Not Enough in the Bowl, There's More on the Grill

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Chiba Makoto's forehead. Facing all those gazes, he inexplicably felt like he had been secretly playing on a tablet during work hours, only to be caught by his family, teacher, and coworkers all at once.

Panic...

Instinctively, Chiba Makoto panicked.

No!

What am I panicking for?

Chiba Makoto's gaze cleared, and he quickly came to his senses.

He was a perfectly innocent young man. It was not as if he had actually done anything. He had merely been covertly cooperating with the Second Division's investigation while taking the opportunity to build a good relationship with the future captain of the Second Division.

In this situation, all he had to do was make it seem as though he did not know Shaolin Fon's intentions, while Shaolin Fon—who was pretending not to have other intentions—would be exposed before this group of colleagues as having other intentions. In the end... he would simply be an innocent person who had no idea what was going on.

Though it was a little convoluted, Chiba Makoto almost instantly found the key to breaking through the situation, and it would not be difficult to put into practice.

After all, before this, Chiba Makoto had always presented himself to the public as a pure and gentle innocent young man. Unless he had been caught red-handed, no one would believe it even if they were told that Chiba Makoto was a perverted scumbag—much less when he was not one in the first place.

"Teacher, Fifth Seat Aoki, Lisa, it's wonderful to see you..."

The glasses on Chiba Makoto's nose perfectly concealed the flicker of emotion that had just crossed his face. With an expression of relief, he said, "Miss Fon from the Second Division invited me to dinner to celebrate my first successful consultation today. I didn't expect her to get drunk instead. I was just wondering how I should get her home."

The Second Division?

At the word that slipped from Chiba Makoto's mouth, Unohana Retsu's slightly curved eyes opened a little wider as she carefully examined Shaolin Fon.

Very quickly, Unohana Retsu recognized Shaolin Fon's identity—she was a member of Captain Shihoin's personal guard, with Yoruichi Shihoin serving as both Captain of the Second Division and Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō.

Unohana Retsu immediately understood many things.

As a member of Yoruichi Shihoin's personal guard, Shaolin Fon had rashly appeared in the Fourth Division and befriended Chiba Makoto, even taking the initiative to invite him to dinner. That was undoubtedly highly suspicious.

There was a strong possibility that Yoruichi Shihoin had guided this!

In almost an instant, Unohana Retsu became certain of that guess.

As for why Shaolin Fon had ended up so drunk that she could barely stand and needed Chiba Makoto to support her, that did come as a surprise to Unohana Retsu.

With that thought, Unohana Retsu shifted her gaze back to Chiba Makoto and gently asked, "Makoto, where do you intend to take her next? It would be fine to lend you the courtyard for tonight."

However... under Unohana Retsu's gentle gaze, Chiba Makoto felt a chill run down his spine, every hair on his body standing on end as though some ferocious beast slowly opening its eyes had fixed him in its sights.

Chiba Makoto scratched his head and, pretending not to understand the hidden meaning in Unohana Retsu's words at all, innocently said, "Um... Teacher, I'm not very good at taking care of drunk people. I was just troubled because I didn't know where the Fon Clan residence was, and I wanted to take her home."

"Is that so?"

Unohana Retsu gave Chiba Makoto a smile that was not quite a smile, then turned to a female Fourth Division member behind her. "Please take Miss Fon back to the Fourth Division for the time being and arrange a place for her to rest. Then contact Captain Shihoin and have her come collect her."

"Yes, Captain."

The female division member nodded, stepped forward, took Shaolin Fon from Chiba Makoto, and carried her on her back toward the Fourth Division Barracks.

As for Chiba Makoto, once he handed Shaolin Fon over, his back was practically soaked through with cold sweat.

Teacher Unohana... was terrifying indeed. That seemingly proper and reasonable arrangement was actually a clear statement of some sort to Yoruichi Shihoin!

In the future... unless absolutely necessary, I must never offend Teacher Unohana!

Even as Chiba Makoto secretly reminded himself, he put on an expression of having been greatly helped and prepared to slip away at once.

"Wait, Makoto. You and Miss Fon probably did not eat your fill earlier. Come have a meal with us," Unohana Retsu said.

"Teacher, I'm already full..." Sensing danger, Chiba Makoto politely tried to refuse.

"No, you aren't full yet." Unohana Retsu's tone carried a touch more seriousness as she reminded him.

Chiba Makoto's body stiffened. He touched his stomach and meekly said, "Teacher really understands me. I can indeed eat a little more."

"Mm."

Unohana Retsu nodded in satisfaction, then directly led the members of the Fifth Rescue Squad behind her into the barbecue restaurant.

Throughout the entire process, Chiba Makoto did not dare make a sound. Obediently following Unohana Retsu's wishes, he sat beside her with an expression of seeing nothing and hearing nothing, completely ignoring the occasional looks Aoki Risa sent him from the other side.

Once the first batch of meat was done grilling, Unohana Retsu piled nearly three portions of barbecue in front of Chiba Makoto. Wearing an expression of gentle concern, she said, "Here, eat more. If there isn't enough in your bowl, there's still more on the grill..."

"..."

Chiba Makoto nearly wanted to cry. Teacher Unohana... wasn't implying something, was she?

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Chiba Makoto subtly raised his head to glance at Unohana Retsu beside him. What he saw, however, was a gaze that seemed to reveal a certain gloom and terror.

Chiba Makoto shuddered in fright and hurriedly lowered his head to focus on eating. "It's enough, it's enough, Teacher. What's in my bowl is enough."

"If it isn't enough, be sure to say so~" Unohana Retsu gently reminded him.

"It's enough, absolutely enough," Chiba Makoto hurriedly replied.

At that, Unohana Retsu glanced at Chiba Makoto and did not continue reprimanding her foolish disciple.

Now that he had become Unohana Retsu's disciple, the Eleventh Division still wanted to pry him away from her?

It was one thing for someone with a simple-minded thought process like Zaraki Kenpachi to entertain such fantasies, but Yoruichi Shihoin had actually sent Shaolin Fon from her personal guard to make contact with Chiba Makoto. They had even ended up drinking together until Shaolin Fon got drunk.

Unohana Retsu could not help wondering: if she had not happened to run into them, would Chiba Makoto have taken Shaolin Fon back to the Second Division next, allowing Yoruichi Shihoin to naturally make contact with him afterward?

Makoto... is he really that popular? Aside from his talent in Kaido and Medical Skills, have I overlooked some other talent of his? Could he also possess extraordinary talent in Shunpo?

Unohana Retsu once again looked over the innocent young man beside her, who had been frightened into lowering his head and stuffing himself with food, and a trace of doubt rose in her heart.