smoothly. Next, I can finally start trying to extract information!

Alcohol, right. Even the noble Lord Yoruichi lets down her guard after drinking. Later, I have to find a way to get Physician Chiba to drink too!

I can do this. I'll definitely complete the task Lord Yoruichi gave me perfectly...

Soon, as the barbecue and sake were served one after another, Shaolin Fon rather clumsily took the initiative to start conversations, while Chiba Makoto acted like an innocent young man who had only recently entered the Seireitei and knew nothing of the world.

Especially after Chiba Makoto went along with Shaolin Fon's invitation and took a couple of sips of sake, he completely lost the steady demeanor he had displayed in the department. He became proactive instead.

For a time, the atmosphere between Chiba Makoto and Shaolin Fon grew increasingly harmonious and warm, as amusing stories from their respective pasts were shared one after another.

"Miss... Miss Fon, do you know? Back in Rukongai, I watched helpless patients die one after another, so I swore that I would become a..."

Before Chiba Makoto could finish, Shaolin Fon, who had been continuously sipping sake in small mouthfuls, interrupted him with misty eyes. "Physician Chiba, you don't need to be so formal. You can just call me Shaolin."

Chiba Makoto's voice paused. His seemingly equally misty eyes secretly examined Shaolin Fon.

She... isn't actually drunk, is she?

At once, Chiba Makoto lost more than half his interest in continuing his deception. He understood there was little point in talking any further—it would be like making eyes at a blind man. How much intelligence could a drunken Shaolin Fon remember?

He might as well save time and do something more meaningful, like train, train, train...

"Miss... Miss Fon, you're drunk," Chiba Makoto said, seemingly slurring his words as he subtly reminded her.

"I... I'm not drunk... hic..."

Smacking her lips, Shaolin Fon asked with seemingly unfocused eyes.

"You're the only person besides Lord Yoruichi who has been this gentle with me. Physician Chiba, I'm very happy today. Are you... my friend?"

A friend?

Hearing that, Chiba Makoto could only feel pained over his salary.

The wasp's tail bore a stinger; a woman's heart was the deadliest poison.

The moment she got drunk, his salary had to suffer.

Chiba Makoto inexplicably felt as if he had been lured out by a hostess scam and forced into spending a fortune.

But in full view of everyone, Chiba Makoto could hardly reach into drunken Shaolin Fon's clothes and search for her wallet, could he?

Thus, after helplessly paying the bill, Chiba Makoto directly supported Shaolin Fon as he prepared to send her back to the Second Division.

After all, Chiba Makoto did not have his own independent residence yet, nor could he simply bring Shaolin Fon back to Unohana Retsu's residence to rest. That would be... rather inappropriate and inconvenient.

Although Chiba Makoto was an upright gentleman with nothing to hide, he still worried that some unnecessary battlefield of romance might arise and get him stabbed for no reason.

However, just as Chiba Makoto supported Shaolin Fon to the entrance of the barbecue restaurant, his body stiffened. He stared blankly at the group before him: Aoki Chiyoko, Aoki Risa, the members of the Fifth Rescue Squad, and Unohana Retsu standing at the front with a gentle expression like flowing water.

??!!

Chiba Makoto.

Aoki Risa stared at Chiba Makoto in astonishment, then at Shaolin Fon, whose body was half leaning against him. "Makoto... Makoto, why are you here? Who... is she?"

Aoki Chiyoko raised her head to look at the sky, then asked in a seemingly puzzled tone, "Makoto, isn't it only just time for the shift handover?"

As for Unohana Retsu, she still appeared to be smiling gently, without the slightest trace of surprise or anger.